Banking, finance, and taxes

JPMorgan Earnings Easily Clears Lowered Bar

Thinkstock

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported third-quarter 2016 results before markets opened Friday morning. The investment bank and financial services giant reported adjusted diluted quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.58 on revenue of $24.7 billion. In the same period a year ago, JPMorgan reported EPS of $1.68 on revenue of $22.8 billion. Third-quarter results also compare to the consensus estimates for EPS of $1.39 on revenue of $23.99 billion.

Quarterly profits dropped 8% from $6.8 billion in the third quarter of 2015 to $6.29 billion. The bank’s non-interest expenses declined 6% from $15.37 billion to $14.46 billion, driven by lower legal expenses and partially offset by higher compensation expense.

Non-interest revenues rose 10%, driven by corporate and investment banking fees. Provision for credit losses was $1.27 billion, compared with $682 million in the prior-year quarter, due to reserve increases in the current quarter versus reserve releases in the prior-year quarter and higher net charge-offs.

By divisions, net income in the consumer and community banking group fell by $426 million to $2.2 billion, commercial banking net income rose 50% to $778 million and asset management group net income rose 17% to $557 million for the quarter.

Corporate and investment banking group net income soared 99% from $1.46 billion to $2.91 billion and revenues rose 16%, all attributed to higher debt and equity underwriting fees combined with higher advisory fees. Lending revenue was $283 million, down 15%. Provision for credit losses in the group totaled $67 million, compared to $232 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily reflecting a lower reserves build in the oil and gas portfolio.

CEO Jamie Dimon said:

We had record net income in Commercial Banking and record loan balances in Asset Management. The Corporate & Investment Bank reported its best third quarter revenue. In the Consumer businesses, we grew both loans and deposits double-digits …

Over the past months we have continued our extraordinary efforts and submitted what we believe is a credible Resolution Plan, as we remain focused on our regulatory and control agenda.

JPMorgan increased its Basel III Tier 1 common ratio to 11.9% in the third quarter.

The bank did not offer guidance in its press release, but the consensus estimates call for fourth-quarter EPS of $1.37 and revenues of $23.74 billion. The EPS estimate for the 2016 fiscal year is $5.66, on revenues of $96.37 billion.

Shares traded up about 1.6% in Friday’s premarket to $68.85. The current 52-week range is $52.50 to $69.06. Thomson Reuters had a consensus 12-month price target of $71.27 before results were announced.

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

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.