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United Bankshares Inc.: 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

  • Record full-year earnings reported: Full-year earnings were up from $373.0 million, or $2.75 per diluted share, in 2024. Source
  • Record quarterly net interest income: Net interest income rose 24% from the fourth quarter of 2024; tax-equivalent net interest income rose $54.9 million year over year. Source
  • Net interest margin widened sequentially: Fourth-quarter margin was 3.49% a year earlier; the full-year margin was 3.78%, also up from 3.49% in 2024. Source
  • Deposit costs fell from third quarter: Cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.63% in the fourth quarter, down 39 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Nonperforming loans declined: Nonperforming loans were $101.5 million, or 0.41% of loans, down from $116.9 million, or 0.48%, at September 30. Source
  • Noninterest income fell from third quarter: Noninterest income was $30.9 million, down $12.3 million or 28%; the third quarter had $10.4 million of net securities gains against a $218 thousand loss in the fourth. Source
  • Capital ratios exceed well-capitalized levels: Well-capitalized minimums are 10.0% risk-based, 6.5% CET1, 8.0% Tier 1 and 5.0% leverage; the company describes itself as well-capitalized. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of 1.3 million shares: Full-year repurchases totalled 3.6 million shares at an average $35.24, after none in 2024; tangible book value per share reached $24.63. Source

“Our financial performance in 2025 was among the very best in our Company’s long history”

Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer

Results and earnings drivers

  • Record full-year earnings reported: Full-year earnings were up from $373.0 million, or $2.75 per diluted share, in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter earnings eased sequentially: Fourth-quarter earnings were $130.7 million, or $0.92, in the third quarter, and $94.4 million, or $0.69, a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year returns rose versus 2024: Against 2024, full-year returns on average assets, equity and tangible equity were 1.26%, 7.61% and 12.43%. Source
  • Piedmont acquisition lifted year-over-year comparisons: Comparisons with 2024 include the Piedmont balances, income and expense added from January 10, 2025. Source

Net interest income and margin

  • Record quarterly net interest income: Net interest income rose 24% from the fourth quarter of 2024; tax-equivalent net interest income rose $54.9 million year over year. Source
  • Net interest margin widened sequentially: Fourth-quarter margin was 3.49% a year earlier; the full-year margin was 3.78%, also up from 3.49% in 2024. Source
  • Spread widened on lower funding costs: Average yield on earning assets fell 11 basis points, partly offsetting the lower cost of funds. Source
  • Acquired loan accretion income increased: Full-year accretion income was $33.7 million, against $9.3 million for 2024. Source

“We delivered record earnings, strong profitability, resilient credit, and robust capital and liquidity.”

Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer

Loans and deposits

  • Loan growth funded by deposits: Average loans and deposits both rose on the quarter, with deposits covering the loan increase. Source
  • Loan yield declined slightly: Lower loan yield partly offset the deposit cost decline in net interest income. Source
  • Commercial loans grew to $19.05 billion: Commercial loans and leases were $19.05 billion at December 31, up from $18.90 billion at September 30 and $16.15 billion a year earlier; mortgage and consumer loans were $4.85 billion and $0.82 billion. Source
  • Deposits rose to $27.06 billion: The loans-to-deposits ratio was 91.31% at year-end, against 91.21% at September 30. Source
  • Deposit costs fell from third quarter: Cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.63% in the fourth quarter, down 39 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source

Credit quality and provision

  • Nonperforming loans declined: Nonperforming loans were $101.5 million, or 0.41% of loans, down from $116.9 million, or 0.48%, at September 30. Source
  • Nonperforming assets fell to $110.3 million: Other real estate owned was $8.9 million; total nonperforming assets were 0.33% of total assets, against 0.37% at September 30. Source
  • Allowance ratio edged down: The allowance was $297.5 million, or 1.20% of loans, from $300.1 million, or 1.22%, at September 30; the allowance for credit losses including commitments was $332.6 million. Source
  • Provision eased to $6.8 million: Full-year provision totalled $53.9 million, including $18.7 million on non-PCD loans acquired from Piedmont. Source
  • Net charge-offs fell in the fourth quarter: Third-quarter net charge-offs were $20.0 million, or 0.33%; full-year net charge-offs were $45.7 million, or 0.19%. Source
  • Non-accrual loans fell from September: Non-accrual loans were $96.5 million at December 31, down from $110.2 million at September 30, after the third-quarter downgrades.

“As we look to the new year, we remain committed to our mission of excellence in service to our shareholders, customers, communities, and employees.”

Richard M. Adams, Jr., United’s Chief Executive Officer

Fee income and mortgage

  • Noninterest income fell from third quarter: Noninterest income was $30.9 million, down $12.3 million or 28%; the third quarter had $10.4 million of net securities gains against a $218 thousand loss in the fourth. Source
  • Full-year fee income rose 9%: Net securities gains of $11.2 million, against 2024 losses of $7.7 million, helped the full-year total. Source
  • Brokerage fees rose on volume: Full-year bank-owned life insurance income rose $2.0 million, and deposit service fees rose $1.8 million. Source
  • Mortgage banking income declined: Full-year income from mortgage banking fell $6.5 million; loans originated were $370.9 million, against $645.9 million in 2024. Source

Expenses and effective tax rate

  • Fourth-quarter expenses rose 3%: Unfunded-commitment reserve expense moved to $2.4 million from a $3.2 million benefit in the third quarter; employee benefits fell $1.7 million. Source
  • Expenses up on acquisition headcount: Noninterest expense rose $17.5 million, or 13%, from the fourth quarter of 2024; other expense rose $2.3 million on tax credit amortization. Source
  • Full-year expenses include merger costs: Full-year expense compared with $545.0 million in 2024, which included $2.9 million of merger-related expenses. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell in fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter tax rate compared with 22.0% a year earlier; the full-year rate was 20.4%, against 19.7% in 2024. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Capital ratios exceed well-capitalized levels: Well-capitalized minimums are 10.0% risk-based, 6.5% CET1, 8.0% Tier 1 and 5.0% leverage; the company describes itself as well-capitalized. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks of 1.3 million shares: Full-year repurchases totalled 3.6 million shares at an average $35.24, after none in 2024; tangible book value per share reached $24.63. Source
  • Quarterly dividend rose to $0.38: The quarterly payout ratio was 41.50%, and the full-year payout ratio was 45.63%. Source

Franchise, strategy and people

  • Organic growth cited as driver: The CEO attributes the year’s results to continued success in high quality organic growth. Source
  • Footprint of over 240 offices: Consolidated assets were approximately $34 billion at December 31, 2025, and the company ranks 41st among U.S. banks by market capitalization. Source
  • Headcount higher than a year ago: The employee count fell from the third quarter but remained above the prior year level. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Final 10-K figures pending: Preliminarily reported amounts will be adjusted if necessary until the 10-K for December 31, 2025 is filed. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net interest margin Source3.83%
Net interest income Source$287.5 million
Loans and loan growth Source$24.71 billion net loans and leases
Deposit costs Source2.63% cost of interest-bearing deposits
Deposits Source$27.06 billion total deposits
Provision for credit losses Source$6.8 million
Net charge-offs Source$9.3 million, 0.15% annualized
Nonperforming assets Source$110.3 million, 0.33% of total assets
CET1 ratio Source13.4%
Efficiency ratio Source47.65%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Construction loan commitments grew, raising the reserve expense for unfunded commitments in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: The sponsor’s ability to back two downgraded CRE loans was in question after the third quarter.

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.