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Investing.com -- UBS (NYSE:UBS) on Wednesday posted first-quarter profit 30% ahead of analyst expectations, driven by a strong performance in its investment bank and continued risk-weighted asset reductions in its non-core unit..
Equities revenue rose 34% from a year earlier, while fixed income gained 27%. Non-core risk-weighted assets declined to $34 billion from $41 billion in the fourth quarter, supporting a 17% quarter-over-quarter drop.
The bank’s Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was stable at 14.3%, in line with expectations, while return on CET1 capital stood at 11.3%. Pre-provision profit, excluding non-core and litigation items, was 5% above consensus.
In Global Wealth Management, pre-tax profit was 4% above estimates, supported by higher revenue and $32 billion in net new assets.
Invested assets rose 1% to $4.22 trillion. Net interest income declined 8% quarter over quarter to $1.7 billion.
Personal and Corporate Banking missed estimates by 9% on lower revenue and a 9% drop in U.S. dollar net interest income.
UBS expects NII in the segment to rise mid-single digits in dollar terms in the second quarter, based on current exchange rates.
Asset Management also came in below expectations on weaker revenue. The investment bank outperformed on both a reported and underlying basis.
UBS plans to repurchase $500 million in shares in the second quarter and $2 billion more in the second half of 2025.
Jefferies said clarity around capital requirements for UBS’s foreign subsidiaries remains a focus for investors, though much of the uncertainty may already be priced in. The stock trades at 0.8 times tangible book value.