Wells Fargo reports record 1Q profits

Wells Fargo Reports 11 Percent Drop In Quarterly E
Wells Fargo reports record profit in the first quarter of 2009.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

(AP) - Wells Fargo is reporting a record first-quarter profit in line with its forecast.

The San Francisco-based bank, which bought Wachovia last fall at the height of the credit crisis, says it earned $2.38 billion, or 56 cents per share. This compares with a profit of $2 billion, or 60 cents per share, a year earlier.

Before paying preferred dividends, the company earned $3.05 billion.

Total revenue was $21 billion, slightly more than the bank had forecast.

Thomson Reuters says analysts were expecting earnings of 41 cents per share on revenue of $19.37 billion.

Wells Fargo had surprised investors earlier this month when it said it would report a record first-quarter profit of $3 billion, much more than analysts had been expecting.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.