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PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 15 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $2.1 billion, and diluted EPS was $4.97, or $5.09 as adjusted, compared with $4.81 in the second quarter. Source
  • Net interest income rose 2%: Net interest income increased $99 million to $4.2 billion, helped by commercial loan growth and higher asset yields, partly offset by funding costs. Source
  • Fee income fell 6%: Fee income was $2.1 billion, down $137 million, mainly because of elevated second-quarter capital markets and advisory revenue. Source
  • Noninterest expense fell 8%: Noninterest expense was $3.8 billion, down 8%, and down 3% as adjusted for integration costs and significant items in both quarters. Source
  • Average loans grew 2%: Average loans were $372.2 billion, up $9.0 billion, with commercial growth from new production and higher utilization. Source
  • Commercial nonperforming loans increased: Nonperforming loans were $2.2 billion, up $167 million from June 30, driven by higher commercial nonperforming loans. Source
  • Capital returned $1.4 billion: PNC returned $1.4 billion to shareholders, including $0.8 billion of common dividends and $0.6 billion of buybacks. Source
  • Integration and significant items cut EPS 12 cents: Integration costs of $36 million and net significant items of negative $25 million reduced net income by $48 million after tax. Source

“Our strategy continues to drive growth across our businesses, as we deepen our presence in key markets and expand our reach nationally.”

Bill Demchak, PNC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Share repurchases SourceFourth quarter 2026approximate third quarter 2026 share repurchase levelsNew
Stress capital buffer SourceThrough December 31, 20272.5% (regulatory minimum)Kept
Federal funds rate SourceThrough the December 2026 and March 2027 FOMC meetings4.25% to 4.50%Raised from 3.50% to 3.75%
Real GDP growth Source2026above 2%
Core inflation SourceThrough year-end 2026above 3%

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Share repurchase guidance moved to the fourth quarter, expected to approximate third-quarter levels. Source
  • Guidance raised: The baseline rate path changed from no change at 3.50% to 3.75% to two further increases, to 4.25% to 4.50%. Source
  • Guidance kept: The stress capital buffer stays at 2.5%, and its maintenance period was extended from September 30, 2027 to December 31, 2027. Source
  • New: A $1.4 billion student loan portfolio was transferred to held-for-sale during the quarter. Source

Earnings and revenue

  • Net income and EPS rose: Net income was $2.1 billion, and diluted EPS was $4.97, or $5.09 as adjusted, compared with $4.81 in the second quarter. Source
  • Revenue fell on lower noninterest income: Total revenue was $6.6 billion, down $313 million from the second quarter, as higher net interest income did not offset lower noninterest income. Source
  • PPNR rose 1%: Pretax, pre-provision earnings were $2.8 billion, up 1% from the second quarter, with provision for credit losses stable at $189 million. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Net interest income rose 2%: Net interest income increased $99 million to $4.2 billion, helped by commercial loan growth and higher asset yields, partly offset by funding costs. Source
  • Net interest margin eased: Net interest margin was 2.94%, down 2 basis points from 2.96% in the second quarter and up from 2.79% a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month net interest income higher: Net interest income for the nine months was $12.3 billion, compared with $10.7 billion a year earlier. Source

“During the third quarter, we continued to build on the strong momentum we delivered in the first half of the year, and we generated an 18.3% return on average tangible common equity.”

Bill Demchak, PNC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Fee income and capital markets

  • Fee income fell 6%: Fee income was $2.1 billion, down $137 million, mainly because of elevated second-quarter capital markets and advisory revenue. Source
  • Capital markets revenue eased: Capital markets and advisory revenue fell $144 million from the second quarter, after elevated activity in that quarter. Source
  • Asset management fees rose: Asset management and brokerage fees rose $7 million on higher average equity markets and increased client activity. Source
  • Card and cash fees edged down: Card and cash management revenue was down $3 million, as treasury product revenue gains were more than offset by FirstBank fee waivers. Source

Expenses and efficiency

  • Noninterest expense fell 8%: Noninterest expense was $3.8 billion, down 8%, and down 3% as adjusted for integration costs and significant items in both quarters. Source
  • Lower compensation drove adjusted decline: Adjusted expense fell $113 million from the second quarter on lower compensation and continued expense discipline. Source
  • Adjusted expense up year on year: Adjusted expense rose $263 million from a year earlier, reflecting business investment and FirstBank operating costs. Source
  • Effective tax rate eased: The effective tax rate was 20.0%, compared with 20.5% in the second quarter and 20.3% a year earlier. Source

“We are well positioned, and remain confident in our long-term outlook.”

Bill Demchak, PNC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Loans, deposits and funding

  • Average loans grew 2%: Average loans were $372.2 billion, up $9.0 billion, with commercial growth from new production and higher utilization. Source
  • Commercial loans led growth: Average commercial loans rose $10.4 billion, or 4%, on new production and higher utilization, and were up 19% from a year earlier. Source
  • Consumer loans declined 1%: Average consumer loans fell $1.4 billion, mainly on lower residential mortgages and the transfer of student loans. Source
  • Period-end deposits rose 4%: Deposits at September 30 were $466.4 billion, up $16.6 billion, driven by commercial interest-bearing deposits and new client relationships. Source
  • Borrowed funds fell at quarter-end: Borrowed funds at September 30 were $6.0 billion lower than at June 30, mostly from fewer Federal Home Loan Bank advances. Source
  • Securities balances increased: Average investment securities rose $4.3 billion, or 3%, mainly on higher residential mortgage-backed securities. Source

Credit quality

  • Net charge-offs rose to $257 million: Net loan charge-offs were $257 million, up $31 million from the second quarter and $78 million from a year earlier. Source
  • Student loan transfer added charge-offs: Net charge-offs included $35 million tied to the student loan portfolio transfer. Source
  • Commercial nonperforming loans increased: Nonperforming loans were $2.2 billion, up $167 million from June 30, driven by higher commercial nonperforming loans. Source
  • Delinquencies declined: Delinquencies were $1.3 billion, down $135 million, due to lower consumer loan delinquencies. Source
  • Allowance coverage declined: The allowance for credit losses was 1.42% of total loans, down from 1.48% at June 30 and 1.61% a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Equity fell on AOCI decline: Common shareholders’ equity fell $1.6 billion to $56.5 billion, mainly from lower AOCI, dividends and buybacks, partly offset by net income. Source
  • AOCI fell to negative $6.5 billion: AOCI was negative $6.5 billion, from negative $4.1 billion at June 30, reflecting higher rates on securities and swaps. Source
  • Capital returned $1.4 billion: PNC returned $1.4 billion to shareholders, including $0.8 billion of common dividends and $0.6 billion of buybacks. Source
  • Buyback authorization remaining: About 27% of the 100 million common shares under the repurchase program remained available at September 30. Source
  • Liquidity ratio above minimum: Average liquidity coverage ratio was 106% for the quarter, above the regulatory minimum throughout. Source

Business segment results

  • Retail Banking earnings fell 18%: Retail Banking earned $1.4 billion, down 18%, mainly because the second-quarter Visa share exchange gain did not recur. Source
  • Retail earnings up year on year: Retail Banking earnings rose 5% from a year earlier, on higher net interest income and noninterest income and a lower provision. Source
  • Corporate and Institutional Banking eased: Corporate & Institutional Banking earned $1.55 billion, down 2%, on lower noninterest income, partly offset by higher net interest income. Source
  • Corporate loans grew 17%: Corporate & Institutional Banking average loans rose 17% from a year earlier, led by commercial and industrial new production. Source
  • Asset Management earnings declined: Asset Management Group earned $128 million, down 5%, on higher noninterest expense and lower net interest income. Source

FirstBank integration and significant items

  • Integration and significant items cut EPS 12 cents: Integration costs of $36 million and net significant items of negative $25 million reduced net income by $48 million after tax. Source
  • Other noninterest income fell $275 million: Other noninterest income was $214 million, down $275 million, reflecting second-quarter significant items. Source
  • Integration expense lower: Integration costs in expense were $27 million in the third quarter, against $261 million of integration costs and significant items in the second quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 15 October 2026

  • Dividend payable November 5: The board declared a $2.00 quarterly common dividend on October 2, payable November 5 to holders of record on October 14. Source
  • Buybacks may be adjusted: Repurchase levels may change with market and economic conditions and other factors, according to management. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source2.94%
Net interest income Source$4,206 million
Average loans Source$372.2 billion
Average deposits Source$461.2 billion
Provision for credit losses Source$189 million
Net charge-offs Source$257 million
Nonperforming loans Source$2,194 million
CET1 capital ratio Source9.8%
Efficiency ratio Source57%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities reached $4.0 billion, up from $2.1 billion at June 30. Source
  • Regulatory: Visa Class B-3 derivative fair value adjustments were negative $36 million, primarily tied to litigation escrow funding. Source
  • Operational: Integration costs related to the FirstBank acquisition were $36 million in the third quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected third-quarter repurchases to approximate second-quarter levels; this release does not state whether that was met.

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.