NEW YORK — December 18, 2025 — Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) headed into the after-hours session near the day’s highs after a regulatory headline gave investors fresh evidence that the bank’s multi-year “Transformation” effort is moving in the right direction. The stock finished Thursday’s regular session higher and then held roughly steady in extended trading as market participants digested the latest compliance update and recalibrated expectations for 2026. [1]
Below is what matters most after the bell on 18.12.2025, and what to keep on the radar before the U.S. stock market opens tomorrow.
Citigroup stock after the bell: the quick read
Citigroup shares closed Thursday at $112.83, up about 1.2% on the day, with trading activity that was heavier than recent averages—an important tell for momentum investors as the stock pushes toward its 52-week high zone. [2]
In after-hours trading, the stock hovered around $112.8, showing little net change from the close—typical behavior when the day’s catalyst is meaningful but not an “earnings-style” surprise that forces immediate repricing. [3]
The headline that moved Citi: OCC terminates a 2024 amendment to the 2020 consent order
The most important Citi-specific development on Thursday was confirmation that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has terminated the July 2024 amendment to Citibank’s 2020 consent order—while leaving the broader 2020 order in place. [4]
Why this matters
The now-terminated 2024 amendment was not just symbolic. It was designed to increase regulatory pressure on Citi to demonstrate it had committed sufficient resources to fix longstanding operational, risk-management, and data-control problems—and it carried the risk that Citi’s ability to distribute capital (including via dividends and other methods) could be constrained if regulators weren’t satisfied. [5]
In the OCC’s termination order, the agency states it believes the bank’s safety and soundness and legal compliance do not require the continued existence of the amendment. The document is dated Dec. 11, 2025 and signed by an OCC deputy comptroller. [6]
Citi’s message to investors
In its own statement Thursday, Citi emphasized that “Transformation” remains the top priority and said most programs are “at or nearly at target-state,” pointing to more standardized and automated controls as benefits already showing up in the business. [7]
Regulatory overhang is easing—but the core 2020 order is still there
Investors should view Thursday’s OCC step as a de-risking signal, not a full “all clear.”
Reuters’ reporting underscored two key points:
- The 2020 consent order remains in effect, continuing to require broad operational changes around data management and controls. [8]
- Citi’s long-running compliance effort has come with real costs, including regulatory fines that Reuters summarizes as $400 million in 2020 and $136 million in 2024 tied to persistent shortcomings and the added amendment. [9]
This is why the market reacted positively but not explosively: the direction improved, but the destination (full remediation and order termination) is still ahead.
Another supportive development this week: the Fed closed three confidential supervisory notices
Thursday’s OCC news landed just after another meaningful update: Reuters reported that the Federal Reserve closed three confidential supervisory notices that had required Citi to address trading risk-management weaknesses. [10]
According to Reuters, the notices were closed after Citi’s internal audit process determined the bank had made enough improvements. Reuters also noted that the Fed updated its supervisory approach earlier in the year in a way that can allow such matters to be terminated once requirements are met. [11]
Taken together, the Fed and OCC actions strengthen the “less regulatory drag” narrative that bulls have been building around Citi’s turnaround into year-end.
Analyst forecasts and price targets: Truist hikes to $123 as Citi trades near highs
On the forecasting front, a prominent catalyst on Thursday was a fresh price-target increase.
- Truist raised its Citi price target to $123 from $112 and reiterated a Buy rating, according to The Fly’s note carried by TipRanks. [12]
- MarketBeat’s roundup similarly reported Truist’s move and framed it as implying mid-single-digit to high-single-digit upside from Thursday’s trading level, while also noting other firms’ recent target adjustments. [13]
What the broader Street looks like (consensus snapshot)
MarketBeat’s consensus compilation shows:
- Consensus rating: Moderate Buy
- Average 12-month price target:$114.50
- Target range:$77 low to $134 high [14]
One important implication for Friday: with the stock closing near $113 and consensus targets clustered not far above (on some services), Citi may need continued “execution proof” (or a stronger macro tailwind) to keep pushing materially higher from here—unless more analysts follow Truist with upward revisions.
Today’s “what’s next” narrative: Zacks highlights 2026 setup, earnings growth expectations, and valuation
A widely circulated Thursday analysis piece published on Nasdaq (written for Zacks) argued Citi has outperformed the “Mag-7” in 2025, pointing to a mix of:
- Fed rate-cut dynamics
- A revival in M&A and IPO activity
- Corporate and consumer resilience [15]
Zacks also emphasized Citi’s multi-year strategic reset—exiting non-core consumer markets and simplifying the footprint—while describing a runway for fee-income growth and capital flexibility as restructuring progresses. [16]
The specific forecast nuggets investors are quoting
Zacks’ article pointed to consensus-style expectations suggesting:
- 2025 and 2026 earnings estimates implying strong year-over-year growth
- 2025 and 2026 sales estimates implying mid-single-digit growth dynamics
- A valuation case: Citi trading at a forward P/E discount versus the industry and selected peers [17]
Whether you agree with Zacks’ framing or not, the takeaway is clear: into Friday’s session, the market is increasingly treating Citi as a turnaround + cycle story (execution + macro), rather than a bank stuck in permanent remediation mode.
Technical setup into Friday: momentum is bullish, but the stock is pressing resistance
For traders watching Friday’s open, Investing.com’s end-of-day technical dashboard on Thursday showed a “Strong Buy” posture on the daily timeframe, with moving averages skewing positive and oscillators closer to neutral—often a sign of a trending stock that isn’t flashing extreme “overbought” conditions. [18]
Key levels from that same technical readout (classic pivot framework) cluster around:
- Pivot: ~112.99
- Resistance: ~113.37, 113.69, 114.07
- Support: ~112.67, 112.29, 111.97 [19]
This matters because Citi is also trading within reach of its 52-week high area (per widely quoted market-data summaries). A clean push above resistance early Friday could invite momentum buying, while a dip back through support could turn the post-news pop into a consolidation day. [20]
A legal overhang eased today: UK Supreme Court blocks a major forex “mass” lawsuit
Citi also appeared in another notable headline Thursday—this time in litigation.
Reuters reported that major banks, including Citigroup, won their bid to block a £2.7 billion (~$3.6 billion) UK “mass” lawsuit tied to alleged foreign exchange rigging, after the UK Supreme Court upheld an earlier decision that prevented the case from proceeding in an opt-out format. [21]
For Citi shareholders, this is less about immediate P&L and more about reducing a potential tail-risk headline that can weigh on valuation multiples.
What to know before the market opens tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 19)
Even with Citi-specific news in hand, banks trade heavily on rates, growth expectations, and risk sentiment. Friday’s key scheduled macro catalysts arrive after the opening bell—but they can still steer intraday direction for financials.
Key U.S. releases to watch on Dec. 19 (Eastern Time)
From the New York Fed’s economic calendar and the University of Michigan’s release schedule:
- 10:00 a.m. — University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Final) [22]
- 10:00 a.m. — Existing Home Sales (NAR) [23]
- 11:45 a.m. — New York Fed Staff Nowcast [24]
Why these matter for Citi: consumer confidence and housing activity feed into the market’s view of credit quality, loan demand, and the “soft landing vs. slowdown” debate—all of which can move large banks even on days without company-specific headlines.
Don’t forget the calendar effect: holiday trading logistics
Reuters also reported Thursday that major U.S. exchanges intend to keep trading schedules intact even after a presidential directive to close federal government offices on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26—meaning markets will still operate (with an early close on Dec. 24). [25]
As liquidity thins into the holidays, large-cap financials like Citi can sometimes see sharper swings on smaller news flow—something short-term traders keep in mind.
The next major Citi catalyst: Q4 earnings are the next “prove it” moment
Beyond Friday’s session, Citi itself has already flagged the next major scheduled event: Citi’s Fourth Quarter 2025 earnings call is set for Jan. 14, 2026 (before market open). [26]
Between now and then, the market will likely focus on two questions:
- Does additional regulatory progress translate into measurable operating leverage (expenses, control investments, and execution pace)?
- Can Citi sustain momentum if rates and capital markets activity shift in either direction?
Bottom line for Friday’s open
Citigroup enters Friday with a constructive setup:
- The stock is riding a strong 2025 trend and closed higher Thursday. [27]
- The OCC’s termination of the 2024 amendment is a tangible sign of reduced regulatory friction—though not the end of the remediation story. [28]
- Analysts are still actively updating targets (with Truist’s $123 move standing out today). [29]
- Traders have clear technical levels in play near resistance, with key macro data arriving later Friday morning. [30]
References
1. www.marketwatch.com, 2. www.marketwatch.com, 3. www.marketbeat.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.occ.gov, 7. www.citigroup.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.tipranks.com, 13. www.marketbeat.com, 14. www.marketbeat.com, 15. www.nasdaq.com, 16. www.nasdaq.com, 17. www.nasdaq.com, 18. www.investing.com, 19. www.investing.com, 20. www.marketbeat.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.newyorkfed.org, 23. www.newyorkfed.org, 24. www.newyorkfed.org, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.citigroup.com, 27. www.marketwatch.com, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. www.tipranks.com, 30. www.investing.com
