FILE PHOTO: The ticker symbol and logo for Goldman Sachs is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., December 18, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
February 17, 2022
By Matt Scuffham
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs on Thursday upgraded its key profitability target and set new goals for its asset management, transaction banking and consumer businesses as it laid out its strategy for the next three years.
Wall Street’s premier investment bank is reshaping itself after a turbulent decade during which profit at its core trading businesses was crimped by tougher regulations enacted after the 2007-09 financial crisis.
Chief Executive David Solomon pointed to progress made over the past two years and said the bank would build on that despite headwinds such as inflation and an anticipated slowdown in investment banking and trading activity.
“We believe we have the right plan in place that will enable us to serve clients, drive returns and unlock significant value for our shareholders,” Solomon said in a presentation at the Credit Suisse Financial Services Forum in Florida.
Despite Goldman’s record profit in 2021, Solomon is still trying to win over some analysts and investors skeptical about whether it can sustain its strong performance when market conditions normalize.
The traditional investment banking and trading businesses benefited from a deal-making boom and rising asset prices when the Federal Reserve pumped trillions of dollars into financial markets.
Solomon acknowledged the market backdrop is changing but said Goldman is nimble enough to adapt.
“It’s good to see that they are admitting that 2021 was a windfall year that is almost impossible to repeat,” said Viola Risk Advisors founder David Hendler. “Steady progress in the newer areas like asset management, consumer and wealth should make their activities more predictable.”
Goldman shares were down 2% in mid-morning trading, in line with the banking sector, which was hit by escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Shares currently trade at 1.3 times the value of Goldman’s assets while rivals Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan trade at close to double book value.
The bank said it expects a 15-17% return on tangible equity (RoTE) over the next three years, up from its previous mid-term guidance of 14%. It expects a return on equity of 14-16% compared with 13% previously.
That target is still behind goals set by Morgan Stanley, which is targeting an RoTE of at least 20% over the longer term, and JPMorgan, which has set a medium-term RoTE goal of 17%.
Goldman also reiterated its efficiency ratio goal of 60%, which effectively means it is running the business at a 40% operating margin.
The bank set new deposit and revenue goals for transaction and consumer banking.
It expects transaction banking deposits of more than $100 billion by 2024 compared with $54 billion last year. Transaction banking revenues are expected to rise to $750 million by 2024 from $226 last year, the bank said.
It said it expects consumer banking deposits to grow to more than $150 billion by 2024 compared with $110 billion last year, with consumer banking revenues expected to rise to more than $4 billion by 2024 from $1.5 billion last year.
(Reporting by Matt Scuffham; Editing by Will Dunham, David Goodman, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
Source: One America News Network
