PNC Financial Positioned For Strong Loan Expansion And Yield Curve Benefits, Analyst Predicts Net Interest Income Growth Through 2026

PNC Financial Services Group PNC reported fourth-quarter results last week. Revenue increased 4% year-over-year to $5.57 billion, beating the consensus of $5.50 billion. Revenue growth was led by higher net interest income and noninterest income.

Goldman Sachs analyst Richard Ramsden reiterated the Neutral rating on the stock, with a price forecast of $203.

The analyst notes that with better-than-expected results and largely in-line guidance, there is potential for upside in net interest income, driven by loan growth, which could accelerate in the second half of 2025, and a further steepening of the yield curve, benefiting fixed asset repricing and supporting NII growth through 2026.

The analyst also expects the company to achieve solid operating leverage of around 400 basis points in 2025, with expenses growing about 1.5% year-over-year.

Additionally, the company continues to build capital, with its CET1 ratio reaching 10.5% (9.2% adjusted for AOCI), well above the updated regulatory minimum of 7.0%.

Given this excess capital, the analyst anticipates the company will increase its share buybacks, starting from the $200 million level in the fourth quarter of 2024, once there is more clarity on regulatory capital requirements.

Based on the latest results and guidance, the analyst slightly lowers 2026 earnings per share estimates by 1%, with new EPS targets of $15.05 for 2025 and $17.09 for 2026 (from $15.01, and $17.32 respectively).

The analyst also introduces a 2027 EPS estimate of $18.76, and the 2025 P/E target remains unchanged at 13.5x.

Price Action: PNC shares are trading lower by 0.33% to $197.87 at last check Tuesday.

Now Read:

• Trump's ‘Drill, Baby, Drill' Era Begins: Oil Prices Tumble, US Energy Stocks Edge Up