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Banco Santander SA (SAN) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Profit and Strategic Growth Plans

In This Article:

  • Profit: EUR 3.4 billion, up 19% from Q1 '24.

  • Return on Tangible Equity (RoTE) post-AT1: 15.8%, up almost 2 points year-on-year.

  • CET1 Ratio: 12.9%, at the top end of the 12% to 13% operating range.

  • Revenue Growth: Up 5% in constant euros.

  • Net Interest Income (NII): Increased 4% excluding Argentina.

  • Net Operating Income Growth: 7% year-on-year.

  • Efficiency Ratio: Improved by around 1 point.

  • Total Revenue Increase: 5%, driven by customer activity and global business contributions.

  • Net Fee Income: Grew close to double digits.

  • Cost of Risk: Improved to 1.14%.

  • Loan Loss Provisions: Increased 7% year-on-year.

  • TNAV plus Dividend per Share Growth: 14.5% year-on-year.

  • EPS: Rose to above EUR 0.21.

  • Payments Revenue Growth: Double-digit growth in both PagoNxt and Cards.

  • Consumer Deposit Increase: 12% year-on-year.

  • Global Markets Revenue Growth: Up 23% year-on-year.

  • Wealth Profit Growth: Double digits with efficiency ratio improved by close to 1.5 points.

  • Payments Profit Growth: 30% year-on-year.

  • PagoNxt EBITDA Margin: Improved to around 29%.

Release Date: April 30, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Banco Santander SA (NYSE:SAN) reported a record profit of EUR 3.4 billion for Q1 2025, a 19% increase from Q1 2024.

  • The company achieved a strong CET1 capital ratio of 12.9%, at the top end of its 12% to 13% operating range.

  • Revenue grew by 5% in constant euros, supported by a 4% increase in net interest income (NII) and record fees.

  • The bank's transformation efforts have improved efficiency, with a 1-point improvement in the efficiency ratio.

  • Banco Santander SA (NYSE:SAN) plans to distribute up to EUR 10 billion to shareholders through share buybacks for 2025/2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Negative Points

  • The bank faces currency depreciation challenges across its footprint, impacting TNAV plus dividend per share growth.

  • Argentina's economic situation is causing distortions in the P&L, affecting net interest income and other income.

  • Loan loss provisions increased by 7% year-on-year, with some deterioration noted in Brazil due to higher rates and inflation.

  • The Spanish banking tax is being accrued quarterly through taxes, impacting profit calculations.

  • The bank is experiencing regulatory and supervisory headwinds, with an expected 60 basis points impact for the year.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How should we think about net interest income (NII) going forward, given changes in rate expectations across your core markets? A: Hector Grisi Checa, CEO: Excluding Argentina, we expect NII to be slightly up in constant euros and slightly down year-on-year in current euros. We are assuming end rates at around 1.5% by the end of '25. Our ALCO portfolio has grown, and we have positive sensitivity to higher rates in Europe. In Brazil, we are well-positioned for lower rates, with an outlook improving for '25.