Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (NASDAQ:ZION) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.13 EPS

Key Points

• Zions beat Q1 estimates, reporting $1.56 EPS (vs. $1.43 expected) and $232 million in net earnings, up 37% year‑over‑year, with a 3.27% NIM and management guiding to roughly 7–8% net interest income growth over the next 12 months if rates stay unchanged.
• The bank announced a pending acquisition of Basis Investment Group’s Fannie/Freddie multifamily lending programs and MSRs to expand its commercial real estate and capital markets franchise, underscoring capital markets as a key growth driver.
• Credit and funding trends are strong: net charge‑offs were about 3 bps

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. (NASDAQ:ZION - Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Monday. The bank reported $1.56 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.13, Zacks reports. Zions Bancorporation, N.A. had a net margin of 18.19% and a return on equity of 13.70%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.13 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from Zions Bancorporation, N.A.'s conference call:

• Reported net earnings of $232 million ($1.56 EPS), up 37% year‑over‑year, with NIM at 3.27% and management guiding to ~7%–8% net interest income growth over the next 12 months if rates remain unchanged.
• Capital markets remain a key growth driver and the company announced a pending acquisition of Basis Investment Group’s Fannie/Freddie multifamily lending programs and MSRs to expand its CRE and capital markets franchise.
• Credit quality is strong: net charge‑offs were ~3 bps annualized, non‑performing assets declined to 48 bps, and the allowance ended the quarter at 1.16% with 239% coverage of non‑accrual loans.
• Funding profile improved as period‑end customer deposits rose $1.3 billion and the bank continues to convert off‑balance‑sheet and broker deposits into lower‑cost customer deposits while rolling out new consumer and small business deposit products.
• Adjusted non‑interest expense increased to $558 million due to seasonal compensation and ongoing investments in technology, marketing, and talent, but management expects positive operating leverage of 100–150 bps for full‑year 2026.

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Trading Up 0.5%

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. stock traded up $0.32 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $63.05. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,220,190 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,832,516. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.27 billion, a PE ratio of 10.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.81. Zions Bancorporation, N.A. has a 1 year low of $39.42 and a 1 year high of $66.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The stock's fifty day moving average is $58.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.05.

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 19th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th were issued a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 12th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. Zions Bancorporation, N.A.'s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Zions Bancorporation, N.A. news, CEO Harris H. Simmons purchased 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $59.03 per share, for a total transaction of $265,635.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 1,317,493 shares in the company, valued at $77,771,611.79. This trade represents a 0.34% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer Anne Smith sold 2,089 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.48, for a total transaction of $130,520.72. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 22,733 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,420,357.84. This trade represents a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 55,581 shares of company stock valued at $3,498,774. 1.43% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Zions Bancorporation, N.A.

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ZION. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas raised its holdings in shares of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. by 303.7% in the 3rd quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 1,211 shares of the bank's stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 911 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its stake in Zions Bancorporation, N.A. by 38.3% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,404 shares of the bank's stock worth $79,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. boosted its holdings in Zions Bancorporation, N.A. by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. now owns 1,555 shares of the bank's stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Zions Bancorporation, N.A. by 52.5% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,816 shares of the bank's stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 625 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.84% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on ZION. Stephens upped their price objective on shares of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. from $63.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Evercore boosted their target price on Zions Bancorporation, N.A. from $65.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Brean Capital started coverage on Zions Bancorporation, N.A. in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Barclays increased their price target on Zions Bancorporation, N.A. from $61.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Zions Bancorporation, N.A. from $68.00 to $62.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $62.79.

About Zions Bancorporation, N.A.

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. is a bank holding company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, offering a full suite of banking and financial services to individuals, businesses and institutions. Through its primary subsidiary, Zions Bank, the company provides commercial banking, retail banking and wealth management solutions designed to serve the needs of small businesses, middle‐market firms and high‐net‐worth clients. Its service portfolio includes deposit accounts, cash‐management tools, lending products, mortgage origination, treasury services and investment advisory services.

The company's commercial banking segment delivers custom credit and treasury management services, including working capital lines of credit, equipment financing and international trade finance.