Banco Santander Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations, Launches Buyback Program
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 4d ago
0mins
Should l Buy SAN?
Source: seekingalpha
- Earnings Growth: Banco Santander's Q4 net interest income rose to €11.5B from €11.1B in Q3, exceeding the Visible Alpha consensus of €11.3B, indicating robust revenue growth that further solidifies its market position.
- Buyback Program Launch: The bank announced a €5.03B share buyback program, with €1.83B corresponding to 25% of the underlying profit for the second half of 2025, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns and boosting market confidence.
- Expense Control: Despite operating expenses rising from €6.27B to €6.59B, Banco Santander achieved a 7.4% increase in attributable profit to €3.76B, surpassing analyst expectations, demonstrating effective cost management.
- Capital Adequacy Improvement: The return on equity increased from 13.8% to 17.9% in Q4, with customer deposits reaching €1.04T, reflecting a strong customer base and capital generation capacity that lays a solid foundation for future growth.
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Analyst Views on SAN
Wall Street analysts forecast SAN stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SAN is 7.40 USD with a low forecast of 4.90 USD and a high forecast of 9.91 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.
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Sell
Current: 12.230
Low
4.90
Averages
7.40
High
9.91
Current: 12.230
Low
4.90
Averages
7.40
High
9.91
About SAN
Banco Santander, S.A. is a Spain-based company engaged as a retail and commercial bank. The Banks segments include Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Latin America and the United States. The Continental Europe segment covers all businesses in the Continental Europe. The United Kingdom segment includes the businesses developed by various units and branches in the country. The Latin America segment embraces all its financial activities conducted through its banks and subsidiaries in the region. The United States segment includes the Intermediate Holding Company (IHC) and its subsidiaries Santander Bank, Banco Santander Puerto Rico, Santander Consumer USA, Banco Santander International, Santander Investment Securities, and the Santander branch in New York. The Company's commercial model satisfies the needs of all types of customers: individuals with various income levels.
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.
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- Acquisition Strategy: The bank's acquisition of Webster Financial, a community bank based in Connecticut, is part of its strategic expansion in the northeastern U.S. market, aimed at enhancing market share and profitability.
- Profitability Goals: Santander aims to achieve a 20% return on tangible equity by 2028, showcasing its confidence in future growth and attractiveness to investors.
- Market Recognition: Notable investor Jim Cramer praised Santander as an “amazing” investment choice, further elevating market interest and investor confidence in the stock.
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- Buyback Program Launch: The bank announced a €5.03B share buyback program, with €1.83B corresponding to 25% of the underlying profit for the second half of 2025, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns and boosting market confidence.
- Expense Control: Despite operating expenses rising from €6.27B to €6.59B, Banco Santander achieved a 7.4% increase in attributable profit to €3.76B, surpassing analyst expectations, demonstrating effective cost management.
- Capital Adequacy Improvement: The return on equity increased from 13.8% to 17.9% in Q4, with customer deposits reaching €1.04T, reflecting a strong customer base and capital generation capacity that lays a solid foundation for future growth.
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- Acquisition Strategy: Banco Santander has agreed to acquire Webster Financial Corp. for approximately $12.3 billion, which is expected to expand its market share and drive double-digit revenue growth by 2027, enhancing overall profitability.
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- Acquisition Strategy: The bank's acquisition of Webster Financial, a community bank based in Connecticut, is part of its strategic expansion in the northeastern U.S. market, aimed at enhancing market share and profitability.
- Profitability Goals: Santander aims to achieve a 20% return on tangible equity by 2028, showcasing its confidence in future growth and attractiveness to investors.
- Market Recognition: Notable investor Jim Cramer praised Santander as an “amazing” investment choice, further elevating market interest and investor confidence in the stock.
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- Earnings Growth: Banco Santander's Q4 net interest income rose to €11.5B from €11.1B in Q3, exceeding the Visible Alpha consensus of €11.3B, indicating robust revenue growth that further solidifies its market position.
- Buyback Program Launch: The bank announced a €5.03B share buyback program, with €1.83B corresponding to 25% of the underlying profit for the second half of 2025, aimed at enhancing shareholder returns and boosting market confidence.
- Expense Control: Despite operating expenses rising from €6.27B to €6.59B, Banco Santander achieved a 7.4% increase in attributable profit to €3.76B, surpassing analyst expectations, demonstrating effective cost management.
- Capital Adequacy Improvement: The return on equity increased from 13.8% to 17.9% in Q4, with customer deposits reaching €1.04T, reflecting a strong customer base and capital generation capacity that lays a solid foundation for future growth.
See More
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- Steady Revenue Increase: The bank's total income reached €16.113 billion in Q4, up 1% year-over-year, while total income for FY 2025 was €58.67 billion, reflecting a 0.5% growth from the previous year, showcasing the company's success in revenue diversification and strengthening its market competitiveness.
- Acquisition Strategy: Banco Santander has agreed to acquire Webster Financial Corp. for approximately $12.3 billion, which is expected to expand its market share and drive double-digit revenue growth by 2027, enhancing overall profitability.
- Commitment to Buybacks: The board has approved a €5 billion share buyback program aimed at returning capital to shareholders against FY 2025 and 2026 earnings, demonstrating confidence in future performance and a strong commitment to enhancing shareholder value.
See More
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- Capital Adequacy Ratio: The CET1 ratio stood at 13.5% as of December 2025, comfortably exceeding the upper limit of the 12-13% operating range, demonstrating a robust capital structure that supports future business expansion and risk management.
- Acquisition Plans: Santander is set to acquire Webster Financial in a deal valued at approximately $12.3 billion in cash and stock, which not only aims to enhance its market share but also strengthens its competitive position in the U.S. market, driving long-term growth.
- Regulatory Fine: The bank faced a fine of over €40 million due to deficiencies in Openbank's internal processes, which may exert short-term financial pressure, but the company is expected to mitigate future risks through improved compliance measures.
See More
