In a strategic move reflecting confidence in their financial health, Wall Street behemoths Wells Fargo and JPMorgan recently turned to the debt market, capitalizing on robust net interest income and optimistic outlook projections. Wells Fargo issued $6 billion across two bonds, while JPMorgan executed a notable $7.25 billion, three-part sale.
Despite elevated borrowing costs, the big banks demonstrated their ability to secure short-term funding efficiently. Bloomberg data highlights that the average spread on financial institution bonds stood at 145 basis points on Friday, outpacing the broader high-grade bond index by 21 basis points. This move hints at an expectation among banks that future borrowing costs may surge.
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Arnold Kakuda emphasized that these actions align with the Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity (TLAC) regulations, necessitating banks to maintain a specified level of debt at their holding companies. This debt can be converted into equity during crises, ensuring the continued viability of the operating firm. Kakuda noted that Wells Fargo and JPMorgan may face challenges in adhering to these new regulations, potentially impacting their debt reserves the most.
While banks are grappling with escalating borrowing rates, they are compelled to replenish their bail-in eligible debt for regulatory compliance. Even though banks have raised lending yields, there is a possibility that net interest margins have already peaked due to rising deposit costs.
This year has witnessed U.S. high-grade business note rates reach their highest level since 2009, culminating at 6.1% by the end of the week.
Robert Smalley, a financials credit desk analyst at UBS Group AG, opined that recent strong performances by major banks have bolstered credit spreads, potentially prompting an uptick in debt issuance. In response to higher interest rates, Wells Fargo outperformed analysts' expectations for third-quarter net interest income and increased its full-year guidance. Meanwhile, JPMorgan reported record net interest income for another quarter and revised its year-end outlook upward.
Smalley indicated that investors continue to favor debt from these major lenders, considering it a safe haven within the financial industry. Shortages in supply have been instrumental in driving gains in the financial sector's bond market this year.
While corporate entities in the U.S. have raised $22.15 billion this month, a figure significantly lower than the anticipated $85 billion, JPMorgan credit strategists Eric Beinstein and Nathaniel Rosenbaum suggested that earnings blackouts contributed to this slowdown. As more institutions release their quarterly results, major bank issuance is poised to pick up pace.
Financial sector analyst Kabir Caprihan anticipates a potential issuance of $16 billion to $20 billion from major banks following their profits, with a projected total of $24 billion by year's end. This proactive approach to capitalizing on favorable market conditions underscores the resilience and adaptability of these financial powerhouses.
