New York, January 22, 2026, 19:28 EST — After-hours
- Shares of Huntington Bancshares dropped roughly 6% following the release of its fourth-quarter results.
- Management projects net interest income to rise 10%–13% by 2026 on a standalone basis, with additional gains anticipated from the Cadence deal.
- The board kept the common dividend unchanged at $0.155 per share.
Huntington Bancshares shares dropped 5.9% to $17.64 in after-hours trading Thursday, as the regional bank’s quarterly report stirred concerns over rising expenses and credit costs. The bank did highlight a stronger outlook for 2026, but investors remained cautious.
The decline hits at a crucial time, as investors bet on lenders benefiting from easing funding costs and steady loan demand to boost margins in 2026. Huntington’s results fall squarely in the middle of that discussion, especially with a major acquisition looming and rates under scrutiny. 1
Huntington projects 2026 net interest income—the gap between earnings on loans and costs on deposits—to climb 10% to 13% on a standalone basis. The planned Cadence Bank acquisition, once finalized, is set to boost that forecast by $1.85 billion to $1.90 billion. The bank also expects average loans to increase 11% to 12%, with deposits rising 8% to 9%. CEO Steve Steinour emphasized, “Our focus for 2026 remains on driving strong organic growth.” 2
Huntington announced a fourth-quarter net income of $519 million, or 30 cents per share, slipping from 41 cents in the previous quarter. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 37 cents. The company flagged “notable items” that included $154 million in acquisition-related expenses before tax. 3
The quarterly supplement revealed noninterest expense climbed to $1.42 billion, up from $1.25 billion the previous quarter. Provision for credit losses inched higher to $123 million. Net charge-offs — loans the bank deems unlikely to collect — stood at 0.24% of average loans and leases. 4
Huntington highlighted its progress on M&A integration, noting the Veritex merger wrapped up on January 19. The bank also confirmed it still aims to finalize the Cadence deal by February 1, pending regulatory and shareholder sign-offs. 5
Huntington’s board also declared a quarterly common dividend of $0.155 per share, steady with the previous quarter. The payout is scheduled for April 1, to shareholders recorded on March 18. 6
The recent rally in Huntington shares came to an abrupt halt after a brief surge. On Wednesday, the stock jumped 4.34%, closing at $18.77 and hitting a fresh 52-week high. Trading volume surged well beyond its recent averages, according to MarketWatch data. 7
Thursday saw major indexes climb, boosted by easing tariff concerns and stronger economic data, making Huntington’s jump particularly notable among banks. 8
That trade could flip fast. Should loan growth stall, credit costs climb, or integration expenses drag on past management’s timeline, the 2026 margin outlook gets complicated—and the stock’s bounce-back argument loses steam.
The Federal Reserve’s January 27–28 meeting is next on the calendar, with its policy decision set for January 28. This event will be a key driver for expectations around bank margins and the mood among regional lenders. 9
