Northern Trust Maintains $0.80 Quarterly Dividend, Returns $509.7M to Shareholders
Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS), a financial services firm, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.80 per share, unchanged from the previous quarter. The company returned a total of $509.7 million to common shareholders in Q1 2026 through dividends and share repurchases.
Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS), a Chicago-based wealth management and asset servicing company, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.80 per share on its common stock, maintaining the same rate as the prior quarter. The dividend declaration totaled $150.8 million to common stockholders. Read more dividend announcements.
The company also declared $16.2 million in cash dividends to preferred stockholders during the first quarter of 2026.
| Dividend Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dividend Per Share | $0.80 |
| Type | Quarterly Cash |
| Total to Common Stockholders | $150.8 million |
| Record Date | Not specified |
| Ex-Dividend Date | Not specified |
| Payment Date | Not specified |
Capital Return Program
Northern Trust returned a combined $509.7 million to common shareholders during the first quarter through dividends and stock buybacks. The company repurchased 2,488,148 shares of common stock at a total cost of $358.9 million, representing an average price of $144.25 per share.
The repurchase total includes 451,614 shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to share-based compensation.
First Quarter Financial Performance
Northern Trust reported net income of $525.5 million for the first quarter of 2026, up 13% from $466.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 34% higher than the $392.0 million earned in the first quarter of 2025.
Income before taxes reached $700.6 million, an 11% sequential increase and 34% higher year-over-year. The effective tax rate was 25.0% for the quarter, down from 26.5% in the prior quarter, primarily due to higher tax benefits associated with share-based compensation.
Total noninterest expense was $1,508.0 million, up 1% from the prior quarter and 6% higher than the year-ago period. Compensation and benefits expense of $822.2 million increased 2% sequentially and 9% year-over-year, driven by higher annual base pay adjustments, increased incentives, higher pension expense, and unfavorable currency movement.
Capital Position
Northern Trust's capital ratios remained well above regulatory minimums. Under the standardized approach, the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 12.0% at March 31, 2026, down from 12.6% at year-end 2025. Under the advanced approach, the CET1 ratio was 14.3%, compared to 15.0% at December 31, 2025.
Risk-weighted assets under the standardized approach increased to $93.2 billion from $89.0 billion at the end of 2025. The company maintained its classification as "well-capitalized" under applicable U.S. regulatory requirements.
The company employed 23,600 full-time equivalent employees at quarter-end, down 1% from 23,800 at the end of 2025 but up 1% from 23,400 a year earlier.