A basket of major U.S. bank stocks, as measured by the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLF), is poised to extend its record highs following a wave of strong third-quarter earnings reports.
The fund rose nearly 0.7% in premarket trading, continuing its upward momentum from last week's rally. Gains also spilled over to regional banks, as SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:KRE) rose 0.5%.
On Tuesday, top financial firms including Goldman Sachs Inc. (NYSE:GS), Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), and Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE:SCHW) all exceeded analyst expectations, reinforcing investor confidence in the sector's health.
Goldman Sachs posted a robust third-quarter performance, significantly beating Wall Street's earnings estimates. The bank reported earnings per share (EPS) of $8.40, surpassing the expected $6.88. Revenue came in at $12.7 billion, topping the $11.7 billion consensus estimate, with standout results in several key segments.
Stock Reaction: Shares of Goldman Sachs jumped nearly 3% in premarket trading, reaching a new record high of $537.50.
Bank of America also delivered a strong set of earnings, with an EPS of $0.81, beating the $0.76 consensus. Revenue totaled $25.34 billion, slightly above expectations of $25.25 billion, driven by solid growth in its investment banking and trading operations.
Richard Ramsden, equity analyst at Goldman Sachs, indicated that Bank of America delivered “another well-rounded beat,” highlighting that NII was 0.5% above the Street due to higher earning assets, loans, and trading balances.
Stock Reaction: Bank of America shares climbed 2% to $42.79 following the earnings report.
Citigroup outpaced analyst expectations, reporting an EPS of $1.51, beating the consensus of $1.31. Revenue for the quarter came in at $20.32 billion, ahead of the $19.86 billion estimate.
Citi's investment banking revenue also surpassed expectations, coming in at $934 million versus the anticipated $874.5 million. This marks a solid quarter for Citigroup as it continues to streamline operations while growing its core business lines.
Stock Reaction: Citigroup shares rose 2.4% to $67.50, reaching levels not seen since mid-July.
Charles Schwab also joined the list of financial firms delivering upbeat Q3 results. The company reported an EPS of $0.77, exceeding the $0.75 consensus, with revenue of $4.847 billion, just above the $4.786 billion estimate.
This marks a strong recovery for Schwab, which faced pressure earlier this year. The bank benefited from steady client engagement and favorable market conditions.
Stock Reaction: Charles Schwab shares rocketed 9% to $73.78 in premarket trading, putting the stock on track for its best session since July 2023.
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