Bank of America Corp (BAC) delivered fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday, though the analyst community had some mixed reactions to what the numbers mean for the stock going forward.
The banking giant posted net income of $7.6 billion for the quarter, a notable increase from the $6.8 billion it earned during the same period a year earlier. Earnings per share came in at 98 cents, topping the consensus estimate of 96 cents. Revenue net of interest expense rose 7% year-over-year to $28.532 billion, beating expectations of $27.944 billion.
"We delivered on our commitments to shareholders across the year with solid growth across revenue, earnings and returns," CEO Brian Moynihan said in response to the results.
Bank of America shares edged up 0.2% to $52.59 in trading on Thursday following the announcement.
The earnings beat prompted several analysts to recalibrate their price targets, though none changed their fundamental stance on the stock:
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Christopher McGratty kept his Outperform rating intact but trimmed his price target slightly from $64 down to $63. Meanwhile, Piper Sandler analyst Scott Siefers maintained a Neutral rating while nudging his target higher from $56 to $57. Truist Securities analyst John McDonald stuck with his Buy rating but lowered his price target from $62 to $60.
The adjustments reflect the typical post-earnings recalibration as analysts digest not just the headline numbers, but the underlying trends in lending, deposit growth, and interest rate dynamics that will shape the bank's path forward.
