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Keycorp: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Income from continuing operations to common shareholders was $474 million, or $.43 per diluted share, against $454 million or $.41 in the third quarter. Source
  • Full year revenue set a record: Full year revenue reached $7.5 billion, up 16% year-over-year on an adjusted basis. Full year pre-provision net revenue rose 44% on the same adjusted basis. Source
  • Commercial Bank earnings rose: Commercial Bank net income was $410 million, up from $367 million in the third quarter. Revenue rose 9.4% sequentially. Source
  • Investment banking fees rose on M&A: Investment banking and debt placement fees rose $59 million from the third quarter, reflecting higher merger and acquisition advisory fees and commercial debt placement fees. Source
  • Margin rose on lower deposit costs: Net interest margin rose 7 basis points quarter-over-quarter. The company attributed this to lower deposit costs, an improved funding mix and a shift to higher-yielding commercial and industrial loans. Source
  • Expense rose on incentive pay: Noninterest expense rose $64 million from the third quarter, mainly personnel expense on incentive compensation tied to noninterest income growth. Source
  • Pipelines remain elevated: Management said investment banking and debt placement fees recorded the second-best annual performance in company history, and pipelines remain elevated. Source
  • Reserve build held to $4 million: The reserve build was $4 million. Management attributed it to improving credit quality trends and resilient economic forecasts, offset by growth in unfunded commitments. Source
  • Buybacks resumed at $200 million: Share repurchases resumed at an accelerated pace in the fourth quarter, with $200 million of common shares bought back. Source
  • Progress toward mid-to-high teens return: Management described progress toward sustainable mid-to-high teens returns on tangible common equity. The prior release said 15% or better within the next few years. Source

“I am incredibly proud of our results, our continued momentum, and most importantly, the talented teammates behind our success.”

Chris Gorman, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net charge-offsfull year 202540 to 45 basis points

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Share repurchases resumed, with $200 million of common shares bought back in the fourth quarter. Source
  • New: Management announced changes to the composition of the Board on the morning of the release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and EPS rose: Income from continuing operations to common shareholders was $474 million, or $.43 per diluted share, against $454 million or $.41 in the third quarter. Source
  • Full year revenue set a record: Full year revenue reached $7.5 billion, up 16% year-over-year on an adjusted basis. Full year pre-provision net revenue rose 44% on the same adjusted basis. Source
  • Adjusted operating leverage for the year: Management said the company generated about 1,200 basis points of adjusted operating leverage and 280 basis points of adjusted fee-based operating leverage during the year. Source
  • Book value per share rose: Tangible book value per share rose 3% sequentially and 18% year-over-year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Commercial Bank earnings rose: Commercial Bank net income was $410 million, up from $367 million in the third quarter. Revenue rose 9.4% sequentially. Source
  • Consumer Bank net income fell sequentially: Consumer Bank net income was $137 million, down from $152 million in the third quarter. Average loans and leases were down 7.7% from a year earlier. Source

“I remain confident that our focus, resilience, and dedication will continue to deliver value to the stakeholders we serve - our shareholders, our clients, and our communities.”

Chris Gorman, Chairman and CEO

Products and customers

  • Investment banking fees rose on M&A: Investment banking and debt placement fees rose $59 million from the third quarter, reflecting higher merger and acquisition advisory fees and commercial debt placement fees. Source
  • Fee income grew 8% year-over-year: Adjusted noninterest income grew 8% year-over-year. Investment banking and debt placement fees and corporate services led, with continued momentum in trust and investment services and commercial payments. Source
  • Assets under management hit a record: Management said assets under management reached a record $70 billion. Source
  • Consumer deposit mix shifted to money market: Consumer Bank average deposits rose $262 million year-over-year, driven by money market deposits, while time deposits fell. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Margin rose on lower deposit costs: Net interest margin rose 7 basis points quarter-over-quarter. The company attributed this to lower deposit costs, an improved funding mix and a shift to higher-yielding commercial and industrial loans. Source
  • Expense rose on incentive pay: Noninterest expense rose $64 million from the third quarter, mainly personnel expense on incentive compensation tied to noninterest income growth. Source
  • FDIC assessment benefit offset costs: A $21 million benefit from the updated FDIC special assessment reduced other expense and partly offset higher costs. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Pipelines remain elevated: Management said investment banking and debt placement fees recorded the second-best annual performance in company history, and pipelines remain elevated. Source
  • Consumer loans run off on purpose: Average consumer loans declined $2.3 billion year-over-year as the company intentionally ran off low-yielding loans, mainly consumer mortgages. Source
  • Commercial client deposits offset brokered CDs: Average deposits rose $336 million quarter-over-quarter, as higher commercial client balances offset a $1.3 billion decline in brokered CDs. Source

Credit quality and reserves

  • Reserve build held to $4 million: The reserve build was $4 million. Management attributed it to improving credit quality trends and resilient economic forecasts, offset by growth in unfunded commitments. Source
  • Nonperforming loans declined: Nonperforming loans were $615 million at period end, or 0.58% of period-end portfolio loans. Source
  • Allowance held at 1.63% of loans: The allowance for credit losses was $1.7 billion, or 1.63% of period-end loans, the same as a year earlier. Source
  • Commercial Bank provision rose: Commercial Bank provision for credit losses rose $76 million year-over-year on higher loan balances and commitments. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Buybacks resumed at $200 million: Share repurchases resumed at an accelerated pace in the fourth quarter, with $200 million of common shares bought back. Source
  • Share count fell: Common shares outstanding fell to 1,102,401 thousand at period end, as repurchases of 11,109 thousand shares reduced the count. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held: The company declared a dividend of $.205 per common share during the quarter, unchanged from the third quarter. Source

Strategy, investment and leadership

  • Front-line bankers and technology investment: Management said strategic investments, particularly in front-line bankers and technology, continue to fuel organic growth and client service. Source
  • Progress toward mid-to-high teens return: Management described progress toward sustainable mid-to-high teens returns on tangible common equity. The prior release said 15% or better within the next few years. Source
  • Board composition changed: Management announced changes to the composition of the Board, which it said reflect leadership for the next phase of value creation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 January 2026

  • Capital return to rise in 2026: Management said it is well positioned to further increase return of capital to shareholders in 2026, citing excess capital and capital generation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin (TE) Source2.82%
Net interest income (TE) Source$1,223 million
Average loans Source$106.3 billion
Average deposits Source$150.7 billion
Cost of total deposits Source1.81%
Provision for credit losses Source$108 million
Net charge-offs to average loans Source0.39%
Nonperforming assets to loans plus OREO Source0.59%
CET1 ratio Source11.7% (estimated)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management noted lower interest rates reduced income on variable-rate earning assets, partly offsetting benefits to net interest income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said full year results met or exceeded each of the financial targets communicated at the start of the year. Source
  • On track: The prior release said the company was on track to deliver record revenue in 2025. The fourth quarter release reports full year revenue was a record.

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.