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KEYRegional bank

KeyCorp

No moatMedium uncertainty

Updated

Price
$19.99
Fair value
fair value $23.10
Discount
13.5% below fair value
LSEG rating
LSEG 2.29 — lower is better (1–5)
Next earnings
Earnings Oct 20 ·

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In short

Thesis
The market prices KeyCorp for a low net interest margin and doubts about its return targets, and a margin that reaches its year-end target with stable credit can close the gap over four to six quarters.
Gap
Can close. The Q3 2026 report on October 20, 2026, and the Q4 report on January 20, 2027, show whether the margin reaches the 2026 exit target.
Next test
: Q3 2026 earnings: margin on track to 3.00%

About

KeyCorp is a US regional bank holding company based in Cleveland, Ohio, and the parent of KeyBank. At June 30, 2026, it had $191 billion in assets, $110 billion in loans and $153 billion in deposits. Its Consumer Bank serves people and small businesses through branches from Maine to Alaska, and it offers wealth management with a record $74 billion of assets under management.

Its Commercial Bank lends to middle-market and large companies, and its investment bank, KeyBanc Capital Markets, earns advisory, debt placement and syndication fees. It also has a large commercial payments business and services commercial mortgage loans for other lenders. Net interest income was about 64% of revenue in Q2 2026.

Thesis

The market prices KeyCorp for a net interest margin that is still low for a bank of its size and for doubt that its returns can reach its targets. Its margin was 2.89% in Q2 2026, against a long-term target of 3.25% or more. Its return on tangible common equity was 12.9%, against a target of more than 15% by Q4 2027. Part of the gap comes from low-yield securities and fixed-rate swaps, so the margin rises only as they mature and KeyCorp reinvests the money at higher rates.

The market also watches credit: nonperforming loans rose to 0.73% of loans at June 30, 2026, from 0.62% three months earlier. For the gap to close, three things must be true. The margin must reach the 3.00% to 3.05% exit rate that KeyCorp guides for Q4 2026. Commercial loans must keep growing 8% to 10% in 2026, and fee income from investment banking, payments and wealth management must keep growing.

Net charge-offs must stay within the 0.40% to 0.45% guidance, so that buybacks continue. The Q3 2026 report on October 20, 2026, and the Q4 report on January 20, 2027, show whether the margin reaches 3.00%. If it does, the gap can close over the next four to six quarters, as the 2027 return target comes into view. The main reason it may not close is a margin that stalls below 3.00% because of high deposit costs or lower interest rates on new loans.

Checkpoints

  1. Oct 20, 2026Pending
    Q3 2026 earnings: margin on track to 3.00%A net interest margin above 2.89% with the 3.00% to 3.05% exit rate kept and net charge-offs within 0.40% to 0.45% pass; a flat margin or a lower exit rate fails.
  2. Jan 20, 2027Pending
    Q4 2026 results and the 2027 outlookA Q4 2026 margin of 3.00% or more and a 2027 outlook that keeps a return of more than 15% by Q4 2027 pass; a margin below 3.00% or a later return target fails.

Every passed and failed checkpoint across all picks

Balance sheet

KeyCorp funds itself mostly with deposits. At June 30, 2026, total assets were $191.3 billion and deposits were $153.1 billion, up $4.4 billion from December 31, 2025.

Risks

  • KeyCorp's returns depend on a higher net interest margin. If deposit costs rise or rates on new loans and securities fall, the margin can stay below the 3.00% to 3.05% exit rate for 2026 and the 15% return target for Q4 2027 can slip.
  • Nonperforming loans rose to $809 million, or 0.73% of loans, at June 30, 2026, from $682 million three months earlier. Commercial real estate and large commercial loans can bring higher losses in a weaker economy.
  • Accumulated other comprehensive loss was $2.4 billion at June 30, 2026, mostly from unrealized losses on securities and swaps. Higher long-term interest rates can raise this loss and lower tangible capital.
  • Investment banking and commercial mortgage servicing fees change with the markets. Investment banking fees fell 14% from Q1 2026 to Q2 2026, and commercial mortgage servicing fees fell 30% from a year earlier.

Recent events

  • September 15, 2026KeyCorp redeemed all of its Series D preferred stock, with a liquidation preference of $525 million.
  • September 14, 2026At an investor conference, KeyCorp raised its 2026 outlook. It now expects revenue up about 8% from 2025 (previously 7% to 8%) and fee income up 4% to 5% (previously 3% to 4%), with adjusted expenses up about 4%. It kept its guidance for net interest income up 9% to 11%, a net interest margin of 3.00% to 3.05% at the end of 2026, and net charge-offs of 0.40% to 0.45% of loans.
  • July 21, 2026KeyCorp reported Q2 2026 results. EPS was $0.44, up 26% from a year earlier, and revenue rose 7% to $1.96 billion. Net interest income rose 9% and the net interest margin rose to 2.89%. Period-end loans rose $1.2 billion from the prior quarter, with commercial and industrial loans up $2.1 billion. Net charge-offs were 0.42% of loans. The CET1 ratio was 11.2%, and KeyCorp bought back $341 million of shares.
Show 1 older event
  • April 16, 2026KeyCorp reported Q1 2026 results. EPS was $0.44, and the net interest margin was 2.87%.

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