Operating Expenses
Professional fees
Northern Trust Professional fees decreased by 4.6% to $236.70M in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 3.5%, from $245.20M to $236.70M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Professional fees shows an upward trend with a 3.9% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2013
Last reportedQ1 2026
How to read this metric
A significant increase may indicate high levels of M&A activity, litigation, or complex restructuring efforts.
Detailed definition
Encompasses payments made to third-party service providers, including legal counsel, accounting firms, and management co...
Peer comparison
Standard operating expense line item found in the SG&A section of the income statement.
Metric ID:
professional_feesHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $218.10M | $210.70M | $224.20M | $213.40M | $213.10M | $220.90M | $232.90M | $210.80M | $230.90M | $229.60M | $235.20M | $229.30M | $260.90M | $256.30M | $251.50M | $245.20M | $247.00M | $248.20M | $248.10M | $236.70M |
| QoQ Change | — | -3.4% | +6.4% | -4.8% | -0.1% | +3.7% | +5.4% | -9.5% | +9.5% | -0.6% | +2.4% | -2.5% | +13.8% | -1.8% | -1.9% | -2.5% | +0.7% | +0.5% | -0.0% | -4.6% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | -2.3% | +4.8% | +3.9% | -1.2% | +8.4% | +3.9% | +1.0% | +8.8% | +13.0% | +11.6% | +6.9% | +6.9% | -5.3% | -3.2% | -1.4% | -3.5% |
Range$210.70M – $260.90M
CAGR+1.7%
Avg YoY Growth+3.3%
Median YoY Growth+3.9%
Current Streak2 quarters decline
Business Segments
| Segment | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset Servicing Segment | $58.70M | $43.90M | $24.00M | $0.00 | $29.80M |
| Wealth Management Segment | $14.40M | $17.00M | $14.00M | $16.00M | $11.00M |
| Total | $245.20M | $247.00M | $248.20M | $248.10M | $236.70M |
Professional fees at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Northern Trust's professional fees?
- Northern Trust (NTRS) reported professional fees of $236.70M in Q1 2026.
- How has Northern Trust's professional fees changed year-over-year?
- Northern Trust's professional fees decreased by 3.5% year-over-year, from $245.20M to $236.70M.
- What is the long-term trend for Northern Trust's professional fees?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Northern Trust's professional fees has grown at a 3.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $849.40M to $988.50M.
- What does professional fees mean?
- The total cost of external legal, accounting, and consulting services.