Underwriting Props Up Goldman Sachs Results

Photo of Paul Ausick
By Paul Ausick Updated Published

Goldman Sachs

Wikimedia Commons
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) reported first-quarter fiscal 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The investment bank and financial services giant reported quarterly diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.29 on revenue of $10.09 billion. In the same period a year ago, Goldman reported EPS of $3.92 on revenue of $9.95 billion. First-quarter results also compare to the consensus estimates for EPS of $3.88 on revenue of $9.64 billion.

The bank’s CEO said:

Our strong client franchise across our businesses drove generally solid results. Still, the potential for macro-economic instability was felt in the quarter and constrained overall corporate and investor activity. We continue to be very focused on controlling our costs and efficiently managing our capital.

Underwriting revenues grew 63% year-over-year, primarily due to debt underwriting and client activity. The firm’s investment banking revenues grew by 35% year-over-year.

Goldman’s Basel I Tier 1 capital ratio fell to 14.4%, down sequentially from 16.7% at the end of the fourth quarter. The Tier 1 common ratio also fell, from 14.5% at the end of 2012 to 12.7% at the end of the first quarter.

As was the case in the first quarter of 2012, the bank suffered a net outflow of assets under supervision, but by less than half as much. Outflows totaled $21 billion in the first quarter of 2012, compared with $9 billion this year. Assets under management grew by just $3 billion sequentially, however, with the major change coming in outflows of $15 billion from the firm’s money market accounts.

Shares are trading about 0.7% higher in the premarket this morning, at $146.46 in a 52-week range of $90.43 to $159.00. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $148.35 before today’s results were announced.

Photo of Paul Ausick
About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

DELL Vol: 42,366,555
NTAP Vol: 15,911,807
NOW Vol: 68,243,561
IBM
IBM Vol: 28,527,546
HPE Vol: 86,996,387

Top Losing Stocks

CTRA Vol: 73,319,495
CLX Vol: 4,744,001
RMD Vol: 3,526,686
INTC Vol: 191,680,425
SWKS Vol: 5,407,806