We are off to a solid start to the 2024 Q4 earnings season, with the big banks not only coming ahead of estimates but also providing reassuring guidance for the coming quarters.
Citibank is reportedly dealing with technical issues around fraud alerts, long wait times for customer calls to its fraud department, and access to its mobile app. Customers of the bank have been talking about these problems on X, and hundreds of users have flagged the issues on the website DownDetector.com, CNBC reported Wednesday (Jan. 15).
Citigroup's fourth-quarter earnings results were part of a trend in banking reports Wednesday (Jan. 15), where consumer spending continued to drive momentum on cards, the macro backdrop was resilient, and, for Citi, there was particular growth in the movement toward digital payments and banking.
Earnings season is off to a strong start.
Banking giant Citigroup (C 6.84%) reported fourth quarter and full-year earnings on Wednesday, Jan. 15, that topped analyst consensus estimates. Revenue of $19.6 billion came in just ahead of analyst forecasts for $19.51 billion.
Strong IB revenues, along with lower expenses, support C's Q4 earnings. However, a decline in deposit balance is a headwind.
The stock market was having a strong day on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.34%) and Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC 1.81%) higher by 1.6% and 1.9% as of 10 a.m. ET. But the big bank stocks are leading the way, with several major U.S. financial institutions spiking higher.
Citigroup Inc (NYSE:C) shares jumped 5.5% in premarket trading on Wednesday as it turned in earnings that beat expectation and unveiled plans for a new $20 billion share buyback. Fourth-quarter earnings for third-largest US bank by assets of $1.34 a share compared to a charges-hit loss of $1.16 a year ago and a Wall Street consensus forecast of $1.22.
CNBC's Leslie Picker joins 'Squawk Box' to report on the company's quarterly earnings results.
Citigroup swung to a profit in the fourth quarter, fueled by strength in trading and a recovery in dealmaking that drove up investment banking fees.
Growth in investment banking and equity markets revenue helped drive a better-than-expected report for Citi in the third quarter, and those could be sources of strength again in the fourth quarter. Citi's stock was a strong performer in 2024, rising nearly 37% on the year.
C is set to release Q4 earnings on Jan. 15. Let's explore the factors impacting its performance and whether it's worth betting on now.