Banking, finance, and taxes
Citigroup Settlement With Justice Department Slashes Earnings
Published:
Last Updated:
On a GAAP basis Citi’s diluted EPS totaled $0.03, which includes a $3.8 billion charge announced Monday morning to settle claims related to residential-backed mortgage securities and collateralized debt obligations structured or underwritten by Citi between 2003 and 2008. Citi will pay $4.5 billion in cash the U.S. Department of Justice ($4 billion) and the FDIC and several states ($500 million) to resolve the civil claims.
When the bank began settlement talks, the government was seeking a payment of around $12 billion, so even though the announced deal was much higher than analysts had predicted, it is good news for Citi, and that was reflected in the bank’s share price in the premarket.
Second-quarter revenues declined 6% year-over-year as a result of weakness in both fixed-income revenues and lower U.S. mortgage financing. Net income — excluding the $3.8 billion in charges — increased to $3.9 billion, up 1% year-over-year. Again excluding the settlement charge expenses were lower by 3% this year.
The bank’s CEO said:
Our businesses showed resilience in the face of an uneven economic environment. During the quarter, we continued to grow loans in our core businesses, reduce operating expenses by simplifying our products and processes and utilize our deferred tax assets.
Citi increased its estimated Basel III Tier 1 common ratio to 10.6% in the second quarter, up from 10.4% in the first quarter. Its estimated Basel III supplementary leverage ratio is 5.7%, a gain of 0.1% sequentially. The bank also raised its tangible book value per share 7% to $56.89.
The bank did not offer guidance in its press release, but the consensus estimates call for third-quarter EPS of $1.12 on revenues of $18.72 billion. The EPS estimate for the 2014 fiscal year is now $4.53, down $0.18 since the bank reported first-quarter results.
Shares traded about 3.9% higher in the premarket Monday, at $48.82. The current 52-week range is $45.18 to $55.28. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $58.25 before the results were announced.
ALSO READ: Valuation and Reality Set in at Wells Fargo
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.