First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (FCNCA) AI Stock Analysis
FCNCA AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchFirst Citizens BancShares, Inc. (FCNCA) provides retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and lending services across the United States. In the trailing twelve months, the company generated $9.33B in revenue with an operating margin of 39.0% and diluted EPS of $186.57. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings grew 31.0% year-over-year while revenue expanded 8.5%.
- Market cap
- $23.98B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $9.33B
- P/E
- 11.4x fwd 10.8x
- 1Y return
- 30.1% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $2336.54 10.0% vs last close
Bull case
- The company demonstrated strong momentum in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, delivering quarterly earnings growth of 31.0% year-over-year.
- First Citizens offers consistent capital returns with 41 consecutive years of dividend payments and a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 36.6%.
- Over the trailing 1-year period, the stock gained 30.1%, well ahead of the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
Bear case
- Annual revenue fell 3.0% in FY2025 to $14.50B, down from $14.94B in FY2024.
- The balance sheet carried total debt of $32.19B against cash and short-term investments of $1.52B as of June 30, 2026.
- Among covering analysts, 11 rate the stock a Hold while only 2 assign a Strong Buy rating.
What First Citizens BancShares does
Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. operates primarily through its subsidiary, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1898. The company delivers retail and commercial banking products, including checking, savings, money market, and time deposit accounts. Its lending portfolio encompasses commercial real estate, business loans, Small Business Administration loans, mortgages, and auto financing. In addition, First Citizens offers treasury management, cardholder and merchant services, wealth management, private banking, trust administration, and fiduciary services. It also provides investment products such as annuities, discount brokerage services, and mutual funds.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2020 and FY2025, First Citizens achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 49.9%. Revenue rose from $1.90B in FY2021 to $5.10B in FY2022, and reached $12.64B in FY2023 with an operating margin of 95.6% and net income of $11.47B. Revenue peaked at $14.94B in FY2024 before dipping 3.0% to $14.50B in FY2025, when operating margin was 20.5% and net margin was 15.2%, yielding net income of $2.21B and EPS of $178.46. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue totaled $9.33B with a net profit margin of 25.2% and EPS of $186.57. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 8.5% and earnings grew 31.0% year-over-year.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, First Citizens held $1.52B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $32.19B, resulting in net debt of $30.67B and total assets of $236.84B. Shareholders' equity stood at $21.90B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47 and a current ratio of 9.99. In FY2025, the company generated $2.92B in operating cash flow and $2.07B in free cash flow. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $852.0M in capital expenditures, $3.03B in share buybacks, and $161.0M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
First Citizens trades at a trailing P/E of 11.4x, below the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers, while its forward P/E of 10.8x matches the peer median of 10.8x. Its price-to-sales multiple is 2.6x, compared to the peer median of 3.2x, and its PEG ratio sits at 1.15. The stock carries a price-to-book ratio of 1.2x. Over the past year, FCNCA gained 30.1%, outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year horizon, its return of 153.0% substantially outpaced the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.
FCNCA dividend
First Citizens pays an annual forward dividend of $8.40 per share, representing a dividend yield of 0.40% and a payout ratio of 4.2%. The dividend is distributed on a quarterly frequency and has been paid for 41 consecutive years. Over the past 5 years, the annualized dividend growth rate was 36.6%. The company's last ex-dividend date was August 31, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 2 Strong Buy ratings and 11 Hold ratings, with 0 Buy, 0 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $2336.54, representing a 10.0% upside versus the last close of $2123.74. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $194.27 on revenue of $8.88B. The company beat EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is October 23, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Net debt reached $30.67B as of June 30, 2026, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47.
- Consensus forecasts project revenue to drop to $8.88B for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, down from $14.50B in FY2025.
- The company's return on assets over the trailing twelve months stands at 1.0%, leaving limited margin for operational underperformance.
- The stock's short interest represents 5.4% of float as of October 16, 2026.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this FCNCA AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (FCNCA). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: FCNCA income statement, FCNCA balance sheet, FCNCA key metrics, FCNCA analyst forecast, FCNCA chart. See the FCNCA stock overview for the latest quote and news.
FCNCA AI stock analysis FAQ
Does First Citizens BancShares pay a dividend?
Yes, First Citizens BancShares pays a quarterly dividend with an annual forward payout of $8.40 per share, yielding 0.40%. The company maintains a payout ratio of 4.2% and has paid dividends for 41 consecutive years.
What is First Citizens BancShares' valuation compared to peers?
The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 11.4x, below the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x. Its forward P/E is 10.8x, matching the peer median of 10.8x.
When does First Citizens BancShares report its next earnings?
First Citizens BancShares is scheduled to report earnings on October 23, 2026. The company has beaten EPS expectations in each of the last 4 quarters.
How has FCNCA stock performed compared to the S&P 500?
Over the past year, FCNCA gained 30.1% compared to a 16.8% return for the S&P 500. Over five years, the stock returned 153.0% versus 83.0% for the S&P 500.