Wells Fargo & Company, a financial services company, provides diversified banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment offers diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses. Its financial products and services include checking and savings accounts, and credit and debit cards, as well as home, auto, personal, and small business lending services. The Commercial Banking segment provides financial solutions to private, family owned, and certain public companies. Its products and services include banking and credit products across various industry sectors and municipalities, secured lending and lease products, and treasury management services. The Corporate and Investment Banking segment offers a suite of capital markets, banking, and financial products and services, such as corporate banking, investment banking, treasury management, commercial real estate lending and servicing, equity, and fixed income solutions, as well as sales, trading, and research capabilities services to corporate, commercial real estate, government, and institutional clients. The Wealth and Investment Management segment provides personalized wealth management, brokerage, financial planning, lending, private banking, and trust and fiduciary products and services to affluent, high-net worth, and ultra-high-net worth clients. It also operates through financial advisors in brokerage and wealth offices, consumer bank branches, independent offices, and digitally through WellsTrade and Intuitive Investor. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Wells Fargo & Company

In the latest close session, Wells Fargo (WFC) was down 1.18% at $93.20. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.74%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.63%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.76%.
The biggest U.S. mortgage lender's shares have seen an increase of 9.26% over the last month, surpassing the Finance sector's gain of 2.1% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.79%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Wells Fargo in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on January 14, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.65, signifying a 16.20% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $21.49 billion, indicating a 5.45% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $6.28 per share and a revenue of $84.04 billion, signifying shifts of +16.95% and +2.12%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Wells Fargo. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.22% lower. Wells Fargo currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Wells Fargo is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 15.02. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 18.09.
Also, we should mention that WFC has a PEG ratio of 0.96. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. WFC's industry had an average PEG ratio of 1.16 as of yesterday's close.
The Financial - Investment Bank industry is part of the Finance sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 71, this industry ranks in the top 29% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
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Here's Why Wells Fargo (WFC) Fell More Than Broader Market

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – December 31, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Bank of America BAC, Wells Fargo WFC and U.S. Bancorp USB.
Here are highlights from Tuesday’s Analyst Blog:
U.S. Consumer Credit Stress Rises: 3 Bank Stocks to Watch for Stability
U.S. consumers are under financial pressure as restrictive monetary policy, persistent inflation in essential services and uneven real wage growth collide with record-high debt levels. Total U.S. consumer debt surpassed $18 trillion by the end of third-quarter 2025, rising from $17.7 trillion in January 2025, driven primarily by growth in credit card balances, auto loans and personal lending, according to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. Credit card debt is hovering near all-time highs, signaling increasing reliance on revolving credit to maintain consumption.
Rising consumer credit stress can weigh on banks through higher loan defaults and delinquencies, forcing them to increase provisions and hurting profits. At the same time, weaker demand for new loans and tighter lending standards can limit interest income, a key revenue source.
Banks with strong capitalization, diversified revenue streams and solid liquidity are better-positioned to withstand these pressures. Hence,Bank of America, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bancorp stand out as relatively safer options for investors seeking stability in the banking sector amid rising consumer credit challenges.
Signs of strain are becoming increasingly visible in U.S. credit performance. Aggregate consumer delinquency rates rose to 4.5% by the end of the third quarter 2025, the highest level since early 2020. Structural factors are compounding cyclical pressure as persistent inflation in non-discretionary categories, the resumption of student loan repayments and higher borrowing costs are weighing on household balance sheets and sentiment.
Reflecting this stress, U.S. consumer confidence has weakened throughout 2025. According to the Conference Board’s data, the Consumer Confidence Index declined for the fifth consecutive month in December and remained below the early-year levels. Further, the Expectations Index fell sharply from 104.1 in January to 70.7 in December, indicating growing pessimism about economic prospects.
3 Safest Banks to Keep an Eye On
Amid such pressure, investors looking for stability in the banking sector can consider the above-mentioned banks. These banks offer solid fundamentals, diversified operations and strong growth projections, positioning them well for healthy returns in 2026.
To choose these banks, we ran the Zacks Stocks Screener to identify stocks with a market capitalization of more than $30 billion, a past-year price performance above 15% and a 2026 earnings growth projection of above 5%. Also, these three stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Bank of America is one of the largest financial holding companies in the United States. With total assets worth $3.40 trillion as of Sept. 30, 2025, it provides a diverse range of banking and non-banking financial services and products through 3,649 financial centers.
From an asset quality perspective, Bank of America continues to exhibit resilient credit fundamentals despite prior macroeconomic headwinds. In the first nine months of the year, provisions declined marginally, while net charge-offs (NCO) fell 4.8% year over year, reflecting improving portfolio performance. Management emphasized that the sustained strength in asset quality stems from years of disciplined risk management, a well-diversified credit portfolio and stronger loan growth relative to peers with comparable credit performance.
The bank is prioritizing organic, domestic expansion through a combination of physical footprint growth and digital scale. The company plans to open more than 150 financial centers by 2027, complementing its 3,649 existing centers and the growing adoption of digital banking tools. This strategy is designed to support sustainable revenue growth while maintaining cost discipline and capital efficiency.
The bank’s asset quality profile is further supported by a solid liquidity position. As of Sept. 30, 2025, BAC reported short-term debt of $54.2 billion, alongside $246.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
Management targets earnings growth of more than 12% over the next three to five years, with a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) of 16-18% while maintaining a common equity tier 1 ratio of 10.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bank of America’s 2026 earnings stands at $4.33 per share, indicating a 13.9% increase from the prior year. It has a market capitalization of $410.2 billion.
Wells Fargo is one of the largest financial services companies in the United States, with $2.06 trillion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2025.
From an asset quality standpoint, Wells Fargo is showing clear signs of strengthening credit fundamentals. In the first nine months of 2025, NCO declined 17.2% year over year, while provisions for credit losses fell 19%, reflecting improving conditions across both consumer and commercial portfolios. This stabilization underscores better underwriting discipline and a healthier loan book, providing a solid foundation for balance sheet expansion.
Along with improving asset quality, the removal of the longstanding asset cap marks a pivotal shift in the bank’s operating trajectory. With this constraint lifted, WFC is transitioning from a defensive recovery phase to a renewed growth cycle. The bank can now expand deposits, grow its loan portfolio and increase securities holdings, all of which are expected to support stronger earnings generation and long-term strategic flexibility.
Complementing this, the bank continues to streamline operations and sharpen its focus on core banking franchises, while investing heavily in its physical footprint. By the end of 2025, the bank expects to have refreshed slightly more than half of its branch network, supporting customer engagement and deposit stability.
Encouraged by these developments, management raised its medium-term ROTCE target to 17-18%, up from the prior goal of 15%, signaling confidence in sustained balance sheet quality and earnings resilience.
The company’s asset quality and growth outlook are further reinforced by its strong liquidity profile. As of the third quarter of 2025, Wells Fargo reported a liquidity coverage ratio of 121%, well above the regulatory minimum of 100%, providing ample protection against potential market stress.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects 2026 earnings of $7.01 per share, suggesting an 11.7% increase from the prior year’s actual. WFC has a market capitalization of $299 billion.
U.S. Bancorp, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, provides banking and investment services mainly operating in the Midwest and West regions of the United States.
From an asset quality perspective, USB continues to demonstrate gradual but steady improvement, supported by stabilizing credit trends and disciplined risk management. In the first nine months of 2025, provisions for credit losses declined 4.1% year over year, while NCO decreased 8.3%, signaling improving performance across the loan portfolio. Although pockets of stress persist in select consumer and commercial segments, the company’s conservative underwriting standards, diversified balance sheet and strong capital position have helped contain credit risks and preserve overall asset quality.
Improving credit fundamentals is complemented by initiatives aimed at strengthening the bank’s growth profile and revenue mix. U.S. Bancorp has expanded its market presence and fee-based income through targeted acquisitions and partnerships, supporting fee income stability and customer engagement. These strategic moves, along with ongoing investments in digital capabilities, such as upgrades to the Avvance point-of-sale lending platform and the expansion of the Coinstar partnership, are expected to support loan growth, attract low-cost deposits and improve earnings durability.
The company’s asset quality and earnings outlook are further reinforced by a sound balance sheet position. As of Sept. 30, 2025, U.S. Bancorp carried $62.5 billion in long-term debt, while short-term borrowings remained modest at $15.4 billion. Cash and due from banks totaled $66.6 billion, providing ample liquidity and balance sheet flexibility. Together with portfolio repositioning efforts and reduced deposit migration, support stronger net interest income generation and enhance financial resilience.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USB’s 2026 earnings stands at $4.89 per share, indicating a 7.5% increase from the prior year’s actual. It has a market capitalization of $85.5 billion.
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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.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Bank of America, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bancorp

Key Points
A Wells Fargo analyst cut his price target on Ultragenyx stock, though it still implies significant upside from yesterday's closing price.
Ultragenyx reported yesterday that two Phase 3 studies failed to achieve primary endpoints for setrusumab.
Despite the Wells Fargo analyst's positive outlook, Ultragenyx stock should only remain a consideration for those comfortable with more speculative investments.
While Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: RARE) provided the market with disappointing news yesterday -- shares plunged more than 42% -- it appears that investors aren't completely writing off the company's potential as a developer of treatments for rare diseases. A firm's favorable view of Ultragenyx stock is motivating some investors to click the buy button today, helping the stock recover from its recent decline.
As of 2:51 p.m. ET, shares of Ultragenyx are up 13.2%.
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Despite the company's setback, one analyst maintains an auspicious outlook
Maintaining an overweight rating, Wells Fargo analyst Benjamin Burnett reduced the price target on Ultragenyx stock to $45 from $65 today.
According to TheFly.com, Burnett informed investors in a research note that the stock now features a favorable risk-reward profile, anticipating feedback from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding setrusumab, as it provided statistically significant results with respect to bone mineral density in its Phase 3 studies. Moreover, Burnett stated that "it's too soon to throw in the towel" on Ultragenyx.
With Ultragenyx stock closing at $19.72 yesterday, Burnett's $45 price target implies upside of more than 128%.
Ultragenyx reported yesterday that its Phase 3 Oribt and Cosmic studies of setrusumab for osteogenesis imperfecta failed to achieve their primary endpoints; however, they did achieve secondary endpoints, including improvements in bone mineral density.
Should investors add Ultragenyx stock to their buy list?
While Burnett's positive sentiment on Ultragenyx stock is worth acknowledgment, it's far from a cause, in and of itself, to make the pharmaceutical stock a buy. Ultragenyx generates revenue from the sales of several products, but it consistently incurs net losses. At this point, therefore, Unltragenyx stock should only remain a consideration for those with higher risk tolerances.
Should you buy stock in Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical right now?
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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.

Why Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Stock Is Bouncing Back Today

Wells Fargo & Company WFC has been pursuing a strategic exit from various non-core and lower-return businesses to streamline its focus on consumer banking, commercial lending, and high-return areas. This effort, led by CEO Charlie Scharf since 2019, aims to cut costs significantly—targeting up to $10 billion annually—and reallocate capital to core franchises.
In sync with this, in May 2025, WFC agreed to sell its rail lease portfolio to a joint venture of GATX and Brookfield. Marking a significant step in this transaction, this month, GATX Corporation and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. received all required regulatory approvals to close the deal on or around Jan. 1, 2026.
Earlier, in March 2025, the bank completed the sale of its non-agency third-party commercial mortgage servicing business to Trimont, backed by Värde Partners, reducing exposure to operationally complex commercial real estate servicing activities.
In 2023, the company also sold approximately $2 billion of private equity fund investments in Norwest Equity Partners and Norwest Mezzanine Partners to institutional investors, further aligning its portfolio with core banking priorities. The company also pursued strategic simplifications in its Home Lending business by exiting the Correspondent business and reducing the size of its Servicing portfolio, enabling a more focused mortgage operation targeting bank customers. In 2021, the bank completed several major divestitures, including the sale of its Asset Management business to GTCR and Reverence Capital Partners, Corporate Trust Services to Computershare, and the Canadian Direct Equipment Finance business to TD Bank, allowing Wells Fargo to concentrate on core consumer and corporate clients.
Earlier, in 2019, Wells Fargo sold its Institutional Retirement & Trust business to Principal Financial Group, and in 2018, it divested its auto finance segment in Puerto Rico to Popular, Inc.
Together, these simplification efforts are expected to reduce operational costs, improve capital efficiency, and enable Wells Fargo to redeploy resources toward higher-return areas, strengthening its long-term growth prospects. This strategy has contributed to improved profitability metrics, including a targeted return on tangible common equity of 17-18% post-asset cap removal.
Business Streamlining Efforts by Other Financial Firms
In November 2025, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS reached an agreement with ING Bank Slaski to divest its Polish asset management firm, TFI. The deal, targeted for completion in the first half of 2026 pending regulatory signoff, will end Goldman’s presence in the Polish retail investment market while cementing ING’s long-term ambitions in the region.
GS acquired control of what is now Goldman Sachs TFI through its 2022 takeover of NN Investment Partners. By selling its stake now, Goldman sheds its majority exposure in a mature but relatively small asset-management market — likely freeing up capital and management bandwidth for other priorities.
In September 2025, HSBC Holdings PLC HSBC agreed to sell its retail banking business in Sri Lanka to Nations Trust Bank PLC.
This divestiture is part of broader streamlining efforts by HSBC announced in October 2024 to enhance operational efficiency. This enables the bank to strengthen its market share and leadership in areas where it has a competitive edge and an opportunity to boost and support its clients.
WFC's Price Performance and Zacks Rank
Shares of WFC have gained 16% over the past six months compared with the industry’s growth of 18.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The company 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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Wells Fargo Advances Multi-Year Simplification Plan to Enhance Returns

U.S. consumers are under financial pressure as restrictive monetary policy, persistent inflation in essential services and uneven real wage growth collide with record-high debt levels. Total U.S. consumer debt surpassed $18 trillion by the end of third-quarter 2025, rising from $17.7 trillion in January 2025, driven primarily by growth in credit card balances, auto loans and personal lending, according to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit. Credit card debt is hovering near all-time highs, signaling increasing reliance on revolving credit to maintain consumption.
Rising consumer credit stress can weigh on banks through higher loan defaults and delinquencies, forcing them to increase provisions and hurting profits. At the same time, weaker demand for new loans and tighter lending standards can limit interest income, a key revenue source. Banks with strong capitalization, diversified revenue streams and solid liquidity are better-positioned to withstand these pressures. Hence, Bank of America BAC, Wells Fargo WFC and U.S. Bancorp USB stand out as relatively safer options for investors seeking stability in the banking sector amid rising consumer credit challenges.
Signs of strain are becoming increasingly visible in U.S. credit performance. Aggregate consumer delinquency rates rose to 4.5% by the end of the third quarter 2025, the highest level since early 2020. Structural factors are compounding cyclical pressure as persistent inflation in non-discretionary categories, the resumption of student loan repayments and higher borrowing costs are weighing on household balance sheets and sentiment.
Reflecting this stress, U.S. consumer confidence has weakened throughout 2025. According to the Conference Board’s data, the Consumer Confidence Index declined for the fifth consecutive month in December and remained below the early-year levels. Further, the Expectations Index fell sharply from 104.1 in January to 70.7 in December, indicating growing pessimism about economic prospects.
3 Safest Banks to Keep an Eye On
Amid such pressure, investors looking for stability in the banking sector can consider the above-mentioned banks. These banks offer solid fundamentals, diversified operations and strong growth projections, positioning them well for healthy returns in 2026.
To choose these banks, we ran the Zacks Stocks Screener to identify stocks with a market capitalization of more than $30 billion, a past-year price performance above 15% and a 2026 earnings growth projection of above 5%. Also, these three stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bank of America is one of the largest financial holding companies in the United States. With total assets worth $3.40 trillion as of Sept. 30, 2025, it provides a diverse range of banking and non-banking financial services and products through 3,649 financial centers.
From an asset quality perspective, Bank of America continues to exhibit resilient credit fundamentals despite prior macroeconomic headwinds. In the first nine months of the year, provisions declined marginally, while net charge-offs (NCO) fell 4.8% year over year, reflecting improving portfolio performance. Management emphasized that the sustained strength in asset quality stems from years of disciplined risk management, a well-diversified credit portfolio and stronger loan growth relative to peers with comparable credit performance.
The bank is prioritizing organic, domestic expansion through a combination of physical footprint growth and digital scale. The company plans to open more than 150 financial centers by 2027, complementing its 3,649 existing centers and the growing adoption of digital banking tools. This strategy is designed to support sustainable revenue growth while maintaining cost discipline and capital efficiency.
The bank’s asset quality profile is further supported by a solid liquidity position. As of Sept. 30, 2025, BAC reported short-term debt of $54.2 billion, alongside $246.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
Management targets earnings growth of more than 12% over the next three to five years, with a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) of 16-18% while maintaining a common equity tier 1 ratio of 10.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Bank of America’s 2026 earnings stands at $4.33 per share, indicating a 13.9% increase from the prior year. It has a market capitalization of $410.2 billion.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Wells Fargo is one of the largest financial services companies in the United States, with $2.06 trillion in assets as of Sept. 30, 2025.
From an asset quality standpoint, Wells Fargo is showing clear signs of strengthening credit fundamentals. In the first nine months of 2025, NCO declined 17.2% year over year, while provisions for credit losses fell 19%, reflecting improving conditions across both consumer and commercial portfolios. This stabilization underscores better underwriting discipline and a healthier loan book, providing a solid foundation for balance sheet expansion.
Along with improving asset quality, the removal of the longstanding asset cap marks a pivotal shift in the bank’s operating trajectory. With this constraint lifted, WFC is transitioning from a defensive recovery phase to a renewed growth cycle. The bank can now expand deposits, grow its loan portfolio and increase securities holdings, all of which are expected to support stronger earnings generation and long-term strategic flexibility.
Complementing this, the bank continues to streamline operations and sharpen its focus on core banking franchises, while investing heavily in its physical footprint. By the end of 2025, the bank expects to have refreshed slightly more than half of its branch network, supporting customer engagement and deposit stability.
Encouraged by these developments, management raised its medium-term ROTCE target to 17-18%, up from the prior goal of 15%, signaling confidence in sustained balance sheet quality and earnings resilience.
The company’s asset quality and growth outlook are further reinforced by its strong liquidity profile. As of the third quarter of 2025, Wells Fargo reported a liquidity coverage ratio of 121%, well above the regulatory minimum of 100%, providing ample protection against potential market stress.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects 2026 earnings of $7.01 per share, suggesting an 11.7% increase from the prior year’s actual. WFC has a market capitalization of $299 billion.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
U.S. Bancorp, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, provides banking and investment services mainly operating in the Midwest and West regions of the United States.
From an asset quality perspective, USB continues to demonstrate gradual but steady improvement, supported by stabilizing credit trends and disciplined risk management. In the first nine months of 2025, provisions for credit losses declined 4.1% year over year, while NCO decreased 8.3%, signaling improving performance across the loan portfolio. Although pockets of stress persist in select consumer and commercial segments, the company’s conservative underwriting standards, diversified balance sheet and strong capital position have helped contain credit risks and preserve overall asset quality.
Improving credit fundamentals is complemented by initiatives aimed at strengthening the bank’s growth profile and revenue mix. U.S. Bancorp has expanded its market presence and fee-based income through targeted acquisitions and partnerships, supporting fee income stability and customer engagement. These strategic moves, along with ongoing investments in digital capabilities, such as upgrades to the Avvance point-of-sale lending platform and the expansion of the Coinstar partnership, are expected to support loan growth, attract low-cost deposits and improve earnings durability.
The company’s asset quality and earnings outlook are further reinforced by a sound balance sheet position. As of Sept. 30, 2025, U.S. Bancorp carried $62.5 billion in long-term debt, while short-term borrowings remained modest at $15.4 billion. Cash and due from banks totaled $66.6 billion, providing ample liquidity and balance sheet flexibility. Together with portfolio repositioning efforts and reduced deposit migration, support stronger net interest income generation and enhance financial resilience.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for USB’s 2026 earnings stands at $4.89 per share, indicating a 7.5% increase from the prior year’s actual. It has a market capitalization of $85.5 billion.
Earnings Estimates
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Naming Top 10 Stocks for 2026
Want to be tipped off early to our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2026? History suggests their performance could be sensational.
From 2012 (when our Director of Research Sheraz Mian assumed responsibility for the portfolio) through November, 2025, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks gained +2,530.8%, more than QUADRUPLING the S&P 500’s +570.3%.
Now Sheraz is combing through 4,400 companies to handpick the best 10 tickers to buy and hold in 2026. Don’t miss your chance to get in on these stocks when they’re released on January 5.
Be First to New Top 10 Stocks >>
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
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

US Consumer Credit Stress Rises: 3 Bank Stocks to Watch for Stability

Deutsche Bank AG DB has laid out an ambitious but structured plan to lift its return on tangible equity (RoTE) above 13% by 2028. The strategy rests on a combination of revenue growth, tighter cost discipline, capital optimization and higher shareholder payouts.
At the core of DB’s profitability ambitions is top-line expansion. Management expects to achieve incremental revenues of €5 billion ($5.8 billion) by scaling the Global Hausbank across asset gathering, payments servicing and advisory. The company intends to generate €2 billion ($2.3 billion) of its growth in Germany by leveraging home-market leadership across its businesses and capturing opportunities related to fiscal stimulus, structural reforms, private-sector investment and long-term transformation spending.
Deutsche Bank is also placing heavy emphasis on cost control and efficiency gains. The bank has set a target to reduce its cost-income ratio to below 60% by 2028, a notable improvement from earlier medium-term goals. This improvement is expected to come from €2 billion in gross cost efficiencies, driven by process simplification, automation, and increased use of digital and AI-enabled platforms.
Another pillar of Deutsche Bank’s RoTE ambition is strict capital management. The bank intends to maintain its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 13.5-14%, balancing resilience with return optimization. Starting in 2026, DB plans to lift its payout ratio to 60% of net profit attributable to shareholders, up from the current 50% target for 2025. Higher dividends and share buybacks serve two strategic purposes: they enhance shareholder returns directly and reinforce management’s confidence in the sustainability of earnings. By reducing equity through distributions while maintaining earnings growth, payouts also mechanically support higher returns on equity over time.
How Other Financial Firms Are Expected to Fare in Terms of ROTCE
Wells Fargo & Company WFC is aiming for a 17-18% return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) over the medium term, up from the earlier target of 15%. This move underscores the company’s growing confidence in its profitability outlook as it transitions from years of regulatory remediation to a renewed focus on sustainable growth.
Wells Fargo’s upgraded ROTCE target reflects several structural and operational tailwinds. The chief among them is the removal of the Federal Reserve’s asset cap, which now allows Wells Fargo to boost deposits, grow its loan portfolio and broaden its securities holdings.
Meanwhile, Citigroup, Inc. C is advancing its multi-year strategy to streamline operations and focus on its core businesses. Aligned with its goal of achieving leaner operations, Citigroup has overhauled its operating model and leadership structure, reduced bureaucracy and complexity while enhancing efficiency.
Citigroup expects revenue to witness a 4-5% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2026. The company also anticipates achieving $2-2.5 billion in annualized run-rate savings by 2026, reflecting the tangible benefits of its simplification and efficiency initiatives. ROTCE is expected to be 10-11% by 2026.
DB’s Price Performance & Zacks Rank
Over the past six months, shares of Deutsche Bank have gained 35.5% on the NYSE compared with the industry’s growth of 24.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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For Immediate Releases
Chicago, IL – December 26, 2025 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog includeWells Fargo WFC, Bank of America BAC and Citigroup C.
Here are highlights from Friday’s Analyst Blog:
3 Banks Poised to Benefit Most from Declining Interest Rates
Responding to signs of slowing economic activity and easing inflation pressures, the Federal Reserve shifted its monetary stance in 2025 by starting to cut interest rates. At its December meeting, the Fed lowered the federal funds target range by another 25 basis points (bps) to 3.50-3.75%, marking its third consecutive rate reduction this year, a move aimed to support economic expansion while keeping inflation trends aligned with the 2% objective.
Looking to 2026, while expectations are mixed, they broadly suggest moderate easing over the course of the year. Fed officials have signaled that future moves will remain highly dependent on incoming economic data.
Either way, the banking industry is poised to benefit from falling interest rates in the coming quarters, with banks like Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citigroup likely to gain the most.
How Do Interest Rate Cuts Help Banks?
Banks generally benefit from falling interest rates as lower borrowing costs tend to stimulate loan demand across consumer and commercial segments. When rates decline, households are more likely to take out mortgages, refinance existing loans and increase spending financed through credit cards or personal loans. Businesses also become more willing to borrow for expansion, inventory and capital investment. This pickup in lending activity helps banks grow loan volumes, which can offset some of the pressure that lower rates place on net interest margin (NIM).
Lower interest rates can also improve credit quality, which is a key positive for bank profitability. As debt servicing costs fall, borrowers find it easier to meet their obligations, reducing the risk of delinquencies and defaults. This results in lower provisions for loan losses and fewer charge-offs, directly supporting earnings. A more stable credit environment thus allows banks to deploy capital more confidently and focus on growth rather than balance-sheet defense.
Additionally, falling rates boost fee-based and market-related income streams for banks. Capital markets activity tends to improve as lower rates encourage debt issuance, refinancing and merger and acquisition activity, benefiting investment banking (IB), trading and advisory businesses. Wealth management and asset management divisions can also gain from stronger market performance and higher client activity.
To sum up, stronger loan growth, healthier credit conditions and increased fee income position banks to perform better in a declining interest rate environment.
The Case for WFC, BAC & Citigroup
Wells Fargo: The company has signaled that interest rate cuts will help stabilize funding costs, making deposit growth a central pillar of its balance sheet strategy. Since lower rates spur loan demand, WFC aims to aggressively grow both consumer and corporate loan assets now that it has been freed from its asset cap. Management expects 2025 net interest income (NII) to be stable year over year, as lower rates support a rebound in loan origination and reduce deposit pricing pressures.
WFC plans to leverage its expanded balance sheet to grow fee-rich franchises (IB, trading, wealth management and payments). This diversification is essential in a rate-cutting cycle, when NIM and NII may face pressure.
Wells Fargo's approach in a declining rate environment is to prioritize organic growth, compete more aggressively for deposits and selectively increase lending while remaining cautious during periods of heightened economic uncertainty. Thus, the bank is expected to see improved profitability and margin resilience as monetary conditions ease.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WFC’s 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth rates of 16.8% and 11.9%, respectively. Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Bank of America: The company, one of the most rate-sensitive banks in the country, is poised to benefit from fixed-rate asset repricing, higher loan and deposit balances and a gradual fall in funding costs. As rates come down, it will boost lending activity. Also, easing regulatory capital requirements will help channel excess capital into loan growth, particularly within resilient commercial and consumer segments. Management expects the bank’s NII to grow 5-7% in 2026, after similar growth this year.
BAC is prioritizing organic, domestic growth through the expansion of its physical and digital presence. The company has laid out an ambitious medium-term plan centered on sustainable growth, digital scale, cost discipline and capital efficiency.
It plans to expand its financial center network and open more than 150 centers by 2027, which, along with the growing adoption of digital tools, will support NII growth and expand cross-sell opportunities.
Over the next three to five years, BAC aims to deliver more than 12% of earnings growth and a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) between 16% and 18%, while maintaining a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC’s 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year increases of 15.9% and 14%, respectively. The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Citigroup: Improvement in NII has been supporting the company’s top-line growth over the years. The metric witnessed a three-year (ended 2024) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%, with the momentum continuing in the first nine months of 2025. NII is expected to continue expanding on the back of stabilizing funding costs and loan growth. Management projects 2025 NII to rise 5.5% year over year.
Citigroup continues to emphasize growth in core businesses through streamlining consumer banking operations globally. The company has successfully exited from consumer banking businesses in nine countries. These initiatives will free up capital and help the company pursue investments in wealth management and IB operations, which will stoke fee income growth.
Management expects total revenues to exceed $84 billion in 2025, with revenues projected to see a 4-5% CAGR through 2026.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Citigroup’s 2025 and 2026 earnings indicate year-over-year growth of 27.6% and 32.4%, respectively. It also carries a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
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Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Previewreports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
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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.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citigroup

Wells Fargo & Company’s WFC shares touched a new 52-week high of $94.68 during yesterday’s trading session, before closing at $94.47. The rally was driven by optimism surrounding the company’s plan to enter the options clearing business, reflecting rising demand from clients as options trading activity increases across markets. The strategic move follows the June 2025 removal of the regulatory asset cap that had constrained Wells Fargo's balance sheet since 2017.
Further, the strength in WFC stock can also be attributed to broader market strength, after economic data showed that the U.S. economy grew well above expectations in the third quarter. This, along with optimism around a stronger growth outlook for 2026, bolstered investors’ sentiments in the banking stocks, including WFC, Bank of America BAC and Citigroup Inc. C.
Over the past year, WFC stock has gained 33.3%, compared with the industry’s growth of 37.5%. Further, shares of the company’s peers, Bank of America and Citigroup, also gained 27.1% and 72.5%, respectively.
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
After such a strong rally, investors are now questioning whether Wells Fargo stock has more upside left. Let us find out.
Other Factors Supporting Wells Fargo’s Growth
Asset Cap Removal to Support Growth: Wells Fargo reached a key milestone in June 2025 when the Federal Reserve lifted the asset cap imposed in 2018 following the bank’s fake account scandal. The removal eliminates a long-standing constraint on balance-sheet expansion, allowing the company to grow deposits, increase loan balances and expand securities holdings, thereby unlocking its full operating potential.
The regulatory relief also provides WFC with greater flexibility to scale fee-based businesses, including payment services, asset management, and mortgage origination, supporting revenue diversification and long-term top-line growth. With greater strategic flexibility and improved earnings visibility, management raised the company’s medium-term return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) target to 17%–18% from the earlier 15%, indicating stronger profitability prospects over the next few years.
Business Simplification to Strengthen Core Focus: As part of its ongoing strategy to streamline operations and sharpen focus on core banking franchises, Wells Fargo has continued to exit non-core and lower-return businesses. In May 2025, the company agreed to sell its rail lease portfolio to a joint venture of GATX and Brookfield, which aims to free up capital for WFC’s main lending and fee-based businesses. The deal is expected to close around Jan.1, 2026.
Earlier, in March 2025, Wells Fargo completed the sale of its non-agency third-party commercial mortgage servicing business to Trimont, backed by Värde Partners, significantly lowering exposure to operationally complex commercial real estate servicing activities. In September 2023, the company also sold approximately $2 billion of private equity fund investments in Norwest Equity Partners and Norwest Mezzanine Partners to a group of institutional investors, further aligning its investment portfolio with core banking priorities.
Overall, these simplification efforts are expected to lower operational risk, improve capital efficiency and enable WFC to redeploy resources toward higher-return areas.
Fed Rate Cuts to Support NII: Over the past few years, Wells Fargo’s net interest income (NII) has shown steady improvement, posting a three-year CAGR of 10%. In the first nine months of 2025, net interest income (NII) declined 1.9% to $35.15 billion, reflecting some pressure from elevated funding costs.
The Federal Reserve reduced interest rates by 75 basis points in 2025, following a 100-basis-point cut in 2024, and has signaled an additional rate cut in 2026. This is expected to gradually stabilize funding costs and improve loan demand, providing support to Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Citigroup’s NII growth in the upcoming period.
Initiatives to Drive Cost Efficiency: The company has been making progress on various initiatives to achieve cost efficiency. Since the third quarter of 2020, the company has been actively engaging in cost-cutting measures, including streamlining its organizational structure, closing branches and reducing headcount.
The company keeps investing in and optimizing its branch network to reduce costs. By the end of the third quarter of 2025, branches declined 2.1% to 4,108. Although Wells Fargo has reduced its overall footprint over the past decade, it has also invested in branch renovations and new locations as part of a broader growth strategy. The ongoing upgrades aim to foster a more growth-oriented culture. By the end of 2025, slightly more than half of the branch network is expected to be refreshed, with renovations already completed in Charlotte, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., while Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta are scheduled for 2026.
The company headcount was reduced 4.3% year over year to 211 by the end of the third quarter of 2025. At the Goldman Sachs 2025 conference held on Dec. 9, Wells Fargo signaled that its workforce could shrink further in 2026 as part of a broader push to improve efficiency and incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) across its operations. These efforts, along with continued investments in digital infrastructure and process automation, are expected to generate sustained expense savings and enhance overall profitability. By the end of this year, WFC expects to have achieved nearly $15 billion of gross expense savings.
These renovations also combine physical presence with modern digital tools, leveraging Wells Fargo’s wide geographic reach as a competitive advantage.
Image Source: Wells Fargo & Company
AI Initiatives to Boost Efficiency: Wells Fargo is advancing its operational transformation through a phased AI rollout, aimed at improving productivity, streamlining workflows, and enhancing customer service. In August 2025, the company expanded its strategic partnership with Google Cloud to deploy generative and agentic AI tools at scale.
The bank also plans to introduce AI gradually over the next year and continue expanding its use beyond 2026. Management characterized the transition as a “positive reality,” suggesting that AI-enabled efficiencies will support long-term operational improvements.
AI adoption has already increased productivity by 30%–35% within the bank’s engineering teams.
Additionally, AI tools are being integrated into commercial banking platforms and customer-facing operations, enabling personalized guidance, faster decision-making and more innovative product offerings. By combining automation with analytics, Wells Fargo aims to optimize workforce allocation, improve service quality and create measurable operational efficiencies throughout its business.
WFC's Estimates and Valuation Analysis
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WFC’s 2025 and 2026 earnings indicates a 16.7% and 11.9% rise, respectively. Over the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 and 2026 earnings has been revised upward.
Estimate Revision Trend
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In terms of valuation, WFC stock appears inexpensive relative to the industry. The company is currently trading at a 12-month trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 13.50x, which is lower than the industry’s 15.32x.
Price-to-Earnings F12 M
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Meanwhile, Citigroup holds a P/E ratio of 11.94X, while Bank of America’s P/E ratio stands at 12.94X.
Parting Thoughts on WFC
Wells Fargo’s climb to a new 52-week high underscores growing investor confidence in the bank’s improving fundamentals and strategic reset. The removal of the long-standing asset cap has unlocked balance-sheet growth, while ongoing business simplification, disciplined expense management, and expanding fee-based initiatives—such as entering options clearing—strengthen the company’s earnings profile. Fed rate cuts and a favorable macroeconomic backdrop heading into 2026 further support the outlook. Also, the bank’s ongoing cost-cutting and branch optimization efforts enhance efficiency.
On the capital front, the bank plans to manage its common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio down to 10-10.5% from more than 11% in each of the past nine quarters, thereby optimizing capital usage and enhancing returns. As such, with disciplined cost management and improved revenue momentum, along with capital management, Wells Fargo anticipates meaningful margin expansion, positioning it well to achieve its ROTCE goal of 17%-18% over the medium term.
Overall, Wells Fargo offers decent upside over the longer horizon. Hence, investors can consider keeping WFC stock on their radar to generate healthy long-term returns.
The company 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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Wells Fargo Stock Touched a New 52-Week High: Is More Upside Left?

Responding to signs of slowing economic activity and easing inflation pressures, the Federal Reserve shifted its monetary stance in 2025 by starting to cut interest rates. At its December meeting, the Fed lowered the federal funds target range by another 25 basis points (bps) to 3.50-3.75%, marking its third consecutive rate reduction this year, a move aimed to support economic expansion while keeping inflation trends aligned with the 2% objective.
Looking to 2026, while expectations are mixed, they broadly suggest moderate easing over the course of the year. Fed officials have signaled that future moves will remain highly dependent on incoming economic data.
Either way, the banking industry is poised to benefit from falling interest rates in the coming quarters, with banks like Wells Fargo WFC, Bank of America BAC and Citigroup C likely to gain the most.
How Do Interest Rate Cuts Help Banks?
Banks generally benefit from falling interest rates as lower borrowing costs tend to stimulate loan demand across consumer and commercial segments. When rates decline, households are more likely to take out mortgages, refinance existing loans and increase spending financed through credit cards or personal loans. Businesses also become more willing to borrow for expansion, inventory and capital investment. This pickup in lending activity helps banks grow loan volumes, which can offset some of the pressure that lower rates place on net interest margin (NIM).
Lower interest rates can also improve credit quality, which is a key positive for bank profitability. As debt servicing costs fall, borrowers find it easier to meet their obligations, reducing the risk of delinquencies and defaults. This results in lower provisions for loan losses and fewer charge-offs, directly supporting earnings. A more stable credit environment thus allows banks to deploy capital more confidently and focus on growth rather than balance-sheet defense.
Additionally, falling rates boost fee-based and market-related income streams for banks. Capital markets activity tends to improve as lower rates encourage debt issuance, refinancing and merger and acquisition activity, benefiting investment banking (IB), trading and advisory businesses. Wealth management and asset management divisions can also gain from stronger market performance and higher client activity.
To sum up, stronger loan growth, healthier credit conditions and increased fee income position banks to perform better in a declining interest rate environment.
The Case for WFC, BAC & Citigroup
Wells Fargo: The company has signaled that interest rate cuts will help stabilize funding costs, making deposit growth a central pillar of its balance sheet strategy. Since lower rates spur loan demand, WFC aims to aggressively grow both consumer and corporate loan assets now that it has been freed from its asset cap. Management expects 2025 net interest income (NII) to be stable year over year, as lower rates support a rebound in loan origination and reduce deposit pricing pressures.
WFC plans to leverage its expanded balance sheet to grow fee-rich franchises (IB, trading, wealth management and payments). This diversification is essential in a rate-cutting cycle, when NIM and NII may face pressure.
Wells Fargo's approach in a declining rate environment is to prioritize organic growth, compete more aggressively for deposits and selectively increase lending while remaining cautious during periods of heightened economic uncertainty. Thus, the bank is expected to see improved profitability and margin resilience as monetary conditions ease.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WFC’s 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth rates of 16.8% and 11.9%, respectively. Currently, the company carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Bank of America: The company, one of the most rate-sensitive banks in the country, is poised to benefit from fixed-rate asset repricing, higher loan and deposit balances and a gradual fall in funding costs. As rates come down, it will boost lending activity. Also, easing regulatory capital requirements will help channel excess capital into loan growth, particularly within resilient commercial and consumer segments. Management expects the bank’s NII to grow 5-7% in 2026, after similar growth this year.
BAC is prioritizing organic, domestic growth through the expansion of its physical and digital presence. The company has laid out an ambitious medium-term plan centered on sustainable growth, digital scale, cost discipline and capital efficiency.
It plans to expand its financial center network and open more than 150 centers by 2027, which, along with the growing adoption of digital tools, will support NII growth and expand cross-sell opportunities.
Over the next three to five years, BAC aims to deliver more than 12% of earnings growth and a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) between 16% and 18%, while maintaining a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC’s 2025 and 2026 earnings suggests year-over-year increases of 15.9% and 14%, respectively. The company carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Citigroup: Improvement in NII has been supporting the company’s top-line growth over the years. The metric witnessed a three-year (ended 2024) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%, with the momentum continuing in the first nine months of 2025. NII is expected to continue expanding on the back of stabilizing funding costs and loan growth. Management projects 2025 NII to rise 5.5% year over year.
Citigroup continues to emphasize growth in core businesses through streamlining consumer banking operations globally. The company has successfully exited from consumer banking businesses in nine countries. These initiatives will free up capital and help the company pursue investments in wealth management and IB operations, which will stoke fee income growth.
Management expects total revenues to exceed $84 billion in 2025, with revenues projected to see a 4-5% CAGR through 2026.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Citigroup’s 2025 and 2026 earnings indicate year-over-year growth of 27.6% and 32.4%, respectively. It also carries a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
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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.

3 Banks Poised to Benefit Most From Declining Interest Rates

Wells Fargo & Company WFC is preparing to enter the options clearing business, reflecting rising demand from clients as options trading activity increases across markets. While the eventual market share impact remains uncertain, the expansion marks an essential step for the fourth-largest U.S. lender.
This initiative by WFC gained speed after the removal of a long-standing regulatory asset cap in June 2025. The restriction had limited Wells Fargo’s balance sheet to its 2017 level of $1.95 trillion, placing particular strain on its markets operations. With that constraint lifted, the bank has gained greater flexibility to expand its capital-intensive businesses, including clearing services.
Notably, options clearing is operationally complex and requires significant capital, as clearing brokers stand between clients and clearinghouses to finance trading activity. This structure enables market makers to provide continuous liquidity and take positions with support from their clearing partners.
Wells Fargo aims to serve these firms by reshaping its securities sales and trading operations, a process that has already involved new hires. WFC began evaluating opportunities in options clearing earlier in 2025, even before regulatory restrictions were removed. According to DJ Langis, co-head of equities in the global-markets division, client engagement has been strong.
Wells Fargo expects market makers to begin clearing options through its platform in the second half of 2026.
WFC’s Move Places It in Direct Competition With Peers
As Wells Fargo strengthens its Wall Street presence, the move into options clearing underscores its broader effort to compete more directly with leading U.S. investment banks like Bank of America BAC and Goldman Sachs GS.
Both Bank of America and Goldman Sachs are established players in the options clearing business, operating as clearing brokers for large institutional clients and market makers. They commit their own capital to support clients’ options trades, standing between trading firms and the clearinghouse as intermediaries.
In this role, BAC and GS handle the operational mechanics of clearing and settlement, while also providing balance-sheet support that allows market makers to maintain liquidity and take positions efficiently. Their engagement places them at the core of the options market infrastructure.
WFC’s Price Performance & Zacks Rank
In the past three months, shares of Wells Fargo have gained 12.1%, outperforming the industry’s 5.7% rise.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, the company 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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Wells Fargo & Company

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