JP Morgan Chase & Co (JPM)

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.

Don't value it on PE. Instead look at price to book, and it's expensive at 1.8x. Less expensive options include BAC and C.

Flagship US bank. Dimon has done a spectacular job. Pristine risk controls. Trading ~13x PE. Either #1 or #2 in all of its major businesses. Still growing and gaining market share. Core holding in any portfolio. Time is ripe to buy the best, you don't have to go down the food chain. Yield is 2.73%.

Friday kicks off bank earnings season, a sector that has been crushed, because Wall Street expects a downturn in the economy. JPM is down from 14x to 11x, and shares from $280 to $210, -7.48% today alone. An incredible fall.

Her top choice in the financial sector.

Wonderful bank and CEO. Conservatively run. Premium bank, and you're paying a premium for it. Wouldn't buy at this valuation, but definitely a go-to name he'd like to own if it corrected a lot more.

The best. Still his choice today. Learn this lesson from him: stay with the best-run business in the industry, management that has the most skin in the game and knows how to create value. Winners keep on winning. 

US economy did better last year than expected. Waiting for a pullback to add new client money. Best-in-class US bank. Very strong balance sheet and management team.

Is large and profitable. The CEO led the bank through 2008 and has made many good moves over the years. A long-term holding and the best US banks he owns.

It's the higher for longer trade. Banking is the best non-tech sector. Banks don't need rate cuts for financials to thrive.

Unmatched on risk management, balance sheet, and operating capabilities. This is his go-to name for US banks, but the valuation at 15x is too rich. If your heart's set on a US bank, wait for a bit of a pullback. Instead, he'd look at BNS or TD.

See his Top Picks.

Likes US financials and thinks this name will do well. See his Top Picks.

Likes them both, as well as others in the sector. Don't look at the chart and not buy because it's gone up so much and you've "missed" the price move. Instead, look at the fundamentals -- have earnings, cashflow, revenue growth kept up with the price? Or, look to how it's trading against historical valuations.

This one is up against the upper end of its historical valuation, trading at about 2x book. Somewhat extended, but a great franchise. Good economy, reduced regulation. Unlike other areas of the market, valuations in financials are not extended, so there's opportunity.

Huge move up on Trump bump. Yield curve's in better shape than it's been for a long time. Net interest margins are better. The space will see lots more M&A. Will go higher if the space does. Trades at 13x for only 7% growth, not a good deal for a bank. He'd look at Citi instead.

Highest quality, Jamie Dimon, gold standard. Don't buy at these prices.

Favours Canadian banks. But if you had to own one, this would probably be the first one to look at. In a league unto itself. Probably best bank in the world.

This week, they reported a terrific quarter: a huge sales and earnings beat with all 3 business units performing better than expected, especially the business and investment side. This saw 18% revenue growth, driven by a 49% increase in investment banking fees. Spending came in lower than expected, and they raised their 2025 net interest forecast while maintaining its expense guidance. Their CEO sees more growth in business, overall.