Like its banking peers, Bank of America’s (BAC) profitability in the first quarter suffered from its exposure to the credit markets. Still, the company is getting some kudos from analysts for getting out ahead of potential future losses by aggressively adding cash to its reserves.
The Charlotte, N.C.-based company posted net income of $1.21 billion, or 23 cents per share, compared with $5.26 billion, or $1.16 per share, in the first quarter of 2007, mainly due to writedowns and a large increase in its reserves for potential losses.
The company's EPS were far below the consensus estimate of 41 cents among Wall Street analysts, which disappointed investors and caused shares to fall 2.5% to $37.61 on Apr. 21.
The weak results indicate that the tough times in housing and credit markets, plus rising inflation, are taking a toll on consumers. "We remain concerned about the health of the consumer, given the prolonged housing slump, subprime issues, employment levels and higher fuel and food prices," Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis said in a news release.
Lewis said he expects minimal growth at best in gross domestic product in the second quarter and only a slight pickup in growth in the latter half of 2008.
Provisions for credit losses increased nearly five-fold, to $6.01 billion from $1.23 billion a year ago, including the addition of $3.3 billion to its reserve – in recognition of higher credit costs, especially in its home equity, small business and homebuilder portfolios.
The second-largest bank in the U.S. also reported $1.31 billion in trading-related losses, vs. $1.66 billion in trading income a year earlier, mostly due to writedowns of collateralized debt obligations, or CDOs, totaling $1.47 billion and $439 million in writedowns of loans made to finance leveraged buyouts. Trading-related losses were $5.15 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007, which included CDO-related writedowns of $5.28 billion.
Credit losses aside, Bank of America’s underlying businesses continued to do well. Total retail sales climbed 10% to 13 million products, led by a 14% increase in retail checking accounts. Recent acquisitions of U.S. Trust and LaSalle Bank, along with solid gains in certificates of deposit and consumer checking accounts, contributed to a $51 billion, or 11%, increase in total average retail deposits.
In its global wealth and investment management business, loans were up 30% and deposits jumped 29%, partly reflecting the impact of the U.S. Trust and LaSalle acquisitions.
The integration of those acquisitions is on schedule, with U.S. Trust slated to convert trust, custody and investment management accounts for long-time clients to the Bank of America platform and LaSalle set to migrate to the new brand in May. The $4.0 billion Countrywide Financial (CFC) acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.
Analysts said they were impressed by how aggressive the company is being by adding more to its reserves than had been expected. But they warn that capital levels could become a problem, with tangible equity capital to total average assets at 3.1% and a Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.5%.
"The loan loss was bigger than a lot of folks, including us, were expecting," says David George, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. in St. Louis, Mo. "Capital levels are below where they would normally be, and, I would guess, where ratings agencies would like them to be in this economic backdrop." (Baird and/or its affiliates expect to receive or intend to seek compensation for investment banking from Bank of America within the next three months.)