Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. The Consumer Banking segment offers traditional and money market savings accounts, certificates of deposit and IRAs, non-interest and interest-bearing checking accounts, and investment accounts and products; credit and debit cards; residential mortgages, and home equity loans; and direct and indirect loans, such as automotive, recreational vehicle, and consumer personal loans. The GWIM segment provides investment management, brokerage, banking, and trust and retirement products and services; wealth management solutions; and customized solutions, including specialty asset management services. The Global Banking segment offers lending products and services, including commercial loans, leases, commitment facilities, trade finance, and commercial real estate and asset-based lending; treasury solutions, such as treasury management, foreign exchange, short-term investing options, and merchant services; working capital management solutions; debt and equity underwriting and distribution, and merger-related and other advisory services; and fixed-income and equity research, and certain market-based services. The Global Markets segment provides market-making, financing, securities clearing, settlement, and custody services; securities and derivative products; and risk management products using interest rate, equity, credit, currency and commodity derivatives, foreign exchange, fixed-income, and mortgage-related products. Bank of America Corporation was founded in 1784 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bank of America Corporation

Key Points
SoFi continues to add record numbers of customers to its platform.
It's growing much faster than the traditional, large banks.
Robinhood's platform has a high level of exposure to cryptocurrency trends.
2025 was definitely Robinhood Markets' (NASDAQ: HOOD) year. It ended 2025 up more than 200%, capping off a three-year gain of 1,000%.
However, after a hitting a high in October, it's been dropping, and it's down 23% over the past three months. Investors have several concerns, including the company's dependence on cryptocurrency and its high valuation, so now may not be the right time to buy shares.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
If you're looking for an excellent financial stock to buy in 2026, SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) is worth a look. Here's why.
SoFi hasn't been a slouch, either
SoFi reported robust growth last year, and it's becoming more profitable at scale. It created new records for customer add-ons for each of the first three quarters, with more than 900,000 new accounts in the 2025 third quarter.
These are primarily high-quality customers who are starting out as professionals and come with years of growth opportunities. Indeed, 90% of SoFi Money deposits are direct deposit, which means they're likely coming out of customer salary checks, and as this younger cohort moves in their careers, those deposits are likely to increase.
Consider SoFi's asset growth over the past five years versus the five largest U.S. banks by assets, which include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank:
And SoFi still has a fraction of these banks' assets, giving it a great growth runway.
Management is aiming to keep the momentum through a varied growth strategy that goes beyond attracting new customers. It's constantly adding new products and services to its platform, and it's hoping to cross-sell new products to its existing consumer base as customers age and their financial needs increase.
Why SoFi's trajectory is less risky
SoFi stock gained 70% in 2025. That's a strong gain that still outperformed the market, even if it weren't quite as superb as Robinhood stock. However, it's a safer gain because its model is less susceptible to market volatility, and it has less exposure to cryptocurrency.
SoFi's growth is coming from more reliable revenue streams, even though it also embraces innovation. It's much more than a trading platform, and it appeals to a much broader swath of the population: people who are looking for easy-to-use, digital financial services. That's why I recommend it as an excellent financial stock to buy in 2026.
Should you buy stock in SoFi Technologies right now?
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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in SoFi Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase and U.S. Bancorp. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Robinhood Soared by 204% in 2025, but Here's Another Financial Stock to Buy in 2026

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – January 29, 2026 – Zacks Value Investor is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2824661/top-lessons-from-rich-95-year-old-stock-investors
Top Lessons from Rich 95-Year-Old Stock Investors
Welcome to Episode #427 of the Value Investor Podcast.
>
(0:15) - What Can We Learn From Super Star Investors?
(7:15) - What Are The Top Lessons To Learn From Long-Term Investing
(29:00) - Episode Roundup: SHW, BAC, BRK.B, AAPL, IBM, XOM
Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.
This is a special podcast. During the pandemic, Tracey did a podcast on a family friend, named Ed, who was a 92-year-old stock investor. He retired in 1990, at age 60, with $50,000.
He invested the money in stocks, including in Sherwin Williams stock, as he had worked there. Over the decades, he followed famed value investor Warren Buffett into several of his stock purchases, including Bank of America. He did not, however, buy Apple in 2016 when Berkshire Hathaway bought it.
Unfortunately, Ed recently passed away at the age of 95. However, he leaves behind his investing legacy.
Top Lessons from a 95-Year-Old Investor
It’s never too late. Ed started investing at age 60. Buffett bought Apple shares at age 85.
Remember the miracle of compounding. Time is your friend.
Be lucky. Ed worked at Sherwin Williams, which not only survived for decades, but thrived.
Have patience and discipline.
It doesn’t take an NVIDIA to be a successful investor.
Use your Roth accounts, if you can.
Stocks That Made Two 95-Year-Olds Rich
Warren Buffett became a billionaire in his early 60s. He retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway 30 years later worth around $150 billion.
Ed started with $50,000 and when he passed, his portfolio was worth $7 million. Here’s some of the stocks they both owned.
1. The Sherwin-Williams Co. SHW
Sherwin-Williams is a paint and coatings company that has been publicly traded for decades. Zacks data goes back to 1968. Ed owned Sherwin-Williams stock since 1990.
Since 1968, Sherwin-Williams is up 68,051%, per Zacks data. For comparison, Coca-Cola is up 11,107% during that same period.
Sherwin-Williams is shareholder friendly. It pays a dividend, which is currently yielding 0.9%. Dividends compound over many years too. Sherwin-Williams is not a cheap stock in 2026. It trades with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.
Should Sherwin-Williams be on your short list in 2026?
2. Berkshire Hathaway BRK.B
Warren Buffett’s wealth is tied to Berkshire Hathaway. He owns many A shares. The rest of us can buy the B shares. Surprisingly, even though Ed was a fan of Buffett, Ed did not own Berkshire shares.
Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate which owns BNSF Railway, Geico Insurance, Dairy Queen and See’s Candy, among many other companies. It also owns equities, such as Apple, in its investment portfolio.
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway are up 108.3% over the last 5 years, beating the returns of the S&P 500 during that time. It’s not cheap, with a forward P/E of 19.7. Berkshire Hathaway does not pay a dividend, but it has bought back shares when Buffett believed there was value. Currently, the company is not buying back shares.
Buffett has retired as CEO. Should investors still buy Berkshire Hathaway?
3. Bank of America Corp. BAC
Bank of America is one of the largest banks in America. Both Ed and Berkshire Hathaway owned shares.
Over the last 5 years, Bank of America was up 76%. It’s trading near 5-year highs. The stock is still cheap. It has a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of just 1.37. Bank analysts say investors should buy with a P/B ratio at 1.0 and sell at 2.0.
Bank of America pays a dividend, yielding 2.2%.
Should a big bank, like Bank of America, be on your short list for 2026?
What Else Should You Know About Long-Term Investing?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.
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Tracey Ryniec is the Value Stock Strategist for Zacks.com. She is also the Editor of the Insider Trader and Value Investor services. You can follow her on twitter at @TraceyRyniec and she also hosts the Zacks Market Edge Podcast on iTunes.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.
See
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Zacks Value Investor Highlights: The Sherwin-Williams, Berkshire, Bank of America

Bank Profits Rise Amid Credit Card Uncertainty

(0:15) - What Can We Learn From Super Star Investors?
(7:15) - What Are The Top Lessons To Learn From Long-Term Investing
(29:00) - Episode Roundup: SHW, BAC, BRK.B, AAPL, IBM, XOM
Welcome to Episode #427 of the Value Investor Podcast.
Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.
This is a special podcast. During the pandemic, Tracey did a podcast on a family friend, named Ed, who was a 92-year-old stock investor. He retired in 1990, at age 60, with $50,000.
He invested the money in stocks, including in Sherwin Williams stock, as he had worked there. Over the decades, he followed famed value investor Warren Buffett into several of his stock purchases, including Bank of America. He did not, however, buy Apple in 2016 when Berkshire Hathaway bought it.
Unfortunately, Ed recently passed away at the age of 95. However, he leaves behind his investing legacy.
Top Lessons from a 95-Year-Old Investor
It’s never too late. Ed started investing at age 60. Buffett bought Apple shares at age 85.
Remember the miracle of compounding. Time is your friend.
Be lucky. Ed worked at Sherwin Williams, which not only survived for decades, but thrived.
Have patience and discipline.
It doesn’t take an NVIDIA to be a successful investor.
Use your Roth accounts, if you can.
Stocks That Made Two 95-Year-Olds Rich
Warren Buffett became a billionaire in his early 60s. He retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway 30 years later worth around $150 billion.
Ed started with $50,000 and when he passed, his portfolio was worth $7 million. Here’s some of the stocks they both owned.
1. The Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW)
Sherwin-Williams is a paint and coatings company that has been publicly traded for decades. Zacks data goes back to 1968. Ed owned Sherwin-Williams stock since 1990.
Since 1968, Sherwin-Williams is up 68,051%, per Zacks data. For comparison, Coca-Cola is up 11,107% during that same period.
Sherwin-Williams is shareholder friendly. It pays a dividend, which is currently yielding 0.9%. Dividends compound over many years too. Sherwin-Williams is not a cheap stock in 2026. It trades with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28.
Should Sherwin-Williams be on your short list in 2026?
2. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B)
Warren Buffett’s wealth is tied to Berkshire Hathway. He owns many A shares. The rest of us can buy the B shares. Surprisingly, even though Ed was a fan of Buffett, Ed did not own Berkshire shares.
Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate which owns BNSF Railway, Geico Insurance, Dairy Queen and See’s Candy, among many other companies. It also owns equities, such as Apple, in its investment portfolio.
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway are up 108.3% over the last 5 years, beating the returns of the S&P 500 during that time. It’s not cheap, with a forward P/E of 19.7. Berkshire Hathaway does not pay a dividend, but it has bought back shares when Buffett believed there was value. Currently, the company is not buying back shares.
Buffett has retired as CEO. Should investors still buy Berkshire Hathaway?
3. Bank of America Corp. (BAC
)
Bank of America is one of the largest banks in America. Both Ed and Berkshire Hathaway owned shares.
Over the last 5 years, Bank of America was up 76%. It’s trading near 5-year highs. The stock is still cheap. It has a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of just 1.37. Bank analysts say investors should buy with a P/B ratio at 1.0 and sell at 2.0.
Bank of America pays a dividend, yielding 2.2%.
Should a big bank, like Bank of America, be on your short list for 2026?
What Else Should You Know About Long-Term Investing?
Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.
Quantum Computing Stocks Set To Soar
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped the investment landscape, and its convergence with quantum computing could lead to the most significant wealth-building opportunities of our time.
Today, you have a chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this technological revolution. In our urgent special report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power, you'll discover the little-known stocks we believe will win the quantum computing race and deliver massive gains to early investors.
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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Top Lessons from Rich 95-Year-Old Stock Investors

Following a decent 2025 net interest income (NII) performance, JPMorgan JPM expects the momentum to continue this year. In 2025, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by 75 basis points (bps), following a 50-bp cut in 2024. Despite this, the bank reported a 3% rise in 2025 NII, driven by 11% loan growth and lower funding costs.
Building on this, JPMorgan expects NII in 2026 to be approximately $103 billion, or up more than 7% year over year. It assumes two rate cuts, interest on reserve balance (IORB) falling about 92 bps year over year and deposit margin compression as headwinds. To counter that, the company points to modest improvement in Consumer and Wholesale deposit balances. Further, higher-yielding revolving card balances are expected to help cushion NII as benchmark rates drift lower, particularly if funding costs stay contained.
A part of the lift is likely to come from Markets NII. JPM pegs 2026 NII, excluding Markets, at roughly $95 billion, implying Markets NII of around $8 billion, an area that can be more variable than the core lending-and-deposit engine.
2026 NII Expectation
Image Source: JPMorgan Chase & Co.
On the other hand, Bank of America BAC expects 2026 NII to rise 5-7% year over year, following 7% increase in 2025. The company continues to benefit from a supportive rate backdrop, productivity gains from technology investments and the earnings resilience of a diversified franchise. Also, Citigroup C guides 5-6% NII growth for 2026, after delivering 11% year-over-year growth in 2025. The bank’s outlook is underpinned by a steadier rate environment and constructive balance sheet trends.
Coming back to JPMorgan, on Jan. 7, it signed an agreement to become the new issuer of the Apple Card, which has approximately $20 billion in receivables. While the deal will strengthen the bank’s position in the credit card operation, the phased transition (expected to be over in two years and subject to regulatory approvals) is unlikely to impact the company’s NII this year to a great extent.
Another factor to watch is the proposed cap on the credit card interest rates at 10%. Although nothing has been finalized, JPMorgan’s NII could be pressured by compressing yields on high-margin revolving balances, a major growth driver in its NII outlook. On the conference call with analysts, the bank’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Barnum, said, "If it were to happen, it would be very bad for consumers, very bad for the economy.” The company could respond by tightening credit and limiting balance growth, which would further weigh on NII.
Moreover, with Markets expected to contribute meaningfully to drive NII in 2026, the path will hinge on interest rates, deposit competition and trading-related balance sheet dynamics.
Hence, before making any investment decision, let’s take a closer look at the other factors that are likely to influence JPMorgan’s fundamentals and growth prospects.
JPM’s Fee Income to Witness More Upside From Lower Rates
The shift toward easier monetary policy will support client activity, deal flow and asset values. Thus, JPMorgan’s non-interest income streams will likely see robust improvement.
Underwriting & Advisory Fees: Lower borrowing costs will continue to support corporate financing activity and encourage debt issuance, M&As and equity offerings. After a muted deal-making environment in 2022 and 2023, rate cuts along with clarity on other macro factors have sparked a solid resurgence in capital markets, boosting JPMorgan’s advisory and underwriting fees. The company continues to rank #1 for global IB fees, garnering a wallet share of 8.4% in 2025. Looking ahead, while persistent macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty remains a key risk, a healthy deal pipeline, resilient M&A demand and JPMorgan’s leadership position it for stronger IB fee growth as macro conditions become more supportive.
Markets Revenues (FICC & Equities): Rate transitions often fuel volatility in fixed income, currencies and commodities. Thus, JPMorgan, with the industry’s leading trading desk, stands to gain from increased client hedging and speculative activity. Equities trading is also expected to benefit from higher volumes as investors reposition portfolios for a lower-rate environment. While structural normalization in trading activity is inevitable over time, the bank’s broad product coverage positions it to capture upside during volatility spikes.
Wealth & Asset Management Fees: Declining yields generally push investors to equities and alternative assets. JPMorgan’s asset management business benefits from rising assets under management (AUM) and higher fee revenues as markets rally. Stronger investor sentiment is expected to drive inflows into the company’s private banking and wealth platforms.
JPMorgan’s Branch Openings & Opportunistic Acquisitions
With 5,083 branches as of Dec. 31, 2025, more than any other U.S. bank and a presence in all 48 contiguous states, JPM continues to invest in brick-and-mortar to strengthen its competitive edge in relationship banking, despite the digital shift. In 2024, JPMorgan opened nearly 150 branches and plans to add 500 more by 2027 to deepen relationships and boost cross-selling across mortgages, loans, investments and credit cards.
JPMorgan isn’t alone in branch expansion. Bank of America is growing its financial center network, with plans to open 150 more centers by 2027, despite most interactions being digital.
Additionally, JPMorgan has expanded through strategic acquisitions, including a larger stake in Brazil’s C6 Bank, partnerships with Cleareye.ai and Aumni, and the 2023 purchase of First Republic Bank. These moves boosted profits and supported its strategy to diversify revenues and grow digital and fee-based offerings.
JPMorgan’s Fortress Balance Sheet and Solid Liquidity
As of Dec. 31, 2025, JPM had a total debt of $500 billion (the majority of this is long-term in nature). The company's cash and due from banks and deposits with banks were $343.3 billion on the same date. The company maintains long-term issuer ratings A-/AA-/A1 from Standard and Poor’s, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service, respectively.
Hence, JPMorgan continues to reward shareholders handsomely. It cleared the 2025 stress test impressively and announced an increase in its quarterly dividend by 7% to $1.50 per share, as well as authorized a new share repurchase program worth $50 billion. As of Dec. 31, 2025, almost $33.8 billion in authorization remained available.
This was the second time that JPMorgan hiked its quarterly dividends in 2025. In March, it raised its quarterly dividend by 12% to $1.40 per share. In the last five years, it hiked dividends six times, with an annualized growth rate of 10.05%.
Similar to JPM, Bank of America and Citigroup cleared the 2025 stress test. Following this, Bank of America raised its quarterly dividend 8% to 28 cents per share and authorized a new $40 billion share repurchase program. Citigroup also announced a dividend hike of 7% to 60 cents per share. It is continuing with the previously announced buyback plan, which had $6.8 billion worth of authorization remaining as of Dec. 31, 2025.
JPMorgan’s Asset Quality
Lower rates will likely support JPMorgan's asset quality, as declining rates will ease debt-service burdens and improve borrower solvency. The overall effect is expected to be moderate and vary by loan segment and macro conditions. Variable-rate consumer and leveraged corporate portfolios might see the most direct benefit, reflecting the lower risk of near-term credit losses as rates fall.
JPMorgan expects that lower rates will help stabilize or even modestly improve overall credit performance, especially in consumer and corporate loan books, as long as the U.S. economy remains resilient. Hence, JPMorgan expects the card service NCO rate to be roughly 3.4% “on favorable delinquency trends driven by the continued resilience of the consumer.”
Does JPMorgan Stock Deserve a Place in Your Portfolio?
JPMorgan stock currently trades at a discount to the industry. The stock is currently trading at a price-to-book (P/B) of 2.39X, slightly below the industry’s 2.44X. Further, the company’s P/B ratio is lower than its high over the past five years, reflecting some level of undervalued trading compared with historical norms.
JPM’s P/B
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
On the other hand, if we compare JPMorgan’s current valuation with Bank of America and Citigroup, it appears expensive. At present, Bank of America has a P/B of 1.37X, while Citigroup is trading at a P/B of 1.06X.
Additionally, in the past year, shares of JPMorgan have gained 12.7% compared with a 18% rise for the S&P 500 Index. Meanwhile, Bank of America and Citigroup have gained 11.6% and 42.4%, respectively, in the same time frame.
One-Year Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for JPMorgan for 2025 and 2026 have been revised upward over the past month. The positive estimate revision depicts bullish analyst sentiments for the stock. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPM’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies a 4.9% and 7.8% year-over-year increase, respectively.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Despite this year’s impressive NII growth projection, non-interest income upside and manageable credit quality, weak earnings prospects suggest a steep rise in non-interest expenses. Management expects adjusted non-interest expense to be $105 billion for this year, up more than 9% from 2025.
The jump will likely be primarily due to an increase in growth and volume-related spending (like compensation costs, costs for branching/expansion and costs related to credit card business growth), along with an increase in expenses related to investments in technology and AI. Further, structural inflation-related costs like higher real estate and general operating overhead expenses will result in a rise in overall expenses.
Nonetheless, JPMorgan remains well-placed for growth backed by its robust capital markets business, dominant IB position, solid NII growth expectations and continued expansion through branch openings and strategic plans. The company’s size, diversification, track record and recent performance make it a reasonable core holding for a multi-year horizon.
However, you must keep an eye on interest-rate moves, macroeconomic headwinds and the banking sector broadly, because these could sway valuations and price movement more than the company’s individual performance. If you own this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, retain it, while others may wait for a better entry point. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JPMorgan's 2026 NII Guide Signals Resilience: Is JPM Stock a Buy Now?

Key Points
VCSH offers a slightly higher yield and stronger 1-year return compared to VGSH
VGSH has experienced less severe drawdowns, while VCSH has delivered higher growth over five years
Both funds charge the same low expense ratio and invest exclusively in high-quality bonds
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:VCSH) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:VGSH) differ mainly in credit exposure, yield, and risk, while sharing identical expense ratios and issuer backing.
Both the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (NASDAQ:VCSH) and Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF (NASDAQ:VGSH) target investors seeking income with limited price swings, but they go about it with different bond types. This comparison looks at their costs, yields, performance, risk, and what’s inside to help investors decide which approach may fit their needs best.
Snapshot (cost & size)
Issuer
Vanguard
Vanguard
Expense ratio
0.03%
0.03%
1-yr return (as of Jan. 22, 2026)
4.91%
6.63%
Dividend yield
4.0%
4.3%
Beta
0.26
0.13
AUM
$30.4 billion
$46.9 billion
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.
Both funds are equally affordable at 0.03% in annual expenses, but VCSH pays a slightly higher yield, which could appeal to those seeking a bit more income from their bond allocation.
Performance & risk comparison
Max drawdown (5 y)
-5.69%
-9.50%
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years
$953
$960
What's inside
VCSH invests in high-quality, investment-grade corporate bonds with maturities between one and five years. The fund holds just 12 positions, with top allocations to Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC), Mktliq (NYSE:MKTLIQ), and CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS), each making up less than 0.3% of assets. The portfolio is managed by Vanguard and has a track record spanning 16.2 years, focusing exclusively on cash and other short-term instruments.
VGSH, by contrast, is dedicated solely to U.S. Treasury bonds, which means it takes on less credit risk but also typically offers a lower yield. Its holdings are spread across 93 different Treasuries, with top allocations to United States Treasury Note/Bond 1.50% 01/31/2027, United States Treasury Note/Bond 4.38% 07/15/2027, and United States Treasury Note/Bond 3.88% 07/31/2027. Both funds avoid leverage, currency hedging, or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) overlays.
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.
What this means for investors
Short-term bond ETFs are often treated as a parking place for cash, but the type of bond inside matters more than many investors expect. That is the real choice behind the Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF and the Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF. Both aim to limit price swings, yet they protect capital in different ways as markets and credit conditions change.
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF is typically used by investors seeking modest income without taking on long-duration risk. It earns that extra yield by lending to high-quality companies, which ties returns to corporate credit conditions. Vanguard Short-Term Treasury ETF plays a more defensive role. By holding only U.S. government debt, it removes credit risk and focuses on preserving value and liquidity, even if that means accepting lower income.
The distinction shows up quickly when credit conditions enter the picture. Concerns about corporate balance sheets can weigh onVCSH even when interest rates are stable, while VGSH often holds its ground as investors seek safety. For investors, VCSH fits portfolios willing to trade some certainty for income, while VGSH suits investors who want short-term bonds to act as a true stabilizer in their portfolio.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Eric Trie has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends CVS Health. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Corporate Bonds vs. Treasuries: What Your Defensive Allocation Is Built On

Bank of America BAC is one of the largest global banks, while Truist Financial TFC is a prominent regional banking franchise with growth ambitions. BAC benefits from its immense scale, an expanding branch footprint and a diversified suite of financial services, while TFC is pairing targeted regional branch growth with advanced digital banking capabilities.
Bank of America and Truist reported solid fourth-quarter 2025 results earlier this month. Both banks’ earnings and revenues experienced year-over-year growth. Let’s take a closer look at these two large banks to see which one is a better bet post fourth-quarter earnings.
The Case for Bank of America
Bank of America, one of the most asset-sensitive banks in America, is expected to witness solid net interest income (NII) growth this year despite the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates. The company is likely to benefit from asset repricing, loan and deposit growth, technological efficiency and a diversified business model. Hence, management expects NII to rise approximately 5-7% in 2026, with the first-quarter number likely to jump 7% year over year.
Moreover, Bank of America’s aggressive financial center expansion strategy across the United States will solidify customer relationships and tap into new markets, driving NII growth over time. By 2027, the company plans to expand its financial center network and open more than 150 centers. These efforts, along with the success of the person-to-person money transfer system Zelle and the digital financial assistant Erica, will enable BAC to offer enhanced digital services and cross-sell several products, including mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.
The shift toward easier monetary policy is expected to support client activity, deal flow and asset values. Bank of America’s non-interest income streams (asset management fees, investment banking and Sales & Trading) saw encouraging momentum last year, which is likely to continue in 2026. Also, lower rates are expected to aid the company’s asset quality, as declining rates will ease debt-service burdens and improve borrower solvency.
As the bank embarks on an ambitious expansion plan to open financial centers in new and existing markets, operating expenses are likely to remain elevated in the near term.
The Case for Truist Financial
Unlike BAC, Truist Financial is less sensitive to interest rate cycles. Since the divestiture of its insurance subsidiary in 2024, the company has been trying to strengthen its balance sheet through repositioning and making efforts to enhance its non-interest revenue sources.
Further, in August 2025, TFC announced a growth plan – opening 100 branches and renovating more than 300 existing locations in high-growth opportunity cities by 2030 and investing in its business banking ecosystem – to capitalize on growth opportunities in dynamic U.S. markets while strengthening its digital capabilities.
Additionally, the company is focusing on wealth management and expects a broad-based recovery in trading and investment banking businesses to drive non-interest income higher. This will also help alleviate Truist’s dependence on spread income to sustain top-line growth as rates come down.
For 2026, TFC expects NII to grow almost 3-4%, driven by average loan growth (up 3-4%) and two 25-basis-point rate cuts alongside the benefits of fixed-rate asset repricing. Similar to Bank of America, the company’s asset quality is expected to benefit from relatively lower rates.
As Truist gets on with its branch expansion plan, upgrade technology and hire personnel to drive commercial banking business, operating expenses will likely remain high. The company expects adjusted non-interest expenses to rise 1.25-2.25% this year.
TFC & BAC: Price Performance, Valuation & Other Comparisons
Over the past six months, TFC and BAC shares have risen 7.9% and 11.3%, respectively. Hence, in terms of price performance, Bank of America has a clear edge over TFC.
Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of valuation, Truist is currently trading at a 12-month forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of 11.11X. BAC stock, in contrast, is currently trading at a 12-month forward P/E of 11.94X.
P/E F12M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
So, TFC is trading at a discount compared with Bank of America.
Bank of America and Truist undergo annual stress tests conducted by the Fed before they can announce their capital distribution plans. Following the 2025 stress test, BAC hiked its dividend by 8% to 28 cents per share, while TFC maintained its dividend payout at the same level of 52 cents per share. At present, BAC has a dividend yield of 2.15% and TFC’s dividend yield is 4.14%. Hence, based on dividend yield, TFC has an edge over BAC.
Dividend Yield
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bank of America’s return on equity (ROE) of 11.07% is way higher than Truist’s 9.03%. This reflects BAC’s efficient use of shareholder funds in generating profits.
ROE
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
How Do Earnings Estimates Compare for TFC & BAC?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC's 2026 and 2027 earnings indicates 13.1% and 14.4% growth, respectively. In the past week, the company’s earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have remained unchanged.
BAC Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TFC’s 2026 and 2027 earnings indicates a rise of 13.4% and 12.1%, respectively. Its earnings estimates for both years have been revised upward over the past seven days.
TFC Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
BAC or TFC: Which Bank Should be in Your Portfolio Post Q4?
Given the Fed’s easing cycle and impressive fourth-quarter performance, Bank of America looks better positioned to capitalize on lower rates through its scale, diversified income streams and ongoing branch expansion strategy. While near-term expenses may rise, BAC’s stronger earnings growth outlook, superior ROE and recent dividend hike signal financial strength and shareholder value creation. Its digital innovations and cross-selling opportunities also provide a long-term competitive advantage.
Truist Financial, though less sensitive to rate shifts and offering a higher dividend yield, faces relatively modest earnings growth. Its discounted valuation and branch expansion strategy may appeal to value investors, but overall, Bank of America appears the stronger long-term bet.
Currently, TFC and BAC carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Which Bank Stock to Buy Post Q4 Earnings: Bank of America or Truist?

Bank of America’s BAC loan book expanded again in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the composition is telling. Commercial balances drove most of the growth, while consumer lending was more selective.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, average total loans and leases rose 8% year over year to $1.17 trillion.
Average Total Loans and Leases by Portfolio ($B)
Image Source: Bank of America Corp.
Commercial loans accounted for the majority of quarterly momentum, up 12% from the prior-year period. Growth was split between U.S. and non-U.S. commercial exposures, suggesting demand is not concentrated in a single geography. That mix matters because commercial lending tends to be more rate- and cycle-sensitive than prime consumer categories, supportive for revenues in a steady macro backdrop, but more exposed if business activity cools.
Consumer balances increased a modest 4% year over year, with credit cards and direct/indirect consumer lending doing most of the work. The subdued pace points to cautious household borrowing appetite, even with resilient growth, as uncertainty around policy and inflation-sensitive expenses keeps big-ticket borrowing in check.
Looking ahead, faster rate cuts could compress Bank of America’s net interest income (NII) even as they revive refinancing and stimulate loan demand. Credit is another swing factor: rising delinquencies could prompt tighter underwriting or slower growth. Sustaining commercial momentum depends on business confidence (capex and working-capital needs) along with clarity on the macro and policy path.
The next few quarters will hinge on whether commercial demand stays firm as rates move lower and whether credit costs remain contained. If loan growth holds without a meaningful uptick in delinquencies or reserve builds, BAC’s mix will likely support earnings even in a softer NII backdrop.
Where Do BAC’s Peers Stand in Terms of Loan Composition?
The two closest peers of BAC are JPMorgan JPM and Citigroup C.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, JPMorgan’s loan mix leaned toward wholesale. Total loans were $1.49 trillion, with wholesale loans at $843 billion (up 17% year over year) versus $650 billion in consumer loans (up 4%). Like BAC, JPMorgan’s consumer loan book leaned toward credit cards. On the whole, the company’s loan growth was clearly led by wholesale lending.
Citigroup ended the fourth quarter of 2025 with $752 billion of loans, comprising $409 billion in consumer and $344 billion in corporate portfolio. Specifically, corporate loans grew faster (14% year over year), led by Markets and Services, while Banking corporate loans declined. On the other hand, Citigroup’s consumer loan portfolio increased 4%, with U.S. Personal Banking rising 5% and All Others jumping 12%.
Bank of America’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Bank of America have risen 7.9% over the past six months.
Six-Month Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Bank of America trades at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 1.89X, below the industry.
P/TB Ratio
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bank of America’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 13.1% and 14.4%, respectively. In the past month, earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been revised lower.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bank of America currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Bank of America's Q4 Loan Growth Snapshot: The Mix Matters

Key Points
Aside from a steep sell-off in April 2025, Trump's tariffs haven't hurt the stock market much so far.
However, several things could change this year.
Tariffs could weigh on stock prices in 2026, but they probably won't cause a crash on their own.
Strictly enforcing immigration laws isn't likely to affect stocks all that much. Rebranding the Department of Defense as the "Department of War" won't either. Demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a $300 million ballroom shouldn't cause a ripple in the stock market.
But tariffs are a different story altogether. These import taxes can significantly affect corporate earnings. And stock prices tend to correlate with earnings.
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Will President Trump's tariffs cause the stock market to crash in 2026? There's good news and bad news for investors.
So far, so good
The net impact of the tariffs levied since Trump returned to the White House a year ago can be summed up in four words: So far, so good. Granted, the president's "Liberation Day" tariff announcement caused the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) to plunge last April. However, the sell-off was only temporary, with the S&P finishing 2025 up 16%.
Investors shrugged off Trump's tariffs for several reasons. For one thing, the president postponed some tariffs multiple times. Trump lifted tariffs on some food imports because they were driving up grocery prices. He backed away from threats of exorbitantly high tariff rates. Some on Wall Street even began using an acronym they called "TACO," which was short for "Trump Always Chickens Out."
Equally important, many companies began aggressively increasing their imported product inventories even before Trump implemented tariffs. U.S. GDP even turned negative in the first quarter of 2025 as a result. This stocking activity provided a cushion to the earnings impact of the president's tariffs.
Finally, many importers have largely absorbed the higher prices resulting from tariffs rather than pass them along to customers. This move has helped dampen the inflationary effects of tariffs. And while absorbing high prices has weighed on profit margins, the impact hasn't been enough to cause stock prices to decline so far.
What could change in 2026
Now for the bad news. The relatively benign impact of tariffs on the stock market seen so far might not last much longer. Several things could change in 2026.
The inventory stockpiling that reduced the impact of tariffs on consumers in 2025 won't help this year. This could result in more companies passing higher prices from tariffs on to their customers in the coming months.
Indeed, BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) believes this scenario will play out this year. If so, this could cause inflation to rise and make the Federal Reserve less likely to cut interest rates. Neither outcome would be great for the stock market.
Morningstar (NASDAQ: MORN) is on the same page as BlackRock. The financial services company predicts that inflation will increase in 2026 as American consumers bear a greater share of the burden of higher prices resulting from tariffs.
The threat of tariffs related to President Trump's ambitions for U.S. control of Greenland could also reemerge. The president appeared to have backed down, based on his comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week. Stocks soared afterward in what some might view as another example of the "TACO" trade.
However, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) economist Ethan Harris recently argued that another acronym – "TATA" (Trump Always Tries Again) is more appropriate than "TACO." Should the president try again to use trade policies to gain control of Greenland, the stock market would likely react negatively.
Is a stock market crash on the way?
To be sure, none of this means that a stock market crash is definitely on the way. President Trump could continue to de-escalate tensions and abstain from any further tariff threats. Tailwinds for the stock market, particularly the ongoing generative AI boom, could offset any adverse effects from companies increasing prices for consumers to cover the added costs from tariffs.
Tariffs could weigh on stock prices in 2026 and create uncertainty (which investors strongly dislike). However, they probably won't cause a crash on their own.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Will President Trump's Tariffs Cause the Stock Market to Crash in 2026

Key Points
Berkshire Hathaway's top five financial stocks reflect multiple areas within the financial services sector.
Different stocks rank first based on performance, Wall Street price targets, dividends, and valuation.
However, one of these Buffett stocks scored highly in all four categories.
I still think of Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) portfolio as Warren Buffett's portfolio. The legendary investor's decision to pass the baton as CEO to Greg Abel hasn't changed my view in the slightest. After all, Buffett is still Berkshire's board chairman and its largest shareholder.
Even with Buffett no longer the official public face of Berkshire Hathaway, his fingerprints remain all over the conglomerate's holdings. For example, a whopping 35% of Berkshire's $309 billion portfolio is invested in five financial stocks that Buffett likes.
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Berkshire's top five financial stocks
It probably won't come as a surprise that American Express (NYSE: AXP) ranks as Berkshire's largest financial services holding, accounting for 17.3% of the company's portfolio as of its latest 13-F filing. AmEx is one of Buffett's longest-held positions. He included it among several stocks that he told Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in 2024 that he expected the conglomerate to "maintain indefinitely."
Sure, Buffett is not as big a fan of bank stocks as he once was. However, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) is Berkshire's second-largest financial stock position and third-largest holding overall. It comprises 9.6% of the company's portfolio.
Moody's (NYSE: MCO) has two core businesses. It provides risk management services to institutional investors. The company is also one of the largest credit ratings agencies. I suspect that Buffett finds both units appealing. Moody's ranks as Berkshire's sixth-largest holding, accounting for 4.1% of its portfolio.
Chubb (NYSE: CB) is one of Buffett's more significant new positions over the last couple of years. The "Oracle of Omaha" no doubt thoroughly understands Chubb's property and casualty insurance business. Chubb is among Berkshire's top 10 holdings and makes up 3.1% of its portfolio.
Visa (NYSE: V) is another financial stock that seems to be a logical fit for Buffett. The credit card processing giant accounts for roughly 0.9% of Berkshire's portfolio.
How they compare
None of these stocks stands out as head and shoulders above the pack in performance over the last 12 months. American Express, Bank of America, and Chubb are running neck and neck.
But while Visa has delivered the lowest gains over the last 12 months, it's Wall Street's favorite over the next 12 months. The consensus price target for the stock reflects a potential upside of over 20%. Bank of America doesn't lag far behind Visa, though, with a price target that's nearly 20% above its current share price.
Bank of America is the clear winner when it comes to dividends. The company's forward dividend yield of 2.1% is well above the yields of the other top four financial stocks in Berkshire's portfolio.
What about valuation? Chubb comes out on top on one metric. Its forward price-to-earnings ratio is 11.3, below the 12.1 forward earnings multiple of second-place Bank of America. However, Bank of America is the winner on valuation with growth factored in. Its price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio, which includes analysts' earnings growth projections over the next five years, is 1.0, well below the PEG ratios of the other four stocks.
The best of the bunch for 2026
My view is that all of Berkshire's top five financial stocks are solid long-term picks. I don't think investors would go wrong buying any of them. But which is the best of the bunch for 2026?
Bank of America appears to be the most attractive overall. It ranked either first or second in each of the categories used to compare the five stocks. If the market declines significantly, though, Chubb would likely hold up better than BofA. Still, I'll go with BofA as the best of these five Buffett stocks for the new year.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Keith Speights has positions in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, Moody's, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.