Citigroup beats estimates on reserve release, says it is exiting 13 retail markets outside the US

Citigroup on Thursday posted results that beat analysts’ estimates for first-quarter profit with strong investment banking revenue and a bigger-than-expected release of loan-loss reserves.

The firm also said it was shuttering retail banking operations in 13 countries across Asia and parts of Europe to focus more on wealth management outside the U.S., one of the first big strategic moves made by CEO Jane Fraser, who took over in February.

Shares of the bank climbed 3.1% in premarket trading.

The bank reported profit of $7.94 billion, or $3.62 a share, exceeding the $2.60 estimate of analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. Revenue of $19.3 billion topped the $18.8 billion estimate.

Citigroup said it had released $3.9 billion in loan-loss reserves in the quarter, which resulted in a $2.06 billion gain after $1.75 billion in credit losses in the period. Analysts had expected a $393.4 million provision in the quarter.

Fraser, who is reporting results for the first quarter at the helm of the country’s third-biggest bank, wasted no time in making changes to the firm’s sprawling global operations. The bank is exiting consumer operations in Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The plan is to focus its non U.S. consumer banking operations on Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE and London — places with a great concentration of wealth, according to Fraser.

“As a result of the ongoing refresh of our strategy, we have decided that we are going to double down on wealth,” Fraser said in the release. The move to focus on the remaining markets “positions us to capture the strong growth and attractive returns the wealth management business offers through these important hubs.”

Citigroup lacked the scale to properly compete in the 13 markets it is leaving, she said. Investment banking operations will continue in markets where the firm is exiting consumer operations, the bank said.

Analysts will be keen to hear more about Fraser’s ultimate vision for the bank, as well as details on her plan to appease regulators who have criticized the firm’s risk management controls.

On Wednesday, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo both posted results that exceeded analysts’ expectations on reserve releases and strong Wall Street revenue, while Goldman Sachs beat estimates on strong advisory and trading results. Earlier Thursday, Bank of America also reported that it beat estimates for reasons similar to its peers.

Shares of Citigroup have climbed 18% so far this year, compared with the 26% advance of the KBW Bank Index.

Here’s what Wall Street expected:

Earnings: $2.60 a share, 147% higher than the year earlier period, according to Refinitiv.

Revenue: $18.8 billion, 9.2% lower than a year earlier.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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