PITTSBURGH, July 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today reported:

"PNC's second quarter results were strong. We grew fee income and net interest income, expanded our margin, managed expenses well and maintained stable credit quality. Our board recently increased the common stock dividend 27 percent to an all-time high. We are continuing to invest in our businesses, including our middle market expansion and digital offerings, and remain focused on opportunities for growth and efficiency that will create long-term value for our shareholders."

Bill Demchak, PNC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Income Statement Highlights

Second quarter 2018 compared with first quarter 2018

• Net income of $1.4 billion for the second quarter increased 9 percent compared with $1.2 billion for the first quarter, and PNC generated positive operating leverage.
• Total revenue for the second quarter increased $213 million, or 5 percent, to $4.3 billion.
• Net interest income increased $52 million, or 2 percent, to $2.4 billion due to higher loan and securities yields and an additional day in the second quarter partially offset by increased funding costs.
• Net interest margin increased 5 basis points to 2.96 percent.
• Noninterest income increased $161 million, or 9 percent, to $1.9 billion.
• Growth in fee income of $72 million, or 5 percent, reflected seasonality and higher business activity.
• Other noninterest income increased $89 million to $334 million due to higher revenue from private equity investments, and benefits from Visa Class B derivative fair value adjustments and commercial mortgage loans held for sale.
• Noninterest expense increased $57 million, or 2 percent, to $2.6 billion.
• Provision for credit losses was $80 million, a decrease of $12 million reflecting a lower provision for commercial loans.

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Average loans increased $1.6 billion, or 1 percent, in the second quarter to $222.7 billion compared with the first quarter.
• Average commercial lending balances grew $1.5 billion primarily in PNC's corporate banking and business credit businesses.
• Average consumer lending balances increased $.1 billion reflecting growth in auto, residential mortgage and credit card loans substantially offset by lower home equity and education loans.
• Overall credit quality remained strong.
• Nonperforming assets of $1.9 billion at June 30, 2018 decreased $150 million, or 7 percent, compared with March 31, 2018.
• Net charge-offs were $109 million for the second quarter compared with $113 million for the first quarter.
• Average deposits increased $.3 billion to $261.0 billion in the second quarter compared with the first quarter as growth in consumer deposits was partially offset by seasonally lower commercial deposits.
• Average investment securities increased $2.8 billion, or 4 percent, to $77.5 billion in the second quarter compared with the first quarter.
• Average balances held with the Federal Reserve Bank declined $4.7 billion to $20.7 billion in the second quarter compared with the first quarter.
• PNC completed common stock repurchase programs of $2.4 billion, and repurchased shares for $.2 billion related to employee benefit plans, for the four quarters ending with the second quarter of 2018. A total of $4.1 billion of capital was returned to shareholders over this period through repurchases of 18.4 million common shares for $2.6 billion and dividends on common shares of $1.5 billion.
• Capital returned to shareholders in the second quarter of 2018 totaled $1.2 billion through repurchases of 5.7 million common shares for $.8 billion and dividends on common shares of $.4 billion.
• PNC's board of directors raised the quarterly cash dividend on common stock to 95 cents per share, an increase of 20 cents per share, or 27 percent, effective with the August dividend.
• In June 2018 PNC announced share repurchase programs of up to $2.0 billion for the four-quarter period beginning in the third quarter of 2018, including repurchases of up to $.3 billion related to stock issuances under employee benefit plans.
• PNC maintained strong capital and liquidity positions.
• The Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was an estimated 9.5 percent at June 30, 2018 compared with 9.6 percent at March 31, 2018.
• The Liquidity Coverage Ratio at June 30, 2018 for both PNC and PNC Bank, N.A. continued to exceed the regulatory minimum requirement of 100 percent.

 

 

The Consolidated Financial Highlights accompanying this news release include additional information regarding reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to reported amounts. Fee income, a non-GAAP financial measure, refers to noninterest income in the following categories: asset management, consumer services, corporate services, residential mortgage and service charges on deposits. Information in this news release including the financial tables is unaudited.

 

Total revenue for the second quarter of 2018 increased $213 million compared with the first quarter and $264 million compared with the second quarter of 2017 as both net interest income and noninterest income grew.

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2018 increased $52 million compared with the first quarter and $155 million compared with the second quarter of 2017. Higher loan and securities yields and balances were partially offset by higher borrowing and deposit costs in both comparisons. An additional day in the second quarter contributed to the increase over the first quarter.

The net interest margin increased to 2.96 percent for the second quarter of 2018 compared with 2.91 percent for the first quarter and 2.84 percent for the second quarter of 2017. Higher loan and securities yields in the second quarter of 2018 were partially offset by higher borrowing and deposit costs in both comparisons reflecting the impact of interest rate increases.

 

Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2018 increased $161 million compared with the first quarter due to strong fee income growth and higher other noninterest income. Consumer service fees grew $24 million as a result of seasonally higher debit card, merchant services and credit card activity. Corporate service fees increased $58 million and growth was broad based including higher merger and acquisition advisory, treasury management and loan syndication fees as well as a higher benefit from commercial mortgage servicing rights valuation, net of economic hedge. Residential mortgage revenue decreased $13 million reflecting lower servicing and loan sales revenue.

Other noninterest income for the second quarter of 2018 increased $89 million compared with the first quarter and included higher revenue from private equity investments and commercial mortgage loans held for sale. Additionally, second quarter 2018 included positive derivative fair value adjustments of $27 million related to Visa Class B common shares primarily due to developments relevant to the litigation.

Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2018 increased $109 million compared with the second quarter of 2017. Asset management revenue, including earnings from PNC's investment in BlackRock, increased $58 million reflecting higher equity markets. Consumer service fees grew $21 million as a result of higher customer activity, including brokerage, debit card and credit card fees. Corporate service fees increased $21 million primarily attributable to growth in treasury management and merger and acquisition advisory fees. Residential mortgage revenue decreased $20 million due to lower loan sales and servicing revenue. Other noninterest income increased $30 million reflecting the second quarter 2018 positive Visa Class B derivative fair value adjustments partially offset by lower net securities gains.

 

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2018 increased $57 million compared with the first quarter due to seasonally higher business activity and marketing costs and continued investments in strategic initiatives. These increases were partially offset by seasonally lower occupancy expense.

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2018 increased $105 million compared with the second quarter of 2017 primarily attributable to ongoing business investments. Higher personnel expense reflected increased staffing levels related to business growth and enhanced retail banking compensation.

The effective tax rate was 18.3 percent for the second quarter of 2018 and 17.0 percent for the first quarter reflecting the new federal statutory tax rate of 21.0 percent. The increase in the effective tax rate over the first quarter primarily resulted from higher second quarter pretax earnings and the impact of higher first quarter tax deductions related to stock-based compensation. The effective tax rate was 26.0 percent for the second quarter of 2017.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $380.7 billion at June 30, 2018 compared with $379.2 billion at March 31, 2018 and $372.2 billion at June 30, 2017. Assets increased $1.5 billion compared with March 31, 2018 primarily due to higher investment securities and loans substantially offset by a decrease in interest-earning deposits with banks. Assets grew 2 percent over June 30, 2017 reflecting loan growth and higher investment securities.

 

Average loans for the second quarter of 2018 increased $1.6 billion compared with the first quarter. Average commercial lending balances grew $1.5 billion primarily in PNC's corporate banking and business credit businesses. Average consumer lending balances increased $.1 billion reflecting growth in auto, residential mortgage and credit card loans substantially offset by lower home equity and education loans. Total loans at June 30, 2018 grew $1.2 billion compared with March 31, 2018. Commercial lending balances increased $.7 billion and consumer lending balances increased $.5 billion.

Second quarter 2018 average and period end loans increased $6.3 billion and $4.8 billion, respectively, compared with second quarter 2017 driven by broad-based commercial loan growth and an increase in consumer lending balances.

 

Investment securities average balances for the second quarter of 2018 increased $2.8 billion and period end balances increased $5.6 billion compared with the first quarter due to net purchase activity, primarily in agency residential mortgage-backed and US Treasury securities, in excess of paydowns. Second quarter 2018 average and period end investment securities increased $2.1 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively, compared with the second quarter of 2017. Net unrealized losses on available for sale securities were $.4 billion at June 30, 2018 and reflected the impact of higher interest rates compared with net unrealized losses of $.2 billion at March 31, 2018 and net unrealized gains of $.5 billion at June 30, 2017.

Average balances held with the Federal Reserve Bank decreased to $20.7 billion for the second quarter of 2018 compared with $25.4 billion in the first quarter and $22.1 billion in the second quarter of 2017 as investment of liquidity continued.

 

Average deposits for the second quarter of 2018 increased $.3 billion compared with the first quarter as growth in consumer deposits was partially offset by seasonally lower commercial deposits, reflected in the decline in noninterest-bearing deposits. Deposits at June 30, 2018 grew $.2 billion compared with March 31, 2018. Second quarter 2018 average and period end deposits increased $4.6 billion and $5.7 billion, respectively, compared with second quarter 2017 driven by overall deposit and customer growth.

 

Average borrowed funds for the second quarter of 2018 declined $.7 billion compared with the  first quarter due to the amount and timing of issuances and maturities. Borrowed funds at June 30, 2018 increased $1.2 billion compared with March 31, 2018 as a result of an increase in primarily short-term Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings near the end of the second quarter partially offset by lower bank notes and senior debt. Second quarter 2018 average and period end borrowed funds increased $1.4 billion and $2.8 billion, respectively, compared with second quarter 2017 due to increases in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and bank notes and senior debt partially offset by lower subordinated debt.

 

PNC maintained a strong capital position. Common shareholders' equity at June 30, 2018 was relatively stable with March 31, 2018 as the addition of second quarter net income was offset by share repurchases, dividends and lower accumulated other comprehensive income reflecting the impact of higher rates on net unrealized securities losses. PNC returned $1.2 billion of capital to shareholders in the second quarter of 2018 through repurchases of 5.7 million common shares for $.8 billion and dividends on common shares of $.4 billion.

PNC completed common stock repurchase programs of $2.4 billion, and repurchased $.2 billion of the $.3 billion program related to stock issuances under employee benefit plans, for the four-quarter period ending in the second quarter of 2018. Capital returned to shareholders totaled $4.1 billion over this period through repurchases of 18.4 million common shares for $2.6 billion and dividends on common shares of $1.5 billion.

In June 2018 PNC announced share repurchase programs of up to $2.0 billion for the four-quarter period beginning in the third quarter of 2018. These programs include repurchases of up to $.3 billion related to stock issuances under employee benefit plans.

On July 5, 2018, the PNC board of directors raised the quarterly cash dividend on common stock to 95 cents per share, an increase of 20 cents per share, or 27 percent, effective with the August 5, 2018 dividend payment date.

The Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio, which includes the full phase-in of all Basel III adjustments, became effective for PNC as of January 1, 2018. The ratio for June 30, 2017 was calculated on the same basis. These ratios were calculated based on the standardized approach. See Capital Ratios in the Consolidated Financial Highlights.

 

Overall credit quality for the second quarter of 2018 remained strong. Provision for credit losses for the second quarter decreased $12 million compared with the first quarter. A lower provision for commercial loans reflecting lower specific reserves was partially offset by a higher provision for consumer loans, which was attributable to the impact of first quarter home equity loan reserve releases largely offset by lower reserves for the remaining portfolio.

Nonperforming assets at June 30, 2018 decreased $150 million compared with March 31, 2018 primarily due to declines in nonperforming commercial and commercial real estate loans. In the comparison with June 30, 2017, nonperforming assets decreased $299 million as a result of lower commercial, residential mortgage and commercial real estate nonperforming loans and lower other real estate owned and foreclosed and other assets. Nonperforming assets to total assets were .49 percent at June 30, 2018, .53 percent at March 31, 2018 and .58 percent at June 30, 2017.

Overall delinquencies at June 30, 2018 decreased $28 million, or 2 percent, compared with March 31, 2018. Accruing loans past due 90 days or more declined $42 million due to a decrease in government insured residential mortgage and education loans. Accruing loans 60 to 89 days past due increased $22 million largely attributable to commercial loans.

Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2018 decreased $4 million compared with the first quarter and $1 million compared with the second quarter of 2017. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2018 were .20 percent of average loans on an annualized basis compared with .21 percent for the first quarter and .20 percent for the second quarter of 2017.

The allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans was 1.16 percent at June 30, 2018, 1.18 percent at March 31, 2018 and 1.17 percent at June 30, 2017. The allowance to nonperforming loans was 150 percent at June 30, 2018, 141 percent at March 31, 2018 and 131 percent at June 30, 2017.

 

 

Retail Banking earnings for the second quarter of 2018 increased in both comparisons. Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2018 included positive derivative fair value adjustments of $27 million related to Visa Class B common shares primarily due to developments relevant to the litigation. Higher noninterest income also reflected growth in consumer services fees, including seasonally higher debit card, merchant services and credit card fees compared with the first quarter, and higher brokerage, debit and credit card fees compared with the second quarter of 2017. In both comparisons noninterest income included lower residential mortgage servicing fee income and loan sales revenue. Provision for credit losses increased compared with the second quarter of 2017 reflecting the impact of a second quarter 2017 benefit related to certain home equity lines of credit reaching draw period end dates and to residential mortgage loans. Noninterest expense increased in both comparisons as a result of higher personnel, marketing activity, customer transaction-related expenses and continued investments in technology.

• Average loans increased 2 percent compared with second quarter 2017 due to growth in residential mortgage, auto and credit card loans partially offset by lower home equity and education loans.
• Average deposits grew in both comparisons due to higher demand and savings deposits which were partially offset by lower money market deposits, reflecting a shift to relationship-based savings products. Certificates of deposit declined due to the continued net runoff of maturing accounts.
• Net charge-offs were $112 million for the second quarter of 2018 compared with $100 million in the first quarter and $87 million in the second quarter of 2017.
• Residential mortgage loan origination volume was $2.0 billion for the second quarter of 2018 compared with $1.7 billion for the first quarter and $2.2 billion for the second quarter of 2017. Approximately 71 percent of second quarter 2018 volume was for home purchase transactions compared with 56 percent for the first quarter and 61 percent for the second quarter of 2017.
• The residential mortgage servicing portfolio was $124 billion at June 30, 2018 compared with $125 billion at March 31, 2018 and $131 billion at June 30, 2017. Residential mortgage loan servicing acquisitions were $3 billion for second quarter 2018 compared with $1 billion for the first quarter and $8 billion for the second quarter of 2017.
• Approximately 65 percent of consumer customers used non-teller channels for the majority of their transactions during the second quarter of 2018 compared with 64 percent in the first quarter and 62 percent in the second quarter of 2017.
• Deposit transactions via ATM and mobile channels were 54 percent of total deposit transactions in the second and first quarters of 2018 compared with 52 percent in the second quarter of 2017.

 

 

Corporate & Institutional Banking earnings for the second quarter of 2018 increased compared with the first quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2017. Noninterest income increased in both comparisons primarily due to higher capital markets-related revenue, including merger and acquisition advisory fees, and growth in treasury management product revenue. Higher revenue from commercial mortgage banking activities also contributed to the increase over the first quarter. Provision for credit losses decreased in both comparisons as a result of lower specific loan reserves. Additionally, second quarter 2017 included an initial provision for the loan and lease portfolio obtained in the acquisition of a commercial and vendor finance business. Noninterest expense increased in both comparisons largely due to investments in strategic initiatives and variable costs associated with increased business activity.

• Average loans increased 1 percent compared with the first quarter and 4 percent compared with the second quarter of 2017 primarily driven by commercial loan growth in PNC's corporate banking, business credit and equipment finance businesses.
• Average deposits decreased 2 percent from the first quarter as a result of seasonal declines, and increased 3 percent compared with the second quarter of 2017 due to growth in interest-bearing deposits partially offset by a decrease in noninterest-bearing demand deposits.
• Net charge-offs were in a net recovery position of $2 million in the second quarter of 2018 compared with net charge-offs of $9 million in the first quarter and $21 million in the second quarter of 2017.
• PNC has formalized plans to expand its middle market business into the Boston and Phoenix markets in 2019, following expansion into the Denver, Houston and Nashville markets in 2018.

 

 

Asset Management Group earnings for the second quarter of 2018 decreased in both comparisons. Noninterest income declined compared with the first quarter primarily due to decreases in the average equity markets and increased compared with second quarter 2017 reflecting higher average equity markets. Noninterest expense increased over both prior periods due to higher legal reserves and continued investments in technology. Provision for credit losses increased in both comparisons as a result of higher reserves on home equity loans.

• Client assets under administration at June 30, 2018 included discretionary client assets under management of $149 billion and nondiscretionary client assets under administration of $130 billion.
• Discretionary client assets under management increased $1 billion compared with March 31, 2018 primarily due to higher equity markets at June 30, 2018 and net business activities, and increased $8 billion compared with June 30, 2017 primarily attributable to equity market increases.

Other, including BlackRock

The "Other, including BlackRock" category, for the purposes of this release, includes earnings and gains or losses related to PNC's equity interest in BlackRock, and residual activities that do not meet the criteria for disclosure as a separate reportable business, such as asset and liability management activities including net securities gains or losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities and certain trading activities, discontinued consumer loan portfolios, private equity investments, intercompany eliminations, most corporate overhead, tax adjustments that are not allocated to business segments, exited businesses, integration costs, and differences between business segment performance reporting and financial statement reporting under generally accepted accounting principles.

CONFERENCE CALL AND SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PNC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer William S. Demchak and Chief Financial Officer Robert Q. Reilly will hold a conference call for investors today at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time regarding the topics addressed in this news release and the related financial supplement. Dial-in numbers for the conference call are (877) 272-3515 and (303) 223-4398 (international) and Internet access to the live audio listen-only webcast of the call is available at www.pnc.com/investorevents. PNC's second quarter 2018 earnings release, related financial supplement, and presentation slides to accompany the conference call remarks will be available at www.pnc.com/investorevents prior to the beginning of the call. A telephone replay of the call will be available for one week at (800) 633-8284 and (402) 977-9140 (international), conference ID 21890497 and a replay of the audio webcast will be available on PNC's website for 30 days.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.

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Our Basel III capital ratios may be impacted by additional regulatory guidance or analysis, and, in the case of those ratios calculated using the advanced approaches, may be subject to variability based on the ongoing evolution, validation and regulatory approval of PNC's models that are integral to the calculation of advanced approaches risk-weighted assets as PNC moves through the parallel run approval process.