JP Morgan Chase & Co (JPM)

This is showing a series of higher highs and higher lows, so technicals are looking decent. There were some issues with government rules and legislation, and that will still overhang the stock. The stock is breaking out into the $60s which is great news. Well-managed. Probably getting close to being overbought, but we are getting to a pretty strong seasonal side to the calendar.

Likes the whole US banking industry. Particularly thinks this one is an incredibly well-run franchise. Great retail, investment banking and great asset management. Feels it has really performed quite well.

J.P. Morgan (JPM-N) or Wells Fargo (WFC-N)? She would favour Wells Fargo because it is the one that she owns. This one is more capital market sensitive, so if you are really bullish on markets and financing, perhaps you could get more upside with it. When she looks at banks, she looks at their sustainable ROE’s and ROAs and Wells Fargo is the less volatile of the 2.

Relative strength on this stock is good. It is going have some resistance at the old highs and it is just coming up on that now at $60. Its trend is intact. He would not hesitate to buy if you are long term.

Positive M&A cycle, positive capital markets cycle. Companies are trying to transform themselves through the investment banking side using high yield and equity markets to do it. These guys are well placed to do it. It is not very expensive.

US financials are being held back by regulation and low interest rates. Buying back stock, great balance sheet. Earnings potential well beyond $6 next year.

(A Top Pick Sept 5/13. Up 17.81%.) Still likes the name. With the recovering US economy, housing market getting better and the capital markets getting better, this stock should continue to do well. Regulatory issues are still hampering a lot of these large cap US banks. This is trading at just around Book Value, as well as 10X forward PE, which are both cheap. 2.7% yield, which he expects to grow by about 8% a year over the next 3 years or so.

J.P. Morgan (JPM-N) or Wells Fargo (WFC-N)? Two very good, but different companies. This one is much more leveraged to the capital market side of things whereas Wells Fargo is primarily a super-regional bank, much more housing market and mortgage driven. His preference is Wells Fargo because of his view on the US housing market where the recovery is only about halfway through. Both could be a good choice.

(Market Call Minute.) He is just not ready to get into the money centre banks.

(A Top Pick July 10/13. Up 10.55%.) A very well run business. Trading at around 1X Book Value, so there is still a valuation discount here.

(A Top Pick June 17/13. Up 12.71%.) Some issues regarding the health of the CEO, but feels this and Wells Fargo (WFC-N) are still the best in class.

(Market Call Minute.) Reporting tomorrow, and he is looking for pretty strong earnings. Trading activity is down, but lending is up.

(A Top Pick June 7/13. Up 17.54%.) The investment story here is their wealth management side. Tied for #1 spot with Merrill Lynch. Very strong franchise. ROE should go up, and he thinks they can get higher than 15%. Feels the stock is worth at least $35, if not even more.

What is the advantage of owning this, rather than owning a good Canadian bank? Canadian banks are incredible businesses to own at these levels. From a multiple perspective, Canadian banks trade at 12 or 13 times earnings, and are over 2X book. From a valuation perspective, US banks are trading at much cheaper multiples. Also, people perceive growth opportunities to be much higher.

(A Top Pick March 26/13. Up 17.68%.) Looking back at the last 11-12 years, US bank stocks are very highly correlated to the 10 year US bond yield. This year, with bond yields going from 3% to 2.5%, it has not been good for banks stocks in general. Over the median term, he still sees us in an environment of rising rates, which will be a very, very good thing for the banking sector. (See Top Picks.)