Charles Schwab delivered a record quarterly performance in the first three months of 2026, reporting strong top- and bottom-line gains driven by elevated client engagement across its wealth, trading and lending franchises.
The firm said markets were tested in the quarter by renewed concerns around AI disruption and private credit, and that volatility intensified in March after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran rattled investors. Concerns about possible oil supply disruptions revived stagflation worries, a dynamic that typically prompts portfolio adjustments and boosts trading desk activity as investors seek hedges.
Financial results and operating metrics
- Quarterly revenue rose 16% to a record $6.48 billion, reflecting broad-based client engagement across Schwab’s units.
- Daily average trading volume increased 34% to a record 9.9 million trades, compared with the same period a year earlier.
- Trading revenue climbed 20% on sustained record engagement from clients.
- Investors opened 1.3 million new brokerage accounts on Schwab’s platform during the quarter, and the firm recorded $140 billion of net new assets.
- Net income for the three months ended March 31 was $2.48 billion, or $1.37 per share, up from $1.91 billion, or 99 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.
"Clients continue to turn to us for more of their financial lives, helping wealth and banking solutions reach record levels in 1Q," CEO Rick Wurster said.
Schwab outlined the scope of its business offerings as including wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services.
Market context and implications
The environment in Q1 2026 featured higher market turbulence tied to macro and sector-specific concerns that prompted many investors to rebalance holdings, a pattern that typically benefits firms with active trading operations. Schwab’s results suggest clients increased use of multiple products on its platform, with wealth and banking solutions notably reaching record levels in the period.
Investor tools mentioned
The article also referenced a Fair Value calculator used to evaluate whether SCHW represents an attractive investment opportunity, noting the tool employs a mix of 17 industry valuation models to produce a valuation conclusion and that it can be used to assess SCHW and other stocks.
Bottom line
Schwab’s first-quarter performance reflects robust client onboarding, large net asset inflows and a significant rise in trading engagement amid a market backdrop marked by geopolitical and technological concerns that elevated volatility and trading activity.