SVB Financial shares are surging after revenue beat on investment banking

By Liz Moyer

Investing.com -- SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ:SIVB) shares were outpacing other stocks in the S&P 500 on Friday, a day after reporting fourth quarter revenue that beat expectations.

While earnings per share of $4.62 were down 36% from the third quarter and missed expectations for $5.31 a share, the bank noted “solid loan growth, record core fees, better-than-expected net interest income, and healthy investment banking activity driven by Biopharma deals,” according to a shareholder letter by CEO Greg Becker.

SVB shares were up more than 16% on Friday, and are up 26% so far this year. That’s a reversal of fortune for the parent of Silicon Valley Bank, which specializes in providing banking services to the venture capital community. Shares are down 55% over 12 months.

Non-interest income in the quarter of $490 million beat the expectation for $488M, driven by a boost in client investment fees and investment banking from the third quarter. 

While rising interest rates have created uncertainty and volatility, the bank said conversations with clients indicate they are positioning themselves for a rapid resumption of activity once the markets stabilize.

“We have seen four consecutive quarters of declining VC investment, but the pace of decline appears to be slowing,” Becker said in the letter. “Each quarter brings us a step closer to the point at which VCs and entrepreneurs find common ground on valuations and the massive amount of dry powder waiting to be deployed is unlocked.”