Financial Wire

JPMorgan Beats First-Quarter Estimates; CEO Dimon Warns of 'Increasingly Complex' Risks to Economy

-- JPMorgan Chase (JPM) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results on Tuesday, while Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said the US economy remained resilient but warned of an "increasingly complex set of risks," including wars and energy price volatility.

The banking giant posted earnings of $5.94 a share for the quarter ended March, up from $5.07 the year before, topping the FactSet-polled consensus of $5.45. Consolidated revenue advanced 10% to $49.84 billion, ahead of the Street's view for $49.13 billion.

Net interest income inclined 9% on a managed basis to $25.48 billion. Noninterest revenue rose 11% both on reported and managed bases to $24.47 billion and $25.06 billion, respectively.

"The firm delivered strong results in the first quarter," Dimon said in the earnings release. "Performance was strong across our businesses."

Dimon noted that the world's largest economy "remained resilient" in the quarter, "with consumers still earning and spending and businesses still healthy." The resiliency was supported by several tailwinds, including fiscal stimulus and artificial intelligence-driven capital investment, according to the CEO.

"At the same time, there is an increasingly complex set of risks - such as geopolitical tensions and wars, energy price volatility, trade uncertainty, large global fiscal deficits and elevated asset prices," Dimon added. "While we cannot predict how these risks and uncertainties will ultimately play out, they are significant and they reinforce why we prepare the Firm for a wide range of environments."

Energy prices have soared in the aftermath of the US-Israel war with Iran that began at the end of February, curtailing shipments through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. While the US and Iran have agreed to a temporary ceasefire, the two sides were unable to reach a deal during negotiations in Pakistan over the weekend.

Earlier in April, Dimon said in a shareholder letter that supply disruptions caused by the Iran war could keep inflation and interest rates higher than expected.

Revenue in JPMorgan's commercial and investment banking segment climbed to $23.38 billion from $19.67 billion in the prior-year period. Investment banking fees jumped 28%, buoyed by stronger advisory and equity capital markets activity, according to Dimon. "Payments continued to deliver very strong results, with double digit growth in deposits and fees," the CEO said in the earnings release.

Consumer and community banking revenue advanced 7% to $19.57 billion in the quarter, amid gains in banking and wealth management and card services and auto. Corporate revenue dropped 47% to $1.22 billion, while asset and wealth management sales grew 11% to $6.37 billion.

Assets under management gained 16% to $4.8 trillion, boosted by higher market levels and continued net inflows, JPMorgan said. The bank's provision for credit losses declined to $2.51 billion from $3.31 billion in the 2025 quarter, including net charge-offs of $2.3 billion.

The lender expects net interest income of about $103 billion for full-year 2026, according to an earnings presentation.

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