Ally Financial (ALLY) reported $2.1 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.9%. EPS of $0.95 for the same period compares to $0.83 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.06 billion, representing a surprise of +2.01%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +66.67%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.57.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Ally Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net interest margin (as reported): 3.2% versus 3.3% estimated by four analysts on average.

• Efficiency Ratio: 58.3% compared to the 58.6% average estimate based on four analysts.

• Book value per share: $40.70 versus $38.93 estimated by four analysts on average.

• Net charge-offs to average finance receivables and loans outstanding: 1.5% versus 1.6% estimated by four analysts on average.

• Gain on mortgage and automotive loans, net: $6 million versus $5.71 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +50% change.

• Net financing revenue: $1.49 billion compared to the $1.51 billion average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.9% year over year.

• Total other revenue: $615 million compared to the $552.07 million average estimate based on five analysts. The reported number represents a change of +41.4% year over year.

• Insurance premiums and service revenue earned: $359 million versus $344.37 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +12.2% change.

• Total financing revenue and other interest income: $3.57 billion compared to the $3.62 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of -0.6% year over year.

• Other (loss) / gain on investments, net: $74 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $37.55 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -280.5%.

• Other income, net of losses: $176 million versus the four-analyst average estimate of $158.44 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +15.8%.

• Interest on loans held-for-sale: $5 million versus $7.19 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -28.6% change.