Barclays (NYSE:BCS) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 10, 2026 09:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAnna Cross - Group Finance DirectorDan Fairclough - Group TreasurerGildas Surry - Managing DirectorLee Street - VPPaul Fenner-Leitão - Managing Director and Head of Financials Credit ResearchRobert Smalley - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsDaniel David - Director and Senior AnalystOperatorWelcome to Barclays' full-year 2025 fixed income conference call. I'll now hand over to Anna Cross, Group Finance Dir ...

Barclays (NYSE:BCS) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 10, 2026 09:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAnna Cross - Group Finance DirectorDan Fairclough - Group TreasurerGildas Surry - Managing DirectorLee Street - VPPaul Fenner-Leitão - Managing Director and Head of Financials Credit ResearchRobert Smalley - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsDaniel David - Director and Senior AnalystOperatorWelcome to Barclays' full-year 2025 fixed income conference call. I'll now hand over to Anna Cross, Group Finance Dir ...

Financial Performance - Barclays achieved a return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 11.3% and top-line income grew by 9% year-on-year to GBP 29.1 billion [2][3] - The cost-income ratio improved to 61%, and the group loan loss rate was 52 basis points, within the 50-60 basis points guidance [2][3] - The CET1 ratio ended the year at 14.3%, with a GBP 1 billion share buyback and a GBP 800 million final dividend [7][8] Business Lines and Key Metrics - The investment bank's risk-weighted assets (RWAs) are expected to remain stable at around GBP 200 billion, with a target to reduce investment bank RWAs as a percentage of the group to approximately 50% by 2028 [5][6] - The structural hedge contributed significantly to net interest income (NII), with gross structural hedge income increasing by GBP 1.2 billion to GBP 5.9 billion, accounting for 46% of 2025 group NII [12][13] Market Data and Key Metrics - The deposit base increased by GBP 25 billion across customer segments, with strong corporate growth in the International Corporate Bank and retail deposits in both UK and US markets [12][13] - The average liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) was 170%, representing GBP 131 billion in excess of regulatory requirements [12] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - Barclays is focused on sustainable higher returns, with plans to achieve a RoTE greater than 12% in 2026 and over 14% by 2028, supported by stable income streams from retail and corporate businesses [4][5] - The company is actively engaging in digital assets and tokenization, aiming to leverage technology to enhance client services and bridge developments between the US and UK [14][15][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering strong financial results and maintaining a robust capital position, while also emphasizing the importance of regulatory clarity in future capital planning [6][25][47] - The company is committed to disciplined capital allocation, prioritizing regulatory capital, shareholder distributions, and selective investments [6][25] Other Important Information - Barclays is participating in the Sterling Tokenized Deposits pilot phase, exploring the potential of digital assets to transform financial services [14][15][16] - The company aims for its senior ratings to qualify as single A composite across all indices, indicating a focus on improving credit ratings [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Appetite for Inorganic Growth - Management highlighted recent transactions that align with strategic goals, emphasizing the importance of price and integration complexity in future inorganic growth opportunities [20][21][24] Question: Structural Hedge Balances - Management confirmed the successful reinvestment of structural hedge balances and discussed the balance between commercial outcomes and protecting hedgeable balances [26][27] Question: SRT Constraints - Management explained that SRTs are viewed as a risk management tool, with a focus on maintaining appropriate hedge ratios across the portfolio [27][30] Question: Tier 2 Issuance - Management indicated that while there is a Tier 2 call coming up, issuance will be limited, reflecting a disciplined approach to capital management [32][34] Question: Ratings and Upgrades - Management expressed optimism about potential ratings upgrades, citing improved credit profiles and ongoing dialogue with rating agencies [33][35] Question: Private Credit Partnerships - Management acknowledged the success of private credit partnerships but noted they are not material to the overall business [62]