First Citizens BancShares Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Amid Market Weakness
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Should l Buy FCNCA?
Source: Benzinga
First Citizens BancShares Inc (Delaware) saw its stock price decline by 6.97% as it hit a 20-day low, reflecting broader market trends with the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 both down slightly.
The company reported a net income of $580 million for Q4 2025, up from $568 million in Q3, driven by strong loan growth and stable credit quality. Additionally, First Citizens plans to acquire 138 branches from BMO Bank, which is expected to significantly enhance its market share and operational footprint. This positive news contrasts with the stock's decline, indicating sector rotation amid broader market weakness.
The strong earnings performance, including a non-GAAP EPS of $51.27 that surpassed expectations, suggests robust profitability and could attract investor interest despite the current stock price drop. The company's commitment to shareholder returns through dividends further reinforces its financial stability.
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Analyst Views on FCNCA
Wall Street analysts forecast FCNCA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FCNCA is 2270 USD with a low forecast of 2000 USD and a high forecast of 2500 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 2122.950
Low
2000
Averages
2270
High
2500
Current: 2122.950
Low
2000
Averages
2270
High
2500
About FCNCA
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. is the financial holding company for First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (First Citizens Bank). The Company’s General Bank segment delivers products and services to consumers and businesses through its network of branches and various digital channels. It offers a full suite of deposit products, loans, cash management, private banking and wealth management, payment services, and treasury services. The Commercial Bank segment provides a range of lending, leasing, capital markets, asset management, and other financial and advisory services, primarily to small and middle market companies. The SVB Commercial segment offers products and services to commercial clients and investors across stages, sectors and regions in the innovation ecosystem, as well as private equity and venture capital firms. The Rail segment offers customized leasing and financing solutions on a fleet of railcars and locomotives to railroads and shippers throughout North America.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Pomerantz LLP Investigates First Citizens for Securities Fraud
- Poor Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported an efficiency ratio of 64.5% for Q4 2025, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management that could impact future profitability.
- Bleak Outlook: The company provided a pessimistic outlook, with expectations of deteriorating revenue and weak net interest income projections, which may lead to declining investor confidence and negatively affect stock performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings report on January 23, 2026, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share, reflecting market concerns about its financial health.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could expose the company to legal risks and further impact shareholder value.
See More
First Citizens Bank Appoints New Director of Middle Market Banking
- New Leadership: First Citizens Bank has appointed Robert Horne as the Director of Middle Market Banking for Florida, leveraging over 10 years of experience in commercial banking and equipment finance to drive growth in the state's middle market sector.
- Market Knowledge: Horne's local market expertise is deemed essential for enhancing First Citizens' ability to offer a comprehensive suite of products and services to middle market companies with revenues exceeding $75 million across Florida.
- Career Background: Prior to joining First Citizens, Horne served as Vice President and Relationship Manager at Synovus, and held significant roles at U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, accumulating extensive industry experience.
- Company Overview: Headquartered in North Carolina, First Citizens Bank is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with over $200 billion in assets, committed to providing long-term financial strength to personal, business, and wealth clients.
See More
First Citizens Bank Appoints New Director of Middle Market Banking
- New Appointment: First Citizens Bank has announced Robert Horne as the Director of Middle Market Banking for Florida, tasked with driving growth in the state's middle market banking sector, which is expected to enhance the company's market share in the region.
- Extensive Experience: Horne brings over 10 years of experience in commercial banking and equipment finance, having served as Vice President at Synovus, and his deep industry knowledge is anticipated to provide valuable market insights for the bank.
- Client-Centric Focus: The middle market platform of First Citizens Bank focuses on delivering a high-touch banking experience to clients with revenues exceeding $75 million, and Horne's addition is expected to further strengthen this service capability.
- Company Background: Headquartered in North Carolina, First Citizens Bank has over $200 billion in assets and is committed to providing comprehensive financial services to personal, business, and wealth clients, with Horne's appointment supporting the bank's strategic development in the middle market.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates First Citizens for Securities Fraud
- Poor Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported a 64.5% efficiency ratio for Q4 2025 on January 23, 2026, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management that could impact future profitability.
- Bleak Outlook: The company described a pessimistic outlook with expected revenue deterioration and weak net interest income projections, which may lead to declining investor confidence and negatively affect stock performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings report, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share, reflecting market concerns regarding the company's financial health.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could expose the company to legal risks and further impact its market performance.
See More
First Citizens BancShares Under Investigation for Securities Fraud
- Declining Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported an efficiency ratio of 64.5% for Q4 2025 on January 23, 2026, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management.
- Bleak Outlook: The company provided a pessimistic outlook, forecasting further revenue deterioration and weak net interest income projections, which could undermine investor confidence and market performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the financial report, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share on January 23, 2026, reflecting market concerns about its future performance.
- Legal Investigation Launched: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially leading to further legal risks and financial repercussions.
See More
First Citizens BancShares Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Beat
- Earnings Beat: First Citizens BancShares reported Q4 earnings of $51.27 per share, surpassing the analyst consensus of $43.91, indicating robust profitability and boosting market confidence in future performance.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved quarterly sales of $2.435 billion, exceeding the analyst estimate of $2.289 billion, reflecting strong performance in Global Fund Banking that drove overall revenue growth.
- Capital Return: During Q4, the bank returned $900 million to shareholders through share repurchases and prepaid $2.5 billion of the Purchase Money Note, demonstrating strong capital and liquidity positions while enhancing shareholder trust.
- Analyst Rating Adjustments: Following the earnings announcement, several analysts adjusted their price targets for First Citizens, with Barclays lowering its target from $2,456 to $2,346, indicating a cautious outlook on the bank's future growth.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates First Citizens for Securities Fraud
- Poor Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported an efficiency ratio of 64.5% for Q4 2025, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management that could impact future profitability.
- Bleak Outlook: The company provided a pessimistic outlook, with expectations of deteriorating revenue and weak net interest income projections, which may lead to declining investor confidence and negatively affect stock performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings report on January 23, 2026, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share, reflecting market concerns about its financial health.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could expose the company to legal risks and further impact shareholder value.
See More
First Citizens Bank Appoints New Director of Middle Market Banking
- New Leadership: First Citizens Bank has appointed Robert Horne as the Director of Middle Market Banking for Florida, leveraging over 10 years of experience in commercial banking and equipment finance to drive growth in the state's middle market sector.
- Market Knowledge: Horne's local market expertise is deemed essential for enhancing First Citizens' ability to offer a comprehensive suite of products and services to middle market companies with revenues exceeding $75 million across Florida.
- Career Background: Prior to joining First Citizens, Horne served as Vice President and Relationship Manager at Synovus, and held significant roles at U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo, accumulating extensive industry experience.
- Company Overview: Headquartered in North Carolina, First Citizens Bank is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with over $200 billion in assets, committed to providing long-term financial strength to personal, business, and wealth clients.
See More
First Citizens Bank Appoints New Director of Middle Market Banking
- New Appointment: First Citizens Bank has announced Robert Horne as the Director of Middle Market Banking for Florida, tasked with driving growth in the state's middle market banking sector, which is expected to enhance the company's market share in the region.
- Extensive Experience: Horne brings over 10 years of experience in commercial banking and equipment finance, having served as Vice President at Synovus, and his deep industry knowledge is anticipated to provide valuable market insights for the bank.
- Client-Centric Focus: The middle market platform of First Citizens Bank focuses on delivering a high-touch banking experience to clients with revenues exceeding $75 million, and Horne's addition is expected to further strengthen this service capability.
- Company Background: Headquartered in North Carolina, First Citizens Bank has over $200 billion in assets and is committed to providing comprehensive financial services to personal, business, and wealth clients, with Horne's appointment supporting the bank's strategic development in the middle market.
See More
Pomerantz LLP Investigates First Citizens for Securities Fraud
- Poor Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported a 64.5% efficiency ratio for Q4 2025 on January 23, 2026, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management that could impact future profitability.
- Bleak Outlook: The company described a pessimistic outlook with expected revenue deterioration and weak net interest income projections, which may lead to declining investor confidence and negatively affect stock performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the earnings report, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share, reflecting market concerns regarding the company's financial health.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could expose the company to legal risks and further impact its market performance.
See More
First Citizens BancShares Under Investigation for Securities Fraud
- Declining Financial Performance: First Citizens BancShares reported an efficiency ratio of 64.5% for Q4 2025 on January 23, 2026, which not only missed analyst expectations but also worsened from the previous year, indicating challenges in cost management.
- Bleak Outlook: The company provided a pessimistic outlook, forecasting further revenue deterioration and weak net interest income projections, which could undermine investor confidence and market performance.
- Significant Stock Drop: Following the financial report, First Citizens' stock price fell by $186.97, or 8.49%, closing at $2,016.56 per share on January 23, 2026, reflecting market concerns about its future performance.
- Legal Investigation Launched: Pomerantz LLP is investigating whether First Citizens and its executives engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, potentially leading to further legal risks and financial repercussions.
See More
First Citizens BancShares Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Beat
- Earnings Beat: First Citizens BancShares reported Q4 earnings of $51.27 per share, surpassing the analyst consensus of $43.91, indicating robust profitability and boosting market confidence in future performance.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved quarterly sales of $2.435 billion, exceeding the analyst estimate of $2.289 billion, reflecting strong performance in Global Fund Banking that drove overall revenue growth.
- Capital Return: During Q4, the bank returned $900 million to shareholders through share repurchases and prepaid $2.5 billion of the Purchase Money Note, demonstrating strong capital and liquidity positions while enhancing shareholder trust.
- Analyst Rating Adjustments: Following the earnings announcement, several analysts adjusted their price targets for First Citizens, with Barclays lowering its target from $2,456 to $2,346, indicating a cautious outlook on the bank's future growth.
See More
