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Northern Trust Corp.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 October 2025: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.29: Net income was $457.6 million, compared with $421.3 million in the second quarter and $464.9 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was up 7% from the second quarter. Source
  • Trust fees rose 3% sequentially: Trust, investment and other servicing fees were $1,265.5 million, up from $1,231.1 million in the second quarter and $1,196.6 million a year earlier. Asset servicing and wealth management fees both rose from the second quarter. Source
  • Average deposits fell 5%: Total average deposits were $116,700.6 million, down from $122,377.8 million in the second quarter and up 4% from a year earlier. Asset Servicing deposits fell 6% sequentially, while Other deposits fell 28%. Source
  • Wealth Management profit rose 11%: Wealth Management income before taxes (FTE) was $342.4 million, up 11% from the second quarter and from a year earlier. Its pre-tax profit margin was 40.5%, up from 37.2% in the second quarter. Source
  • Pre-tax margin rose to 30.8%: Total pre-tax profit margin on an FTE basis was 30.8%, up from 28.4% in the second quarter and level with 30.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Provision was a $17.0 million release: The company recorded a negative provision of $17.0 million, compared with a $16.5 million provision in the second quarter and $8.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • $431.3 million returned to shareholders: Returns in the quarter were made through common dividends and share repurchases. Source

“Northern Trust delivered strong third quarter results with solid revenue growth across trust fees, capital markets and net interest income.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Quarterly cash dividend on common stock raised to $0.80 per share from $0.75. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.29: Net income was $457.6 million, compared with $421.3 million in the second quarter and $464.9 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was up 7% from the second quarter. Source
  • Total revenue rose 1% sequentially: Total revenue on an FTE basis was $2,030.9 million, up from $2,002.6 million in the second quarter and $1,975.6 million a year earlier. Trust fees and other noninterest income both rose from the second quarter. Source
  • Return on common equity at 14.8%: Return on average common equity was 14.8%, compared with 14.2% in the second quarter and 15.4% a year earlier. Source

Client assets and fee income

  • Trust fees rose 3% sequentially: Trust, investment and other servicing fees were $1,265.5 million, up from $1,231.1 million in the second quarter and $1,196.6 million a year earlier. Asset servicing and wealth management fees both rose from the second quarter. Source
  • Custody and fund administration fees up: Custody and fund administration fees were $482.7 million, up 3% from the second quarter and 7% from a year earlier. Source
  • Client assets reached $18.2 trillion: Assets under custody/administration were $18,247.6 billion, up 1% sequentially and 5% year on year. Assets under management were $1,772.7 billion, up 4% sequentially. Source
  • Regional wealth fees rose on markets: Wealth Management fees were $200.6 million in Central, $146.0 million in East and $110.5 million in West. Global Family Office fees were $101.5 million, down 3% sequentially. Source

“ROE was at the high end of our target range, while lending and balance sheet measures remained sound.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Net interest income and deposits

  • Net interest income fell 3% sequentially: Net interest income on an FTE basis was $596.3 million, down from $615.2 million in the second quarter and up from $569.4 million a year earlier. The sequential decrease was attributed to lower deposit balances, partly offset by lower funding costs. Source
  • Average deposits fell 5%: Total average deposits were $116,700.6 million, down from $122,377.8 million in the second quarter and up 4% from a year earlier. Asset Servicing deposits fell 6% sequentially, while Other deposits fell 28%. Source
  • Average loans edged up 1%: Total average loans were $41,500.6 million, up 1% sequentially and 4% from a year earlier. Wealth Management loans rose 2% while Asset Servicing loans fell 7%. Period-end loans were $42,949.4 million. Source

Segment profit

  • Wealth Management profit rose 11%: Wealth Management income before taxes (FTE) was $342.4 million, up 11% from the second quarter and from a year earlier. Its pre-tax profit margin was 40.5%, up from 37.2% in the second quarter. Source
  • Asset Servicing margin reached 24.7%: Asset Servicing income before taxes (FTE) was $294.1 million, up 8% sequentially and 14% year on year. Its pre-tax margin rose 1.5 points from both the second quarter and the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Other segment loss held near prior level: The Other segment loss before taxes (FTE) was $11.5 million, compared with $11.2 million in the second quarter. The prior-year quarter included a $68.1 million pre-tax gain from the sale of an equity investment. Source

“As we prepare to close out the year, we remain focused on executing on our One Northern Trust strategy, serving our clients with distinction, and generating value for our shareholders.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Operating costs

  • Noninterest expense flat sequentially: Total noninterest expense was $1,422.9 million, flat with $1,416.6 million in the second quarter and up 5% from $1,359.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Compensation rose on pay and headcount: Compensation was $625.3 million, up 2% sequentially and 7% from a year earlier. Source
  • Software costs up 9% year on year: Equipment and software expense was $294.2 million, flat sequentially and up 9% from a year earlier. Source
  • Other operating expense fell 6%: Other operating expense was $85.0 million, down from $90.9 million in the second quarter and $86.1 million a year earlier. Source

Margins and tax rate

  • Net interest margin reached 1.70%: Net interest margin on an FTE basis was 1.70%, up from 1.69% in the second quarter and 1.68% a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to lower funding costs. Source
  • Pre-tax margin rose to 30.8%: Total pre-tax profit margin on an FTE basis was 30.8%, up from 28.4% in the second quarter and level with 30.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 26.1%: The effective tax rate was 26.1%, up from 25.4% in the second quarter and 22.7% a year earlier. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Provision was a $17.0 million release: The company recorded a negative provision of $17.0 million, compared with a $16.5 million provision in the second quarter and $8.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net charge-offs of $0.4 million: Net charge-offs were $0.4 million, compared with net recoveries of $0.3 million in the second quarter. The ending allowance for credit losses was $206.7 million, down from $224.1 million. Source
  • Nonaccrual loans fell to $78.8 million: Nonaccrual loans were $78.8 million, down from $92.8 million in the second quarter. Nonaccrual assets were 0.18% of loans, against 0.21% in the second quarter. No other real estate owned was reported in any period presented. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • $431.3 million returned to shareholders: Returns in the quarter were made through common dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised to $0.80: Common dividends declared totaled $154.3 million. The quarterly dividend per common share rose $0.05 from $0.75. Source
  • Repurchased 2.2 million shares: The company repurchased 2,164,198 shares at a total cost of $277.0 million, an average of $128.00 a share. In the second quarter it repurchased 3,374,980 shares at $100.57. Common shares outstanding were 189.1 million at period end. Source
  • Common equity Tier 1 ratio at 12.4%: The standardized CET1 ratio for Northern Trust Corporation was 12.4%, up from 12.2% in the second quarter and down from 12.6% a year earlier. The advanced approach CET1 ratio was 15.1%. Source
  • Book value per share rose to $63.83: Book value per common share at period end was $63.83, up from $62.65 at June 30, 2025 and $59.85 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and people

  • Focus on One Northern Trust strategy: Management said it remains focused on executing its One Northern Trust strategy, serving clients with distinction and generating shareholder value. Source
  • Fifth quarter of positive operating leverage: Management cited a fifth consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage and year-over-year improvement in the expense-to-trust fee ratio, excluding notables. Source
  • Headcount rose to 23,600: End-of-period full-time equivalent employees were 23,600, up from 23,400 in the second quarter and 23,300 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 October 2025

  • Client assets pending Form 10-Q: Client assets for the quarter are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed. Regulatory capital figures and ratios are also preliminary until that filing. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source1.70% (FTE)
Net interest income Source$596.3 million (FTE)
Loans Source$41,500.6 million average; $42,949.4 million period-end
Deposits Source$116,700.6 million average
Provision for credit losses Source$(17.0) million
Net charge-offs Source$0.4 million
Nonperforming assets Source$78.8 million nonaccrual; 0.18% of loans
CET1 ratio Source12.4% (standardized, Northern Trust Corporation)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Average earning assets fell sequentially as placements with the Federal Reserve and other central banks decreased, which management tied to lower deposit balances. Source
  • Demand: Asset outflows partly offset market and currency gains in custody/administration assets. Source
  • External: Collective reserves are set using macroeconomic factors and projections, and management cited improvement in those factors as the reason for the lower provision. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management cited a fifth consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage, after describing a fourth consecutive quarter in the prior release. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said the Board approved a $0.05 increase to the quarterly dividend. This release reports the dividend raised to $0.80 per share.
  • Not stated: Management said it remains focused on executing the One Northern Trust strategy. 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.