Thank you, Brian. And Mark, it is great to see you on this earnings day. As Brian just Leslie, thank you.Um, as Brian just laid out, you had revenue gains, record Q3s in each of your five businesses, big jump in net interest income, and a lower provision for credit losses. So, how much of that was all possible without the current macro backdrop. Yeah, you know, Leslie, first of all, thanks for having me.I'd start by saying what we saw today was a byproduct of us continuing to execute on our strategy. It als ...

Core Insights - The discussion highlights a divergence in outlook between JP Morgan's CEO and CFO regarding employment and credit quality, with increased investor caution due to recent bankruptcies in the market [1][2] - Concerns are raised about the potential deterioration in credit quality, particularly related to non-depository financial institutions (NDFIs), which now represent 14% of large banks' loan books [4][5] - Despite these concerns, banks are reported to be well-capitalized and generating significant profits, which serves as a buffer against credit quality issues [5][6] Company-Specific Insights - JP Morgan's recent performance is noted, with a focus on their record net new account originations for the Sapphire Reserve credit card, indicating strong growth in credit card loans [7] - Wells Fargo's outlook is optimistic following the lifting of asset caps, projecting returns on equity of 17-18% and the ability to grow their balance sheet and customer base [9] - JP Morgan's stock reaction post-earnings report reflects investor sentiment, with a noted decline attributed to conservative forward guidance and concerns about expense forecasts [10][11]

LIVE Big Banks, BlackRock Post Strong Start to Earnings Season Last Updated: Updated 1 day ago Big Bank Profits Expected to Climb as Credit Concerns Ripple Across Wall Street By Rebecca Ungarino Analysts expect the four biggest U.S. banks to tell shareholders this week that their profit and revenue rose from a year earlier, even as investors voice concerns over credit quality and lending standards that two high-profile corporate bankruptcies highlighted this fall. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo ...

Core Insights - Major banks in the U.S. are set to report their earnings for Q3, with JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi leading the announcements [1] - The government shutdown has limited economic data availability, making these earnings calls crucial for understanding the health of consumers and businesses [2] Group 1: Credit Quality - Credit quality is a key indicator of whether customers are fulfilling their loan obligations or facing payment difficulties due to financial constraints [3] - There is a divide on Wall Street regarding credit quality predictions, with some analysts expecting deterioration while others foresee continued strength [4] - Last quarter, banks indicated that the economy appeared stable, with JPMorgan's CFO noting that consumers seemed to be doing well [5] Group 2: Loan Growth - Bank loan growth reflects consumer and business confidence in future earnings, influencing borrowing for homes and business expansions [6] - Analysts suggest that new loan demand may have softened in Q3, potentially due to increased competition from non-bank lenders [11][12] - A significant portion of loan growth (60% year-over-year) is attributed to loans made to non-depository financial institutions, including private equity and credit firms [13] Group 3: AI Investment - The AI sector is becoming a major economic driver, with banks like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs providing substantial financing to AI firms [14] - Investors are keen to understand how much of the banking industry's business will be linked to the AI sector, which presents both potential and risks [15] - There is a belief that aggressive investment in AI is necessary for banks to remain competitive, despite the uncertainty of returns on some projects [16]

Core Viewpoint - The banking sector is expected to report strong earnings driven by a rebound in investment banking, with specific banks like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup showing promising results [19][3]. Group 1: Bank Performance and Expectations - Analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings reports from major banks, with expectations for revenue and earnings beats [3][19]. - Goldman Sachs is highlighted as a strong buy due to its leading position in equity underwriting and durable fee income from asset and wealth management [11][10]. - Citigroup is seen as attractive on valuation, with recent restructuring efforts and a focus on corporate treasury services [13][12]. - Bank of America is viewed as a hold due to its lagging performance compared to peers, despite recent stock price increases [15][14]. - Morgan Stanley is expected to perform well, particularly in wealth management, alongside Goldman Sachs [17][16]. - JP Morgan Chase is considered a top contender in the financial sector, with a strong executive team and diverse business operations [18][17]. Group 2: Regulatory and Economic Environment - The regulatory landscape under the current administration is seen as fostering economic growth, allowing banks to increase lending and return capital to shareholders [6][5]. - Credit quality remains stable, with banks maintaining normalized loan loss provisions and reserves [8][7]. Group 3: Market Trends and Challenges - The banking industry is facing competitive pressures, leading to reduced rates to attract lending volumes, which may impact margins [21][24]. - There is a growing concern about concentration risk due to increased loans to non-bank financial companies [26][27]. - The private credit sector is under scrutiny, with potential risks emerging from aggressive lending practices and lack of investor protections [30][31]. Group 4: M&A Activity and Industry Consolidation - The trend of consolidation in the banking sector is expected to continue, with banks seeking growth through acquisitions, although this may lead to challenges related to goodwill and operational efficiency [38][39]. - Recent M&A activity, such as Fifth Third's acquisition of Comica, raises questions about the strategic rationale and potential operational challenges [36][37].

Core Insights - Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) is valued at a market cap of $30.1 billion and offers a diverse range of financial services [1] - The company is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 earnings for 2025 on October 17, with analysts predicting a profit of $0.90 per share, a 5.9% increase from the previous year [2] - FITB has consistently exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an EPS of $0.88 reported in Q2 [2] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast FITB to report a profit of $3.51 per share, a 4.2% increase from $3.37 in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected to $4.02 in fiscal 2026 [3] - In Q2, FITB's adjusted revenue increased by 6.3% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, and the adjusted efficiency ratio improved by 130 basis points to 55.5% [5] - However, the provision for credit losses rose by 78.4% annually to $173 million, and nonperforming loans surged 37.8% from the prior year, indicating potential credit quality concerns [5] Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings - FITB shares have gained 5.9% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 15.6% and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's 19.6% [4] - Analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating on FITB, with 14 out of 25 recommending "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," and 10 suggesting "Hold" [6] - The mean price target for FITB is $48.86, suggesting a 7.6% potential upside from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Bigbank experienced strong growth in its loan portfolio and maintained solid profitability in August 2025, with total loans reaching 2.5 billion euros [1][10]. Loan Portfolio Growth - The loan portfolio grew by 50 million euros in August, with business loans increasing by 28 million euros, home loans by 15 million euros, and consumer loans by 7 million euros [1]. - Year-on-year, loans to customers grew by 543 million euros, representing a 27% increase [10]. Deposit Portfolio Dynamics - The deposit portfolio increased by 19 million euros, driven by a 25 million euro rise in savings deposits, while term deposits decreased by 8 million euros [2]. - Customer deposits and loans received reached 2.7 billion euros, marking a 23% year-on-year increase [10]. Current Accounts Launch - Bigbank launched current accounts for retail customers in Lithuania, offering 2% annual interest on idle funds and free transactions, resulting in a 2 million euro increase in current account balances [3]. Interest Income and Credit Quality - Net interest income rose by 1.7 million euros year-on-year, totaling 69.7 million euros for the first eight months, with a 2% increase compared to the previous year [4][10]. - The credit quality of the loan portfolio improved, with net allowances for expected credit losses decreasing by 9.3 million euros, or 57% [5][10]. Profitability Metrics - Net profit for August was 3.5 million euros, contributing to a cumulative profit of 25.8 million euros for the first eight months, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [6][10]. - Return on equity (ROE) for August was 14.8%, while the cost/income ratio increased to 46.6% [10][11]. Employment and Expenses - Bigbank employed 609 people at the end of August, with salary expenses increasing by 4.2 million euros year-on-year due to team expansion and salary growth [7]. - Administrative expenses decreased by 0.2 million euros, while income tax expenses rose by 1.9 million euros due to higher tax rates in Estonia and Lithuania [7]. Financial Overview - Total net operating income for August was 9.963 million euros, with a year-to-date total of 76.171 million euros, reflecting a 1% increase year-on-year [9]. - The bank's total assets amounted to 3.2 billion euros, with equity of 288 million euros as of August 31, 2025 [12].

Financial Performance - Firm's shares increased by over 16% following strong results and guidance [1] - Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) rose by 43%, reaching $10.4 billion [1] - Active card users nearly doubled [1] - Average loan size is in the low couple hundred dollars, trending down to approximately $400 [7][8] Credit Quality and Risk Management - Firm maintains high credit standards, prioritizing credit quality [3] - Delinquency numbers are holding up well [2] - Firm underwrites every transaction, including 0% APR loans, to manage risk [8][9][12] - Firm adjusts its models and credit standards for macroeconomic changes, such as student loan payments resuming [11][12] Growth and Adoption - Shares are up 130% over the last year [1] - Growth is driven by broad adoption of the product, brand trust, and acceptance as a payment method [3][4] - Consumers are transacting more frequently [5] - Growth is broad-based across multiple categories [6] - 0% APR loans are a compelling way for new users to experience the firm's services [8][10]

Financial Performance - Net income for Q2 2025 was $140 million, with earnings per diluted share of $2.19 [2] - Total fees and commissions increased by 7.2% sequentially, with several fee lines achieving record quarterly revenue [4][26] - Trading revenue reached $30.5 million, up 31% quarter on quarter as market conditions normalized [4][11] Loan Growth - Total outstanding loans rose 2.5% sequentially, annualizing above 10%, driven by growth in commercial real estate, core commercial and industrial lending, and loans to individuals [3][19] - The commercial real estate portfolio grew 6.9% quarter over quarter, primarily in multifamily housing, retail, and industrial project lending [3][22] - Specialty lending portfolio decreased by 1.6% quarter over quarter, with a 4.4% contraction in energy lending, partially offset by a 0.5% expansion in healthcare [4][20] Wealth Management - Assets under management and administration increased by $3.9 billion sequentially to a record $117.9 billion, attributed to market appreciation and new business [5][26] - Fiduciary and asset management revenue grew by $3 million, reflecting higher trust and mutual fund fees [26] Net Interest Income and Capital - Net interest income increased by $11.9 million, with reported net interest margin expanding by two basis points [6][28] - Tangible common equity rose to 9.6%, and common equity tier 1 capital reached 13.6% after share repurchases and redemption of Tier 2 capital instruments [6][18] Credit Quality - Allowance for credit losses was $330 million, or 1.36% of loans, with nonperforming assets not guaranteed by the U.S. government decreasing by $4 million to $70 million [7][24] - Net charge-offs were minimal at $561,000, maintaining recent averages of one basis point over the last twelve months [7][24] Expense Management - Total expenses rose by $7 million quarter over quarter, with nonpersonnel costs increasing due to higher technology project costs and operational losses [8][30] - Personnel costs remained stable, with a slight increase in compensation offset by lower payroll taxes [8][30] Future Outlook - The company expects full-year loan growth, net interest income, and fee income guidance to remain unchanged for fiscal 2025, despite lingering economic policy uncertainties [12][31] - The launch of the mortgage finance and warehouse lending business is anticipated to support future loan growth, with expectations to reach $500 million in commitments by year-end 2025 [9][63]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted net investment income of $0.56 per share and adjusted net income of $0.64 per share for Q2 2025, with annualized returns on equity of 13.1% and 15.1% respectively [7] - Total investments decreased to $3.3 billion from $3.4 billion in the prior quarter due to net repayment activity [27] - The net asset value (NAV) per share increased to $17.17, up from $17.04 as of March 31 [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company provided total commitments of $289 million and total fundings of $209 million across 13 new investments and four upsizes in Q2 [18] - Approximately 30% of commitments were sourced outside the sponsored channel, with the remaining 70% from traditional sponsor-backed finance [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The M&A market saw a 31% decline in loan volume in Q2 compared to Q1, marking the lowest levels since 2023 [13] - The company noted a significant reduction in exposure to older pre-2022 vintages, with only 29% of the portfolio by cost compared to 59% for public BDC sector averages [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company anticipates a shift in focus from credit quality to dividend coverage as portfolio yields decline [10] - The management emphasized the importance of sourcing differentiated investment opportunities to maintain robust dividend coverage, which exceeded the base dividend by 22% in Q2 [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism that credit issues are predominantly behind the company, with expectations of improved non-accruals and a focus on dividend coverage moving forward [10][68] - The company highlighted the need for a longer runway for portfolio company earnings to grow in the current economic environment [14] Other Important Information - The board approved a base quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share and a supplemental dividend of $0.05 per share related to Q2 earnings [12] - The company maintained a strong balance sheet with approximately $1.1 billion of unfunded revolver capacity [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the company manage portfolio diversification related to risk? - The CEO emphasized the importance of idiosyncratic underwriting and the company's strong track record in risk management [43][44] Question: What are the attractive investment themes currently? - The CEO mentioned a preference for off-the-run, non-sponsor investments, such as speculative pharma and asset-based lending, which tend to offer better returns [46][48] Question: How does the company view the impact of non-traded BDCs on loan spreads? - The CEO expressed concerns about the potential for lower ROEs in the sector due to increased competition and complacency among investors [53][60] Question: What is the outlook for non-sponsored transactions? - The company is generally positive about second-half activity, with a robust pipeline across both sponsor and non-sponsor activities [90] Question: What changes have been observed in terms and documentation for new investments? - The company has not seen changes in documentation standards or covenant packages over the last few quarters [92]