Bank of America Knocks Earnings out of the Park

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
By Jon C. Ogg Updated Published

Bank of America sign

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) has joined the banking ranks with its fourth-quarter earnings report. The stock was already about 2% within its 52-week highs, and now it appears to breaking above those highs after the report. The company’s credit metrics improved, even if legal issues remain a challenge.

Net income was $3.4 billion, or $0.29 per share, on revenue of $21.49 billion. Thomson Reuters was calling for $0.26 per share and $21.24 billion. The bank’s headcount was 242,117 at the end of 2013.

Book value is still growing. Bank of America had a stated book value of $20.17 per share at the end of December, versus $20.50 at the end of September. Its tangible book value was $13.79 per share, versus $13.62 per share the prior quarter.

Return on average tangible equity was 8.53%, and its return on average assets was 0.64%. The bank’s net interest margin was 2.56%. Bank of America’s Basel 1 Tier 1 common equity ratio was 10.43%, and the Basel 1 Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.19%.

Other key metrics were as follows:

  • Net interest income $10.8 billion
  • Provision for credit losses $336 million
  • Net charge-offs $1.58 billion
  • Pretax litigation expenses $2.3 billion
  • Equities sales and trading revenue (ex-DVA) was $904 million
  • Fixed income, currency and commodities sales and trading revenue (ex-DVA) $2.1 billion
  • Commercial loans at $396 billion
  • Real estate services loss of $1.06 billion
  • Average deposit balances $528.8 billion

Bank of America shares were rising 2.3% to $17.15 in the early trading indications Wednesday. The prior 52-week trading range was $10.98 to $16.93, and the consensus analyst target prior to earnings was $16.28.

Photo of Jon C. Ogg
About the Author Jon C. Ogg →

Jon Ogg has been a financial news analyst since 1997. Mr. Ogg set up one of the first audio squawk box services for traders called TTN, which he sold in 2003. He has previously worked as a licensed broker to some of the top U.S. and E.U. financial institutions, managed capital, and has raised private capital at the seed and venture stage. He has lived in Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as New York and Chicago, and he now lives in Houston, Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance at University of Houston in 1992. www.247wallst.com.

Featured Reads

Our top personal finance-related articles today. Your wallet will thank you later.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

KMX Vol: 7,330,419
GLW Vol: 22,800,969
INTC Vol: 233,719,006
SMCI Vol: 68,465,534
ENPH Vol: 13,978,376

Top Losing Stocks

ACN Vol: 41,744,333
EPAM Vol: 5,636,587
CTSH Vol: 61,311,400
CTRA Vol: 73,319,495
KR Vol: 26,704,230