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First Horizon Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 15 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year diluted EPS rose to $1.87: Full-year NIAC rose 29% to $956 million. Diluted EPS rose to $1.87 from $1.36, and adjusted EPS was $1.89 compared with $1.55 in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS rose to $0.52: The company reported fourth-quarter NIAC of $257 million and EPS of $0.52, compared with $254 million and $0.50 in the third quarter. Source
  • Full-year margin widened 12 basis points: Net interest income (FTE) rose 4% to $2.6 billion and net interest margin reached 3.47%, up 12 basis points, on lower deposit pricing and higher loans to mortgage companies. Source
  • Rate cuts lowered loan yields: Loan yields fell 23 basis points to 5.83%. The company attributed this to two Fed rate cuts, since over half the loan portfolio is indexed to short-term rates. Source
  • Allowance ratio fell on loan resolutions: The allowance for credit losses to loans fell to 1.31% from 1.43%, reflecting resolutions of criticized and classified loans and favorable mix shift. Source
  • CET1 ratio fell from a year earlier: The CET1 ratio ended 2025 at 10.64% and the total capital ratio at 13.4%, down from 11.20% and 14.2% at the end of 2024. Source
  • Full-year buybacks totaled $894 million: The company returned $894 million to shareholders in 2025 through share repurchases at an average price of $21.16 per share including commissions. Source

“Consistent execution of our strategy across the organization has driven tremendous earnings growth throughout the year, resulting in an earnings per share of $0.52 in the fourth quarter,”

Chairman, President and CEO Bryan Jordan

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year diluted EPS rose to $1.87: Full-year NIAC rose 29% to $956 million. Diluted EPS rose to $1.87 from $1.36, and adjusted EPS was $1.89 compared with $1.55 in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS rose to $0.52: The company reported fourth-quarter NIAC of $257 million and EPS of $0.52, compared with $254 million and $0.50 in the third quarter. Source
  • Notable items reduced full-year results: Notable items reduced 2025 results by a net $12 million after-tax, or $0.02 per share, compared with a $105 million after-tax reduction, or $0.19 per share, in 2024. Source
  • Management plans to deepen client relationships: Management said it enters 2026 focused on deepening client relationships, maximizing revenue opportunities, and enhancing its products and capabilities. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Full-year margin widened 12 basis points: Net interest income (FTE) rose 4% to $2.6 billion and net interest margin reached 3.47%, up 12 basis points, on lower deposit pricing and higher loans to mortgage companies. Source
  • Fourth-quarter margin eased on loan yields: Fourth-quarter net interest margin was 3.51%, down 4 basis points. Loan yields and third-quarter MSLP accretion compressed it, partly offset by lower deposit pricing. Source
  • Rate cuts lowered loan yields: Loan yields fell 23 basis points to 5.83%. The company attributed this to two Fed rate cuts, since over half the loan portfolio is indexed to short-term rates. Source

“Our disciplined risk management, resilient balance sheet, and operations in robust markets and businesses position us to deliver sustainable growth by building on the positive momentum generated in 2025.”

Chairman, President and CEO Bryan Jordan

Loans and deposits

  • Full-year loans grew $1.6 billion: Mortgage company loans rose $1.2 billion and other C&I loans rose $1.2 billion, offset by a $0.9 billion commercial real estate decline. Source
  • Fourth-quarter average loans rose $645 million: Average loans and leases were $63.4 billion, up $645 million from the third quarter. Period-end loans rose $1.1 billion over the same period. Source
  • Fourth-quarter deposits rose $2.0 billion: Period-end deposits rose $2.0 billion, led by interest-bearing deposits and $392 million of brokered CDs, while DDA balances fell $200 million. Source
  • Interest-bearing deposit costs fell: Interest-bearing deposit cost was 2.53% in the fourth quarter, down 25 basis points, with a spot rate of about 2.34% at quarter end. Source

Noninterest income and expense

  • Fixed income lifted full-year fee income: Noninterest income rose $118 million to $797 million. The increase reflects lapping 2024 securities restructuring and an $18 million rise in fixed income revenue. Source
  • Adjusted expenses rose on talent additions: Adjusted noninterest expense rose $63 million to $2.1 billion, mainly from a $33 million increase in salaries and benefits tied to talent additions during the year. Source
  • Fourth-quarter outside services rose: Outside services rose $16 million for technology, risk and product projects and seasonal advertising. Other noninterest expense fell $27 million after the prior quarter foundation contribution. Source
  • Quarterly fee income dipped after MSR sale: Noninterest income fell $3 million to $212 million, with mortgage fees down $5 million after the prior quarter's MSR sale. Source

Asset quality and credit

  • Allowance ratio fell on loan resolutions: The allowance for credit losses to loans fell to 1.31% from 1.43%, reflecting resolutions of criticized and classified loans and favorable mix shift. Source
  • Full-year net charge-offs held steady: Full-year net charge-offs were $120 million, or 19 basis points, against $112 million, or 18 basis points, in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter provision was nil: The company recorded no provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter, compared with a $5 million credit in the third quarter. Source
  • Quarterly net charge-offs rose: Fourth-quarter net charge-offs were $30 million, or 19 basis points, up from $26 million, or 17 basis points, in the third quarter. Source
  • Nonperforming loans little changed: Nonperforming loans were $604 million, down $1 million from the third quarter. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio fell from a year earlier: The CET1 ratio ended 2025 at 10.64% and the total capital ratio at 13.4%, down from 11.20% and 14.2% at the end of 2024. Source
  • Full-year buybacks totaled $894 million: The company returned $894 million to shareholders in 2025 through share repurchases at an average price of $21.16 per share including commissions. Source
  • Fourth-quarter repurchases were $335 million: Fourth-quarter repurchases totaled $335 million at an average price of $21.32 per share including commissions, alongside loan growth. Source
  • Full-year effective tax rate rose: The effective tax rate was 22.1% for 2025, up from 21.0% in 2024. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.47% full year; 3.51% fourth quarter
Net interest income Source$2.6 billion (FTE), full year
Loans Source$64.2 billion period-end
Deposits Source$67.5 billion period-end
Deposit costs Source2.53% interest-bearing, fourth quarter
Provision for credit losses Source$65 million full year
Net charge-offs Source$120 million full year; 0.19%
Nonperforming loans Source$604 million
CET1 ratio Source10.64% at year end 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Visa derivative valuation expenses were a notable item in the fourth quarter, at $10 million pre-tax. Source
  • External: Lower short-term rates reduced loan yields, since over half the loan portfolio is indexed to short-term rates. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.