In a recent move, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) has announced the designation of a new series of preferred stock. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company has created the "6.85% Fixed Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series FF," with 80,000 shares authorized, each holding a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share.
The announcement, made on Monday, comes after the company filed a Certificate of Designation with the Delaware Secretary of State on Friday, July 19, 2024. The filing details the voting powers, preferences, and other special rights of the Series FF Preferred Stock, which are not fixed by the company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Furthermore, on Tuesday, Wells Fargo completed the sale of 2,000,000 Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/25th interest in a share of the Series FF Preferred Stock. This move is part of the company's efforts to raise capital and was facilitated by an underwriting agreement dated July 16, 2024, between Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, acting as the representative of the several underwriters involved.
The Depositary Shares were registered under the company's existing Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269514) with the SEC. Accompanying the SEC filing, Wells Fargo also submitted several other documents including the underwriting agreement, the Certificate of Designation, a Deposit Agreement, a form of Depositary Receipt, and legal opinions regarding the validity of the new preferred stock and related agreements.
This strategic financial decision by Wells Fargo is based on a press release statement and aligns with the company's ongoing management of its capital structure. The new Series FF Preferred Stock is set to enhance the company's financial flexibility, although the filing does not elaborate on the intended use of proceeds from the sale of Depositary Shares.
Investors and market watchers now have access to the new preferred stock, which is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under a yet-to-be-announced ticker symbol.
In other recent news, Wall Street banks, including Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), have reported robust performances in equity trading. Bank of America saw a 20% increase in revenue from equities trading, reaching $1.9 billion, while Morgan Stanley experienced an 18% surge, amounting to $3 billion. Goldman Sachs also reported a 7% rise in equities revenue to $3.17 billion.
On the other hand, Wells Fargo has been maintaining a neutral stance with a $63 target, as per Citi's analysis, due to a softer net interest income (NII) outlook. The bank's future expectations include a full-year 2024 NII that is 8-9% lower than in 2023. BMO (TSX:BMO) Capital Markets updated its price target for Wells Fargo shares to $59.00, maintaining a Market Perform rating.
In response to Wells Fargo's second-quarter financial results, which showcased a robust performance in capital markets fees but also presented a less optimistic full-year guidance, BMO Capital Markets' projections for future earnings remain largely unchanged. Despite a decrease in net interest income and average loans, Wells Fargo saw positive growth in average deposits across all customer-facing businesses.
These are recent developments as Wells Fargo continues its transformation journey. The bank's ability to manage costs and sustain fee income growth will be critical factors in achieving the projected financial metrics and valuation.
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