Truist Financial (TFC) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 18, 2025 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsBrad Milsaps - Head - IRWilliam Rogers - Chairman, CEO & DirectorMike Maguire - CFOEbrahim Poonawala - MD & Head - North American Banks ResearchBetsy Graseck - Global Head - Banks & Diversified Finance ResearchMike Mayo - MD & Head - US Large-Cap Bank ResearchChristopher Mcgratty - MD & Head of U.S. Bank ResearchThomas Leddy - AVP - Equity ResearchBrad Bender - Chief Risk OfficerConference Call ParticipantsR. Scott Si ...

Comerica (CMA) Q2 2025 Earnings Call July 18, 2025 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsKelly Gage - Director - IRCurtis Farmer - Chairman, CEO & PresidentJames Herzog - CFO & Senior EVPManan Gosalia - Head - U.S. Midcaps Banks ResearchPeter Sefzik - Senior EVP & Chief Banking OfficerJon Arfstrom - MD & Associate Director - US ResearchMike Mayo - MD & Head - US Large-Cap Bank ResearchAnthony Elian - Equity Research – BanksAndrew Leischner - AVP - Equity ResearchMelinda Chausse - Senior EVP & Chief Credit Officer ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record sales and earnings for the second quarter of 2025, with net sales increasing by 4% year over year to approximately $2.7 billion [11][21] - Adjusted operating income rose by 14% to $251 million from $221 million in the previous year, with an adjusted operating margin of 9.3%, an increase of 80 basis points [11][21] - Earnings per share for the second quarter reached a record high, with a significant increase over the past five years, primarily driven by strong net profit growth and a reduced share count [9][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a gross margin of 18.5%, an increase of 30 basis points year over year, driven by direct labor efficiency and headcount reductions [12][21] - Direct labor productivity improved as the company reduced its direct production personnel by 3,200 year over year, supported by automation and digitalization initiatives [12][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global light vehicle production increased by 2.7% in the second quarter, exceeding initial expectations, while production in North America and Western Europe declined by around 3% each [13][14] - In China, the company saw a significant improvement, with sales to domestic OEMs growing more than 16%, aligning with light vehicle production growth [17][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasized its commitment to sustainable growth and long-term value creation, focusing on deepening partnerships with leading global and Chinese OEMs [32][34] - Strategic initiatives include enhancing operational efficiency, automation, digitalization, and maintaining a healthy leverage ratio not exceeding 1.5 times [33][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed caution regarding the remainder of the year due to complexities from tariffs and economic factors, while remaining optimistic about performance in China [6][30] - The outlook for global light vehicle production in 2025 is uncertain, with expectations of a decline in the second half of the year [30][31] Other Important Information - The company plans to increase its third-quarter dividend to $0.85 per share, reflecting confidence in its financial strength [10] - The company is committed to annual stock repurchases of $300 million to $500 million, despite a slower pace in the first half of the year [10][97] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding performance in China - The company noted that it is closing the gap in performance with Chinese OEMs and expects to continue outperforming the market in the latter half of the year [41][42] Question: On product volume fluctuations - The management explained that variations in product volumes are influenced by mix dynamics and launch activities [44][45] Question: On tariff recovery - The management clarified that the slower recovery in Q2 was due to timing effects and expressed confidence in recovering the remaining tariffs by the end of the year [50][51] Question: On margin guidance and raw material costs - The management indicated that raw material costs have slightly improved, with a headwind expected to be around $20 million, down from $40 million previously anticipated [54][55] Question: On pricing dynamics - The company continues to negotiate prices in light of tariffs and inflation, maintaining a historical pricing model [104][105] Question: On market share in India - The company reported a 60% market share in India and expects it to contribute around 5% to group sales for the full year [72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record sales and earnings for Q2 2025, with net sales of approximately $2.7 billion, representing a 4% year-over-year increase [10][21] - Adjusted operating income increased by 14% to $251 million from $221 million last year, with an adjusted operating margin of 9.3%, an improvement of 80 basis points [10][21] - Earnings per share for Q2 reached a record high, with a year-over-year increase of $0.33, driven by higher operating income and a reduced share count [8][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a gross margin of 18.5%, an increase of 30 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to direct labor efficiency and headcount reductions [11][21] - Direct labor productivity improved as the company reduced direct production personnel by 3,200 year-over-year [11] - The company successfully recovered approximately 80% of the tariff costs incurred during Q2 and expects to recover most of the remaining portion later in the year [8][29] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global light vehicle production for Q2 increased by 2.7%, exceeding expectations, while production in North America and Western Europe declined by around 3% each [12][30] - In China, the company outperformed light vehicle production growth, with sales to domestic OEMs growing more than 16% [16][30] - The company’s sales in June outpaced the growth of Chinese light vehicle production, indicating a positive trend expected to continue [7][30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasized its commitment to achieving $300 million to $500 million annually in stock repurchases and increasing its dividend to $0.85 per share [9][34] - The strategic roadmap focuses on sustainable growth through partnerships with leading global and Chinese OEMs, innovations in safety systems, and operational improvements [33][34] - The company aims to navigate the complexities of tariffs and economic factors while maintaining a strong balance sheet and shareholder returns [29][34] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution about the remainder of the year due to complexities from tariffs and economic factors, despite a strong Q2 performance [6][30] - The outlook for global light vehicle production in 2025 remains uncertain, with expectations of a decline in the second half of the year [30][34] - The company anticipates a challenging 2025 for the automotive industry but expects significant improvement in sales performance in China [34] Other Important Information - The company’s cash flow remained strong despite higher receivables, driven by robust sales and tariff compensations [9][24] - The trade working capital increased by $185 million compared to the prior year, attributed to higher accounts receivables and inventories [25] - The company’s leverage ratio remains strong at 1.3 times, well below the target limit of 1.5 times [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Performance in China - The company indicated that it is closing the gap in performance with Chinese OEMs and expects to continue outperforming the market in China towards the end of the year [41][43] Question: Product Volume Dynamics - The company explained that the fluctuations in product volumes are due to mix effects and launch activities, which can lead to significant variations [44][45] Question: Tariff Recovery - Management clarified that the slower recovery of tariffs in Q2 was due to timing effects and expressed confidence in recovering the remaining tariffs by the end of the year [49][51] Question: Margin Guidance - The company expects Q3 to be the weakest quarter due to a projected drop in light vehicle production, with Q4 anticipated to be the strongest [56][78] Question: Pricing Dynamics - The company continues to negotiate pricing in light of tariffs and inflationary impacts, maintaining a historical pricing model [104][105] Question: EV and ICE Dynamics - The company noted that the EV component has not significantly impacted its gross operating margin in the Americas, and tariffs create uncertainty regarding new model launches [108][109]

Financial Performance - GAAP EPS was $0.34, including a $0.04 impact from a $58 million decrease in pre-tax earnings due to securities repositioning and Notable Items that decreased pre-tax earnings by $3 million[27] - ROTCE was 16.1%, or 17.6% on an adjusted basis[21] - Total revenue (FTE) grew by 8% YoY[29] - Pre-Provision Net Revenue (PPNR) grew by 8% YoY, or 15% on an adjusted basis[29] Loan and Deposit Growth - Average loans increased by $2.3 billion QoQ, representing a 1.8% increase[27] - Average loans increased by 7.9% YoY[20] - Average deposits increased by $1.8 billion QoQ, representing a 1.1% increase[27] - Average deposits increased by 6.4% YoY[20] Capital and Credit Quality - Tangible book value per share grew by 16% YoY[20] - Adjusted CET1 increased by 40bps over the last 4 quarters[21] - Net charge-offs were 0.20%[20] - Uninsured deposit coverage was 2x[20] Strategic Initiatives - Consumer primary bank relationship (PBR) grew by 4% YoY, and business PBR grew by 6% YoY[21] - Key Strategic Fee areas grew by 11% YoY[21] - The company announced the acquisition of Veritex in Texas[21]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $1,200,000,000 or $0.90 per share, which included $0.02 of restructuring charges and $0.01 of losses from the sale of certain investment securities [6][18] - Adjusted revenue increased by 2.1% linked quarter, driven by a 2.3% growth in net interest income and a 1.8% growth in non-interest income [19] - Average loans held for investment increased by 2% on a linked quarter basis, with end of period loans increasing by $10,200,000,000 or 3.3% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In consumer and small business banking, average loan balances increased by 2.8% linked quarter, with significant growth in residential mortgage and indirect auto loans [11] - Wholesale loans saw a 1.5% growth in average loans and a 2.9% increase in end of period loans, driven by new and existing clients [12] - Wealth management experienced a 27% increase in year-to-date assets under management (AUM) from wholesale and premier clients compared to the same period last year [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added nearly 37,000 new consumer and small business accounts, attracting younger clients with higher average balances [10] - Average deposits increased by $8,300,000,000 sequentially, or 2.1%, driven by growth in interest checking and time deposits [21] - The cumulative interest-bearing deposit beta declined from 43% to 37% on a linked quarter basis [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing strategic growth initiatives, maintaining credit and risk discipline, and returning capital to shareholders [33] - Investments are being made in talent, technology, and risk infrastructure to enhance client experience and operational efficiency [34] - The company aims to achieve positive operating leverage in 2025 despite challenges in investment banking and trading [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength of both consumer and wholesale client bases, noting good credit quality and liquidity among clients [42] - The company anticipates a recovery in investment banking and trading revenue in the second half of 2025 based on current pipelines and improved market conditions [25] - The outlook for revenue growth remains unchanged, with expectations for a 1.5% to 2.5% increase relative to 2024 adjusted revenue [29] Other Important Information - The company returned $1,400,000,000 of capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter [9] - The CET1 ratio was reported at 11%, with a strong capital position allowing for balance sheet growth and capital returns [28] - The company plans to target approximately $500,000,000 of share repurchases during the third quarter [10] Q&A Session Summary Question: Overall sentiment among the customer base - Management noted strong consumer business performance and good credit quality, with new clients impressed by the company's purpose-driven focus and product capabilities [40][44] Question: Anticipated pace of share repurchase - The reduction in share repurchase target was described as opportunistic, with a focus on maintaining a balance between capital return and banking franchise growth [46] Question: Deposit competition and costs - Management indicated that deposit competition is rational, with expectations for deposit costs to stabilize and improve in the coming quarters [56][58] Question: Fee revenue growth and trading recovery - Management observed a bounce back in trading and investment banking revenue, with expectations for normalized results in the third quarter [65] Question: Trajectory towards 15% ROTCE - Management highlighted various initiatives to improve profitability, including capital-efficient revenue generation and margin improvements [72][74] Question: Restructuring charges and investments - Most restructuring charges were related to severance, not merger-related, and the company continues to invest in technology and talent while maintaining expense discipline [85][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported earnings per share of $1.42, representing an almost 14% increase over the prior quarter [7] - Net interest income remained stable at $575 million for the third consecutive quarter, with a modest two basis point reduction in net interest margin [14] - Capitalization strength was highlighted with an estimated CET1 of 11.94%, well above the 10% strategic target [6][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average loans increased almost 1% and period-end loans rose approximately 3%, driven by new loan production for new and existing customers [9] - Non-interest income increased by $20 million, with growth across most customer line items due to higher loan volumes and seasonal benefits [15] - Expenses decreased by $23 million over the prior quarter, largely due to lower litigation-related expenses and salaries [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average deposits declined just over 1%, with the largest decreases in retail, corporate banking, and technology and life sciences [11] - Non-interest bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits remained flat at 38% for the fourth consecutive quarter, indicating stability in the funding mix [12] - The company expects full-year average deposits to decline by 2% to 3% in 2025, with a moderate increase in the third quarter balances anticipated [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on strategic investments in small business, middle market, business banking, and payments to drive responsible growth [26] - The management emphasized the importance of maintaining a conservative approach to capital while supporting customer needs and driving growth [24] - The company plans to continue share repurchases and monitor the economic environment and regulatory landscape for future capital decisions [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that while economic and geopolitical uncertainty persists, customers appear more confident in navigating the environment and making investments [6] - The outlook for 2025 includes projected net interest income growth of 5% to 7%, with loan trends outperforming expectations [20] - Management acknowledged the challenges in deposit pricing and anticipated upward pressure as they fund robust loan growth [21] Other Important Information - The company redeemed preferred stock, which, while beneficial for EPS, created a slight drag on net interest income due to the cash used for redemption [18] - The management expressed commitment to driving efficiency while balancing long-term growth and return objectives [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more color on the NII trajectory? - Management expects a slight decrease in NII in Q3 before an upward trajectory in Q4, driven by strong loan growth and deposit increases [30][31] Question: What are the expectations for expenses in Q3 and Q4? - Management indicated that expenses are expected to step up due to deferred project expenses and seasonal factors, with notable items not repeating [41][42] Question: Can you quantify the improvement in pipelines and activity? - Management noted an improvement in loan growth and positive momentum in pipelines, although quantifying it remains challenging [47][48] Question: What conditions would indicate that Comerica has not earned the right to remain independent? - Management emphasized the need to perform at an acceptable level and acknowledged the importance of protecting the company and serving clients [80][82] Question: How does the company view potential mergers and acquisitions? - Management stated that the $100 billion asset threshold is not a governor for pursuing transactions, focusing instead on organic growth opportunities [68][69] Question: What are the expectations for deposit pricing and repricing opportunities? - Management acknowledged the competitive environment for deposits and indicated that they are closely monitoring pricing strategies [100][101] Question: Can you provide more color on the increase in criticized loans? - Management described the increase as moderate, concentrated in three credits with consumer components under pressure from higher rates [103][105]

Key Performance Highlights - Core Net New Assets (NNA) reached $80.3 billion in 2Q25, a 31% increase compared to 2Q24's $61.2 billion[8, 17] - Year-to-date (YTD) core NNA totaled $218.0 billion, up 39% versus the prior year[8] - The company opened 1.1 million new brokerage accounts, bringing the total client accounts to 45.2 million[8, 17] - Daily Average Trades (DATs) were 7.6 million, and margin balances stood at $83.4 billion[8] Financial Results - Second quarter GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) reached a record of $1.08, with an adjusted EPS of $1.14[8] - Total net revenues for 2Q25 increased by 25% year-over-year to $5.9 billion[8, 22] - Net Interest Revenue (NIR) grew by 31% compared to 2Q24[44] - Asset Management and Administration Fees (AMAF) increased by 14% compared to 2Q24[44] - Trading revenue increased 23% due to higher trading volumes[44] - The company's adjusted pre-tax profit margin expanded to 50.1% in 2Q25[42, 48] Balance Sheet and Capital Management - Bank Supplemental Funding was reduced by approximately $10 billion from 1Q25 to approximately $28 billion[42] - The company redeemed approximately $2.5 billion of Series G preferred stock[57] - The company repurchased 3.9 million shares of common stock for $351 million[57]

Financial Performance - Revenue growth was 9%, reaching $17.856 billion, compared to $16.333 billion in the prior year [7] - Adjusted EPS increased by 17% to $4.08, up from $3.49 in Q2'24, excluding the Accertify gain [5, 7] - Net income decreased by 4% to $2.885 billion [7] - The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance of 8-10% revenue growth and $15.00-$15.50 EPS [5] Billed Business - Total billed business grew by 7% year-over-year (FX-adjusted) [9] - U S Consumer Services billed business also increased by 7% year-over-year [12] - International Card Services billed business grew by 12% year-over-year (FX-adjusted) [17] - Commercial Services billed business increased by 2% year-over-year (FX-adjusted) [14] Credit Metrics - The net write-off rate for Card Member Loans was 2.2% [67] - The net write-off rate for Card Member Receivables was 1.4% [67] - Total provision increased by 11% year-over-year, driven by a larger net reserve build and higher net write-offs [77] Capital and Guidance - The company's CET1 ratio was 10.6% [53] - The company projects an EPS of $15.00 - $15.50 for 2025 [56]

Financial Performance - Net income available to common shareholders increased by 121% linked-quarter to $1307 million or $036 per diluted common share[10] - Revenue grew by 65% linked-quarter driven by record net interest income and non-interest income[10] - Pre-provision net revenue totaled $1920 million a 165% increase from the prior quarter[10] Balance Sheet and Asset Quality - Average total loans and leases increased by $4517 million or 53% annualized linked-quarter[10] - Average total deposits increased by $1556 million or 17% annualized linked-quarter with non-interest-bearing deposits stable at 26% of total deposits[10] - The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total loans and OREO decreased 14 basis points to 034% from the prior quarter[10] - Allowance for Credit Losses totaled $4321 million or 125% of loans stable with the prior quarter[10] Capital and Shareholder Returns - Record tangible book value of $1114 per share with year-over-year growth of $126 or 128%[10] - Record capital metrics CET1 ratio of 108% and tangible common equity to tangible assets of 85%[10] - The company repurchased 07 million shares of common stock at a weighted average share price of $1385 during the second quarter of 2025[10] Guidance - The company expects mid-single-digit growth for both spot loans and spot deposits[65]