Growing Despite The Housing Setback

Article Excerpt

BANK OF AMERICA CORP. $48 (New York symbol BAC; Income Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 4.4 billion; Market cap: $211.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) earned $1.28 a share (total $5.8 billion) in the three months ended June 30, 2007, up 7.6% from $1.19 a share ($5.5 billion) a year earlier. The most recent figure includes a $0.09 a share gain on the sale of some private equity funds. Revenue grew 7.8%, to $19.6 billion from $18.2 billion. The bank raised its loan loss provision by 79% due to the slump in the housing market. Still, bad loans are just 0.32% of total loans. Bank of America’s diverse sources of income, including credit cards and investment banking, also limit its exposure to housing. The bank aims to complete its $16 billion acquisition of LaSalle Bank by the end of 2007, following a ruling by a Dutch court that it can proceed with the purchase. LaSalle will greatly enhance Bank of America’s presence…