⚠ Loan Hedges and a 70% Efficiency RatioModerate threat
Citigroup (C) — threat to the moat
Citi's Banking segment spends 70 cents of each dollar it earns and lost money in 2022 and 2023.
Corporate lending carries costs the headline fees hide. Banking recorded losses of $118 million on its loan hedges in 20251, and its efficiency ratio was 70%2, against 48% in Services.
Hedges lose money when credit spreads tighten, which is exactly when deal activity is strong. The latest quarter showed Banking revenue up 34% but corporate lending, excluding the hedge marks, down3.
Banking also lost money for two years. Its net income was minus $220 million in 2022 and minus $646 million in 20234.
The capital assigned to Banking has more than halved. Its allocated tangible equity was $20.2 billion in 2021 and $9.2 billion in 20255, partly because the 2026 recast moved capital to Services and Markets6.
Over five years the hedges have cost money. The gain or loss on loan hedges was minus $140 million in 2021, plus $307 million in 2022, minus $443 million in 2023, minus $180 million in 2024 and minus $118 million in 20257, a net loss of $574 million8.
The latest quarter was another small loss: minus $32 million on the hedges, after a gain of $50 million in the first quarter9.
The efficiency ratio is the test. Above 70% for a full year in a strong deal market, the segment would be earning too little on the capital its loans consume.
- ReportedBanking recorded losses of $118 million on its loan hedges in 2025, and its efficiency ratio was 70%, against 48% in Services.Citigroup Historical Quarterly Financial Data Supplement 2021-2025 recast to the first-quarter 2026 segments - Markets and Banking: revenue by product and region, investment banking fees, income, capital and returns. — FY2021-FY2025 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedBanking recorded losses of $118 million on its loan hedges in 2025, and its efficiency ratio was 70%, against 48% in Services.Citigroup Historical Quarterly Financial Data Supplement 2021-2025 recast to the first-quarter 2026 segments - Markets and Banking: revenue by product and region, investment banking fees, income, capital and returns. — FY2021-FY2025 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedThe latest quarter showed Banking revenue up 34% but corporate lending, excluding the hedge marks, down.Citigroup second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - Services, Markets and Banking results and key metrics. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedIts net income was minus $220 million in 2022 and minus $646 million in 2023.Citigroup Historical Quarterly Financial Data Supplement 2021-2025 recast to the first-quarter 2026 segments - Markets and Banking: revenue by product and region, investment banking fees, income, capital and returns. — FY2021-FY2025 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedIts allocated tangible equity was $20.2 billion in 2021 and $9.2 billion in 2025, partly because the 2026 recast moved capital to Services and Markets.Citigroup Historical Quarterly Financial Data Supplement 2021-2025 recast to the first-quarter 2026 segments - Markets and Banking: revenue by product and region, investment banking fees, income, capital and returns. — FY2021-FY2025 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedIts allocated tangible equity was $20.2 billion in 2021 and $9.2 billion in 2025, partly because the 2026 recast moved capital to Services and Markets.Citigroup Form 8-K of 3 April 2026 describing the first-quarter 2026 segment recast: Retail Banking moved to Wealth, U.S. Consumer Cards created, corporate-lending revenue reallocated. — April 2026 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- ReportedThe gain or loss on loan hedges was minus $140 million in 2021, plus $307 million in 2022, minus $443 million in 2023, minus $180 million in 2024 and minus $118 million in 2025, a net loss of $574 million.Citigroup Historical Quarterly Financial Data Supplement 2021-2025 recast to the first-quarter 2026 segments - Markets and Banking: revenue by product and region, investment banking fees, income, capital and returns. — FY2021-FY2025 · publ. 3 April 2026 · source ↗
- Moat Explorer calcThe gain or loss on loan hedges was minus $140 million in 2021, plus $307 million in 2022, minus $443 million in 2023, minus $180 million in 2024 and minus $118 million in 2025, a net loss of $574 million.Moat Explorer calculation from Citigroup segment and Investor Day figures ($ millions unless stated). Firm: PPNR 30.1 / 24.0 - 1 = 25.4%, about 25% ($bn). Services: operating expenses 10,813 / 7,682 - 1 = 40.8%, about 41%; revenue 22,636 / 12,539 - 1 = 80.5%, about 81%; TTS net interest income 12,238 / 5,963 = 2.05 times; TTS non-interest revenue 4,408 / 3,224 - 1 = 36.7%, about 37%; quarterly Services net interest income 4,050 / 3,317 - 1 = 22.1%, about 22%; Securities Services net interest income 2,763 / 903 = 3.06 times, about three times; Securities Services non-interest revenue 3,227 / 2,449 - 1 = 31.8%, about 32%; interest share 2,763 / 5,990 = 46.1%, about 46%; North America 6,907 / 3,744 - 1 = 84.5%, about 84%; international 15,729 / 8,795 - 1 = 78.8%, about 79%; international share 8,795 / 12,539 = 70.1% (2021) and 15,729 / 22,636 = 69.5% (2025); TTS non-interest revenue quarterly 1,182 / 1,049 - 1 = 12.7%, about 13%; cross-border value quarterly 115.2 / 90.7 - 1 = 27.0%, about 27%; share of Citi average deposits Q2 2026 1,017 / 1,504 = 67.6%, about 68%; assets under custody 31.4 / 24.0 - 1 = 30.8%, about 31%; quarterly Securities Services revenue 1,787 / 1,271 - 1 = 40.6%, about 41%; average Services deposits 935 / 808 - 1 = 15.7%, about 16%. Markets: net interest income share 6,072 / 19,108 = 31.8%, about 32% (2021), 9,687 / 22,409 = 43.2%, about 43% (2025); average loans 141 / 111 - 1 = 27.0%, about 27%; average assets 1,203 / 941 - 1 = 27.8%, about 28%; average trading assets 533 / 340 - 1 = 56.8%, about 57%; rates and currencies 11,749 / 11,735 - 1 = 0.1%; equities 5,664 / 3,969 - 1 = 42.7%, about 43%; spread products 4,996 / 5,386 - 1 = -7.2%, about 7% below; Q4 2025 revenue 4,609 / 6,075 - 1 = -24.1%, about 24% below. Banking: international share 2,977 / 6,384 = 46.6%, about 47%; equity underwriting 699 / 2,152 - 1 = -67.5%, about two-thirds less; loan hedges -140 + 307 - 443 - 180 - 118 = -574; advisory 390 / 649 - 1 = -39.9%, about 40%. Wealth: net interest income share 7,582 / 11,272 = 67.3%, about 67%; international 4,243 / 3,382 - 1 = 25.5%, about 25%; North America 7,029 / 5,949 - 1 = 18.2%, about 18%; North America 7,029 / 5,878 - 1 = 19.6%, about 20%; operating expenses 9,455 / 9,374 - 1 = 0.9%, about 1%; revenue 11,272 / 9,733 - 1 = 15.8%, about 16%; international share 4,243 / 11,272 = 37.6%, about 38%; Private Bank 2,676 / 2,970 - 1 = -9.9%, about 10% below; Private Bank Q2 2025 excluding the gain 731 - 80 = 651, 769 / 651 - 1 = 18.1%, about 18%; Citigold and Retail Banking quarterly 2,010 / 1,502 - 1 = 33.8%, about 34%; Wealth at Work 930 / 691 - 1 = 34.6%, about 35%; average loans 199 / 182 - 1 = 9.3%, about 9%; client deposits 413 / 438 - 1 = -5.7%, about 6% lower. U.S. Consumer Cards: average loans 170 / 125 - 1 = 36.0%, about 36%; operating expenses 6,755 / 5,693 - 1 = 18.7%, about 19%; revenue 18,258 / 13,209 - 1 = 38.2%, about 38%; general-purpose spend 152.4 / 125.6 - 1 = 21.3%, about 21%; private-label spend 13.9 / 16.7 - 1 = -16.8%, about 17% less; rewards and partner payments 12,075 / 9,096 - 1 = 32.7%, about 33%; interchange 9,718 / 7,521 - 1 = 29.2%, about 29%; other fees 427 / 229 = 1.86 times, nearly double; Q4 over Q1 2025 rewards 3,215 / 2,821 - 1 = 14.0%, about 14%, interchange 2,526 / 2,285 - 1 = 10.5%, about 11%; 2025 acquisitions general-purpose 1,696 + 1,704 + 1,872 + 2,115 = 7,387 thousand, private-label 1,144 + 1,551 + 1,339 + 1,572 = 5,606 thousand; general-purpose average loans 138.6 / 95.2 - 1 = 45.6%, about 46%; private-label 29.8 / 27.3 - 1 = 9.2%, about 9%; net credit losses over net interest income 2,856 / 14,518 = 19.7%, about a fifth (2021), 7,457 / 19,243 = 38.8%, about 39% (2024), 7,290 / 20,169 = 36.1%, about 36% (2025). All Other: Asia consumer 812 / 3,871 = 21.0%, about a fifth; operating expenses 8,698 / 9,628 - 1 = -9.7%, about 10% less; managed revenue 4,442 / 9,491 = 0.47, down more than half; allocated tangible equity 39.2 / 27.7 - 1 = 41.5%, about 42%. Expenses ($bn): five businesses and Corporate/Other 49.1 / 43.2 - 1 = 13.7%, about 14%. Latest-quarter pass: Markets first-half revenue 7,246 + 7,007 = 14,253 against 6,075 + 5,980 = 12,055, up 18.2%, about 18%; Markets first-half net income 2,595 + 2,387 = 4,982; Banking 304 + 350 = 654; equities 2,080 + 2,301 = 4,381, and 4,381 / 5,664 = 77.3%, about 77%; investment banking 1,326 + 1,548 = 2,874, and 2,874 / 4,781 = 60.1%, about 60%; fixed income 16,745 / 14,115 - 1 = 18.6%, about 19%; equities 5,664 / 4,993 - 1 = 13.4%, about 13%; Markets expenses 13,253 / 12,450 - 1 = 6.4%, about 6%; Services North America share 1,339 / 5,043 = 26.6%, about 27% (1Q24), 1,939 / 6,272 = 30.9%, about 31% (4Q25); year-end deposits 1,403,573 / 1,284,458 - 1 = 9.3%, about 9%; Services average deposits 1,017 / 961 - 1 = 5.8%, about 6%; Cards first-half revenue 4,757 + 4,521 = 9,278 against 4,567 + 4,471 = 9,038, up 2.7%, about 3%; general-purpose loans 143.2 / 139.0 - 1 = 3.0%, about 3%; American Airlines 6.6 / 177 = 3.7%, about 4%; private-label 29.8 / (138.6 + 29.8 + 3.9) = 29.8 / 172.3 = 17.3%, about 17%; Wealth expenses 9,721 / 8,061 - 1 = 20.6%, about 21%; Wealth first-half net income 432 + 583 = 1,015 against 191 + 385 = 576, nearly double, and 639 + 511 = 1,150 in the first half of 2021; Citigold 2,181 / 3,177 = 68.6%, about 69%; Private Bank 757 / 664 - 1 = 14.0%, about 14%; Wealth at Work 246 / 268 - 1 = -8.2%, about 8% lower; U.S. non-interest-bearing deposits 121,610 / 734,662 = 16.6%, about 17%; tangible book value per share 100.89 / 97.06 - 1 = 3.9%, about 4%; JPMorgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo 911.91 + 396.48 + 250.90 = 1,559.29, and 1,559.29 / 225.24 = 6.9, nearly seven times; Wealth expenses over revenue 2,377 / 3,177 = 74.8%, about 75% (Q2 2026). — FY2021-Q2 2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Citigroup's recast historical supplement, its Q2 2026 earnings release and its 2026 Investor Day presentation; operands shown in the source line.
- ReportedThe latest quarter was another small loss: minus $32 million on the hedges, after a gain of $50 million in the first quarter.Citigroup second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - Services, Markets and Banking results and key metrics. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗