Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria stock: Q3 profit rises 14.4% to EUR 3.015 billion

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria reported record attributable profit of EUR 9.066 billion for the first nine months of 2026, according to the bank's October 29 results release. Profit increased 13.6 percent in current euros from a year earlier, while third-quarter attributable profit reached EUR 3.015 billion, up 14.4 percent year over year.

Lending and recurring income drive growth

Loan growth was the central operating driver. Customer lending increased 20.4 percent year over year in constant euros through September, with lending up 7.3 percent in Spain and 12 percent in Mexico over the same period.

Net interest income rose 17.8 percent in constant euros to EUR 23.243 billion for the nine-month period. Net commissions increased 14.5 percent to EUR 6.909 billion, supported by payments and asset management. Together, recurring banking income reached EUR 30.151 billion, an increase of 17 percent.

BBVA reported a 22 percent return on tangible equity and a 37.9 percent efficiency ratio. The bank said expenses were affected by non-recurring items, including personnel departures, while the adjusted expense increase was 13.8 percent year over year.

Mexico offsets uneven regional trends

Mexico delivered attributable profit of EUR 4.522 billion for the first nine months, an 8.4 percent increase in current euros. Spain contributed EUR 3.106 billion, while Turkey generated EUR 789 million and South America EUR 821 million. The rest-of-business area, including corporate lending in the United States, Europe and Asia, contributed EUR 801 million.

Risk indicators remained broadly stable, with a group cost of risk of 1.44 percent, a non-performing-loan ratio of 2.6 percent and coverage of 84 percent. The CET1 ratio stood at 12.21 percent at the end of September, above BBVA's stated target range of 11.5 to 12 percent.

Shareholder returns remain in focus

BBVA said shareholders received a gross cash dividend of EUR 0.37 per share on October 15, 2026. The bank also continued a EUR 2 billion extraordinary buyback programme, having completed its first EUR 1 billion tranche and started the second.

BBVA is a global financial group focused on retail, wholesale and asset-management services. It holds leading positions in Spain and Mexico and maintains banking franchises in South America and Turkey, alongside specialized corporate services in the United States and Asia. Its digital banking expansion in Italy and Germany complements the group's broader technology and data strategy.

Spanish banking shares remain linked to developments in the IBEX 35 market.

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