For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – July 24, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM).’s (NYSE: JPM – Free Report), Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C). (NYSE: C – Free Report), Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC)’s (NYSE: WFC – Free Report), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)’s (NYSE: BAC – Free Report) and The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE:PNC), Inc. (NYSE: PNC – Free Report).
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Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
Bank Stock Roundup: Q2 Earnings Edition
Over the last five trading days, major banks displayed a bearish trend. Though most banks which reported second-quarter 2017 results this week managed to beat estimates, concerns over the underlying weakness shadowed the optimism.
Results demonstrated an upswing in loans and improved margins. However, lower treasury yields curbed the benefits. Additionally, rise in deposit balances and lower provisions driven by reserve releases in the Oil & Gas loan portfolio were impressive.
Investment banking fees were favorable, but fixed income and equity trading slumped during the quarter. Also, higher funding costs and decline in mortgage origination volume were on the downside.
Though the absence of exceptionally high legal expenses was a big support, an overall rise in non-interest expenses owing to high spending on technology and other market development initiatives was an undermining factor.
(Read: Bank Stock Roundup for the week ending Jul 14, 2017 )
Important Earnings of the Week
1. Rising interest rates and loan growth droveJPMorgan Chase & Co.’s (NYSE: JPM – Free Report) second-quarter 2017 earnings of $1.82 per share, which easily surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.57. Also, the figure reflects a 17% rise from the year-ago period. Notably, the results included a legal benefit of $406 million.
Solid loan growth and higher interest rates supported net interest income. Further, investment banking fees recorded a rise. Apart from these, results were supported by a fall in provision for credit losses, mainly driven by reserve releases in the Oil & Gas loan portfolio.
As expected, fixed income and equity trading slumped during the quarter. Also, fall in mortgage banking income, due to higher funding costs and decline in mortgage origination volume, was a headwind. Operating expenses reported a rise during the quarter. (Read more: JPMorgan Q2 Earnings Beat on Loan Growth, Higher Rates)
2. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C – Free Report) delivered a positive earnings surprise of 5.0% in second-quarter 2017, riding on higher revenues. The company’s income from continuing operations per share of $1.27 for the quarter outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. Also, earnings compared favorably with the year-ago figure of $1.25 per share.
Overall revenues escalated, driven by higher banking revenues. However, expenses surged. Further, Citigroup’s costs of credit escalated largely reflecting net credit losses and a net loan loss reserve release. (Read more: Citigroup Beats on Q2 Earnings, Shares Fall Slightly)
3. Higher interest income drove Wells Fargo & Company ’s (NYSE: WFC – Free Report) second-quarter 2017 earnings which recorded a positive surprise of 4.9%. Earnings of $1.07 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02. Moreover, the figure compared favorably with the prior-year quarter’s earnings of $1.01 per share.
Wells Fargo witnessed organic growth aided by strong loans and deposit balances. Higher net interest income was also favorable. In addition, a solid capital position and improving credit quality acted as the key positives. However, higher expenses and lower non-interest income were on the downside. (Read more: Wells Fargo Tops Q2 Earnings Estimates, Costs Flare Up)
4. Higher investment banking fees as well as loan growth droveBank of America Corporation’s (NYSE: BAC – Free Report) second-quarter 2017 earnings of 46 cents per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 43 cents. Results included $103 million of after-tax gains related to the sale of its non-U.S. consumer credit card business. The figure was 12% higher than the prior-year quarter.
Sequential decline in net interest margin (owing to lower treasury yields during the quarter) and decline in mortgage banking fees were headwinds. Further, a slight rise in expenses and fall in trading revenues (as expected) acted as negatives. However, increase in investment banking fees more than offset these and partially aided fee income growth during the quarter.
The quarter witnessed modest loan growth, which helped in improving interest income. Additionally, provision for credit losses recorded a fall. (Read more: BofA's Q2 Earnings Top on Investment Banking, Loans)
5. Riding on higher revenues,The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC – Free Report) reported a positive earnings surprise of 4.5% in second-quarter 2017. Earnings per share of $2.10 easily beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.01.
Moreover, it reflects a 15% increase from the prior-year quarter. Continued growth in loans helped the company earn higher revenues during the quarter. Further, decline in provision for loan losses was a tailwind. However, the positives were partially offset by an increase in expenses. (Read more: PNC Financial's Q2 Earnings Beat, Costs Increase )
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J P Morgan Chase & Co (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Citigroup Inc. (C): Free Stock Analysis Report
Bank of America Corporation (BAC): Free Stock Analysis Report
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) (PNC): Free Stock Analysis Report
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