Bank of America (BAC) Up 1.5% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?

Core Viewpoint - Bank of America reported a strong second-quarter earnings performance, surpassing expectations, but faced challenges in investment banking and rising expenses [2][5][7]. Financial Performance - The second-quarter earnings per share were 89 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86 cents and up from 83 cents in the prior-year quarter [2]. - Net income applicable to common shareholders increased by 3.7% year over year to $6.83 billion, slightly above the estimate of $6.76 billion [6]. - Net revenues reached $26.46 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $26.59 billion but reflecting a 4.3% increase from the previous year [7]. Revenue Drivers - Trading revenues grew for the 13th consecutive quarter, with sales and trading revenues (excluding net DVA) increasing by 14.9% year over year to $5.38 billion [3]. - Net interest income (NII) rose by 6.9% year over year to $14.82 billion, although it fell short of the projected $14.93 billion [7]. - Non-interest income increased by 1% year over year to $11.79 billion, driven by higher fees and commissions [8]. Expense and Efficiency - Non-interest expenses rose by 5.4% year over year to $17.18 billion, exceeding the estimate of $16.96 billion [8]. - The efficiency ratio deteriorated to 64.93%, up from 64.26% in the prior-year quarter, indicating reduced profitability [9]. Credit Quality - Provisions for credit losses increased by 5.6% year over year to $1.59 billion, while net charge-offs slightly declined to $1.53 billion [10]. - Non-performing loans and leases as a percentage of total loans remained stable at 0.52% year over year [10]. Capital Position - Book value per share increased to $37.13 from $34.39 a year ago, and tangible book value per share rose to $27.71 from $25.37 [11]. - The common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 13% as of June 30, 2025, down from 13.5% a year earlier [11]. Share Repurchase - The company repurchased shares worth $5.3 billion during the reported quarter [12]. Guidance - Management anticipates NII to grow sequentially to $15.5-$15.7 billion in Q4 2025, projecting a 6-7% increase in NII for the year [13]. - Loan growth is expected in the mid-single digits, while deposits are projected to grow in the low-single digits for 2025 [13]. - The net interest yield is expected to reach 2.20%-2.30% in the coming years [14]. Market Outlook - Estimates for Bank of America have been trending upward, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating an expectation of in-line returns in the near term [16][18].