Stock price when the opinion was issued
Is the biggest and best of the money centre banks, but trades at 2.2x book value vs. Citi's 0.7-0.8x book. Citi was punished but is under a new CEO. Citi is less exposed to international markets and that volatility. Numbers are showing positive. He likes both. But JPM is fully valued though continues to do good things. The other is a little riskier, but more potential upside.
Just reported a clean top and bottom line beat. Loan loss provisions were lower than expected. Net interest income came in light. All businesses performed well, including commercial/investment banking beat handily while wealth management was in line. They raised full-year net interest income forecast by $1 billion. The CEO did cite risks from tariffs.
Banks reported their Q2 today. JPM's loan-loss provisions are $100 billion lower a year ago if you strip out First Republic. That says something about the trajectory of the economy. Add to that the CEO's bullish comments about the economy and his bank's forecast. Without First Rep., they beat profits at 40%, a 67% profit rise with FR. Massive.