Citigroup Earnings: Laser-Like Focus on Expenses Is Required for Achieving Long-Term Targets

No-moat Citigroup reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings at $1.58 per share compared with the FactSet consensus of $1.18. There was an incremental $251 million FDIC special assessment charge related to the FDIC increasing its estimated loss from the March 2023 banking events. Other non-recurring expenses included $225 million of restructuring charges related to organizational simplification. We do not anticipate a material change to our $68 per share fair value estimate for the bank as we incorporate first-quarter results.