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Wells Fargo (WFC) Q2 Earnings Beat on Fee Income Growth
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Solid mortgage performance supported Wells Fargo’s (WFC - Free Report) second-quarter 2021 earnings of $1.38 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents. Also, the bottom line compares favorably with the prior-year quarter figure of a loss of $1.01.
Results included the impact of a $1.6-billion decline in allowance for credit losses, backed by an improving economic environment and lower net charge-offs. Also, it includes a $147-million gain on the sale of student loans and a $79-million write-down on related goodwill.
Strong mortgage banking performance, improved investment advisory and other asset-based fees, aided by higher market valuations as well as lower costs supported the bank. However, reduced net interest income on lower rates and lower loans affected results.
In the second quarter, net income applicable to common stock came in at $5.7 billion as against the loss of $4.2 billion reported in the prior-year quarter.
The quarter’s total revenues were $20.3 billion, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.7 billion. Further, the top line came in higher than the year-ago quarter’s $18.3 billion.
In addition, quarterly revenue generation at the business segments was a mixed bag on a year-over-year basis. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment’s total quarterly revenues jumped slightly, while Commercial Banking revenues inched up 1.3%. Revenues in the Corporate and Investment Banking as well as the Wealth and Investment Management units dipped 7% and slightly, respectively.
Fee Income Leads to Higher Revenues, Costs Fall
Wells Fargo’s net interest income in the second quarter came in at $8.8 billion, down 11% year over year due to lower interest rates, loan balances and higher mortgage-backed securities premium amortization. Also, net interest margin shrunk 23 basis points (bps) to 2.02%.
Non-interest income at Wells Fargo came in at $11.5 billion, up 37% year over year. Higher cards fees, improved results in the affiliated venture capital and private equity businesses and in the mortgage banking business, net gains from equity securities and trading activities, investment advisory and other asset-based fees were partially offset by lower market revenues in Corporate and Investment Banking, and lower deferred compensation plan investment results.
As of Jun 30, 2021, average loans were $854.7 billion, down 2% sequentially. Lower commercial and consumer loans resulted in this fall. Average deposits came in at $1.4 trillion, up 3% from the prior quarter.
Non-interest expense at Wells Fargo was $13.3 billion during the second quarter, down 8% year over year. Lower operating losses, as well as efficiency initiatives to reduce spend on consultants and contractors, lower personnel expenses, supported by lower deferred compensation plan expense and lower salaries expense, were partly muted by higher incentive and revenue-related compensations.
The company’s efficiency ratio of 66% was below the 80% recorded in the year-ago quarter. A fall in efficiency ratio indicates a rise in profitability.
Credit Quality Improves
Wells Fargo’s credit quality metrics were robust during the June-end quarter. Allowance for credit losses, including the allowance for unfunded commitments, totaled $16 billion as of Jun 30, 2021, down 20%, year over year. Non-performing assets decreased 4% to $7.5 billion in the second quarter from the $7.8 billion reported in the year-earlier period.
Net charge-offs were $379 million or 0.18% of average loans in the reported quarter, down 66% from $1.1 billion (0.46%). Provision for credit losses was a net benefit of $1.3 billion as against the provision of $9.5 billion reported in the year-ago quarter.
Healthy Capital Position
Wells Fargo has maintained a sturdy capital position. Its Tier 1 common equity under Basel III (fully phased-in) increased to $143.4 billion from the $133 billion witnessed in the prior-year quarter. The Tier 1 common equity to total risk-weighted assets ratio was estimated at 12.1% under Basel III (fully phased-in) as of Jun 30, 2021, up from 11%.
Book value per share increased to $41.74 from the $38.31 recorded in the comparable period last year.
Return on average assets was 1.25%, up from the prior-year quarter’s negative 0.79%. Return on average equity was 13.6%, up from the year-ago quarter’s negative 10.2%.
As of Jun 30, 2021, eligible external total loss absorbing capacity (TLAC) as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets was 25.1% compared with previous-year quarter’s 25.3%.
Capital Deployment Activities
Wells Fargo repurchased 35.3 million shares or $1.6 billion in the second quarter.
Our Viewpoint
Wells Fargo is focused on maintaining its financial position despite a number of legal tensions. In addition, the company is working on strategic initiatives, which might help regain the confidence of its clients and shareholders.
Solid demand for mortgage banking due to low rates and momentum in capital markets activities might support the bank’s performance.
Nevertheless, top-line headwinds, such as lower net interest income woes, are expected to prevail amid the prevailing coronavirus crisis.
Wells Fargo & Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
People's United Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) are scheduled to release quarterly numbers on Jul 15, while First Horizon Corporation (FHN - Free Report) will report on Jul 16.
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Wells Fargo (WFC) Q2 Earnings Beat on Fee Income Growth
Solid mortgage performance supported Wells Fargo’s (WFC - Free Report) second-quarter 2021 earnings of $1.38 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents. Also, the bottom line compares favorably with the prior-year quarter figure of a loss of $1.01.
Results included the impact of a $1.6-billion decline in allowance for credit losses, backed by an improving economic environment and lower net charge-offs. Also, it includes a $147-million gain on the sale of student loans and a $79-million write-down on related goodwill.
Strong mortgage banking performance, improved investment advisory and other asset-based fees, aided by higher market valuations as well as lower costs supported the bank. However, reduced net interest income on lower rates and lower loans affected results.
In the second quarter, net income applicable to common stock came in at $5.7 billion as against the loss of $4.2 billion reported in the prior-year quarter.
The quarter’s total revenues were $20.3 billion, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.7 billion. Further, the top line came in higher than the year-ago quarter’s $18.3 billion.
In addition, quarterly revenue generation at the business segments was a mixed bag on a year-over-year basis. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment’s total quarterly revenues jumped slightly, while Commercial Banking revenues inched up 1.3%. Revenues in the Corporate and Investment Banking as well as the Wealth and Investment Management units dipped 7% and slightly, respectively.
Fee Income Leads to Higher Revenues, Costs Fall
Wells Fargo’s net interest income in the second quarter came in at $8.8 billion, down 11% year over year due to lower interest rates, loan balances and higher mortgage-backed securities premium amortization. Also, net interest margin shrunk 23 basis points (bps) to 2.02%.
Non-interest income at Wells Fargo came in at $11.5 billion, up 37% year over year. Higher cards fees, improved results in the affiliated venture capital and private equity businesses and in the mortgage banking business, net gains from equity securities and trading activities, investment advisory and other asset-based fees were partially offset by lower market revenues in Corporate and Investment Banking, and lower deferred compensation plan investment results.
As of Jun 30, 2021, average loans were $854.7 billion, down 2% sequentially. Lower commercial and consumer loans resulted in this fall. Average deposits came in at $1.4 trillion, up 3% from the prior quarter.
Non-interest expense at Wells Fargo was $13.3 billion during the second quarter, down 8% year over year. Lower operating losses, as well as efficiency initiatives to reduce spend on consultants and contractors, lower personnel expenses, supported by lower deferred compensation plan expense and lower salaries expense, were partly muted by higher incentive and revenue-related compensations.
The company’s efficiency ratio of 66% was below the 80% recorded in the year-ago quarter. A fall in efficiency ratio indicates a rise in profitability.
Credit Quality Improves
Wells Fargo’s credit quality metrics were robust during the June-end quarter. Allowance for credit losses, including the allowance for unfunded commitments, totaled $16 billion as of Jun 30, 2021, down 20%, year over year. Non-performing assets decreased 4% to $7.5 billion in the second quarter from the $7.8 billion reported in the year-earlier period.
Net charge-offs were $379 million or 0.18% of average loans in the reported quarter, down 66% from $1.1 billion (0.46%). Provision for credit losses was a net benefit of $1.3 billion as against the provision of $9.5 billion reported in the year-ago quarter.
Healthy Capital Position
Wells Fargo has maintained a sturdy capital position. Its Tier 1 common equity under Basel III (fully phased-in) increased to $143.4 billion from the $133 billion witnessed in the prior-year quarter. The Tier 1 common equity to total risk-weighted assets ratio was estimated at 12.1% under Basel III (fully phased-in) as of Jun 30, 2021, up from 11%.
Book value per share increased to $41.74 from the $38.31 recorded in the comparable period last year.
Return on average assets was 1.25%, up from the prior-year quarter’s negative 0.79%. Return on average equity was 13.6%, up from the year-ago quarter’s negative 10.2%.
As of Jun 30, 2021, eligible external total loss absorbing capacity (TLAC) as a percentage of total risk-weighted assets was 25.1% compared with previous-year quarter’s 25.3%.
Capital Deployment Activities
Wells Fargo repurchased 35.3 million shares or $1.6 billion in the second quarter.
Our Viewpoint
Wells Fargo is focused on maintaining its financial position despite a number of legal tensions. In addition, the company is working on strategic initiatives, which might help regain the confidence of its clients and shareholders.
Solid demand for mortgage banking due to low rates and momentum in capital markets activities might support the bank’s performance.
Nevertheless, top-line headwinds, such as lower net interest income woes, are expected to prevail amid the prevailing coronavirus crisis.
Wells Fargo & Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Wells Fargo & Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Wells Fargo & Company Quote
Currently, Wells Fargo carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Date of Other Banks
People's United Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp (USB - Free Report) are scheduled to release quarterly numbers on Jul 15, while First Horizon Corporation (FHN - Free Report) will report on Jul 16.