Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Announces $1.15 Billion Increase in Share Repurchase Authorization

Rhea-AI Summary

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG) has announced a significant increase in its share repurchase program, adding $1.15 billion in capacity. This is in addition to the remaining $850 million from the previous authorization, with plans to utilize $400 million in Q1 2023. The company aims for a total payout ratio nearing 100% for 2023, reflecting its strong capital levels and commitment to shareholder returns. The share repurchases may be executed through various methods, and future distributions will depend on capital position and market conditions.

Positive

• Increase in share repurchase program by $1.15 billion, enhancing shareholder value.
• Total payout ratio expected to be near 100% for 2023, indicating strong financial health.
• Solid capital levels signify company confidence and robust financial performance.

Negative

• None.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CFG or the “Company”) today announced that its board of directors has increased the capacity of the Company’s common share repurchase program by an additional $1.15 billion. This is incremental to the $850 million of capacity remaining as of December 31, 2022 under the prior June 2022 authorization, of which $400 million will be utilized during first quarter 2023.

“We are pleased to report that our board has approved a sizeable increase to our share repurchase authorization,” said John Woods, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. “With this increase in authorization, we continue to expect that our total payout ratio, including common dividends, will approach 100% for 2023. Additionally, we continue to target a medium-term dividend payout ratio in the thirty-five to forty percent range. The authorization and our targeted capital return plans reflect our robust capital levels, the strength of our franchise, and confidence in our ability to deliver strong financial performance and attractive returns to shareholders, while continuing to invest across our businesses.”

The Company will assess potential changes to its capital distributions as conditions warrant. Citizens’ common stock repurchases may be executed in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including under Rule 10b5-1 plans and accelerated share repurchase and other structured transactions. Common stock dividends are subject to consideration and approval by Citizens’ Board of Directors. The timing and exact amount of common share repurchases and common stock dividends will be subject to various factors, including the company’s capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, receipt of required regulatory approvals and other regulatory considerations.

About Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is one of the nation’s oldest and largest financial institutions, with $226.7 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Citizens offers a broad range of retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. Citizens helps its customers reach their potential by listening to them and by understanding their needs in order to offer tailored advice, ideas and solutions. In Consumer Banking, Citizens provides an integrated experience that includes mobile and online banking, a full-service customer contact center and the convenience of approximately 3,400 ATMs and more than 1,100 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Consumer Banking products and services include a full range of banking, lending, savings, wealth management and small business offerings. In Commercial Banking, Citizens offers a broad complement of financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as loan syndication, corporate finance, merger and acquisition, and debt and equity capital markets capabilities. More information is available at www.citizensbank.com or visit us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement. These statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “goals,” “targets,” “initiatives,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook,” “guidance” or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.”

Forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management, and on information currently available to management. Our statements speak as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements in light of new information or future events. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. They are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following, without limitation:

• Negative economic, business and political conditions, including as a result of the interest rate environment, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures and labor shortages, that adversely affect the general economy, housing prices, the job market, consumer confidence and spending habits;
• The rate of growth in the economy and employment levels, as well as general business and economic conditions, and changes in the competitive environment;
• Our ability to implement our business strategy, including the cost savings and efficiency components, and achieve our financial performance goals, including through the integration of Investors and the HSBC branches;
• The effects of geopolitical instability, including as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions on Russia and other actions in response, on economic and market conditions, inflationary pressures and the interest rate environment, commodity price and foreign exchange rate volatility, and heightened cybersecurity risks;
• Our ability to meet heightened supervisory requirements and expectations;
• Liabilities and business restrictions resulting from litigation and regulatory investigations;
• Our capital and liquidity requirements under regulatory capital standards and our ability to generate capital internally or raise capital on favorable terms;
• The effect of changes in interest rates on our net interest income, net interest margin and our mortgage originations, mortgage servicing rights and mortgages held for sale;
• Changes in interest rates and market liquidity, as well as the magnitude of such changes, which may reduce interest margins, impact funding sources and affect the ability to originate and distribute financial products in the primary and secondary markets;
• The effect of changes in the level of checking or savings account deposits on our funding costs and net interest margin;
• Financial services reform and other current, pending or future legislation or regulation that could have a negative effect on our revenue and businesses;
• Environmental risks, such as physical or transitional risks associated with climate change, and social and governance risks, that could adversely affect our reputation, operations, business, and customers.
• A failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors or other service providers, including as a result of cyber-attacks; and
• Management’s ability to identify and manage these and other risks.

In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, receipt of required regulatory approvals and other regulatory considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares from or pay any dividends to holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends.

More information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section in Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022 and Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CFG-IR

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Media: Peter Lucht - 781.655.2288

Investors: Kristin Silberberg - 203.900.6854

Source: Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

FAQ

What is the new share repurchase capacity for Citizens Financial Group (CFG)?

Citizens Financial Group increased its share repurchase capacity by $1.15 billion.

How much of the prior repurchase capacity remains for CFG?

As of December 31, 2022, $850 million of the previous repurchase capacity remains.

What is the expected total payout ratio for CFG in 2023?

The expected total payout ratio for CFG in 2023 is approaching 100%.

When will CFG utilize its repurchase capacity?

CFG plans to use $400 million of its repurchase capacity during the first quarter of 2023.

What factors will affect CFG's capital distributions?

Capital distributions will depend on capital position, financial performance, market conditions, and regulatory approvals.