JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo all miss quarterly profit estimates
New York — JPMorgan Chase, the largest US bank by assets, reported on Tuesday a slump in bond trading revenue that it blamed on market volatility and a smaller-than-expected quarterly profit.
Its shares fell 1.3% to $99.61 in early trading as the lender posted declines in revenue in three of its four main businesses in the fourth quarter.
Overall adjusted fixed-income trading revenue fell 18% as investors fled commodities and credit trading markets due to spikes in volatility toward the end of 2018. Equities trading revenue rose 2% from a year earlier, helped by strength in prime brokerage, which serves hedge fund clients.
JPMorgan CFO Marianne Lake said that one down quarter in fixed income does not mean a trend and that the trading environment had improved by the start of the year.
“It is too early to call it, but a decent start to January,” she said. Volatility can help boost trading activity, but sharp spikes can drive customers to the sidelines and hurt the bank’s own market exposure.
Citigroup on Monday blamed its sharp drop in fixed income revenue on widening credit spreads, or the premium investors demand for holding corporate bonds over safer US treasury securities, during the year-end volatility.
Investment banking revenue rose 3% on higher advisory fees, even as underwriting fees declined.
Revenue in asset and wealth management fell 5% as market declines translated into lower asset levels and management and performance fees.
Trading desks at banks have been shaken by global growth concerns and the ongoing trade war between the US and China. Bank stocks underperformed the S&P 500 index in 2018 by 13%.
“As we head into 2019, we urge our country’s leaders to strike a collaborative, constructive tone, which would reinforce already-strong consumer and business sentiment,” CEO Jamie Dimon said.
JPMorgan said expenses rose 6%, outpacing revenue growth as it invested in technology, marketing and real estate.
Net income increased 67% to $7.07bn, or $1.98 per share, from a year ago, when it took a one-time charge due to the US tax overhaul. But it missed analysts’ average estimate of $2.20 per share, according to Ibes data from Refinitiv.
Net interest income was up 9% to $14.5bn on higher interest rates in 2018. The bank’s average core loan book grew 6% from the year-earlier quarter. Revenue rose 4.1% to $26.80bn, shy of the average analyst expectation of $26.83bn.
Wells Fargo on Tuesday reported fourth-quarter revenue that missed analysts’ estimates as revenue across all its banking units declined, especially at community banking.
Reuters