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Northern Trust Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.42: Diluted EPS was $2.42, against $2.29 in the third quarter and $2.26 a year earlier. Net income was $466.0 million. Full-year net income was $1,736.9 million, down 14%. Source
  • Revenue rose 5% sequentially: Total revenue on an FTE basis was $2,135.8 million, up 5% from the third quarter and 8% from a year earlier. Trust, investment and other servicing fees were the largest component. Source
  • Trust fees rose 3% sequentially: Trust, investment and other servicing fees were $1,307.4 million, up 3% sequentially and 7% from a year earlier. Asset Servicing fees were $729.6 million and Wealth Management fees $577.8 million. Source
  • Net interest income rose 10%: Net interest income on an FTE basis was $654.3 million, up 10% sequentially and 14% from a year earlier. Management attributed the sequential rise to higher deposits, deposit mix and lower funding costs. Source
  • Noninterest expense rose 5%: Noninterest expense was $1,497.3 million, up 5% sequentially and 9% from a year earlier. Compensation was $686.8 million, up 10% sequentially. Source
  • Negative provision on collective reserves: The provision for credit losses was a negative $8.0 million, compared with a negative $17.0 million in the third quarter. The release reflected refinements to C&I loss factors. Source
  • Returned $521.6 million to shareholders: The company returned $521.6 million to common shareholders through dividends and repurchases, including $151.8 million of common dividends declared. Source

“Northern Trust delivered strong fourth quarter results, marking another year of successful execution of our One Northern Trust strategic priorities and positioning the company for continued performance in 2026.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management reported $58.8 million of pre-tax severance-related charges in the fourth quarter. The third-quarter release did not report such charges. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Diluted EPS rose to $2.42: Diluted EPS was $2.42, against $2.29 in the third quarter and $2.26 a year earlier. Net income was $466.0 million. Full-year net income was $1,736.9 million, down 14%. Source
  • Revenue rose 5% sequentially: Total revenue on an FTE basis was $2,135.8 million, up 5% from the third quarter and 8% from a year earlier. Trust, investment and other servicing fees were the largest component. Source
  • Notable items added $49.3 million: Notable items added a net $49.3 million pre-tax to noninterest expense, or $37.3 million after tax, in the fourth quarter. Source

Segments and pre-tax margin

  • Asset Servicing income rose 11%: Asset Servicing pre-tax income on an FTE basis was $325.8 million, up 11% sequentially and 23% from a year earlier, with a 25.5% profit margin. Source
  • Wealth Management flat sequentially: Wealth Management pre-tax income on an FTE basis was $341.8 million, flat sequentially and down 3% from a year earlier. The Other segment loss was $21.1 million. Source
  • Pre-tax margin eased to 30.3%: Total income before taxes on an FTE basis was $646.5 million, up 3% sequentially. The total pre-tax profit margin was 30.3%, compared with 30.8% in the third quarter. Source

“Mid-single-digit trust fee growth, double digit net interest income and disciplined expense management drove positive operating leverage of four points in the fourth quarter and more than two points for the full year, both excluding notables.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Fees, client assets and currency

  • Trust fees rose 3% sequentially: Trust, investment and other servicing fees were $1,307.4 million, up 3% sequentially and 7% from a year earlier. Asset Servicing fees were $729.6 million and Wealth Management fees $577.8 million. Source
  • Custody fees rose on markets: Custody and fund administration fees were $496.4 million, up 3% sequentially. Management attributed the year-over-year rise to favorable markets, net new business and currency. Source
  • Global Family Office fees up 6%: Global Family Office fees were $107.3 million, up 6% sequentially and 7% from a year earlier. Management attributed this to asset inflows and favorable markets. Source
  • Client assets rose to $18.7 trillion: Total assets under custody/administration were $18,716.1 billion, up 3% sequentially and 11% from a year earlier. Assets under management were $1,803.2 billion, up 2% sequentially. Source
  • Foreign exchange income up 30%: Foreign exchange trading income was $74.3 million, up 30% sequentially. Management attributed the rise to lower Treasury swap activity and higher outsourced client volumes. Source

Net interest income and deposits

  • Net interest income rose 10%: Net interest income on an FTE basis was $654.3 million, up 10% sequentially and 14% from a year earlier. Management attributed the sequential rise to higher deposits, deposit mix and lower funding costs. Source
  • Earning assets grew with deposits: Average earning assets were $143,038.1 million, up 3% sequentially, on higher placements with central banks and a larger investment portfolio. Source
  • Net interest margin reached 1.81%: Net interest margin on an FTE basis was 1.81%, up 11 basis points sequentially and 10 basis points from a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense fell 4%: Interest expense was $1,485.0 million, down 4% sequentially and 13% from a year earlier. Interest income on an FTE basis was $2,139.3 million, flat sequentially. Source
  • Average deposits rose 3%: Average total deposits were $119,829.2 million, up 3% sequentially and 6% from a year earlier. Average loans were $40,558.3 million, down 2% sequentially. Source

Expenses and tax

  • Noninterest expense rose 5%: Noninterest expense was $1,497.3 million, up 5% sequentially and 9% from a year earlier. Compensation was $686.8 million, up 10% sequentially. Source
  • Compensation rose on pay and headcount: Compensation grew from a year earlier on headcount, unfavorable currency and annual base pay adjustments. Employee benefits rose 4% sequentially. Source
  • Equipment and software costs rose: Equipment and software expense was $301.1 million, up 2% sequentially and 10% from a year earlier, reflecting higher software amortization and support expense. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 26.5%: The effective tax rate was 26.5%, up from 26.1% in the third quarter and 23.4% a year earlier, on a higher net tax impact from international operations. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Negative provision on collective reserves: The provision for credit losses was a negative $8.0 million, compared with a negative $17.0 million in the third quarter. The release reflected refinements to C&I loss factors. Source
  • Allowance fell to $198.3 million: Ending allowance for credit losses was $198.3 million, down from $206.7 million, with $164.3 million assigned to loans. Net charge-offs were $0.4 million. Source
  • Nonaccrual loans held near $77 million: Nonaccrual loans were $76.7 million, down from $78.8 million in the third quarter, or 0.18% of loans. The loan allowance covered nonaccrual loans 2.1 times. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $521.6 million to shareholders: The company returned $521.6 million to common shareholders through dividends and repurchases, including $151.8 million of common dividends declared. Source
  • Repurchased 2.85 million shares: The company repurchased 2,850,093 shares, including 12,499 withheld for tax obligations, at a total cost of $369.8 million. Common shares outstanding were 186,338 thousand at period end. Source
  • Well-capitalized at year end: Management said the capital ratios of the Corporation and its principal subsidiary exceeded well-capitalized minimums at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Annual dividends rose to $3.10: Cash dividends declared per common share were $3.10 for 2025, up 3% from $3.00. The quarterly dividend stayed at $0.80, and $4.7 million of preferred dividends were declared. Source

Headcount and notable items

  • Full-time employees rose to 23,800: End-of-period full-time equivalent employees were 23,800, up 1% from 23,600 in the third quarter and 2% from a year earlier. Source
  • Visa Class B swap expense recognized: Other operating income carried $19.2 million of expense for the Visa Class B swaps in the fourth quarter. Other operating income was $40.0 million, down 34% sequentially. Source
  • FDIC special assessment reserve released: A $9.5 million release of the FDIC special assessment reserve was recognized as a credit to other operating expense, reducing expense in the quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Client and capital figures await 10-K: Current-quarter client assets are preliminary until the Form 10-K is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Source
  • 2026 focus on growth and leverage: Management said it enters the new year with momentum across all businesses and a focus on accelerating growth and sustaining positive operating leverage. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin (FTE) Source1.81%
Net interest income (FTE) Source$654.3 million
Average loans Source$40,558.3 million
Interest-bearing deposits (period end) Source$115,449.1 million
Provision for credit losses Source$(8.0) million
Net charge-offs Source$0.4 million
Nonaccrual assets to loans Source0.18%
CET1 ratio (standardized) Source12.6%

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said return on equity was at the high end of the target range in both periods, enabling record capital return to shareholders. 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.