Cullen/Frost Bankers(US:CFR) ZACKSยท2025-08-01 17:20Core Viewpoint - Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR) reported a strong second-quarter 2025 performance with earnings per share of $2.39, reflecting an 8.1% year-over-year increase, surpassing estimates by 4.8% [1][8] Financial Performance - The company's net income available to common shareholders was $155.3 million, up 7.9% from the prior year [2] - Total revenues reached $567.8 million, a 7.4% increase year-over-year, exceeding estimates by 1.9% [3] - Net interest income (NII) increased by 6.9% to $450.6 million, with the net interest margin (NIM) expanding by 13 basis points to 3.67% [3] - Non-interest income improved by 5.5% to $117.2 million, driven by growth in all components except for other non-interest income [4] Expenses and Concerns - Non-interest expenses rose by 9.5% to $347.1 million, which was higher than estimates [4][8] - The allowance for credit losses on loans increased, raising investor concerns despite the earnings beat [2][8] Loan and Deposit Trends - Total loans as of June 30, 2025, were $21.2 billion, up 1.7% sequentially, while total deposits decreased by 1.7% to $41.7 billion [5] Credit Quality - Credit loss expenses were recorded at $13.1 million, down from $15.8 million in the prior year [6] - The allowance for credit losses on loans was 1.31%, an increase of 3 basis points year-over-year [6] Capital Ratios and Profitability - The Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio improved to 14.43% from 13.82% year-over-year [7] - Return on average assets and return on average common equity were 1.20% and 15.59%, respectively, showing slight improvements from the prior year [9] Dividend Announcement - The company declared a third-quarter cash dividend of $1.00 per common share, marking a 5.3% increase from the previous payout [10] Strategic Outlook - The company is positioned for revenue growth due to steady improvements in NII and non-interest income, supported by a solid capital position [11]