Summary of Huntington Bancshares Q1 2026 Earnings Call

1Key Financial Results and Metrics

Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported at $0.25; adjusted EPS was $0.37, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase.

Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR): Increased by 36% on an adjusted basis.

Tangible Book Value Growth: Up 9% year-over-year.

Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE): Consistently at 16%-17% range; target raised to 18%-19% by 2027.

Net Interest Income: Increased by 18.7% sequentially and 33% year-over-year.

Net Interest Margin (NIM): Reported at 3.24%, up 9 basis points from the prior quarter.

Deposits: Core deposits increased by $3.8 billion or 2.3% quarter-over-quarter, aided by strategic growth in primary banking relationships.

2Strategic Updates and Business Highlights

Partnership Integrations: Successful integration of Veritex and Cadence, with cost and revenue synergies on track. The Cadence systems migration is set for June.

Growth Initiatives: Continued expansion in the Carolinas and Texas; strong performance in capital markets, payments, and wealth management.

AI Investments: Ongoing enterprise-wide AI program aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency across various business functions.

Share Repurchase Program: Increased authorization to $3 billion, with $550 million planned for 2026.

3Forward Guidance and Outlook

2026 Expectations:

NIM projected to trend into the high 3.20s due to increased cash holdings at the Fed and competitive deposit pricing.

EPS guidance for 2027 set at $1.90 to $1.93.

Anticipated fourth-quarter efficiency ratio in the mid- to low 54% range, reflecting strong cost management and synergies.

Organic Growth: Strong momentum expected to continue, with a focus on maintaining disciplined expense management.

4Bad News, Challenges, or Points of Concern

Economic Environment: Increased caution in customer sentiment due to inflation and geopolitical tensions, which may impact loan growth and overall economic activity.

Credit Risks: Monitoring commercial real estate, particularly construction loans, with a planned reduction in exposure over time.

Competitive Pressures: The banking environment remains competitive, particularly in deposit pricing, which could impact margins.

5Notable Q&A Insights

Balance Sheet Optimization: Management is actively calibrating loan growth expectations and optimizing the balance sheet in response to the economic environment.

Retention of Talent: Strong retention rates reported post-acquisition, with ongoing efforts to enhance talent and capabilities in new markets.

Market Valuation Concerns: Management expressed frustration over stock performance relative to strong fundamentals, emphasizing a focus on delivering long-term growth and value creation.

Revenue Synergies: Early wins in revenue synergies from acquisitions are noted, particularly in capital markets and payments, with expectations for continued growth in these areas. Overall, Huntington Bancshares reported a strong first quarter with solid financial performance and strategic initiatives in place, while also navigating challenges in the economic landscape and competitive environment.