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Comerica (CMA) Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Revenues Increase

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Comerica’s (CMA - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2018 earnings per share of $1.88 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.86. Also, the results compared favorably with year-ago adjusted figure of $1.24.  

Shares of Comerica gained nearly 2% in pre-market trading session on higher revenues and improved credit metrics. Moreover, the capital position remained strong. Also, lower expenses were a tailwind. However, lower deposits and lower fee income were the undermining factors.

Including certain non-recurring items, net income came in at $310 million compared with $112 million reported in the year-ago quarter.

For 2018, net income available to common shareholders was approximately $1.23 billion or $7.2 per share compared with $738 million or $4.14 reported in the prior year. On an adjusted basis, earnings came in at $1.24 billion or $7.24 per share.

Segment wise, on a year-over-year basis, net income increased 38.9% at Business Bank and 33.3% at Wealth Management. Retail Bank segment recorded significant growth in net income from the prior-year quarter. Finance segment reported loss in the current quarter, consistent with year-ago quarter.

Revenues Climb and Expenses Decline

For full-year 2018, adjusted revenues came in at $3.3 billion, up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. The figure was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. 

Comerica’s fourth-quarter revenues were $864 million, up 4.1% year over year. Also, it was in line with the consensus estimate.

Net interest income increased 12.7% to $614 million. Moreover, net interest margin expanded 47 basis points (bps) to 3.58%.

Non-interest income came in at $250 million, down 12.3% on a year-over-year basis. Lower card fees and service charge on deposits were partially offset by higher fiduciary income and brokerage fees.

Further, non-interest expenses totaled $448 million, down 7.2% year over year. The decline was chiefly due to lower outside processing fee and FDIC insurance expenses, partially offset by higher salaries and benefits expense and equipment costs.

Balance Sheet Position Weakens

As of Dec 31, 2018, total assets and common shareholders' equity were $70.8 billion and $7.5 billion, respectively, compared with $71.5 billion and $8 billion as of Dec 31, 2017.

Total loans rose 2% year over year to $50.1 billion. However, total deposits decreased about 4% from the prior-year quarter to $55.6 billion.

Credit Quality Improves

Total non-performing assets plunged 32.2% year over year to $230 million. Also, allowance for loan losses was $701 million, down 7%. Additionally, allowance for loan losses to total loans ratio was 1.34% as of Dec 31, 2018, down from 1.45% as of Dec 31, 2017. In addition, provision for credit losses declined 6% from the year-ago quarter.

Furthermore, Comerica reported net charge-offs of $11 million compared with $16 million recorded in prior-year quarter.

Strong Capital Position

As of Dec 31, 2018, the company's tangible common equity ratio was 9.78%, down 54 bps year over year. Common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 11.12%, down from 11.68% reported in the year-ago quarter.

Capital Deployment Update

Comerica’s capital-deployment initiatives highlight the company’s capital strength. During the reported quarter, Comerica repurchased 6.3 million shares under its existing equity repurchase program. This, combined with dividends, resulted in a total payout of $599 million to shareholders.

Impressive Outlook for Full-Year 2019

Comerica guided for full-year 2019, taking into consideration the current economic and rate environment, along with the GEAR Up initiative.

The company anticipates 4-5% higher net interest income, including the benefit of short-term rate increase. Notably, higher average debt as well as lower interest recoveries and loan fees are expected to partially offset the benefit.

Non-interest income is estimated to be 2-3% higher resulting from GEAR Up opportunities driving growth in treasury management and card fees, along with fiduciary income.

Non-interest expenses are predicted to be 3% lower, reflecting the end of restructuring charges from the GEAR Up initiatives, lower FDIC insurance expenses by $16 million from the discontinuance of the surcharge, lower compensation and pension expense. These are expected to be partially offset by higher outside processing expenses in line with growing revenues, technology expenditures and typical inflationary pressures.

Provision for credit losses is likely to be 15-25 bps and net charge-offs are expected to be low.

Income tax expenses are expected to approximate 23% of pre-tax income, excluding further tax impact from employee stock transactions.

Comerica expects average loans to grow 2-4%. The outlook reflects rise across most lines of business. However, deposits are likely to decline 1-2% due to lower noninterest bearing deposits.

Our Viewpoint

Consistent expansion of margin is likely to keep supporting revenues to some extent. Further, the company will benefit from its ongoing strategic initiatives. Its robust capital position supports steady capital-deployment activities through share repurchases and dividend hikes, which seem impressive. However, decline in deposits during the quarter were the headwinds.

Comerica Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

 

Currently, Comerica carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other Banks

Citigroup (C - Free Report) delivered a positive earnings surprise of 3.9% in fourth-quarter 2018, backed by expense control and lower cost of credit. Adjusted net income per share of $1.61 for the quarter handily outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.55. Also, adjusted earnings climbed 26% year over year.

Dismal fixed income trading and underwriting business performance affected JPMorgan’s (JPM - Free Report) fourth-quarter 2018 earnings of $1.98 per share, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20. However, the figure surged 85% from the prior-year quarter.

Backed by lower expenses, Wells Fargo (WFC - Free Report) delivered a positive earnings surprise of 3.4% in fourth-quarter 2018. Earnings of $1.21 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17. Also, the bottom-line compared favorably with $1.16 recorded in the prior-year quarter.

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