Investing.com -- Intesa Sanpaolo ’s (BIT:ISP) shares traded lower on Tuesday after the bank reported a decline in fourth-quarter net income.
The bank posted a net income of €1.5 billion for the final quarter of 2024, a sharp drop from €2.4 billion in the previous quarter.
This decline, which came despite higher annual earnings, weighed on investor sentiment and contributed to the stock’s slide.
The drop in net income was accompanied by a decrease in operating margin, which fell to €3.08 billion in the fourth quarter, a 24.2% decline from €4.07 billion in the third quarter.
Operating income also contracted by 2% quarter-over-quarter to €6.67 billion. Meanwhile, operating costs surged 31% to €3.58 billion, largely due to higher personnel expenses, administrative costs, and additional provisions.
Despite the quarterly setback, the bank maintained a solid financial position. Full-year net income for 2024 stood at €8.7 billion, up 12.2% from the previous year, with gross income increasing by 13.9% to €13.7 billion.
The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio, a key measure of financial stability, remained robust at 13.9% after deducting dividends and at 13.3% when factoring in a €2 billion share buyback authorized by the European Central Bank.
The bank also reported a 7.5% annual increase in operating income, supported by a 6.9% rise in net interest income and a 9.4% jump in net fee and commission income. Income from the insurance business also posted a 4.1% gain.
However, operating costs edged up 1.3% for the year, reflecting investments in technology and restructuring efforts.
Intesa Sanpaolo remains optimistic about its future performance, raising its 2025 net income outlook to well above €9 billion.
The bank emphasized its strong capital base, leadership in wealth management, and ongoing cost-efficiency measures as key drivers for sustained profitability.