A robust efficiency from its equities and investing and lending divisions helped Goldman Sachs to a strong second quarter, however the financial institution warned that circumstances in mounted earnings markets remained difficult whereas its pipeline of funding banking transactions is falling.
The agency, which is within the midst of a historic transition from a pure funding financial institution serving main companies to a extra diversified monetary companies agency, reported revenues of $9.46bn for the second quarter, down 2 per cent 12 months on 12 months however much better than the $eight.8bn anticipated by analysts.
Earnings per share for the latest quarter got here in at $5.81 versus the $four.89 anticipated.
“We’re inspired by the outcomes for the primary half of the 12 months as we proceed to spend money on new companies and progress to serve a broader array of purchasers,” mentioned David Solomon, who’s now 9 months into his time period as Goldman boss.
“Given the energy of our shopper franchise, we’re effectively positioned to profit from a rising international economic system. And, our monetary energy positions us to return capital to shareholders, together with a major enhance in our quarterly dividend within the third quarter.”
Goldman had already introduced plans to boost its quarterly dividend to $1.25 from $zero.85 after this summer season’s stress exams. A number of of its friends additionally lifted their payouts.
Equities was the standout performer within the second quarter, posting its finest highest quarterly efficiency in 4 years, with revenues of $2.01bn. Fastened earnings, a division the place Goldman has resolved to improved profitability after a punishing few years, suffered one other 13 per cent fall in quarterly revenues, to $1.47bn, versus a 12 months earlier.
“Through the quarter, FICC (mounted earnings, currencies and commodities) Consumer Execution continued to function in an setting characterised by usually low ranges of volatility and low shopper exercise,” Goldman mentioned, whereas additionally calling out “considerably decrease internet revenues” in rate of interest merchandise and currencies.
Revenues in investing and lending, a risky division whose earnings are usually discounted by analysts, rose 16 per cent to $2.53bn, whereas funding banking revenues fell 9 per cent to $1.86bn, reflecting “a lower in industry-wide accomplished mergers & acquisitions.”
The agency mentioned its “funding banking transaction backlog decreased in contrast with each the tip of the primary quarter of 2019 and the tip of 2018”.
Goldman shares rose 1.four per cent in pre-market commerce to $214.50 and are up practically 27 per cent year-to-date as of Monday’s shut.