What Are Wall Street Analysts' Target Price for Northern Trust Stock?

Northern Trust Corporation NTRS has launched an upgraded active collateral solution designed to help institutional investors manage their collateral more efficiently while addressing ever-changing market conditions.

The solution was developed in conjunction with CloudMargin, a leading global collateral management technology provider, which will improve service capabilities, and increase real-time transparency and platform resiliency.

The solution includes an automatic asset selection using configurable hierarchies, support for sophisticated eligibility requirements, real-time data access via client portals, report-writing capabilities, and complete end-to-end automation.

These advanced capabilities are part of Northern Trust's full suite of collateral, derivatives and liquidity management solutions. Clients can use these services globally, either as individual components to supplement their existing in-house procedures or as part of a larger suite of collateral management solutions.

NTRS & CloudMargin’s Management Remarks

Nadia Ivanova, head of business services at Northern Trust Asset Servicing, said, “Our clients must be strategic and nimble in managing their investment portfolios, including collateral management, to optimize asset deployment and minimize performance drag. Our advanced, digitized solutions can help clients achieve this objective – minimizing the value of assets that need to be tied up as collateral and managing counterparty exposure effectively. This showcases our technology vision in action, delivering the agility, resilience, automation, and long-term value our clients require.”

Ivanova added, “Our clients must be strategic and nimble in managing their investment portfolios, including collateral management, to optimize asset deployment and minimize performance drag. Our advanced, digitized solutions can help clients achieve this objective – minimizing the value of assets that need to be tied up as collateral and managing counterparty exposure effectively. This showcases our technology vision in action, delivering the agility, resilience, automation, and long-term value our clients require.”

CloudMargin CEO Stuart Connolly said, “CloudMargin’s purpose-built collateral platform is continuously updated, enhanced and maintained. Northern Trust clients will benefit from full automation in their collateral workflow, and unprecedented levels of transparency. We are incredibly honoured that Northern Trust selected CloudMargin for this mission-critical service after a comprehensive review of the marketplace and rigorous due diligence process. The collaboration is another important milestone in our continued growth trajectory in our 10th anniversary year.”

NTRS Zacks Rank & Price Performance

Year to date, shares of NTRS have risen 32.6% compared with the industry’s 36.1% growth.

Currently, Northern Trust carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Collaborations Pursued by Other Finance Firms

Earlier this month, State Street Corp.’s STT asset management arm, State Street Global Advisors, joined forces with Bridgewater Associates LP to boost its core alternative investment strategies. The partnership aligns with State Street’s growth strategy to strengthen its fee income.

Similarly, AllianceBernstein L.P. AB entered a partnership with Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated RGA to expand its insurance business.

AB has been selected as one of the leading investors in Ruby Reinsurance Company — a reinsurance sidecar vehicle sponsored by RGA which focuses on the U.S. asset-intensive market. AB plans to manage private alternative assets for RGA’s general account through this transaction.

Zacks Investment Research

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS). Shares have added about 6% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Northern Trust due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Northern Trust Q3 Earnings Beat on Higher Fee Income, Costs Rise

Northern Trust’s third-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share of $1.96 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73. In the prior-year quarter, the company reported earnings per share of $1.49.

Results benefited from a rise in fee income. Also, an increase in total AUC and AUM balances supported financials. Strong capital ratios were another positive. However, a rise in expenses acted as a spoilsport.

Net income (GAAP basis) was $464.9 million, up 41.8% from the prior-year quarter.

Northern Trust’s Revenues & Expenses Rise

Quarterly total revenues (GAAP basis) of $1.97 billion increased 19.5% year over year. The top line also beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.87 billion.

NII on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $569.4 million in the quarter under review, up 23.1% year over year. The net interest margin (NIM) was 1.68%, up 23 basis points from the prior-year quarter.

Trust, investment and other servicing fees totaled $1.2 billion, up 7.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Other non-interest income increased 32.6% to $209.6 million from the prior-year quarter. The rise was primarily driven by a $68.1 million pre-tax gain related to the sale of an equity investment (after-tax $51.4 million) recorded in other operating income.

Non-interest expenses increased 6.4% to $1.36 billion in the reported quarter. The uptick stemmed from an elevation in all components except for occupancy and other operating expenses.

Northern Trust’s AUC and AUM Rise

As of Sept. 30, 2024, Northern Trust’s total AUC increased 25.2% year over year to $13.8 trillion. Also, total AUM rose 21.6% to $1.62 trillion.

Northern Trust’s Credit Quality: Mixed Bag

Total allowance for credit losses was $220 million, up 5% year over year.

Total non-accrual assets decreased 43.1% to $39.3 million as of Sept. 30, 2024. The company reported provisions for credit losses of $8 million in the third quarter, down 42.9% from the prior-year quarter.

Northern Trust’s Capital and Profitability Ratios Improve

Under the Standardized Approach, as of Sept. 30, 2024, the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.6%, up from 11.4% reported in the prior-year quarter. The total capital ratio was 15.6%, up from 14.5% in the year-ago quarter. The Tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.1% compared with 7.9% in the prior-year quarter.

Return on average assets was 1.26%, up from 0.93% in the year-ago quarter. Also, the return on average common equity was 15.4% compared with the year-earlier quarter’s 11.6%.

Northern Trust’s Capital Distribution Activities

In the reported quarter, Northern Trust returned approximately $453 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.

Outlook

Fourth Quarter

Management expects total operating expenses to be up approximately 2% compared to $175.3 million in the third quarter of 2024.

2024

NII is anticipated to remain flat from $1.98 billion in 2023.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

In the past month, investors have witnessed an upward trend in estimates revision.

The consensus estimate has shifted 9.28% due to these changes.

VGM Scores

Currently, Northern Trust has a poor Growth Score of F, however its Momentum Score is doing a bit better with a D. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of F. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Outlook

Estimates have been trending upward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions looks promising. It comes with little surprise Northern Trust has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We expect an above average return from the stock in the next few months.

Performance of an Industry Player

Northern Trust belongs to the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry. Another stock from the same industry, Truist Financial Corporation (TFC), has gained 7.8% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended September 2024.

Truist Financial reported revenues of $5.09 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -10.4%. EPS of $0.97 for the same period compares with $0.84 a year ago.

Truist Financial is expected to post earnings of $0.88 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +8.6%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -0.3%.

The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Truist Financial. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of D.

Zacks Investment Research