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Valued at $20.5 billion by market cap, Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS) is a prominent U.S.-based financial services firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1889, it has evolved into a leading provider of asset servicing, wealth management, and investment solutions for institutions, families, and individuals globally.
NTRS shares have outperformed the broader market over the past year. NTRS has gained 24.5% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 9.8%. In 2025, NTRS stock is up 2.8%, surpassing SPX’s marginal dip on a YTD basis.
Zooming in further, NTRS has also exceeded the iShares U.S. Financials ETF (IYF), which has gained about 19.1% over the past year.
On Apr. 22, Northern Trust released its first-quarter earnings, and its shares climbed around 3%. The company's total revenue reached $1.9 billion, up 17% from Q1 2024. This growth was driven by mid-single-digit increases in both trust fees and net interest income, alongside effective expense management. Its EPS stood at $1.90, reflecting a 13% year-over-year rise when excluding prior-year notable items.
The company achieved its third consecutive quarter of positive operating leverage and generated a return on common equity of 13%. Additionally, Northern Trust returned $435 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter.
For the current year ending in December, analysts expect NTRS’ EPS to grow 3.8% to $7.99 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is impressive. It beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.
Among the 15 analysts covering NTRS stock, the consensus is a “Hold.” That’s based on one “Strong Buy” rating, one “Moderate Buy,” 10 “Holds,” and three “Strong Sells.”
On Apr. 23, RBC Capital lowered Northern Trust’s price target from $115 to $105 but kept an “Outperform” rating.
While NTRS currently hovers above its mean price target of $104.11, the Street-high price target of $128 suggests an upside potential of 21.5% from the prevailing price levels.
