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First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA)
NASDAQ:FCNCA

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) AI Stock Analysis

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FCNCA

First Citizens BancShares

(NASDAQ:FCNCA)

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Neutral 69 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$2,208.00
▲(9.49% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by solid financial fundamentals and supportive earnings-call guidance on growth and capital return, offset by leverage/capital pressure, margin headwinds into 2026, and mixed-to-weak near-term technicals.
Positive Factors
Free Cash Flow Growth
Sustained FCF growth (~31.7% TTM) indicates strong cash conversion that supports durable capital allocation: debt paydowns, large share repurchases, and funding of tech and branch integration without immediate reliance on external financing, improving long-term financial flexibility.
Global Fund Banking Loan Growth
Robust, repeatable loan production driven by global fund banking reflects a differentiated commercial franchise that generates stable, higher-margin loan balances and sticky client relationships, supporting recurring interest and fee income and diversifying the loan book over the medium term.
Tangible Book Value & Buybacks
Double-digit tangible book growth and aggressive buybacks signal disciplined capital allocation and management confidence in underlying economics, enhancing per-share economics and long-term ROE if earnings remain stable, while returning capital to shareholders sustainably.
Negative Factors
NII/NIM Pressure
Guidance that net interest income and margins will trough in 2026 signals a structural earnings headwind: lower rate tailwinds and reduced accretion compress core bank profitability, pressuring operating cash generation and requiring either higher fee income or cost reductions to preserve returns.
Capital Ratio Compression
Declining CET1 to ~11.15% driven by buybacks and loan growth reduces capital buffers, limiting flexibility for further repurchases or dividend increases and elevating the importance of retaining earnings or issuing capital if regulatory or stress scenarios tighten over the medium term.
Concentrated Credit Loss Risk
Persistent concentration of losses in specific commercial portfolios and guidance for elevated NCOs (35–45 bps) imply sustained credit pressure. Concentration risk can produce episodic losses, force higher reserves, and constrain risk appetite, hampering long-term loan growth and profitability if not diversified.

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

First Citizens BancShares Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFirst Citizens BancShares, Inc. operates as the holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company that provides retail and commercial banking services to individuals, businesses, and professionals. The company's deposit products include checking, savings, money market, and time deposit accounts. Its loan product portfolio comprises commercial construction and land development, commercial mortgage, commercial and industrial, and lease financing loans, as well as small business administration paycheck protection program loans; and consumer loans, such as residential and revolving mortgage, construction and land development, consumer auto, and other consumer loans. The company also offers treasury services products, cardholder and merchant services, wealth management services, and various other products and services; investment products, including annuities, discount brokerage services, and third-party mutual funds, as well as investment management and advisory services; and defined benefit and defined contribution, insurance, private banking, trust, fiduciary, philanthropy, and special asset services. The company provides its products and services through its branch network, as well as through digital banking, telephone banking, and various ATM networks. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 529 branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. First Citizens BancShares, Inc. was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How the Company Makes MoneyFirst Citizens BancShares generates revenue primarily through net interest income, which is derived from the interest earned on loans and investments minus the interest paid on deposits and other borrowings. Key revenue streams include commercial loans, residential mortgages, and consumer loans, alongside fees from various banking services such as account maintenance, transaction services, and wealth management. The company also benefits from its investment portfolio, which contributes to its interest income. Additionally, First Citizens has established partnerships with fintech companies to enhance its digital banking capabilities, driving customer acquisition and retention, which in turn supports its overall earnings growth.

First Citizens BancShares Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jan 23, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 23, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call conveyed a balanced message: solid profitability, tangible book growth, meaningful share repurchases, strong loan production particularly in global fund banking, and sequential improvements in certain credit metrics. However, margin pressure from lower rates, elevated and persistent expense headwinds (technology, personnel, marketing), a decline in CET1 capital due to repurchases and loan growth, and continued concentration of credit losses in specific portfolios temper the optimism. Management expects NII to trough in 2026, plans continued investments that keep near-term expenses elevated, and outlines a path to repay the purchase money note while managing liquidity and capital.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Earnings and Returns
Adjusted EPS of $51.27 and adjusted net income of $648 million in Q4; adjusted ROE 11.93% and adjusted ROA 1.1%. Adjusted EPS increased $6.65 sequentially.
Tangible Book and Share Repurchases
Tangible book value per share grew 11% year-over-year and 3% sequentially. Repurchased $900 million of stock in Q4 and ~$4.9 billion total since July 2024 (repurchased ~18.3% of class A shares / ~17% of total common shares). Completed ~30% of the $4 billion board-authorized repurchase program.
Loan Growth Led by Global Fund Banking
Period-end loans rose $3.2 billion (2.2% sequentially), driven by global fund banking where loans increased $3.8 billion sequentially. Loan production exceeded $5 billion in the quarter (highest since acquisition).
Average Deposit Growth and Off-Balance-Sheet Momentum
Average deposits increased approximately $2.6 billion (about 1.6% sequentially). SVB commercial off-balance-sheet client funds totaled $69.7 billion, up $2.7 billion sequentially (average off-balance-sheet funds up $3.1 billion).
Noninterest Income Strength
Adjusted noninterest income rose ~2% sequentially, led by rental income on operating leases (larger fleet, lower maintenance), wealth management (higher AUM and brokerage sales), international factoring and deposit service charges. Q1 noninterest income guide $500–$530 million; FY guide $2.1–$2.2 billion.
Improvement in Credit Metrics Sequentially
Provision for credit losses declined $137 million sequentially. Net charge-offs fell $91 million to $143 million (39 bps annualized). Reserve release increased $66 million sequentially, reflecting mix shift to higher credit quality and improved macro outlook.
Progress on Strategic and Technology Initiatives
Management reports simplification and modernization progress (e.g., reducing >1/3 of applications, consolidating data centers from eight toward two). Expect peak technology spend in 2026 with a path toward improved operating leverage over time.
Liquidity and Cash Position
Liquidity described as strong; cash is roughly 10% of earning assets and firm intends to manage to an ~8–10% range. Initial $2.5 billion prepayment made on the FDIC purchase money note.
Negative Updates
Net Interest Income and Margin Pressure
Headline net interest income declined $12 million sequentially. Headline NIM was 3.20%, down 6 basis points QoQ; NIM ex-accretion was 3.11%, down 4 basis points QoQ. Management expects NII and NIM to trough in 2026 with FY NII guidance of $6.5–$6.9 billion and Q1 NII guide $1.6–$1.7 billion.
Rising Operating Expense and Short-Term Efficiency Impact
Adjusted noninterest expense increased $89 million sequentially (personnel +$38M, technology +$22M, direct bank marketing +$12M). Full-year adjusted noninterest expense guided to $5.37–$5.46 billion (low- to mid-single-digit % increase). Efficiency ratio expected in the lower-60% range in 2026, above long-term target.
Capital Ratio Compression
Quarter-end CET1 ratio declined to 11.15%, down 50 basis points QoQ, as share repurchases and loan growth outpaced earnings, moving capital nearer to but below some long-term targets.
Period-End Deposit Outflows and Funding Considerations
Period-end deposits declined $1.6 billion (about 1% QoQ); direct bank deposits down $344 million QoQ. Company plans to aggressively manage repayment of the FDIC purchase money note; initial $2.5 billion payment made, with minimum expected payments tied to collateral rolloff (~$500 million–$1 billion per month minimum guidance).
Ongoing Credit Concentrations and Elevated Loss Expectations
About half of net charge-offs remain concentrated in SVB investor-dependent, commercial bank general office, and equipment finance portfolios. Management expects full-year 2026 net charge-offs in the 35–45 bps range and expects losses to remain elevated in the medium term in certain commercial portfolios.
Headwinds to Interest Income and Accretion
Purchase accounting accretion (net) expected to decline from ~$250 million in 2025 to ~$203 million in 2026 (~$50 million decline). Management also expects loan accretion to be down approximately $100 million for the year and interest income on cash and investments to decline with lower yields.
Near-Term Expense and Marketing Pressure from Growth Initiatives
Management flagged higher direct bank marketing and continued technology investments; these items contribute to near-term expense pressure and a wider expense guidance range (Q1 and full-year ranges include variability driven by marketing timing, tech cadence and integration of BMO branch acquisition).
Company Guidance
Management guided Q1 loans of $148–151B and full‑year loans of $153–157B (pipeline ~$11.5B), Q1 deposits of $164–167B and full‑year deposits of $181–186B (including ~ $1B loans and ~$5.7B deposits from the BMO branch close in H2), Q1 headline NII of $1.6–1.7B and full‑year NII of $6.5–6.9B (loan accretion down ≈$100M), with a baseline Fed view of two cuts (June, October) that drives NII/NIM to trough in 2026 and exit Q4’26 roughly flat to 2025 (headline NIM in the mid‑3s, ex‑purchase NIM in the high‑2.90s); credit loss guidance is 35–45 bps NCOs for Q1 and the full year, purchase‑accounting accretion ≈$203M (vs ~$250M in 2025), adjusted noninterest income of $500–530M in Q1 and $2.1–2.2B for the year, adjusted noninterest expense of $1.34–1.38B in Q1 and $5.37–5.46B for the year (efficiency ratio expected in the lower‑60s), tax rate 24–25%, liquidity/capital actions include minimum purchase‑note paydowns of ~$500M–$1B/month with $2.5B paid in December, cash ≈10% of earning assets (managing to ~8–10%), Q4 CET1 11.15%, and share repurchases expected near ~$900M per quarter as capital is managed toward targets.

First Citizens BancShares Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Solid profitability and cash generation (healthy net margin; strong free cash flow growth), but tempered by leverage risk (debt-to-equity 1.76) and a recent slowdown in revenue growth.
Income Statement
72
Positive
The income statement shows a mixed performance. The company experienced a decline in revenue growth rate in the TTM period, indicating potential challenges in maintaining revenue momentum. However, the net profit margin remains healthy at 16.02%, and the EBIT and EBITDA margins are also solid, reflecting good operational efficiency. The gross profit margin has decreased compared to previous years, which could suggest increased cost pressures.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a relatively high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76 in the TTM period, indicating significant leverage. This could pose risks if interest rates rise or if the company faces revenue challenges. The return on equity has decreased over time, suggesting reduced profitability from shareholders' investments. However, the equity ratio remains stable, indicating a balanced asset structure.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
The cash flow statement is strong, with a notable free cash flow growth rate of 31.67% in the TTM period, indicating improved cash generation capabilities. The free cash flow to net income ratio is healthy, suggesting effective conversion of profits into cash. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, which could imply challenges in cash flow management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue14.53B14.94B12.64B5.10B1.90B1.92B
Gross Profit8.88B9.30B7.58B3.98B1.88B1.76B
EBITDA3.30B3.72B12.02B1.90B844.00M751.00M
Net Income2.33B2.78B11.47B1.10B547.00M492.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets233.49B223.72B213.76B109.30B58.31B49.96B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments38.90B56.09B54.45B14.54B18.66B11.72B
Total Debt39.02B37.41B38.05B7.00B1.78B1.89B
Total Liabilities211.50B201.49B192.50B99.64B53.57B45.73B
Stockholders Equity21.99B22.23B21.25B9.66B4.74B4.23B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.03B1.45B1.23B1.86B-391.00M243.00M
Operating Cash Flow2.99B2.99B2.66B2.79B-284.00M376.00M
Investing Cash Flow-12.98B-10.15B2.43B75.00M-7.57B-9.91B
Financing Cash Flow10.00B7.07B-4.70B-2.69B7.83B9.52B

First Citizens BancShares Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price2016.58
Price Trends
50DMA
2108.39
Negative
100DMA
1956.96
Positive
200DMA
1944.69
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-18.08
Positive
RSI
43.14
Neutral
STOCH
31.91
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FCNCA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 2016.58 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2059.43, below the 50-day MA of 2108.39, and above the 200-day MA of 1944.69, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -18.08 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 43.14 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 31.91 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for FCNCA.

First Citizens BancShares Risk Analysis

First Citizens BancShares disclosed 51 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. First Citizens BancShares reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

First Citizens BancShares Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$26.36B13.0711.68%3.74%4.00%28.54%
69
Neutral
$24.67B12.469.92%0.37%-3.18%-3.10%
69
Neutral
$36.31B12.9010.03%3.50%5.73%38.39%
69
Neutral
$41.19B10.5610.33%2.79%-4.64%24.98%
69
Neutral
$27.64B16.837.24%2.89%-3.93%40.62%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$33.52B9.702.86%-4.88%4.84%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FCNCA
First Citizens BancShares
2,016.58
-0.15
>-0.01%
HBAN
Huntington Bancshares
18.01
2.59
16.79%
KB
Kb Financial Group
117.66
60.63
106.31%
RF
Regions Financial
30.06
7.60
33.81%
SHG
Shinhan Financial Group Co
71.72
38.52
116.02%
CFG
Citizens Financial
65.29
22.49
52.53%

First Citizens BancShares Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackFinancial Disclosures
First Citizens BancShares Posts Strong Q4 2025 Results
Positive
Jan 23, 2026

First Citizens BancShares reported solid fourth-quarter 2025 performance, with net income rising to $580 million and adjusted net income reaching $648 million as loan growth—especially in its Global Fund Banking franchise—offset modest pressure on net interest margin. The bank returned $900 million to shareholders via buybacks, prepaid $2.5 billion of a Purchase Money Note largely funded by securities runoff, and managed a slight decline in total deposits alongside stable funding and credit quality, while integrating SVB Commercial into its Commercial Bank segment and absorbing higher technology, personnel and marketing costs as it scales its platforms.

The most recent analyst rating on (FCNCA) stock is a Buy with a $2390.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Citizens BancShares stock, see the FCNCA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
First Citizens BancShares Announces Chief Risk Officer Transition
Positive
Jan 14, 2026

On Jan. 14, 2026, First Citizens BancShares announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Lorie K. Rupp will retire effective June 1, 2026, after a 13-year tenure at the bank and more than 30 years in financial services, during which she strengthened the company’s risk management framework through a period of significant growth. The company plans for current Treasurer and 20-year bank veteran Tom Eklund, who has extensive experience in capital, market, liquidity and compliance risk management, to succeed her as Chief Risk Officer, signaling a continuity-focused transition designed to preserve a robust risk governance structure and support the bank’s long-term strategic objectives.

The most recent analyst rating on (FCNCA) stock is a Buy with a $2427.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Citizens BancShares stock, see the FCNCA Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
First Citizens BancShares Closes Series D Preferred Stock Offering
Positive
Nov 18, 2025

On November 14, 2025, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. filed a certificate of designation for a new series of preferred stock, the 7.000% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D. This filing was part of an underwriting agreement with major financial institutions. The company closed a public offering of 500,000 depositary shares on November 18, 2025, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of the Series D Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock offers a 7% annual dividend rate until December 2030 and then adjusts based on the five-year treasury rate plus 3.301%. This move is significant for First Citizens BancShares as it enhances their capital structure and could impact their market positioning by offering attractive returns to investors.

The most recent analyst rating on (FCNCA) stock is a Hold with a $2190.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Citizens BancShares stock, see the FCNCA Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 24, 2026