Big U.S. banks gain as smaller banks stumble

Article Excerpt

Concerned about the vulnerability of U.S. regional banks, some depositors have shifted to the country’s biggest banks, particularly J.P. Morgan and Wells Fargo. Their migration comes despite government actions to calm depositors’ fears. Still, the additional deposits for the big banks are likely to stick around and give the lenders more room to raise dividends. J.P. MORGAN CHASE & CO. $135 is a buy. The bank (New York symbol JPM; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 2.9 billion; Market cap: $391.5 billion; Dividend yield: 3.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.jpmorganchase.com) is the largest banking firm in the U.S., with total assets of $3.74 trillion as of March 31, 2023. Morgan last raised your quarterly dividend with the October 2021 payment by 11.1%, to $1.00 a share from $0.90. The annual rate of $4.00 yields 3.0%. The bank has agreed to acquire most of the assets and deposits of troubled California-based First Republic Bank. Under the terms of the purchase, Morgan will pay $10.6 billion for most…