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.
Citigroup's Q4 earnings will be closely watched, particularly its total expenses and credit quality, as it aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency. The banking sector has rebounded. Citigroup shares have rallied sharply but remain quite discounted compared to peers. I am watching for a number of developments in Wednesday's earnings report.
Q4 profit updates on tap amid as bullish sentiment remains after a strong 2024.
Citigroup has appointed Jeff Wu as Head of Markets Sales for China, effective immediately, aiming to unify its sales efforts across all its market products in the country, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters on Monday.
JPMorgan and Citigroup report Wednesday morning, January 15th, 2025, before the opening bell. Analyst consensus for JPM is expecting EPS of $4.11 on net revenue of $1.7 billion, for expected y-o-y growth of 45% on net revenue growth of 8%. For Citi, current 2025 consensus estimates are looking for $7.33 in EPS on $82.2 billion in net revenue, for expected y-o-y growth of 26% and 3% respectively.
The sell-off in financials is unwarranted; strong labor market and steepening yield curve are positive for banks, especially Citigroup. Citigroup's strategic transformation under CEO Jane Fraser is reshaping the bank, focusing on high-quality businesses and modernizing operations. Expecting stellar earnings for Citi in Q4-2024, driven by strong investment banking fees, equities trading momentum, and cost management.