First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA Quick QuoteFCNCA - Free Report) reported $2.27 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 1%. EPS of $55.37 for the same period compares to $44.62 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.23 billion, representing a surprise of +1.86%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +18.79%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $46.61.

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:

• Efficiency Ratio: 64.7% versus 60.7% estimated by three analysts on average.
• Net Interest Margin: 3.1% versus the three-analyst average estimate of 3.1%.
• Nonaccrual loans at period end: $1.37 billion versus $1.4 billion estimated by two analysts on average.
• Book value per share: $1,756.40 compared to the $1,802.20 average estimate based on two analysts.
• Net charge-off ratio: 0.3% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 0.4%.
• Average Balance - Total interest-earning assets: $219.73 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $217.89 billion.
• Net Interest Income: $1.7 billion versus the three-analyst average estimate of $1.69 billion.
• Total Noninterest Income: $734 million compared to the $596.82 million average estimate based on three analysts.
• Deposit fees and service charges: $76 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $74.56 million.
• Merchant services, net: $12 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $13.1 million.
• Factoring commissions: $20 million compared to the $19.17 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Cardholder services, net: $40 million compared to the $38.67 million average estimate based on two analysts.

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

Shares of First Citizens have returned +6.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.