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Dick Bove States "Wells Fargo Is Proving Itself To Be A Standout" Nine Hours Before He Downgrades To A Sell

Tyler Durden's picture




Can someone please explain why Mr. Bove noted on CNBC that Wells Fargo is proving "itself to be a standout" in the banking industry (2:30 into the clip), that it "would help push the market higher," and that is it the big winner in today's earnings derby, a mere nine hours before he ends up downgrading the company to a SELL? Perhaps, the SEC can advise on that particular conundrum.

 




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Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:18 | Link to Comment Bear
Bear's picture

Fundamentals changed ... Will wonders never cease?

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:53 | Link to Comment Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson's picture

Dick Bove changed his mind because he got hit by Caruso & Cabrera after the interview.

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3238/michellecarusocabrera.jpg

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 02:11 | Link to Comment _Biggs_
_Biggs_'s picture

Dick loves the smell of WFC in the morning...

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:20 | Link to Comment RobotTrader
RobotTrader's picture

Funny how skittish the herd is.

All it takes is one guy to utter a downgrade and the entire Wildebeest Herd gets spooked and sells anything and everything en masse.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:37 | Link to Comment Village Idiot
Village Idiot's picture

Would you mind posting that wildebeest chart again?

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:43 | Link to Comment Miyagi_san
Miyagi_san's picture

RF afta hours

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:40 | Link to Comment Careless Whisper
Careless Whisper's picture

I think this is the same guy I ran in to back in the day when he was at Honest John's Used Cars.

http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/used_cardealer_photo.jpg

FREE SERGEY

ARREST LLOYD

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:24 | Link to Comment Rollerball
Rollerball's picture

Hubris + greed + kevlar.  

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:25 | Link to Comment TraderMark
TraderMark's picture

to be fair he had a full 60 seconds to analyze WFC report before the CNBC live shot in the morning

 

of course that is more time than most "investors" spend nowadays "analyzing" a "headline" before deciding its time to get HAL9000 buying or selling a stock.

 

He obviously went back to his office and said HOLY SCHMOLEY - so this is what happens when I actually have time to look at a report before talking about it on TeeVee.

Its just plain stupid for CNBC to have anyone talk about an earnings report with out at least... oh ... 15 minutes to review it?

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:57 | Link to Comment SilverIsKing
SilverIsKing's picture

You make that statement like he had no prior knowledge of WFC's business and no indication of how their business was doing.  He's a fucking shyster like the rest of them.  Anyone who bought WFC this morning after his appearance and then took a loss by the end of the day should sue him personally.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:52 | Link to Comment HEHEHE
HEHEHE's picture

No kidding.  To be fair he's f'g bank analyst.  It's his f'g job to know the current status and future outlook of every bank he covers.  He's Santa Shyster!

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 01:57 | Link to Comment I am a Man I am...
I am a Man I am Forty's picture

Well here's a novel idea.  Why don't you tell them you haven't had enough time to review/digest the information?  

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:27 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:41 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

And from what I can tell they do as fine a job with the football conference as they do with their oversight of the US markets.

Double the fun from one little ole government agency. Now that's change I can believe in.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:40 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

Hey now, outside potable water the SEC (football) is the best thing to happen to mankind.  Better recognize.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:42 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Sorry, forgot to turn the sarcasm light on.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:38 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:34 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:35 | Link to Comment snorkeler
snorkeler's picture

Classic

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:38 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:51 | Link to Comment Grandpa Bear Hug
Grandpa Bear Hug's picture

Hour 1 & 2: prep for CNBC

Hour 3 &4: actually take the time to read the report

Hour 4.5: call an emergency meeting with trading desk and share findings

Hour 4.5 to 5: call temp service to bring in telemarketing staff

Hour 5 to 6: get on the phone with all institutional clients to share opinion and sell stock and roll proceeds to NOV PUTS (told clients earlier in the year this was a generational buying opportunity)

Hour 6 and 8: let the trading desks work their magic

Hour 9: let the cat out of the bag

Simple plan and feel free to forward to Mary Shapiro

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:51 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

B.O.H.I.C.A.

Bend Over Here It Comes Again

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:56 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

Please, this time, be a sport and use some lubrication for crying out loud.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 01:18 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

I was referring to the thoughtful and professional actions from this stupid DICK (Bove) in the video clip.  Were you recommending that I offer lubrication for the sake of The Princess (avatar), or were you asking that lubrication be used by the DICK (Bove)?

(On second thought, I think that I missed the sarcasm light, too.)

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 04:48 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

I was on board with your "dick" angle but I felt that your comment applied to the fact that lubrication is needed by EVERYONE.

I don't care if you're making money in this market or not these days, if you're alive, you're being told to bend over.

I do find that the intelligence of ZH is amazing and so often there are more than two angles of view on any comment. Is there such a thing as a quadruple entendre?

Come on by, we'll leave the (sarcasm) light on.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:55 | Link to Comment Unscarred
Unscarred's picture

I'm totally on board with your take on the intelligence of ZH, and  I especially appreciate your perspectives.  I find them to be very outside the box and totally objective.

I also agree that pretty much everyone needs to be lubricated in order to accept anything that they don't want to hear.  It's unfortunate, but it's reality.

And definitely leave the (sarcasm) light on, but please, no more discussion about being on board with my "dick" angle, please...

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:11 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

May your angle dangle.

Sometime around May of 2007 I began the practice of carrying my own personal tube of K-Y jelly (red pepper variant in order to give something back) for those increasing frequent times when I'm accosted in my place of work, worship or leisure and the fucker didn't think ahead to bring the lube.

Seeing how it's my sphincter that's being stretched, one can never been prepared enough. Since we are often an unwilling (and thus usually unprepared) fuckee, I also carry an extra tube in the car and purchase it by the case. 

But that's just me.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:42 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

If I hadn't made me, I would've been made somehow
If I hadn't assembled myself, I'd have fallen apart by now
If I hadn't made me, I'd be more inclined to bow
Powers that be, would have swallowed me up
But that's more than I can allow
Bow yeah, bow yeah
If you let them make you, they'll make you paper mache
At a distance you're strong, until the wind comes
Then you crumble and blow away
If you let them fuck you, there will be no fore-play
Rest assured, they'll screw you complete
Til your ass is blue and gray

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 18:57 | Link to Comment cplusplusandloathing
cplusplusandloathing's picture

Bad things:

1.  He made a recommendation on 5 seconds of thoughts in his head and changed his mind after a few hours of looking at charts (fyi:  that's bullshit).

2.  He was holding and wanted to dump later today after juicing another 1-2% return.

So, he's impetuous and stupid or a crook...He's boned.

 

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:00 | Link to Comment SilverIsKing
SilverIsKing's picture

1. He had plenty of time to opine on WFC, days, weeks, months, years.

2. Maybe he went short in the morning.

Yup, boned is the right word.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:39 | Link to Comment You Cant Handle...
You Cant Handle the Truth's picture

aka:  Fool or knave.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:02 | Link to Comment demsco
demsco's picture

Pick-a-pay loans book value, $57B, LTV value range 81% to 155% (average 105%) carrying value of the mortgages $37B + NOT GOOD. $6.5B in CRE losses building. I wouldn't buy this piece of crap with your money that you borrowed from your worst enemy.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:09 | Link to Comment geopol
geopol's picture

Only because Quick was interviewing him.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:20 | Link to Comment HEHEHE
HEHEHE's picture

Outstanding news from Santa's Evil Twin.  If you are a big enough dipsh*t to believe anything this clown has to say you deserve to lose money.  It was self-evident WFC's eating Wachovia was going to cause the same diarrhea BAC got from Merrill.  I won't be suprised if that entire transaction gets the Rakoff treatment at some point.  All of a sudden this Santa Claus lookin' ass-clown comes to this realization?!?!

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:32 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:33 | Link to Comment long-shorty
long-shorty's picture

Bove always alternates between notes about how undervalued the banks are one day and notes about their challenges the next. This is just more rapid-cycling than usual. How this man can move the market, let alone hold a job, is a wonder.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:44 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

When you're a puppet, all you need to do is dance.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:37 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:40 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:42 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:46 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:53 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:52 | Link to Comment Steak
Steak's picture

In a world of MAX PAIN for traders, the market falling just short of the 50% fib makes perfect sense.  Kinda like the DXY breaking 75 today (what the momos n techies were waiting for) and then reversing most egregiously.  Happy hunting.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:13 | Link to Comment jm
jm's picture

Implied correlation says no.  It shot up with VIX and then got itself together at the end of the day.

Doesn't look like a panic situation/sandpile collapse/meta market engineered collapse IMHO.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 19:55 | Link to Comment max2205
max2205's picture

Flash: Bove found dead in Bennies pool and ale bar.  bulls eye'd up the butt with a pool stick, GS limo screached away say drunken witnesses.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:04 | Link to Comment walküre
walküre's picture

Great promo effort. He pumped the stocks this morning on an otherwise dismal reporting day only to "clarify" and downgrade after he and his buddies cashed in.

Folks, it's not an easy job nowadays to pump and dump stocks.

Tomorrow's unemployment numbers could also have to do with market performance in last half hour. Dick Dove is just the fall guy du jour.

Galleon liquidation is not small potatoes either.

$81 oil on 1.4 mln barrel inventory buildup. LOL.

This promo has been overdone and the dumping will start soon.

Get out now or forever loose your shirt.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:08 | Link to Comment AN0NYM0US
AN0NYM0US's picture

agree that Raj's shop had something to do with this, having said that I am sure that DB is savoring his elevation to the status of Prechter

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:05 | Link to Comment AN0NYM0US
AN0NYM0US's picture

at the risk of ruining whatever reputation Anonymous might have, Dr. Bove did qualify his view of Wells pending his review of the data on delinquencies - it seems that Becky and her friends had summoned  Dickey on  'short' notice (i.e. a  fill-in for no show MW)

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:29 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:10 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

(i.e. a  fill-in for no show MW)

maybe MW had a last minute breakfast invite from sheila bair?

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:20 | Link to Comment lizzy36
lizzy36's picture

no, she was @ ars book party last night. 

as was becky. 

perhpas mw was a tad hungover.......

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:30 | Link to Comment LoneStarHog
LoneStarHog's picture

Isn't Bovine's performance today kinda obvious? He is desperately attempting to get the attention of Goldman Sucks in hope of securing a high-paying goobermint job with them.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:36 | Link to Comment lsbumblebee
lsbumblebee's picture

I think it's the cart leading the horse. Proclamations from shills like Bove are used as a reason or an excuse for market behavior that doesn't make sense unless it's recognized as pure manipulation.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:42 | Link to Comment Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

One would hope that Bove and other bank analysts like him would understand the state of the banks they cover and have the capacity to review a balance sheet.  Sadly, this appears to be a classic "expert" pump and dump operation. Unfortunately there is no cop on the beat since all the cops become robbers while the robbers become cops and the so called markets have become one giant GSE free for all.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 07:31 | Link to Comment Sqworl
Sqworl's picture

PLEASE DON'T TELL OBAMA WHAT COMES AFTER A TRILLION.... bumper sticker in NYC.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:36 | Link to Comment Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

Sign of the times fo sho.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:43 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 20:53 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:08 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

Wow.  He seems like such a kindly old man.  What a wonderful way to mask the fact that he's a horrible, incompetent, lying old cunt.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:26 | Link to Comment stoverny
stoverny's picture

"Because it's wreckable, alright? I took another look at it, I changed my mind."

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:28 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:30 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:32 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:40 | Link to Comment vicelord
vicelord's picture

Yeah, I'm on the West Coast, so when Bove had all those nice things to say about WFC this morning, I was half asleep.  But not asleep enough to not notice the futures started going up when he said that.  When their earnings were 1st announced, the stock went up a little on the news, after about 3 or 4 minutes of shorts covering just because they thought they were being forced to, it started to sell off.  That's when he made the comments you're referring to.  The stock made a slow climb in pre and then took off at the bell.

 

Hours later, when he said, "Sell"  I thought maybe I had dreamed the whole thing.  That was one of the strangest occurrences I can remember.  And the funny thing is no one on CNBC mentioned the contradiction at all.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:40 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:41 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 21:56 | Link to Comment Johnny G.
Johnny G.'s picture

He also said Lehman was worth at least $20 a share a week before they fulded.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:00 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:07 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

What I don't get is, the MSM goes on and on trying to find a reason for a 17 point turnaround in the S&P, but for the rest of my life I will never forget the day back in the spring when I went to take a piss about 20 minutes before the close, came back 5 minutes later, and the S&P had cranked up 20 points from when I left, and this was when it was in the 700/800s.

Not a fucking soul in the MSM tried to explain that move.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 01:45 | Link to Comment _Biggs_
_Biggs_'s picture

g_F_i- I was on the treadmill watching CNBC (only lifeline) at the gym into the close....got home and holy shit.  (((Poof)))-ba-bye 10% of ETFC profits.  So much for having my finger on the trigger.  I think I read someone said earlier this smells like fear.  +10. 

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:15 | Link to Comment lsbumblebee
lsbumblebee's picture

Bullshit website quotes bullshit analyst to explain bullshit. Since all this bullshit is respected by the authorities it must be true.

According to this article, Bove's credentials are as follows:

1) He is "noted".

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-tumble-into-red-after-bove-cu...

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:20 | Link to Comment R.A.G.
R.A.G.'s picture

A man buying a suit of clothes imagines that he is choosing, according to his taste and his personality, the kind of garment which he prefers.

 

...Different men rule us in the various departments of our lives. There may be one power behind the throne in politics, another in the manipulations of the Federal discount rate, and still another in the dictation of next season's dances. If there were a national invisible cabinet ruling our destinies (a thing which is not impossible to conceive of), it would work through certain group leaders on Tuesday for one purpose, and through an entirely different set on Wednesday for another.

Edward Bernays, Propaganda (New York: H. Liveright, 1928), pp.62-3.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:25 | Link to Comment lsbumblebee
lsbumblebee's picture

I read the book. I thought it was pretty dry, but still very interesting, and useful.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:21 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:24 | Link to Comment rhinotrader
rhinotrader's picture

Ghost, I hear you. The mkt moves much faster up then it ever moves down now. I have been eviscerated on no news, fake moves and currency fuk you very much's. C'mon, today moved up 14 pts on no news!!!!!!!!!!! We have a 2-4% move up every week on no news. I have never seen that....ever..... 20 years trading.....nothing...

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:24 | Link to Comment rhinotrader
rhinotrader's picture

Ghost, I hear you. The mkt moves much faster up then it ever moves down now. I have been eviscerated on no news, fake moves and currency fuk you very much's. C'mon, today moved up 14 pts on no news!!!!!!!!!!! We have a 2-4% move up every week on no news. I have never seen that....ever..... 20 years trading.....nothing...

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:26 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:35 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:36 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:39 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:48 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:03 | Link to Comment bluedobie
bluedobie's picture

Because the dollar is continuing to crash and the policymakers are getting scared.  It's time to take some air out of the market and try to pump some life back into the old greenback.  Unfortunately, although the market sold off as planned, the dollar did not rally but continued its slide.  OOPS!

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:07 | Link to Comment Road Runner
Road Runner's picture

Dick Bove needs to go on "Squawk" tomorrow morning and explain himself.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 01:16 | Link to Comment arnoldsimage
arnoldsimage's picture

and after he finishes... he needs to bury his face in michelle cabruso cabrera's chest and ask for forgiveness.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:24 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:43 | Link to Comment McLuvin
McLuvin's picture

Bove keeps two sets of books for his track record.  Six months from now he will cite today as his prescient call on WFC.

 

repost.

Wed, 10/21/2009 - 23:44 | Link to Comment Big Red
Big Red's picture

I didn't know how to pronounce this Dick's last name, I had it as one syllable...

You know, like that terminally rerun Brit Comedy on PBS's, where the last

name is spelled Bucket, but is pronounced "bouquet". Wait, that smell ref is ANOTHER similarity!

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:01 | Link to Comment Dr Hackenbush
Dr Hackenbush's picture

an 'elitist' shot across the Obama bow (make you/break you) and Bove the perfect dupe!  Meanwhile the SEC busy with ‘fiddle’ app for their new IPOD…………….

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:01 | Link to Comment Comrade de Chaos
Comrade de Chaos's picture

"Wells’ profit of $3.2 billion, or 56 cents a share, beat expectations, but Bove noted that the bank earned a stunning $3.6 billion from a hedging strategy related to its mortgage-servicing rights -- a gain that may be difficult or impossible to repeat."

ROFL

 

is it me, or does it sound like someone shorted their own books, wonder who was the other side of the hedge?

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:17 | Link to Comment Crab Cake
Crab Cake's picture

I call mulligan, what this country needs is a total do over.  The car is totalled yo.  There's no fixing it. 

 

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:20 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 02:47 | Link to Comment Circumspice
Circumspice's picture

I didn't know how to pronounce this Dick's last name, I had it as one syllable...

Just call him Dick. Dick X. Any mention of Bove will prompt my treasurer to call him a "fucking moron," so that'll do too.

is it me, or does it sound like someone shorted their own books, wonder who was the other side of the hedge?

Well, yeah, you have to short parts of your book to hedge it. They're MSR economic hedges. I was wondering about what constitutes those too, so I checked WFC's 2Q 10-Q. They hedge primarily with swaps, swaptions, forwards, ED and Treasury futures, etc. At the most complex I think they use some equity-linked CDs. Regardless, they're probably marked to market. If you look at page 42 of their news release you can see how the hedges match up against fair value changes in MSRs (pretty well):

https://www.wellsfargo.com/pdf/press/3q09pr.pdf

Dunno, seems to me like worst-case scenario Wells isn't pessimistic enough on the MSR valuation side, but that has nothing to do with the hedges. And net, over the last four quarters the change in FV for MSRs has been offset by the hedges, so, you know, the hedges are doing what they're supposed to.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:10 | Link to Comment Ben Graham Redux
Ben Graham Redux's picture

The other side of the trade was anyone shorting the long end of the yield curve.  Wells essentially bet the ranch on long dated Treasuries and it worked because the Fed was buying the long end.  Now the question is what will happen to the long end of the curve with the end of Quantitative Easing.  Is it the right time to short the long end of the curve?

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:36 | Link to Comment Green Sharts
Green Sharts's picture

I would think that hedging MSRs, which has always been an inexact science, would be harder than ever. Historically if rates dropped there would have been a flood of refinancings that would have hurt the value of existing MSRs by shortening the duration of existing mortgages. With a lot of mortgages at very high LTVs and tightened lending standards I'd think the value of MSRs would decline less now relative to a drop in mortgage rates than would have been the case a few years ago because fewer people can refinance. In addition, the number of home sales has gone down because of tightened lending standards, fewer relocations, etc. Those factors would also tend to make MSRs worth more as the duration of existing mortgages would be higher than normal.

Those factors would be offset to some degree by increased defaults and foreclosures which shorten mortgage durations and would make existing MSRs worth less.

Wells and some of the other banks may have gains from MSR hedging because mortgage rates declined and it had less negative effect on MSR rights than they anticipated, or in other words they turned out to be overhedged against a decline in rates so the decline worked in their favor. That is not what I'd call high quality earnings, something that could be counted on to recur and that you could put a high multiple of earnings against when valuing the bank.

In any event, if the change in fair value of MSRs has roughly been offset by hedges over time and one assumes that would continue to be the case (even if not for a few quarters while the banks catch up to changes in the relationship between interest rate changes and mortgage durations), it would make sense to take out the gain or loss on MSR hedging in a given quarter to get a better picture of a bank's core earnings.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:46 | Link to Comment Ben Graham Redux
Ben Graham Redux's picture

You're thinking like an analyst.  Instead, consider that you've got a book of MSR's that will need to be foreclosed on if not refinanced.  You know that you're going to refinance and you know that Quanitative Easing will allow you to make up for your losses by owning the long end.  In essence, the Fed negated $3.5 billion in losses while alos pumping the housing market with cheaper mortgages thanks to Fed buying and bank buying.  They also got to destroy speculators betting against the long end of the curve.  It is a win-win-win situation.  Lastly, while I agree with quality of earnings, most people today trade on headlines not underlying cash flow.

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 06:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:08 | Link to Comment Anonymous
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