Buffett Era Ends, Attention Turns to Abel's New Strategies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
0mins
Source: Fool
- New CEO Strategy Shift: With Buffett's over sixty-year reign at Berkshire Hathaway ending, the focus is on new CEO Greg Abel's strategies, particularly as the company exited 16 investment positions, indicating a preference for traditional banks.
- Portfolio Restructuring: Berkshire's decision to exit multiple large investments, including Visa and Mastercard, while retaining an 8% stake in Bank of America signals confidence and importance placed on traditional banking.
- Significant Valuation Gap: Bank of America trades at a P/E ratio of 11.6, compared to Visa and Mastercard's 25.1 and 25.4, respectively, highlighting Berkshire's value judgment on traditional banks, which may attract long-term investors.
- Long-term Investment Advice: Despite Berkshire's sale of Visa and Mastercard, its commitment to Bank of America suggests a focus on stable income and reasonable valuations, recommending long-term investors to consider opportunities in Bank of America.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy BAC?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on BAC
Wall Street analysts forecast BAC stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 50.770
Low
55.00
Averages
61.64
High
71.00
Current: 50.770
Low
55.00
Averages
61.64
High
71.00
About BAC
Bank of America Corporation is a bank holding company and a financial holding company. Its segments include Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking and Global Markets. Consumer Banking segment offers a range of credit, banking and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The GWIM includes two businesses: Merrill Wealth Management, which provides tailored solutions to meet clients' needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking and retirement products and Bank of America Private Bank, which provides comprehensive wealth management solutions. Global Banking segment provides a range of lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions, and underwriting and advisory services. Global Markets segment offers sales and trading services and research services to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Bank of America Projects 15% Increase in Q2 Trading Revenue
- Trading Revenue Outlook: Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan stated that trading revenue is expected to rise by 15% in Q2 compared to last year, primarily due to market volatility from increased U.S. tariffs, although caution is advised regarding year-over-year comparisons due to last year's unique conditions.
- Investment Banking Health: Moynihan emphasized that the investment banking sector is in “pretty good shape,” indicating stable market demand and the bank's competitive position in this area, which could lay the groundwork for future revenue growth.
- Wealth Management Revenue Forecast: The wealth management division is projected to see revenue growth in the low teens year-over-year, reflecting ongoing demand for asset management and investment advisory services, highlighting clients' focus on wealth enhancement.
- Market Environment Impact: Despite the high base effect from last year's “liberation quarter,” the volatility in the market and shifts in client demand will significantly influence Bank of America's overall performance, prompting strategic adjustments by the company.
See More
Boston Marathon Fundraising Sets Record at $57.3 Million
- Record Fundraising Total: The 2026 Boston Marathon raised a record $57.3 million through the Bank of America Official Charity Program, representing a 13.7% increase from last year's $50.4 million, which not only sets a new single-year fundraising record but also provides direct support to 193 nonprofit organizations, highlighting the spirit of community and giving.
- Number of Participating Organizations: The event involved 193 organizations, demonstrating that since its inception in 1989, the Official Charity Program has raised over $675 million, further solidifying Bank of America's leadership in supporting social causes.
- BAA Team Contributions: The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) team raised nearly $450,000 during the event to support its mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, particularly running, showcasing the positive impact of athletic activities on community engagement.
- Sustainability Initiatives: The B.A.A. Climate Crew raised $87,000 in its second year to support ongoing sustainability initiatives, indicating the organization's commitment to addressing environmental challenges while promoting community development.
See More
Bank of America Supports Cultural Preservation Initiatives in Canada
- Funding Initiatives: Bank of America announced funding for cultural preservation projects in Montreal and Toronto, notably supporting the restoration of Alice Rahon's 1946 sculpture 'Juggler' at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which is one of only 18 historic artworks globally to receive such a grant, highlighting the firm's commitment to cultural heritage.
- International Conference Sponsorship: As the lead sponsor of the American Institute for Conservation's Annual Meeting held in Montreal, Bank of America has participated for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to cultural preservation and facilitating collaboration among global art conservation professionals.
- Artwork Restoration Plans: The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto also received funding to restore three works by modernist pioneer Pegi Nicol MacLeod, ensuring these significant pieces can be displayed to the public again, thereby enhancing recognition of her artistic legacy.
- Community Partnership Project: During the conference, the AIC collaborated with McGill University's Redpath Museum to improve storage conditions for the museum's collections, further showcasing Bank of America's vital role in promoting art preservation and community development.
See More
Private Credit Defaults Expected to Rise to Record Levels
- Rising Default Rates: According to S&P, private credit defaults are expected to increase from 4.4% to 9-10%, primarily driven by the implications of the AI cycle, which may exacerbate risks associated with corporate loans and undermine investor confidence.
- Software Sector Pressure: The software industry accounts for 19% of private credit collateralized loan obligations, and as growth slows and margins compress, the repayment capacity of these loans is expected to be negatively impacted, adding to market uncertainty.
- Liquidity Crisis: With constrained liquidity, investors are beginning to attempt to withdraw funds, particularly with significant withdrawal requests anticipated in June, which could exert further pressure on the market and lead to more default events.
- Pension Fund Risks: While some large state pension funds continue to maintain investments in private credit, their significant risk exposure could have spillover effects on the broader financial markets, especially given that banks have loaned approximately $300 billion to private credit, potentially putting retail investors at risk.
See More
Bank of America Preferred Stock Dividend History Analysis
- Dividend Overview: Bank of America (BAC.PRN) recently declared a dividend of $0.3125 per share, reflecting the stability of its 5.000% non-cumulative preferred stock, which enhances investor confidence in the stock.
- ETF Impact Analysis: Bank of America comprises 7.94% of the First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF (FTXO), which is trading lower by about 0.7% on the day, indicating the bank's significance in the financial market despite the ETF's decline.
- Stock Performance Comparison: In Thursday trading, Bank of America's preferred stock (BAC.PRN) rose about 0.5%, while the common shares (BAC) fell about 0.4%, demonstrating the relative stability of preferred shares amid market fluctuations.
- Investor Focus: Market analysts suggest paying attention to S.A.F.E. dividend stocks with preferred shares, indicating that investor preference for stable income may influence future investment decisions.
See More
IBM Invests $5 Billion in New Cybersecurity Platform
- Significant Investment: IBM has announced a $5 billion investment in a new cybersecurity platform aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in open-source software, which not only underscores the company's commitment to cybersecurity but also enhances its competitive position in the enterprise market.
- Project Partnerships: Dubbed Project Lightwell, the initiative has already attracted major U.S. banks such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Bank of America as early adopters, indicating strong market confidence and demand for IBM's new platform.
- Innovation Driven by Technology: CEO Arvind Krishna noted that Anthropic's Mythos model was a pivotal factor in driving this investment, highlighting the potential of large language models to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in code, which could reshape the cybersecurity landscape.
- Collaborative Industry Outlook: IBM and Red Hat are dedicating 20,000 software engineers to assist partners in securing software, with Krishna emphasizing that cybersecurity firms should be viewed as partners rather than competitors, a collaborative approach that could enhance overall industry security capabilities.
See More
Bank of America Projects 15% Increase in Q2 Trading Revenue
- Trading Revenue Outlook: Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan stated that trading revenue is expected to rise by 15% in Q2 compared to last year, primarily due to market volatility from increased U.S. tariffs, although caution is advised regarding year-over-year comparisons due to last year's unique conditions.
- Investment Banking Health: Moynihan emphasized that the investment banking sector is in “pretty good shape,” indicating stable market demand and the bank's competitive position in this area, which could lay the groundwork for future revenue growth.
- Wealth Management Revenue Forecast: The wealth management division is projected to see revenue growth in the low teens year-over-year, reflecting ongoing demand for asset management and investment advisory services, highlighting clients' focus on wealth enhancement.
- Market Environment Impact: Despite the high base effect from last year's “liberation quarter,” the volatility in the market and shifts in client demand will significantly influence Bank of America's overall performance, prompting strategic adjustments by the company.
See More
Boston Marathon Fundraising Sets Record at $57.3 Million
- Record Fundraising Total: The 2026 Boston Marathon raised a record $57.3 million through the Bank of America Official Charity Program, representing a 13.7% increase from last year's $50.4 million, which not only sets a new single-year fundraising record but also provides direct support to 193 nonprofit organizations, highlighting the spirit of community and giving.
- Number of Participating Organizations: The event involved 193 organizations, demonstrating that since its inception in 1989, the Official Charity Program has raised over $675 million, further solidifying Bank of America's leadership in supporting social causes.
- BAA Team Contributions: The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) team raised nearly $450,000 during the event to support its mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, particularly running, showcasing the positive impact of athletic activities on community engagement.
- Sustainability Initiatives: The B.A.A. Climate Crew raised $87,000 in its second year to support ongoing sustainability initiatives, indicating the organization's commitment to addressing environmental challenges while promoting community development.
See More
Bank of America Supports Cultural Preservation Initiatives in Canada
- Funding Initiatives: Bank of America announced funding for cultural preservation projects in Montreal and Toronto, notably supporting the restoration of Alice Rahon's 1946 sculpture 'Juggler' at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, which is one of only 18 historic artworks globally to receive such a grant, highlighting the firm's commitment to cultural heritage.
- International Conference Sponsorship: As the lead sponsor of the American Institute for Conservation's Annual Meeting held in Montreal, Bank of America has participated for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to cultural preservation and facilitating collaboration among global art conservation professionals.
- Artwork Restoration Plans: The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto also received funding to restore three works by modernist pioneer Pegi Nicol MacLeod, ensuring these significant pieces can be displayed to the public again, thereby enhancing recognition of her artistic legacy.
- Community Partnership Project: During the conference, the AIC collaborated with McGill University's Redpath Museum to improve storage conditions for the museum's collections, further showcasing Bank of America's vital role in promoting art preservation and community development.
See More
Private Credit Defaults Expected to Rise to Record Levels
- Rising Default Rates: According to S&P, private credit defaults are expected to increase from 4.4% to 9-10%, primarily driven by the implications of the AI cycle, which may exacerbate risks associated with corporate loans and undermine investor confidence.
- Software Sector Pressure: The software industry accounts for 19% of private credit collateralized loan obligations, and as growth slows and margins compress, the repayment capacity of these loans is expected to be negatively impacted, adding to market uncertainty.
- Liquidity Crisis: With constrained liquidity, investors are beginning to attempt to withdraw funds, particularly with significant withdrawal requests anticipated in June, which could exert further pressure on the market and lead to more default events.
- Pension Fund Risks: While some large state pension funds continue to maintain investments in private credit, their significant risk exposure could have spillover effects on the broader financial markets, especially given that banks have loaned approximately $300 billion to private credit, potentially putting retail investors at risk.
See More
Bank of America Preferred Stock Dividend History Analysis
- Dividend Overview: Bank of America (BAC.PRN) recently declared a dividend of $0.3125 per share, reflecting the stability of its 5.000% non-cumulative preferred stock, which enhances investor confidence in the stock.
- ETF Impact Analysis: Bank of America comprises 7.94% of the First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF (FTXO), which is trading lower by about 0.7% on the day, indicating the bank's significance in the financial market despite the ETF's decline.
- Stock Performance Comparison: In Thursday trading, Bank of America's preferred stock (BAC.PRN) rose about 0.5%, while the common shares (BAC) fell about 0.4%, demonstrating the relative stability of preferred shares amid market fluctuations.
- Investor Focus: Market analysts suggest paying attention to S.A.F.E. dividend stocks with preferred shares, indicating that investor preference for stable income may influence future investment decisions.
See More
IBM Invests $5 Billion in New Cybersecurity Platform
- Significant Investment: IBM has announced a $5 billion investment in a new cybersecurity platform aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in open-source software, which not only underscores the company's commitment to cybersecurity but also enhances its competitive position in the enterprise market.
- Project Partnerships: Dubbed Project Lightwell, the initiative has already attracted major U.S. banks such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Bank of America as early adopters, indicating strong market confidence and demand for IBM's new platform.
- Innovation Driven by Technology: CEO Arvind Krishna noted that Anthropic's Mythos model was a pivotal factor in driving this investment, highlighting the potential of large language models to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in code, which could reshape the cybersecurity landscape.
- Collaborative Industry Outlook: IBM and Red Hat are dedicating 20,000 software engineers to assist partners in securing software, with Krishna emphasizing that cybersecurity firms should be viewed as partners rather than competitors, a collaborative approach that could enhance overall industry security capabilities.
See More
