A household name in American banking
Bank of America is among the most familiar banks in the country. With branches nearly everywhere, it is one of the “Big Four” American banks, along with Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup. Its size and scope make it a lead force in the US economy, influencing lending, consumer finance, and investment by companies.
Due to this, many investors tend to ask one simple question: is Bank of America in their portfolios? To respond to that, it becomes helpful to look back at how the stock performed and what this performance signifies today.
How a $1,000 investment grew
If you invested $1,000 in Bank of America stock a decade ago, you’d have around $4,100 today, considering both share-price appreciation and dividends. That means you’d have an astonishing total return of around 310% over the course of a decade.
Even though not the best performer of all in the banking sector, this kind of return suggests Bank of America has delivered stable, dependable returns to long-term investors. In reality, the bank’s performance generally moves in synchronization with the general stock market.
In the last five years alone, an investment of $1,000 in Bank of America would have risen to just over $2,000, compared with about $2,160 if the same amount had been invested in the S&P 500. That is close enough to suggest Bank of America keeps pace with America’s economy in general.
Why banking success is hard to achieve
Banking is a challenging industry. At its core, lending cash is always hazardous. The borrower may default, markets may shift overnight, and business cycles may swing from growth to bust. Despite all of those challenges, Bank of America has been able to grow steadily and make profits quarter after quarter.
In its most recent earnings report, the bank registered revenue of $26.5 billion, a 4% rise from last year. Net income rose 3%, to $7.1 billion. These statistics prove that even in a complex financial environment, Bank of America has managed to improve its bottom line.
A reputation for stability
Unlike JPMorgan Chase, which perpetually takes the lead in innovation and aggressive growth, or Wells Fargo, which experienced traumatic restructuring in the recent past, Bank of America established itself as a stable, secure institution.
It might not always make headlines with bold acts, but investors have come to trust it to deliver consistent performance. To shareholders, that type of stability can be as precious as rapid growth, especially if paired with consistent dividend payments.
Is Bank of America a buy today?
That is what future big investors are asking Bank of America. Its past track record suggests that it can generate good long-term returns, but whether it will succeed in the future depends heavily on the business cycle of the economy. Interest rates, loan demand, and the U.S. economy overall are factors that determine how profitable the bank will be in the future.
Although some analysts believe the stock can expand further, others see more potential in other corporations. For instance, independent research firms like The Motley Fool have consistently indicated other corporations that they believe hold more potential for explosive expansion.
That’s not to say Bank of America isn’t a holding stock. For investors who prize stability, dividends and a company that tracks the health of the rest of the U.S. economy, it’s a good choice.
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