These U.S. banks passed the latest stress test

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These two leading U.S. banks recently passed the Federal Reserve’s latest stress test, which measures how financial firms would cope with a jump in unemployment, falling stock prices and other unfavourable developments. As a result, they both raised their dividends. Higher interest rates have also lifted their earnings. J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO. $158 is a buy. The bank (New York symbol JPM; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 2.9 billion; Market cap: $458.2 billion; Dividend yield: 2.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.jpmorganchase.com) is the largest banking firm in the U.S., with total assets of $3.87 trillion as of June 30, 2023. With the regular third quarter dividend of 2023, Morgan will increase your quarterly dividend by 5.0%, to $1.05 a share from $1.00. The new annual rate of $4.20 yields 2.7%. The bank has now completed its acquisition of most of the assets and deposits of failed California-based First Republic Bank. Morgan paid $10.6 billion for most of First Republic’s $92 billion in deposits…