Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) has undergone a major transformation in recent years, emerging as a more streamlined and profitable financial institution. The bank’s performance in recent quarters has underscored the importance of its ongoing restructuring, focusing on exiting non-core markets, improving cost management, and strengthening capital. The stock was one of the strongest performers in the banking sector in 2025.
What to Expect
The New York-headquartered banking giant is scheduled to publish its fourth quarter results on Wednesday, January 14, at 8:00 am ET. Wall Street estimates suggest the company will end fiscal 2025 on a high note. The consensus earnings estimate for the December quarter is $1.72 per share on revenue of $20.67 billion. The forecast shows a 27% year-over-year revenue increase and 5.6% profit growth.
Citigroup’s share price has more than doubled in the past nine months, and closed the last trading session well above its 52-week price of $87.62. Over the past year, shares have maintained a strong rise, reflecting investor confidence in the restructuring initiated by CEO Jane Fraser. The bank has a flexible shareholder return policy, with regular increases in dividends and stock buybacks. As of this week, the dividend yield is 2.4%, above the average of the S&P 500. It repurchased 8.75 billion shares in the first nine months of 2025 and ended the third quarter with a Tier-1 capital amount above the regulatory requirement.
Key metrics
Total loans at the end of September 2025 were $734 billion, a 7% increase from the year-ago period, helped by higher loans. Markets, Servicesagain Name cards. In the third quarter, revenue increased to $22.1 billion from $20.2 billion in the year-ago quarter, beating estimates. As a result, Q3 net income increased to $3.8 billion or $1.86 per share from $3.2 billion or $1.51 per share in the year-ago quarter. Earnings beat Wall Street expectations for the eleventh quarter in a row.
From Citigroup’s Q3 2025 Earnings Call:
“As we simplify, we continue to invest in technology to improve our transformation and become the fastest and most modern bank. We have been relentless in our actions, and it creates results. More than two-thirds of our transformation programs are close to or close to our targets, and we are making excellent progress in the remaining areas. I am very happy with the development of the digital level, we have advanced our automatic controls this year. the development of payments, enabling payments, clearing, and energy payments that work all the time, in many borders and currencies..”
New Building
Citigroup uses an unconventional organizational structure and operates its business units differently to achieve greater overall efficiency. Recent investments focused on technology and data are driving top-line growth and improving returns. By fiscal 2025, management is targeting more than $84 billion in revenue. Given the supportive regulatory environment and signs of stabilizing economic conditions, Citigroup’s recent business momentum is expected to continue in the near term.
Citigroup shares are trading at their highest level in more than 15 years. On Tuesday, the stock opened at $119.31 and gained modestly in early trading.
