Wells Fargo & Co., which entered Connecticut last fall by acquiring Wachovia Corp., said today it expects record first-quarter earnings of $3 billion, easily surpassing analysts’ estimates and providing an encouraging sign for the banking industry.
Wells Fargo is the first major bank to give an indication of how the first-quarter looked. Several pessimistic forecasts about potential loan losses have jolted the market in recent days, and investors have been anxious as Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. all report next week.
San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, which has received $25 billion in funds as part of the government’s bank bailout plan, anticipates earnings after preferred dividends of about 55 cents per share. Revenue for the period ended March 31 is expected to climb 16 percent to $20 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast profit of 23 cents per share on revenue of $19 billion. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude one-time items.
Wells Fargo earned $2 billion during the first quarter last year.
The bank’s chief financial officer, however, did caution that the economy hasn’t necessarily recovered yet.
“It’s premature to conclude the economy has turned,” said Howard Atkins, Wells Fargo’s CFO. “All I can tell you is we’re seeing a lot of business.”
The company also credited its Wachovia acquisition, which was completed Jan. 1, for helping boost revenue. Atkins said Wachovia accounted for about 40 percent of revenue during the first quarter, and that business at Wachovia has steadily improved since Wells Fargo announced it would acquire the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank last fall. (AP)
