JP Morgan (JPM), the largest bank in the
JP Morgan’s fourth-quarter net profit fell to $3.7 billion ($0.90 per share) from $4.8 billion ($1.12 per share) in the fourth-quarter of last year. Though the bottom line was a bit disappointing (thanks to its investment banking division), results were in-line with consensus expectations. We also were pleased with a number of positive trends evident in the quarter. In its commercial banking division, the firm experienced its sixth consecutive quarter of loan growth, with middle-market lending advancing 17% from the same period a year ago (business banking loans and its credit card business also increased nicely). We think the latter trend—credit card sales volume, which jumped 10% in the period—is a positive for the credit-card payment processors, Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA), the former we hold in the portfolio of our Best Ideas Newsletter.
Importantly, trends in the credit quality of its loan portfolio continue to improve as well. Firmwide, net charge-offs fell more than 40% while non-performing assets dropped more than 30%. The net charge-off rate in the company’s credit card portfolio improved to 3.93% from 4.3% sequentially and over 7% in the prior-year quarter. We continue to be content with JP Morgan’s capital position and believe the bank’s balance sheet to be sufficient to navigate the current uncertain global macroeconomic climate. Its Basel III capital ratio, according to management, was 7.9% at the end of the fourth quarter, credit reserves represent 3.35% of total loans, and the firm remains liquid with deposit funding in the amount of $1.1 trillion, up over 20% from the same period last year.
The largest banks continue to deal with an uncertain global macro situation, the domestic housing and mortgage market, as well as the ongoing debt situation in