Huntington Bancshares reported fourth-quarter revenue growth of 12% year over year, yet both top-line and EPS figures fell short of analysts’ forecasts. While net interest income rose 14% on stronger loan yields, noninterest income lagged expectations. EPS declined to $0.37 per share from $0.39 consensus, driven by elevated credit provisions and a 9% increase in operating expenses compared with the prior year.

The bank’s noninterest expense climbed by 9% sequentially, fueled by technology integration costs related to pending acquisitions and higher personnel expenses. Credit provisions surged by 18%, reflecting management’s conservative stance on asset quality as the criticized asset ratio increased from 3.79% to 4.23% in the quarter.

Trading volume spiked to 86.2 million shares, roughly 204% above the three-month average, marking the heaviest turnover since mid-2024. Institutional investors appeared to rebalance regional banking exposure following the earnings miss, contributing to a significant intraday share decline.

Management forecasts a 10% rise in operating expenses for fiscal 2026, driven by integration of the Vertex and Cadence acquisitions. At the midpoint of guidance, stand-alone net interest income is expected to climb 11.5%, loans 11.5%, deposits 8.5%, and fee revenue 14.5%. The full realization of merger synergies is targeted by mid-year, underpinning Huntington’s strategic push into Southern U.S. markets and supporting long-term profitability objectives.