Citizens Financial Group reported net interest income growth of 7.6% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, driven by an increase in average loan balances across both retail and commercial portfolios. Non-interest income rose by 5.2%, supported by higher fee income from wealth management and mortgage servicing. Net charge-offs remained stable at 0.25% of average loans, reflecting continued asset quality. Loan originations in the quarter totaled $12.4 billion, up 9% from the prior year, while average deposits grew by 4.8%, reaching $157 billion.

For Q1 2026, analysts project earnings per share of $1.11 and total revenue of $2.15 billion. Citizens Financial has outperformed consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering an average positive surprise of 3.14%. Management has reiterated guidance for modest net interest income growth in the mid-single digits and non-interest income growth of approximately 4% for the full year, while forecasting expense growth of 3% to 4% as investments in technology and branch optimization continue.

At year-end, Citizens Financial’s common equity Tier 1 capital ratio stood at 10.9%, well above regulatory minimums. The bank’s price-to-earnings ratio is 15.36, reflecting a valuation in line with regional peers, and its debt-to-equity ratio is 0.41, indicating moderate leverage. The efficiency ratio for the quarter improved to 57.2% from 58.5% a year earlier, underscoring the impact of cost-management initiatives. Liquidity coverage ratio remains robust at 124%, providing a solid buffer against potential funding stress.