BAC earnings 4Q 2021

Bank of America on Wednesday topped analysts’ estimates for profit on record asset management and investment banking fees and the release of $851 million in loan loss reserves.

Here are the numbers:

Earnings: 82 cents a share vs. 76 cents a shares estimate, according to Refinitiv
Revenue: $22.17 billion vs. $22.2 billion estimate.

The lender said that fourth quarter profit rose 28% to $7.01 billion, or 82 cents a share, topping the 76 cents a share average estimate of analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. Revenue rose 10% to $22.17 billion, just under the $22.2 billion estimate.

Bank of America, led by CEO Brian Moynihan, had enjoyed tailwinds in recent months as rising interest rates and a rebound in loan growth promised to boost the industry’s profitability. But that narrative went off course after banks began disclosing the impact of wage inflation on results.

Analysts are likely to ask management about the impact of the bank’s recent decision to eliminate some fees and reduce overdraft charges to $10 from $35.

Shares of Bank of America have climbed 4% this year before Wednesday, underperforming the 8.6% gain of the KBW Bank Index.

JPMorgan and Citigroup each reported the smallest earnings beats in the last seven quarters, and Goldman Sachs missed estimates for fourth quarter profit because of elevated expenses. Wells Fargo has been the sole bright spot so far in bank earnings after it gave targets for higher interest income and lower expenses.  

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