Opinions
Jennifer Radman
Citigroup Inc.
C-N
COMMENT
Feb 19, 2016
Stock price when the opinion was issued
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Owns several US banks. The yield curve is steepening and the regulatory backdrop is now more favourable to the banks. The post-2008 safeguards have built huge capital in these banks and is starting to be released. Citi trades at a 24% discount to tangible book value which will compress and catch up to peers.
(Analysts’ price target is $90.30)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 the valuation of 8x PE, and growing ~24%. Tailwinds from Trump administration with bank de-regulation. Benefiting from years of cleanup and cost cuts. Earnings up 21% in last quarter. Fixed income was up 8%, equities were up 23%.
Yes, the tape can toss you around if we go into a bear market. And yes, this name would sell off along with all the other banks. But at this price, with this level of growth, it's a really good bet on risk/reward. Yield is 3%.
Bank of America (BAC-N) or Citigroup (C-N)? The real driver is what interest rates are going to do. Stock had been performing pretty decently on expectation that the Fed would continue raising rates, but the Fed started reversing course. There were also fears of debt problems. She still prefers to own banks at a fraction of their BV, even if that comes off a little. A pretty good cushion here with trading at a fraction of BV. If one does well, the other will do well also.