For the quarter ended March 2026, First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA Quick QuoteFCNCA - Free Report) reported revenue of $2.14 billion, down 0.1% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $44.86, compared to $37.79 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.17 billion, representing a surprise of -1.5%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +14.97%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $39.02.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how First Citizens performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Interest Margin: 3.1% compared to the 3.2% average estimate based on five analysts.
• Efficiency Ratio: 66.4% versus 63.7% estimated by five analysts on average.
• Net charge-off ratio: 0.3% compared to the 0.4% average estimate based on four analysts.
• Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets: $212.55 billion versus the four-analyst average estimate of $210.99 billion.
• Book value per share: $1,735.18 versus $1,748.60 estimated by three analysts on average.
• Nonaccrual loans at period end: $1.43 billion versus $1.3 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
• Net Interest Income: $1.62 billion compared to the $1.64 billion average estimate based on five analysts.
• Total Noninterest Income: $692 million versus the five-analyst average estimate of $589.99 million.
• Merchant services, net: $13 million compared to the $13.62 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Deposit fees and service charges: $70 million versus $62.16 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Factoring commissions: $17 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $19.5 million.
• Cardholder services, net: $38 million compared to the $38.59 million average estimate based on three analysts.

View all Key Company Metrics for First Citizens here>>>

Shares of First Citizens have returned +9.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.7% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.