Have you been eager to see how Citigroup (C - Free Report) performed in Q2 in comparison with the market expectations? Let’s quickly scan through the key facts from this New York-based money center bank’s earnings release this morning:

An Earnings Beat

Citigroup came out with adjusted earnings per share of $1.62, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.54. Further, the figure compared favorably with earnings of $1.28 in the prior-year quarter. Improvement in earnings was primarily driven by higher revenues and expense management.

How Was the Estimate Revision Trend?

You should note that the earnings estimate for Citigroup depicted pessimism prior to the earnings release. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was revised downward slightly over the last seven days.

Also, Citigroup has a decent earnings surprise history. Before posting earnings beat in Q2, the company also delivered positive surprises in the prior four quarters. Overall, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 6.11% in the trailing four quarters.

Citigroup Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Citigroup Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Citigroup Inc. Quote

Revenue Came In Higher than Expected

Citigroup’s revenues of $18.5 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18.4 billion. Moreover, revenues increased 2% year over year.

Key Takeaways

• Net Income stood at $4.5 billion, up 16% from the prior-year quarter.
• Costs of credit surged 6% year over year to $1.8 billion.
• Fixed income markets revenues declined 6% year over year to $3.1 billion
• Equity markets revenues of $864 million surged 19% from the prior-year quarter.
• Returned $3.1 billion to shareholders as common stock repurchases and dividends during the quarter.

What Zacks Rank Says

The estimate revisions that we discussed earlier have driven a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Citigroup. However, since the latest earnings performance is yet to be reflected in the estimate revisions, the rank is subject to change. While things apparently look favorable, it all depends on what sense the just-released report makes to the analysts.

How the Market Reacted So Far

Following the earnings release, Citigroup shares were down more than 1% in the pre-trading session. This is in contrary to what the stock witnessed in the prior-day’s session. Clearly, the initial reaction shows that the investors have not considered the results in their favor. However, the full-session’s price movement may indicate a different picture.