US bank sector review: stocks to buy, hold and sell
20th October 2021 10:03
by Rodney Hobson from interactive investor
Tailwinds are building for banking empires. Here’s where our overseas investing expert thinks the good times have further to roll, and where they don’t.
Rodney Hobson is an experienced financial writer and commentator who has held senior editorial positions on publications and websites in the UK and Asia, including Business News Editor on The Times and Editor of Shares magazine. He speaks at investment shows, including the London Investor Show, and on cruise ships. His investment books include Shares Made Simple, the best-selling beginner's guide to the stock market. He is qualified as a representative under the Financial Services Act.
Back in the 2008 financial crisis, banks were too big to fail; in the pandemic crisis they have proved to be too strong to fail. American banks are bouncing back with a boom in dealmaking that has boosted third-quarter profits.
The low interest rates that have held back profits in consumer banking have been the spur to increased activity in mergers and acquisitions. It’s a timely reminder that whatever the economic circumstances, there is always at least one part of any banking empire that can thrive at any given time.
Another plus point is that cash set aside in earlier years to cover potential losses caused by Covid-related shutdowns is being added back into profit figures. That’s because the impact of the pandemic has been less severe than expected, and loan defaults have been much lower than the pessimistic provisions banks were forced to make to appear prudent.
Since the extraordinary circumstances of the past two years have created the scope for pent-up demand to be released, it is likely that the good times for banks have further to roll, notwithstanding the likelihood of supply chain disruptions upsetting economic calculations into next year.
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So far, US consumers have managed to cope with rising prices, while the industrial and manufacturing sectors have survived September shutdowns during the hurricane season and shortages of computer chips.
JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE:JPM) set the ball rolling with a 24% rise in net income to almost $11.7 billion in the three months to 30 September and, although revenue increased by only 1% to $29.65 billion, that was a big improvement on the 7% drop in the second quarter. The big surge came in the global investment banking division thanks to a stream of initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions.
The bank released $2.1 billion in provisions from loan losses; taking this, and a one-off income tax benefit out of the calculation took underlying profits down to a still healthy $9.6 billion against analysts’ expectations of about $8.9 billion.
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The shares are around their five-year high at around $168, but they still offer a decent yield of 2.4% and the price/earnings (PE) ratio is an undemanding 10.6, so there is plenty of scope for further share price rises on top of gains recorded since I tipped the shares at $115 in September 2019.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is no guide to future performance
The surge in dealmaking also helped Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to triple its advisory fees to $1.27 billion, which boosted revenue in the investment banking arm by 67% to $7.5 billion. Group net revenue rose 26.5% to $14.8 billion, with net income 5% higher at $3.85 billion.
Its shares have had a fantastic run from $20 at the depths of the pandemic to more than $100. The yield is down to 1.73%, but that reflects the bank’s phenomenal run of boosting earnings per share in recent years. The PE rating is still quite undemanding at 12.9. It wouldn’t be wrong to take profits but, if you do, look for a chance to buy back in if the recent share price weakness runs much further.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is no guide to future performance
It was a similar picture at Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), where a 65% jump in advisory fees enabled the investment banking arm to increase fees earned by 23% to $2.2 billion. This was another bank able to release previous bad loan provisions. Particularly encouraging was a rise in spending on credit and debit cards, an area that held back the banking sector while consumers feared for their jobs.
Overall, net income soared by 64% to $7.26 billion, a really impressive performance, with revenue 12% ahead at $22.8 billion. The bank claimed, with some justification, that it had returned to the momentum that it enjoyed before the pandemic.
Bank of America’s share price recovery is somewhat less spectacular than Morgan Stanley’s but is still pretty good, going from just under $20 to $46.50. The yield is 1.6% and the PE is 13.8, making the shares look fully valued.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is no guide to future performance
Citigroup (NYSE:C) also benefited from a strong showing in advisory fees to raise investment banking revenues by 39% to $1.9 billion. It, too, released bad debt provisions, to the tune of $1.16 billion, so although total revenue slipped by 2% Citibank was able to boast a 48% rise in net income to $4.64 billion.
The shares have come off the boil recently, opening up a possible buying opportunity at around $72. The yield is among the most appealing in the sector at 2.85%, while the PE is only 7.34. Investors should be warned, however, that Citigroup has hardly moved since I thought they merited considering just below $70 two years ago.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is no guide to future performance
Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) does not quite fit the general picture, as it is still paying the price of a mis-selling scandal dating back five years – $250 million in the latest quarter. However, it too benefitted from a $1.7 billion writeback of loan loss provision as it raised net income by 59% to $5.12 billion.
It is facing softer demand for loans and seeing margins on those loans it does make being squeezed by low interest rates, so more than its rivals it will be hoping US interest rates start to edge up soon.
At $50, the shares remain clearly below pre-pandemic levels, although they are well up on my 2019 recommendation at $30. They look riskier than other major US banks but the potential rewards, once past misdemeanours are out of the equation, are correspondingly greater. Meanwhile, though. The yield is only 1%.
Source: interactive investor. Past performance is no guide to future performance
Hobson’s choice: JP Morgan has a recent history of getting the US banks’ reporting season off to a great start and its shares still rate a buy even though the best chance to get in has gone. I’d be inclined to sell Morgan Stanley, as the shares have run ahead of themselves, but to hold at Bank of America, which is up about 50% on my 2019 recommendation. Buy Citigroup below $73, a potential ceiling. The downside looks limited to $67. Wells Fargo is only for those with an appetite for risk, otherwise sell.
Rodney Hobson is a freelance contributor and not a direct employee of interactive investor.
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