PNC Reports First Quarter 2017 Net Income of $1.1 Billion, $1.96 Diluted EPS

PITTSBURGH, April 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) today reported:

“PNC had a good start to the year,” said William S. Demchak, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We grew loans and revenue, and we managed expenses well while continuing to invest in our businesses and to enhance innovation. As we progress through 2017, we are well positioned to benefit should environmental factors, including interest rates, turn more favorable.”

Income Statement Highlights

First quarter 2017 compared with fourth quarter 2016

• Total revenue grew $10 million to $3.9 billion.
• Net interest income increased $30 million, or 1 percent, to $2.2 billion primarily due to higher loan and securities yields that benefited from higher interest rates in the quarter partially offset by two fewer days in the first quarter.
• Noninterest income decreased $20 million, or 1 percent, to $1.7 billion reflecting seasonally lower fee income partially offset by positive valuation adjustments of $47 million associated with a five-year extension to conform certain equity investments subject to the Volcker Rule.
• Noninterest expense decreased $39 million, or 2 percent, to $2.4 billion and expenses continued to be well managed.
• Provision for credit losses was $88 million, an increase of $21 million. Overall credit quality remained stable.
• Diluted earnings per common share were negatively impacted by $.04 due to recognition of deferred issuance costs of $19 million upon the redemption of all REIT preferred securities on March 15, 2017.

Balance Sheet Highlights

• Loans grew $2.0 billion, or 1 percent, to $212.8 billion at March 31, 2017 compared with December 31, 2016. 
• Commercial lending balances increased $2.7 billion, or 2 percent, primarily in PNC’s real estate, business credit and corporate banking businesses.
• Consumer lending balances decreased $.7 billion reflecting lower home equity, education and credit card loans partially offset by higher residential mortgage loans.
• Overall credit quality remained stable.
• Nonperforming assets of $2.2 billion at March 31, 2017 decreased $.2 billion, or 7 percent, compared with December 31, 2016.
• Net charge-offs increased to $118 million for the first quarter compared with $106 million for the fourth quarter.
• Deposits increased $3.5 billion, or 1 percent, to $260.7 billion at March 31, 2017 compared with December 31, 2016 reflecting growth in consumer deposits partially offset by seasonal declines in commercial deposits.
• Investment securities increased $.5 billion, or 1 percent, to $76.4 billion at March 31, 2017 compared with December 31, 2016. 
• PNC maintained a strong liquidity position.
• The Liquidity Coverage Ratio at March 31, 2017 for both PNC and PNC Bank, N.A. continued to exceed the fully phased-in requirement of 100 percent, which became effective on January 1, 2017.
• PNC returned $.9 billion of capital to shareholders, or 92 percent of first quarter net income attributable to diluted common shares, through repurchases of 5.0 million common shares for $.6 billion and dividends on common shares of $.3 billion.
• On January 30, 2017, PNC announced a $300 million increase to its common stock share repurchase programs, which now provide for repurchases of up to $2.3 billion for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2017.
• PNC maintained a strong capital position.
• Transitional Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was an estimated 10.5 percent at March 31, 2017 and 10.6 percent at December 31, 2016, calculated using the regulatory capital methodologies applicable to PNC during 2017 and 2016, respectively.
• Pro forma fully phased-in Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratio, a non-GAAP financial measure, was an estimated 10.0 percent at both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, based on the standardized approach rules.

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 first quarter of 2017 grew $10 million compared with the fourth quarter and $219 million compared with the first quarter of 2016. Net interest income grew in both comparisons and noninterest income increased over first quarter 2016. 

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2017 increased $30 million compared with the fourth quarter and $62 million compared with the first quarter of 2016. Higher interest rates in first quarter 2017 benefited loan and securities yields partially offset by an increase in borrowing and deposit costs in both comparisons. Additionally, the first quarter was impacted by two fewer days compared with the fourth quarter. Higher loan balances contributed to the increase in net interest income, and higher securities balances in the comparison with the first quarter of 2016.

The net interest margin increased to 2.77 percent for the first quarter of 2017 compared with 2.69 percent for the fourth quarter and 2.75 percent for the first quarter of 2016. The first quarter 2017 margin reflected benefits from higher interest rates in the quarter. Compared with first quarter 2016, higher loan yields were offset by lower securities yields and higher borrowing and deposit costs.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2017 decreased $20 million compared with the fourth quarter. Asset management revenue, which includes earnings from PNC’s equity investment in BlackRock, increased $4 million due to the impact of higher equity markets. Consumer service fees declined $17 million and service charges on deposits decreased $11 million driven by seasonally lower customer-initiated transactions. Corporate service fees increased $6 million and included higher merger and acquisition advisory fees. Residential mortgage banking noninterest income decreased $29 million due to lower net hedging gains on mortgage servicing rights and lower loan sales revenue from seasonally lower origination volumes partially offset by higher servicing fees. Other noninterest income increased $27 million and included a benefit from valuation adjustments of $47 million associated with a five-year extension of the prior July 2017 deadline to conform certain equity investments subject to the Volcker Rule provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. PNC received the extension in February 2017. Other noninterest income also reflected lower gains on asset dispositions.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2017 increased $157 million compared with the first quarter of 2016. Asset management revenue increased $62 million from higher equity markets and net new business activity. Corporate service fees increased $68 million due to higher merger and acquisition advisory fees and other capital markets revenue, higher net hedging gains on commercial mortgage servicing rights and higher treasury management revenue. Other noninterest income reflected the benefit from the valuation adjustments on equity investments offset by the impact of first quarter 2016 net gains on the sale of Visa Class B common shares. 

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2017 decreased $39 million compared with the fourth quarter. Higher personnel expense related to incentive compensation and seasonally higher occupancy expense were more than offset by the impact of a fourth quarter contribution to the PNC Foundation. Noninterest expense increased $121 million compared with the first quarter of 2016 reflecting overall higher levels of business activity. PNC remained focused on disciplined expense management while continuing to invest in technology and business infrastructure.

The effective tax rate was 23.0 percent for the first quarter of 2017, 23.4 percent for the fourth quarter of 2016 and 23.5 percent for the first quarter of 2016. Income taxes for first quarter 2017 included higher tax deductions for stock-based compensation related to vesting of restricted shares and options exercised and to a higher common stock price. 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $370.9 billion at March 31, 2017 compared with $366.4 billion at December 31, 2016 and $361.0 billion at March 31, 2016. Assets grew 1 percent compared with year end 2016 primarily from higher deposits maintained with the Federal Reserve Bank and loan growth. Assets grew 3 percent over March 31, 2016 driven by higher loans and investment securities.

Total loans grew $2.0 billion as of March 31, 2017 compared with December 31, 2016. Commercial lending balances increased $2.7 billion primarily in PNC’s real estate, business credit and corporate banking businesses. Consumer lending balances decreased $.7 billion due to lower home equity, education and credit card loans partially offset by higher residential mortgage loans. Average loans grew $1.4 billion over the fourth quarter from higher commercial lending balances of $1.2 billion and higher consumer lending balances of $.2 billion.

First quarter 2017 period end and average loans increased $5.3 billion and $5.1 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2016 as a result of higher commercial, commercial real estate, auto and residential mortgage loans partially offset by a decrease in discontinued consumer loan portfolios including brokered home equity and government guaranteed education loans.

Investment securities balances at March 31, 2017 increased $.5 billion compared with December 31, 2016 and average balances for the first quarter increased $.2 billion compared with the fourth quarter as purchases of primarily agency residential mortgage-backed and U. S. Treasury securities replaced portfolio runoff. First quarter 2017 period end and average investment securities increased $3.9 billion and $6.0 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2016. Net unrealized gains on available for sale securities were $.3 billion at March 31, 2017, $.2 billion at December 31, 2016 and $1.0 billion at March 31, 2016.

Interest-earning deposits with banks, primarily with the Federal Reserve Bank, increased to $27.9 billion at March 31, 2017 compared with $25.7 billion at December 31, 2016 in part reflecting deposit growth, while the average balance declined to $24.2 billion in the first quarter compared with $25.2 billion for the fourth quarter. First quarter 2016 period end and average balances were $29.5 billion and $25.5 billion, respectively.

Total deposits at March 31, 2017 grew $3.5 billion compared with December 31, 2016 due to growth in consumer savings and demand deposits partially offset by seasonal declines in commercial deposits. Average deposits decreased $2.1 billion in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter reflecting timing and seasonality of both lower commercial deposits and higher consumer deposits. Period end and average first quarter 2017 deposits increased $10.3 billion and $8.8 billion, respectively, compared with first quarter 2016 from overall strong deposit growth. 

Borrowed funds at March 31, 2017 increased $2.4 billion compared with December 31, 2016 and average borrowed funds increased $3.4 billion in the first quarter compared with the fourth quarter. First quarter 2017 period end borrowed funds increased $.9 billion and average borrowed funds increased $1.3 billion compared with first quarter 2016. Increases in bank notes and senior debt and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings were partially offset by lower subordinated debt in the comparisons.

PNC maintained a strong capital position. Common shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2017 increased $.1 billion compared with December 31, 2016 due to growth in retained earnings substantially offset by share repurchases. The transitional Basel III common equity Tier 1 capital ratios were calculated using the regulatory capital methodologies, including related phase-ins, applicable to PNC during 2017 and 2016 using the standardized approach. The pro forma ratios were also calculated based on the standardized approach. See Capital Ratios in the Consolidated Financial Highlights.

PNC returned $.9 billion of capital to shareholders in the first quarter of 2017 through repurchases of 5.0 million common shares for $.6 billion and dividends on common shares of $.3 billion. PNC has repurchased a total of 15.8 million common shares for $1.6 billion under current share repurchase programs. On January 30, 2017, PNC announced a $300 million increase to its common stock share repurchase programs, which now provide for repurchases of up to $2.3 billion for the four-quarter period ending June 30, 2017. These programs include repurchases of up to $.2 billion related to stock issuances under employee benefit plans.

On April 4, 2017, the PNC board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of 55 cents per share with a payment date of May 5, 2017.

Overall credit quality for the first quarter of 2017 remained stable with the fourth quarter. Provision for credit losses for first quarter 2017 increased $21 million compared with the fourth quarter largely reflecting loan growth.

Nonperforming assets at March 31, 2017 decreased $162 million compared with December 31, 2016 and $340 million compared with March 31, 2016 due to lower commercial and consumer nonperforming loans. Nonperforming assets to total assets were .60 percent at March 31, 2017 compared with .65 percent at December 31, 2016 and .71 percent at March 31, 2016.

Overall delinquencies as of March 31, 2017 declined $192 million, or 12 percent, compared with December 31, 2016 from lower accruing loans past due 30 to 59 days of $104 million as well as a reduction of $83 million in the 90 days or more category.

Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2017 increased $12 million compared with the fourth quarter driven by higher home equity and credit card net charge-offs. Compared with first quarter 2016, net charge-offs decreased $31 million primarily in commercial and home equity loans. Net charge-offs for the first quarter of 2017 were .23 percent of average loans on an annualized basis compared with .20 percent for the fourth quarter and .29 percent for the first quarter of 2016.

The allowance for loan and lease losses at March 31, 2017 decreased $28 million compared with December 31, 2016 and $150 million compared with March 31, 2016. The allowance to total loans was 1.20 percent at March 31, 2017, 1.23 percent at December 31, 2016 and 1.31 percent at March 31, 2016. The allowance to nonperforming loans was 128 percent at March 31, 2017, 121 percent at December 31, 2016 and 119 percent at March 31, 2016.

Effective for the first quarter of 2017, as a result of changes to how PNC manages its businesses, it realigned its segments and, accordingly, has changed the basis of presentation of its segments, resulting in four reportable business segments: Retail Banking, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Asset Management Group and BlackRock. For purposes of this news release, BlackRock has been combined with Other. In addition, PNC made certain adjustments to its internal funds transfer pricing methodology primarily relating to weighted average lives of certain non-maturity deposits. These changes in methodology affected business segment results, primarily adversely impacting net interest income for Corporate & Institutional Banking and Retail Banking, offset by increased net interest income in Other. All prior periods presented were revised to conform to the new segment alignment and to reflect the change in internal funds transfer pricing methodology.

Retail Banking earnings for the first quarter of 2017 decreased in both comparisons. Noninterest income declined from the fourth quarter as a result of seasonally lower customer-initiated transactions, lower net hedging gains on residential mortgage servicing rights and lower mortgage loan sales revenue, partially offset by higher mortgage servicing fees. Noninterest income decreased compared with first quarter 2016 due to the impact of first quarter 2016 net gains on the sale of Visa Class B common shares partially offset by higher net hedging gains on residential mortgage servicing rights. Provision for credit losses declined in both comparisons reflecting overall credit portfolio performance. Noninterest expense decreased compared with the fourth quarter as a result of lower personnel and marketing expenses and increased compared with first quarter 2016 primarily due to investments in technology.

• Retail Banking continued to focus on the strategic priority of transforming the customer experience through transaction migration, branch network and home lending transformations and multi-channel engagement and service strategies.
• Approximately 61 percent of consumer customers used non-teller channels for the majority of their transactions during the first quarter of 2017 compared with 60 percent and 56 percent for the fourth and first quarters of 2016, respectively.
• Deposit transactions via ATM and mobile channels increased to 52 percent of total deposit transactions in the first quarter of 2017 compared with 51 percent in the fourth quarter and 47 percent in the first quarter of 2016.
• PNC had a network of 2,508 branches and 8,976 ATMs at March 31, 2017. Approximately 21 percent of the branch network operates under the universal model.
• Approximately 43 percent of first quarter 2017 residential mortgage loan origination volume was for home purchase transactions compared with 33 percent and 40 percent in the fourth and first quarters of 2016, respectively.
• Residential mortgage loan servicing acquisitions were $8 billion in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $3 billion and $5 billion in the fourth and first quarters of 2016, respectively.
• Average deposits grew 1 percent over the fourth quarter and 5 percent over the first quarter of 2016 due to higher demand deposits as well as an increase in savings deposits which were partially offset by lower money market deposits reflecting a shift to relationship-based savings products. Certificates of deposit declined from the net runoff of maturing accounts.
• Average loans increased 1 percent in both comparisons as growth in residential mortgage, auto and credit card loans was partially offset by lower home equity, education and commercial loans.
• Net charge-offs were $100 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared with $90 million and $97 million for the fourth and first quarters of 2016, respectively.

Corporate & Institutional Banking earnings for the first quarter of 2017 decreased compared with the fourth quarter and increased compared with the first quarter of 2016. Noninterest income declined from the fourth quarter due to lower revenue from commercial mortgage loans held for sale activities partially offset by higher merger and acquisition advisory fees. Noninterest income increased compared with the first quarter of 2016 as a result of higher merger and acquisition advisory fees, higher net hedging gains on commercial mortgage servicing rights and higher treasury management revenue. Provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2017 increased compared with the fourth quarter driven by loan growth and decreased compared with first quarter 2016 reflecting a lower provision for energy related loans. Noninterest expense increased in both comparisons due to higher variable compensation. 

• Average loans increased 1 percent over the fourth quarter and 5 percent over the first quarter of 2016 driven by growth in commercial loans in PNC’s corporate banking and equipment finance businesses. Growth in commercial real estate loans in PNC’s real estate business also contributed to the increase compared with the first quarter of 2016.
• Average deposits decreased 5 percent from the fourth quarter reflecting seasonal declines and increased 2 percent compared with the first quarter of 2016 due to an increase in interest-bearing demand deposits partially offset by decreases in noninterest-bearing demand and money market deposits.
• Net charge offs were $21 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $17 million in the fourth quarter and $38 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Asset Management Group earnings for the first quarter of 2017 decreased in both comparisons as higher noninterest income reflecting increases in the equity markets was offset by increases in noninterest expense primarily reflecting higher variable compensation.

• Asset Management Group’s strategy is focused on growing investable assets by continually evolving the client experience and products and services. The business offers an open architecture platform with a full array of investment products and banking solutions.
• Client assets under administration at March 31, 2017 included discretionary client assets under management of $141 billion and nondiscretionary client assets under administration of $123 billion.
• Discretionary client assets under management increased $4 billion compared with December 31, 2016 and $6 billion compared with March 31, 2016 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 integration costs, asset and liability management activities including net securities gains or losses, other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities and certain trading activities, exited businesses, discontinued consumer loan portfolios, private equity investments, intercompany eliminations, most corporate overhead, tax adjustments that are not allocated to business segments, 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) 402-9103 and (303) 223-2683 (international) and Internet access to the live audio listen-only webcast of the call is available at www.pnc.com/investorevents. PNC’s first quarter 2017 earnings release, the 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 21847045 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.

[TABULAR MATERIAL FOLLOWS]