Opinions
Jim Cramer - Mad Money
Bank of America
BAC-N
WEAK BUY
Jan 17, 2025
Stock price when the opinion was issued
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The "too big to fail" banks have had strong recent earnings. US economy is doing quite well right now, benefiting from lots of tailwinds, new US president is pro-business. This position makes sense.
Whether to trim is more a question of portfolio weighting. Look at the money in your overall portfolio and in BAC specifically. If that position is over 5%, or 7% on its way to 10%, then maybe trim down to 2-3%. That way, if things reverse and the price comes down, it won't have an impact on your overall portfolio.
Loves the money-centre banks. Not quite as expensive as JPM, but more interest-rate sensitive. A gently falling interest-rate environment (which he thinks will come to pass, though it's up for debate), net interest margins will widen and that's traditionally good for banks. Capital markets business has really built up, and will open up post-Biden. Economy in pretty good shape. Undemanding valuation. Yield is 2.3%.
(Analysts’ price target is $52.46)If the US consumer struggles and can't buy goods and job losses rise due to tariffs, this will slow down the economy and directly impact banks like BAC. It's hard to know where tariffs are going. The dividend is high and BAC has a good, long track record. Best to collect the dividend and wait.
Financial sector offers great promise, though it's reacted to current markets by pricing in a potential recession. Slower economic growth would not be good for banks. Absent a recession, with consumer confidence returning and unleashing M&A, the sector provides a good opportunity.
A less expensive choice further down the food chain from the likes of JPM.
Likes TD a lot. Very undervalued at 10x PE. Potential for multiple to rerate in medium term. More upside as it distances itself from the overhang of regulatory infractions. All that should give you a better total return. He'd pick TD.
For BAC, even with deregulation in US, the big banks are already so large, it's hard to imagine they'd be allowed to get even bigger.
Stock's fallen a fair bit, which was unexpected given the numbers reported last week. Lots of capital; lots of room to increase dividend and buy back shares. Environment is tough with potential recession. Trading at 1x book, 10x PE. Some of the best businesses in the world -- asset management, financial services, capital markets (one of the top 4 players globally), retail, credit cards. Yield is 2.74%.
(Analysts’ price target is $48.46)
They just reported a modest revenue beat and strong earnings beat. All 4 segments grew, though cost controls were merely okay at a modest beat. Expense guidance was merely in-line. BAC is doing fine, not great like its peers.