Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Meredith Whitney and Housing/Banks Discussion

This is a rather long interview and there are moments within where the train of thought and pattern of conversation feels awkward.  The most important points I heard were:


1.  while credit has stabilized and housing prices have stabilized, the nonperforming assets (aged 120d+) of the banks has ballooned to 1.5X the entire writeoffs of all the banks SINCE 2005!  chargeoffs should be expected in the 2nd -> 3rd -> 4th Q?


2.  expected  mortgage demand down another 40% this year - would be 70% from the peak.


3.  great discussion around bank reserves.


4.  employment will be good next two reporting periods but this will not be sustainable job growth.


5.  reputation is everything - Goldman Sachs and Fraud in the same sentence on the front of every media - its a big deal - things will change.  Goldman is a buy @ $140/shr.


6.  capital standards will be higher - selling assets - more supply - deflation - for those with the dough - a good period lies ahead. 


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