Citigroup Stock Drops Despite Blowout Quarter — Profit Up 45%

TLDR

• Citigroup Q2 net income rose 45% year-over-year to $5.83 billion, or $3.15 per share, beating estimates of $2.73

• Revenue hit $24.77 billion, its highest quarterly level in a decade, topping the $23.66 billion consensus

• Equities trading revenue surged 45%, while investment banking revenue jumped 44% to $1.55 billion

• Citi served as underwriter for SpaceX’s $75 billion IPO and advised on the $44.8 billion Unilever-McCormick deal

• Despite the beat, Citi stock dropped 1.23% in premarket trading on Tuesday

Citigroup posted a blowout second quarter on Tuesday, with profit jumping 45% from a year ago to $5.83 billion. That works out to $3.15 per share, well ahead of the $2.73 analyst estimate.

Revenue came in at $24.77 billion, the bank’s best quarterly figure in a decade, and above the Wall Street consensus of $23.66 billion. Despite the strong numbers, Citi stock was down 1.23% in premarket trading.

Citigroup Inc., C

The results were powered largely by a surge in trading activity. Geopolitical tensions tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict drove sharp moves in oil and other assets, pushing investors to reposition — and boosting trading desks at major banks in the process.

Equities revenue jumped 45% year-over-year. Fixed-income markets revenue was up 7%, with commodities and other fixed income climbing 25%. Rates and currency trading edged up 1%.

Investment Banking Drives Revenue Higher

Investment banking had a strong quarter, with revenues rising 44% to $1.55 billion. Total banking revenues were up 34% to $1.92 billion, though corporate lending revenue fell.

Citi was a lead underwriter on SpaceX’s $75 billion IPO during the quarter. It also advised on the $44.8 billion combination of Unilever and McCormick’s food businesses — two of the more eye-catching deals of the year.

Those mandates added real weight to the investment banking line, which has been a focus area for the bank over the past several quarters.

Citi Among a Strong Group of Bank Earnings

Citi reported alongside JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America — all of which posted profit increases in the quarter.

The broad-based strength across the group reflects how elevated market volatility has been a tailwind for Wall Street’s trading operations this year.

For Citi specifically, the quarter marks a clear improvement in both top and bottom line performance.

Net income of $5.83 billion compares to roughly $4 billion in the same period a year earlier. The 45% jump is one of the cleaner beats the bank has put up in recent memory.

EPS of $3.15 topped estimates by 42 cents. The revenue figure of $24.77 billion beat the consensus by over $1 billion.

Citi stock was trading at around $138.40 in premarket, down from a prior close near $140.71.