Bank Of America's Q2 Results 'Better Than Feared', Says Analyst

Core Insights - Bank of America Corp. reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 results that largely surpassed expectations, with earnings per share aligning with consensus estimates [1][3] - The bank demonstrated resilience through stronger core fees and stable operating efficiency, despite a slight decrease in net interest income (NII) [1][3] - Investors are focused on the bank's NII outlook for the latter half of 2025, along with operating leverage and trading revenue performance [1][10] Financial Performance - The reported EPS was 89 cents, matching both consensus estimates and Goldman Sachs' projection [3] - Core pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) was $9.5 billion, in line with expectations, supported by stronger core fees [3][6] - Fee income exceeded consensus by 0.5%, driven by a 15% year-over-year increase in trading revenue [6] NII Guidance - NII guidance remains at $15.5 to $15.7 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, factoring in fewer rate cuts than previously assumed [4] - Anticipated NII improvement in the second half of 2025, with asset repricing expected to increase from $100 million in Q2 to $225 million per quarter in Q3 and Q4 [4][5] Loan and Deposit Growth - Loan growth guidance was revised upward from low to mid-single digits, with deposits 1% above expectations [5] - Loans grew 1% sequentially, with commercial lending up 5% and consumer lending up 1% [5] Efficiency and Expenses - The core efficiency ratio was 64.5%, slightly worse than consensus, with core expenses of $17.2 billion, up 5% year-over-year [7] - The analyst seeks clarification on the validity of the full-year expense guidance [7] Credit Quality - Provisions were 2% below expectations, with a $67 million reserve build aligning with forecasts [8] - Net charge-offs increased 5% quarter-over-quarter, coming in 1% above consensus, but no significant credit quality deterioration was observed [8] Capital Return - Bank of America repurchased $5.3 billion in stock during the quarter, with a CET1 ratio of 11.5%, remaining above the regulatory minimum [9] - Further details are sought on capital deployment plans amidst potential changes to capital requirements [9]