By Ken Sweet
AP Business Writer
Investment bank Goldman Sachs said its first quarter profits dropped by 56 percent from a year earlier, as the Wall Street firm was not immune from the difficult trading environment last quarter that hurt much of its competition.
Goldman earned $1.2 billion, or $2.68 per share, in the first quarter after payments to preferred stockholders. That's down from $2.75 billion, or $5.94 per share, in the same quarter a year earlier.
The results beat Wall Street's forecasts. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.57 per share.
Goldman's trading desks, often considered among the best in the business, were hit hard last quarter. Revenue from fixed income, currency and commodities trading was $1.66 billion in the quarter, down 47 percent from a year earlier. Stock trading revenue was $1.78 billion, down 23 percent.
"The operating environment this quarter presented a broad range of challenges, resulting in headwinds across virtually every one of our businesses," said Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein in a prepared statement.
Another key part of Goldman's business, advising companies on deals, was hurt by the volatile markets last as corporate deal making was put on hold last quarter. Fees from financial advising were down 20 percent in the quarter and underwriting revenue was down 27 percent.
Goldman posted total revenue of $6.34 billion in the period, down 40 percent from a year earlier, which fell short of analysts' forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $7.12 billion.
Goldman's stock rose $3.61, or 2.3 percent, to $162.66 in early trading.
Published: Thu, Apr 21, 2016
