Banking, finance, and taxes

Jamie Dimon Readies J.P. Morgan Investors for Much Larger Dividends Ahead

Jamie Dimon, chief executive and chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), hosted the banking giant’s 2015 investors day on Tuesday. While there were many comments defending the bank’s structure and effort to thwart breakup talk, the reality is that many investors may cheer the dividend and shareholder treatment comments the most.

First and foremost, J.P. Morgan said that any form of breakup that has been hinted at by outsiders would come at a cost far too high. We wrote about plans to close branches and the like, but investors may stay focused on the dividend hopes ahead.

Another aim is that Chase and J.P. Morgan will drive certain bank deposits away — yes, they want to lower their deposit base! The reason is that some money is too hot — it comes in and goes out in such a manner that the bank cannot count on it being a solid base for the bank. Another issue is that holding deposits requires keeping additional reserves aside.

So, what did Dimon say for investors about the stock and the return of capital?

Dimon actually said that he likes the bank’s stock at the current price. And the biggie: Dimon wants to grow J.P. Morgan’s dividend payout ratio to 50% from 30%. Before you expect that this means J.P. Morgan will raise the dividend by two-thirds, you might need some patience and tempering of expectations. The reason why is simple: regulators likely will not allow that, not immediately, or even over a short time, at least.

ALSO READ: Shopping at Wal-Mart Now Much Cheaper Than at Peers

Dimon noted that most regulatory rules will have been finalized in the next two years and also that many legal costs are likely to end then as well. Another thing that investors probably already assumed is that J.P. Morgan has no chance of making acquisitions inside the United States. Dimon said that regulators do not want the bank to be larger. Dimon talked about organic growth opportunities, but also left the door open to looking at opportunities for M&A overseas.

So, what would it mean taking the dividend payout ratio to 50% from 30%? J.P. Morgan’s dividend is $1.60 per share on an annualized basis now, and that generates roughly a 2.65% yield. If you just use straight line math, without trying to factor in things such as preferred shares and buybacks and other payments, then the common stock dividend could rise by more than $1.00 — and it could be a yield of closer to 4.4%.

This is potentially huge news for investors looking for higher dividends and return of capital from the major banking giants. That being said, or said again, just do not under any circumstances expect that this means that rapid-fire dividend hikes are coming without some pushback from regulators.

The Federal Reserve’s Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) is scheduled to be out in March. At that point we will know by how much the regulatory powers that be are in favor of banks raising their dividends and how much they are approving for share buybacks.

ALSO READ: 5 Oil Stocks Analysts Want You to Buy Now

Here is what Fitch Ratings had to say on the matter of dividends and buybacks in its recent review ahead of the CCAR:

Of the eight US G-SIBs (Bank of America, Bank of New York Mellon, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, State Street and Wells Fargo), several may begin to tilt their capital requests towards share repurchases rather than dividend increases ahead of the 2019 effective date for the capital surcharge proposal. The optionality of share repurchases would provide additional capital flexibility in future years, relative to scheduled dividends.

So, what are analysts saying the day after the investor meeting?

Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse maintained its Outperform rating and $75 price target. The firm sees normalized earnings now at $30 billion, or around $7.50 or more per share. Another note is that its longer term visibility is improved by growth and expense management.

As far as what to do with the stock, Credit Suisse said that J.P. Morgan’s investor day underscored the bank’s execution capabilities and superior return on equity potential, and its sustained share price performance relies on execution and reduced regulatory concerns. The firm also believes that a CCAR passing grade (and dividend hike allowance) would be a net positive for the stock on March 11.

Merrill Lynch

Merrill Lynch maintained its Buy rating following the investor day and suggested that Dimon and his team presented a strong message around its business outlook. The team indicated that guidance was toward a mid-teens return on total equity, despite higher capital requirements, and $30 billion in potential earnings power.

ALSO READ: 5 Super High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy

Merrill Lynch also thinks that the bank’s ability to deliver on targets outlined and fewer regulatory surprises should drive a multiple rerating. On top of a $68 target, the quote that stood out was: “In our view, JPMorgan is best-in-class.”

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo said that J.P. Morgan was undaunted by the challenges and is still targeting above-average returns from its peers. Wells Fargo sees J.P. Morgan’s investor day as generally upbeat in management’s guidance, relative to both near-term trends and intermediate-term trends over the next three years or so.

Positives included higher return on equity, which implies earnings per share of about $7.70 out to 2017 — around 45% above 2014. They also see higher capital ratios, increasing capital returns through 2017 as capital builds, and cost reduction plans that exceeded expectations. The bank’s credit costs are now expected to be lower for longer with an improving core loan growth outlook. Wells Fargo stuck with a $66 to $68 fair value range.

ALSO READ: Will American Banks Close Thousands of Branches?

Dimon’s full audio presentation is still located on its investor relations site, and that presentation ended shortly before 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday. Note that the audio presentation from Dimon does require registration to hear it. Also, its full slide show can now be seen from the SEC website.

Again, be patient on dividend hikes ahead. They may have been telegraphed, but it could take years before the hikes are all made. Dimon warned that regulators likely would not allow the bank to suddenly just jump up to a much higher dividend. After all, there are still fines and settlements that haven’t been announced yet that date back to the financial crisis.

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

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