Looking back on diversified banks stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) and its peers.

At their core, diversified banks take in deposits and engage in various forms of lending, which means revenue is generated through interest rate spreads (difference between loan and deposit rates) and fees. Other revenue comes from adjacent services such as wealth management, card and account fees, and products such as annuities. These institutions benefit from rising interest rates that improve NIMs (net interest margins), digital transformation reducing operational costs, and expanding wealth management services as populations age. However, they face headwinds including fintech competition disrupting traditional models (how disruptive is crypto?), stringent regulatory requirements increasing compliance costs, and cybersecurity threats requiring substantial technology investments. Economic downturns also pose risks through potential loan defaults and compressed margins during accommodative monetary policy periods.

The 7 diversified banks stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC)

Founded during the California Gold Rush in 1852 to provide banking and express delivery services to miners and merchants, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified financial services company that provides banking, lending, investment, and wealth management services to individuals and businesses.

Wells Fargo reported revenues of $21.37 billion, up 4.4% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a slight miss of analysts’ net interest income estimates.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $87.48.

Read our full report on Wells Fargo here, it’s free.

Best Q4: PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC)

Tracing its roots back to 1852 when Pittsburgh's industrial boom demanded stronger financial institutions, PNC (NYSE: PNC) is a diversified financial institution that provides retail banking, corporate banking, and asset management services through a coast-to-coast branch network.

PNC Financial Services Group reported revenues of $6.10 billion, up 9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

PNC Financial Services Group achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 8.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $233.05.

Is now the time to buy PNC Financial Services Group? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Citigroup (NYSE: C)

With operations in nearly 160 countries and a history dating back to 1812, Citigroup (NYSE: C) is a global financial services company that provides banking, investment, wealth management, and payment solutions to consumers, corporations, and governments.

Citigroup reported revenues of $19.9 billion, up 2.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a slower quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Citigroup delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 2.5% since the results and currently trades at $113.43.

Read our full analysis of Citigroup’s results here.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB)

With roots dating back to 1863 and a presence across 26 states primarily in the Midwest and West, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) is one of America's largest banks providing lending, deposit services, wealth management, payment processing, and merchant services to individuals and businesses.

U.S. Bancorp reported revenues of $7.36 billion, up 5% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a narrow beat of analysts’ net interest income estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ tangible book value per share estimates.

The stock is up 6.6% since reporting and currently trades at $57.97.

Read our full, actionable report on U.S. Bancorp here, it’s free.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC)

Tracing its roots back to 1784 and now serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is a global financial institution that provides banking, investing, asset management, and risk management products and services to individuals, businesses, and governments.

Bank of America reported revenues of $28.55 billion, up 7.1% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a narrow beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Bank of America delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 3.4% since reporting and currently trades at $52.71.

Read our full, actionable report on Bank of America here, it’s free.

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