Banking, finance, and taxes

JPMorgan Earnings Improve as Bank Lowers Costs, Legal Expenses

jpm morgan logo
courtesy of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported second-quarter fiscal 2015 results before markets opened Tuesday morning. The investment bank and financial services giant reported adjusted diluted quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.54 on revenue of $24.53 billion. In the same period a year ago, it reported EPS of $1.46 on revenue of $25.38 billion. Second-quarter results also compare to the consensus estimates for EPS of $1.44 on revenue of $24.49 billion.

Quarterly profits rose 5% from $5.91 billion in the second quarter of 2014 to $6.29 billion. The bank’s non-interest expenses declined from $15.43 billion to $14.5 billion, driven by “business simplification,” lower legal expenses and lower mortgage banking expenses.

Quarterly revenues were negatively affected by lower revenues in mortgage banking and corporate and investment banking markets, partially offset by asset management growth. Provision for credit losses rose 35% to $935 million due to lower reserve releases.

By divisions, net income in the consumer and community banking group rose by $37 million to $2.53 billion, commercial banking net income was down 22% at $525 million and asset management group net income fell 21% to $451 million for the quarter.

Corporate and investment banking group net income rose $210 million to $2.34 billion, even though revenues declined 6%.

ALSO READ: Which Bank Will Have the Best Earnings?

The provision for credit losses in the first quarter this year totaled $935 million, compared with $692 million in the year-ago quarter.

CEO Jamie Dimon said:

Our Company had strong results this quarter, and each of our businesses performed well, with broad and consistent underlying growth. … We are focused on executing on our commitments and we’ve made good progress this quarter, including meeting regulatory requirements, reducing non-operating deposits, and adding to our capital. We are also on target to deliver on our expense commitments. We continue to add value to our customers, clients and communities, and, as always, we operate with fortress principles.

JPMorgan increased its Basel III Tier 1 common ratio to 11% in the first quarter.

The bank did not offer guidance in its press release, but the consensus estimates call for third-quarter EPS of $1.46 on revenues of $24.53 billion. The EPS estimate for the 2015 fiscal year is $5.84 on revenues of $98.34 billion.

Shares traded up about 0.5% in Tuesday’s premarket to $68.45. The current 52-week range is $54.26 to $69.82. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of $71.61 before the results were announced.

ALSO READ: 5 Big Defensive Dividend Stocks to Buy Trading at Deep Discounts

Are You Ahead, or Behind on Retirement? (sponsor)

If you’re one of the over 4 Million Americans  set to retire this year, you may want to pay attention.

Finding a financial advisor who puts your interest first can be the difference between a rich retirement and barely getting by, and today it’s easier than ever. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors that serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Start your search now.

Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.

AI Portfolio

Discover Our Top AI Stocks

Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.

You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.