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Northern Trust Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and diluted EPS increased: Net income was $792.2 million, up from $525.5 million in Q1 2026 and $421.3 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $4.23 against $2.71 and $2.13. Return on average common equity was 25.9%. Source
  • Notable items affected reported results: Notable items were a $451.5 million pre-tax impact in Other Noninterest Income and a $145.6 million pre-tax impact in Noninterest Expense, with after-tax amounts of $342.0 million and $109.9 million. Source
  • Client assets rose on markets and inflows: Assets under custody/administration reached $20.0 trillion and assets under management $1.97 trillion at June 30, 2026. Management cited favorable markets and net client inflows as the drivers. Source
  • Visa gain offset by securities loss: Other Operating Income included a $525.4 million pre-tax gain from participation in the second Visa Exchange Offer. A $73.9 million loss on securities sold in a portfolio repositioning sat in Investment Security Gains (Losses). Source
  • Asset Servicing pre-tax income declined: Asset Servicing income before taxes (FTE) was $323.3 million, against $373.3 million in Q1 2026. Its pre-tax margin was 23.7%. Segment charges allocated to it totaled $100.6 million. Source
  • Software costs drove equipment expense: Noninterest expense was $1,638.6 million, up 9% sequentially. Equipment and software rose on a $61.5 million software disposition charge and higher support costs. Source
  • Provision was negative this quarter: The provision for credit losses was $(5.3) million, a release, as the collective reserve fell and individual reserves rose. Ending allowance was $190.3 million. Source
  • Returned $499.4 million to shareholders: The Corporation returned $499.4 million to common shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter. Source

“Northern Trust delivered another quarter of strong performance reflecting disciplined execution of our One Northern Trust strategy amid a constructive operating environment.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourceQuarterly dividend approved July 21, 2026$0.08 or 10% increaseRaised from $0.80

What changed from last quarter

  • New: From Q2 2026, Wealth Management fees by region are reported in one Private Wealth line, and prior periods were revised. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and diluted EPS increased: Net income was $792.2 million, up from $525.5 million in Q1 2026 and $421.3 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $4.23 against $2.71 and $2.13. Return on average common equity was 25.9%. Source
  • Notable items affected reported results: Notable items were a $451.5 million pre-tax impact in Other Noninterest Income and a $145.6 million pre-tax impact in Noninterest Expense, with after-tax amounts of $342.0 million and $109.9 million. Source
  • EPS excluding notable items up 40%: Management said earnings per share excluding notable items increased 40%. Source
  • Total revenue rose on fees and interest: Total revenue (FTE) was $2,705.6 million, up 22% sequentially and 35% from a year earlier. The CEO cited a 13% revenue increase versus last year. Source

Fees, client assets and other income

  • Trust fees rose year on year: Trust, investment and other servicing fees were $1,349.5 million, up 1% sequentially and 10% from the prior-year quarter. Asset Servicing fees were $757.4 million and Wealth Management fees were $592.1 million. Source
  • Client assets rose on markets and inflows: Assets under custody/administration reached $20.0 trillion and assets under management $1.97 trillion at June 30, 2026. Management cited favorable markets and net client inflows as the drivers. Source
  • Visa gain offset by securities loss: Other Operating Income included a $525.4 million pre-tax gain from participation in the second Visa Exchange Offer. A $73.9 million loss on securities sold in a portfolio repositioning sat in Investment Security Gains (Losses). Source
  • Trading income rose with volatility: Foreign exchange trading income was $97.1 million, up from $87.7 million sequentially and $50.6 million a year earlier. Security commissions and trading income was $55.6 million. Source

“Our progress against our strategic priorities helped drive an eighth consecutive quarter of positive organic trust-fee growth.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Segment results and margins

  • Asset Servicing pre-tax income declined: Asset Servicing income before taxes (FTE) was $323.3 million, against $373.3 million in Q1 2026. Its pre-tax margin was 23.7%. Segment charges allocated to it totaled $100.6 million. Source
  • Wealth Management income broadly stable: Wealth Management income before taxes (FTE) was $333.5 million, against $330.2 million in the prior quarter and $309.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Total pre-tax margin widened: Total pre-tax margin (FTE) was 39.6%, up 7.6 points sequentially and 11.2 points from the prior-year quarter. Source

Expenses, compensation and tax

  • Software costs drove equipment expense: Noninterest expense was $1,638.6 million, up 9% sequentially. Equipment and software rose on a $61.5 million software disposition charge and higher support costs. Source
  • Compensation rose on one-time items: Compensation and benefits were $868.0 million, up 6% sequentially. The increase included severance and a broad one-time equity grant, along with annual base pay adjustments. Source
  • Operating leverage above 700 basis points: The CEO said expenses were controlled and that operating leverage exceeded 700 basis points for a second consecutive quarter. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose slightly: The effective tax rate was 25.6%, up from 25.0% in Q1 2026, reflecting lower share-based compensation tax benefits partly offset by state audit resolutions. Source

“We remain focused on supporting our clients, advancing our strategic priorities, and delivering long-term value to our shareholders through sustainable financial performance across market environments as we enter the second half of the year.”

MICHAEL O’GRADY, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Net interest income and deposits

  • Net interest margin rose on funding costs: Net interest margin (FTE) was 1.81%, up from 1.75% in Q1 2026 and 1.69% a year earlier. Management attributed the change primarily to lower funding costs. Source
  • Net interest income rose on deposit mix: Net interest income (FTE) was $683.1 million, up from $661.6 million sequentially. Management cited lower funding costs and a favorable deposit mix, partly offset by lower deposits. Source
  • Average deposits eased sequentially: Average total deposits were $127,845.7 million, down 1% sequentially and up 4% from a year earlier. Source
  • Average loans little changed: Average loans were $41,567.6 million, up 2% sequentially and up 1% from a year earlier. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Provision was negative this quarter: The provision for credit losses was $(5.3) million, a release, as the collective reserve fell and individual reserves rose. Ending allowance was $190.3 million. Source
  • Nonaccrual loans rose on a few loans: Nonaccrual loans were $71.3 million, up from $55.0 million, or 0.16% of loans. Management attributed the individual reserve increase to a small number of non-performing loans. Source
  • Allowance declined on lower reserves: The ending allowance for credit losses was $190.3 million, down from $195.2 million sequentially and $224.1 million a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Returned $499.4 million to shareholders: The Corporation returned $499.4 million to common shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter. Source
  • Repurchased 2.1 million shares: The Corporation repurchased 2,129,047 common shares at a total cost of $350.6 million, an average price of $164.65 per share. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.80: Common dividends declared totaled $148.8 million, with the quarterly dividend kept at $0.80 per share from the previous quarter. Source
  • Preferred dividends declared: Preferred stock dividends declared in the quarter totaled $4.7 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 July 2026

  • Form 10-Q will finalize figures: Client assets, regulatory capital, risk-weighted assets and ratios for the quarter are preliminary until the Form 10-Q is filed with the SEC. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source1.81% (FTE); 1.79% (GAAP)
Net interest income Source$683.1 million (FTE); $675.5 million (GAAP)
Loans SourceAverage loans $41,567.6 million; period-end loans $43,822.0 million
Deposits SourceAverage total deposits $127,845.7 million
Provision for credit losses Source$(5.3) million (negative provision)
Net charge-offs SourceNet recoveries of $0.4 million; annualized net charge-offs to average loans - %
Nonperforming assets SourceNonaccrual loans $71.3 million; nonaccrual assets/loans 0.16%
CET1 ratio Source12.2% standardized; 14.3% advanced (preliminary, June 30, 2026)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Wealth Management fees fell sequentially as lower asset values in Global Family Office were reflected with a one-quarter lag. Source
  • External: Unfavorable currency translation partly offset the effect of favorable markets on year-over-year client asset growth. Source
  • Demand: Average Asset Servicing deposits declined sequentially, while Wealth Management average deposits rose. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described the quarter as reflecting disciplined execution of the One Northern Trust strategy, without stating a dated target. 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.