I know I’ve said that the Jamie & Doug in the Morning Show is the best call-in program in finance, given Jamie Dimon’s reliably amusing anti-regulation rant, but the true connoisseur should also really get a kick out of David Viniar’s calmer, wonkier, more NPR-appropriate chat. I certainly do. We’ll maybe have more to say about it later.
My enjoyment is, however, complicated by the fact that at this time of year I feel certain feelings. Specifically, feelings about Goldman Sachs comp, which will be terrible, horrible, down 115%, whatever, and yet … still … somehow … I want it. Have we talked about this before? Sometimes I miss investment banking. A thing that some people not in the industry don’t know about investment banking is that it is an awesome job, in the specific sense that many people would do it for free, or even pay money to do it, and in the even more specific sense that sometimes they do. (For, um, fairly loose definitions of “pay money.”) This happened twice during my time at Goldman. Let’s all luxuriate in a chart:
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Goldman Sachs said profit dropped 58 percent, beating analysts’ estimates as the company cut compensation in response to falling revenue. Fourth-quarter net income dropped to $1.01 billion, or $1.84 a share, from $2.39 billion, or $3.79, in the same period a year earlier, the New York-based company said today in a statement. Per-share earnings exceeded the $1.23 average estimate of 26 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, whose predictions ranged from 70 cents to $2.50. “There seems to be continued emphasis on cost control and compensation control and that’s a good thing,” said Charles Bobrinskoy, the Chicago-based vice chairman and director of research at Ariel Investments. [Bloomberg, earlier]
Blackstone reported an unexpected third- quarter loss as an 11 percent drop in the value of its buyout holdings forced the reversal of previously booked fees. Economic net income, a measure of earnings excluding some costs tied to the firm’s initial public offering, showed a loss of $341.9 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with a profit of $339.3 million, or 31 cents, a year earlier…“The third quarter presented extremely challenging market conditions, dominated by risk aversion and volatility,” Schwarzman said in today’s statement. “Our earnings were not immune to the sharp downward trajectory of global markets.” [Bloomberg, related]
You could probably think a few things about GS’s earnings released this morning. If you’re an employee, you might gulp nervously at that $292k comp accrual so far and the 1,300 folks whose mastery of the universe became less masterful this quarter. If you’re a shareholder, you have to be modestly pleased with mostly adequate revenues in most businesses though kind of pissed about ICBC. If you’re an accounting purist, you thrill to the idea of a bank that managed not to book billions in DVA gains.
Here, though, is a thing not to think: “Goldman Sachs lost money by doing all of the things the Volcker Rule says it shouldn’t be doing.”
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The New York bank reported third quarter earnings rose 74 percent in the third quarter, to $3.8 billion, due to lower losses from loans and an accounting gain. Its international consumer lending business grew in Asia and Latin America. The bank also decided to keep its credit card partnership with retailers as that business improved…Last week Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citigroup, said he understands the sentiments of the protesters and was willing to meet with them. Citi spokesman Edward Skyler said no one had reached out from the organizers to talk with Pandit yet. [AP, earlier]
The Brits hate to be the bearers of bad news but if they have to, they have to. Continue reading »
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Wednesday its second-quarter net income rose 64 percent, boosted by higher demand for its preppy fashions in the U.S. and Europe…But like all retailers, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is facing higher prices of commodities such as cotton during the key back-to-school season. “Costing pressures will be greater in the second half of the year, and macroeconomic uncertainty has increased,” said CEO Mike Jeffries. The news comes a day after the New Albany, Ohio-based company issued a statement saying that it offered “substantial payment” to a Michael “The Situation” Sorrentino, a member of the cast of the MTV Reality Show “Jersey Shore,” to stop wearing its clothing, saying association with the cast member, known for boorish behavior, could cause “significant damage to our image.” Abercrombie said it had extended the offer to other cast members as well. “Management may be correct in asking (and offering to pay) the cast of `Jersey Shore’ to stop donning its logo-wear,” said Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi. “It doesn’t need the infusion of MTV and side job dollars from the Jersey Shore crew, if the second quarter of 2011 was any indication.” [AP]
