10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2015

CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP INC/RI Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2015

Filed August 7, 2015For Securities:CFGCFG-PHCFG-PECFG-PI

Summary

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (CFG) reported its second quarter 2015 results, showing a net income of $190 million, a decrease from $313 million in the same quarter of the prior year. This decline was largely due to a significant $280 million decrease in noninterest income, primarily driven by a $288 million pre-tax gain from the Chicago Divestiture in the prior year's quarter. Excluding restructuring charges and special items, net income actually increased by 5% year-over-year, reaching $215 million. Despite the year-over-year decline in reported net income, the company demonstrated operational improvements. Net interest income increased slightly by 1% to $840 million, supported by growth in earning assets. However, the net interest margin narrowed to 2.72% from 2.87% due to the persistent low-rate environment impacting loan yields and higher borrowing costs. The company's loan portfolio saw growth, with total loans and leases increasing by 3% to $96.5 billion, driven by commercial and retail loan expansion, particularly in auto and student lending. Capital ratios remained strong, with the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio at 11.8% under transitional Basel III rules. The company continued its strategic initiatives, including efforts to improve efficiency and manage costs, as evidenced by a 11% decrease in noninterest expense compared to the prior year's quarter, primarily due to lower restructuring charges and the impact of the Chicago Divestiture. Overall, CFG is navigating a challenging low-interest-rate environment while focusing on strategic execution and expense management.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$1.20B
Interest Expense$112.00M
Net Income$190.00M
EPS (Basic)$0.35
EPS (Diluted)$0.35
Shares Outstanding (Basic)537.73M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)539.91M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income for the second quarter of 2015 was $190 million, down from $313 million in Q2 2014, primarily due to a significant decrease in noninterest income as a result of the Chicago Divestiture gain in the prior year.
  • 2Excluding restructuring charges and special items, net income increased 5% year-over-year to $215 million.
  • 3Net interest income increased 1% to $840 million, driven by earning asset growth, although the net interest margin compressed by 15 basis points to 2.72% due to the low-rate environment and higher borrowing costs.
  • 4Total loans and leases grew by 3% to $96.5 billion, with increases in both commercial and retail portfolios, notably in auto and student loans.
  • 5Noninterest expense decreased 11% year-over-year to $841 million, largely due to a reduction in restructuring charges and special items, and the impact of the Chicago Divestiture.
  • 6The company maintained strong capital ratios, with a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 11.8% under transitional Basel III rules.
  • 7Provision for credit losses increased by 57% to $77 million, reflecting loan growth and lower commercial recoveries, although overall asset quality continued to improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

The decrease in net income from $313 million in Q2 2014 to $190 million in Q2 2015 was primarily driven by a $280 million decrease in noninterest income. This was largely due to a significant pre-tax gain of $288 million related to the Chicago Divestiture recognized in the second quarter of 2014, which was not present in the current quarter.

The total loan and lease portfolio grew by 3% to $96.5 billion as of June 30, 2015, compared to December 31, 2014. This growth was observed in both the commercial and retail segments, with notable increases in auto and student loans. The company also reported improvements in asset quality, with nonperforming loans as a percentage of total loans decreasing.

The persistent low-rate environment continues to pressure loan yields and the net interest margin. While net interest income saw a slight increase due to asset growth, the net interest margin decreased by 15 basis points to 2.72% compared to the prior year's quarter. The company anticipates this will continue to be a headwind.

Citizens Financial Group maintained strong capital levels. As of June 30, 2015, the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio was 11.8% under transitional Basel III rules, which is well above the regulatory minimums. The company also received a notice of non-objection to its capital plan from the Federal Reserve in March 2015.