http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090410/BIZ/904100327
San Francisco-based Wells Fargo, which has received
$25 billion in funds as part of the government's bank-bailout plan, anticipates earnings after preferred dividends of about 55 cents per share.
Revenue for the period ended March 31 is expected to climb 16 percent to $20 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast profit of 23 cents per share on revenue of $19 billion. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.
Wells Fargo earned $2 billion during the first quarter last year.
The bank's chief financial officer, however, did caution that the economy hasn't necessarily recovered yet.
"It's premature to conclude the economy has turned," said Howard Atkins, Wells Fargo's CFO. "All I can tell you is we're seeing a lot of business."
Revenue at Wells Fargo, which has been one of the strongest banks during the ongoing credit crisis and recession, was bolstered by strong mortgage banking and capital markets business, Atkins told The Associated Press. During the first quarter, Wells Fargo received about $190 billion in mortgage applications, a 64 percent jump from the previous quarter. More than 40 percent of that volume came in March.
Most of that business was refinance applications, but about 25 percent came from customers looking to purchase homes, Atkins said, noting the recent quarter's mortgage activity has been among the strongest quarters since the housing market began to collapse in 2007.