Citigroup exceeds fourth quarter earnings expectations as investment banking activity rebounds

Citigroup Inc. Creported fourth-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.81 per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $1.67 per share. This performance was primarily driven by a 35% increase in investment banking fees to $1.29 billion and a 78% rise in banking unit revenue to $2.2 billion. The results provide evidence that the multi-year turnaround strategy implemented by Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser jane fraseris achieving measurable results in the US USfinancial market.

The broader banking sector in the USdemonstrated resilience during the period, as major institutions like JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPMalso reported earnings that topped expectations. Bank of America Corporation BACand Wells Fargo & Company WFCfollowed suit with higher quarterly profits, reflecting a rebound in mergers and acquisitions activity that boosted the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund XLF. This industry-wide recovery emerged in the second half of 2025 after earlier volatility caused by tariff concerns and a government shutdown.