Bank Of America Reports Q4 Adjusted Preliminary EPS $0.04 Vs. $0.22 Est.; Revenues $22.7B Vs. $24.8B Est. (BAC)

Bank of America Corporation

today reported a net loss of $1.2 billion, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2010, including the previously announced goodwill impairment charge of $2.0 billion in the Home Loans and Insurance segment. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, the company earned $756 million, or $ 0.04 per share. 1 Excluding the goodwill impairment charge from certain financial measures represents a non-GAAP measure. For reconciliation to GAAP measures, refer to page 25 of this press release. Results for the most recent quarter also include a $4.1 billion provision expense for outstanding and future mortgage repurchase claims, including the previously announced $3.0 billion related to the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs). Also included in the company's fourth-quarter results are $1.5 billion in litigation expenses, excluding fees paid to external legal service providers, primarily in the company's consumer businesses, and lower sales and trading revenues. These factors were partially offset by the continued reduction in credit costs, approximately $360 million in net gains from the sale of non-core assets, and a $1.2 billion income tax benefit from a valuation allowance release. For the year, Bank of America had goodwill impairment charges of $12.4 billion, which resulted in a net loss of $2.2 billion, or $0.37 per diluted share. Excluding the goodwill impairment charges, the company earned $10.2 billion, or $0.86 per diluted share. During the year, the company also recorded $2.6 billion in litigation expenses, $6.8 billion in representations and warranties provision and $321 million in gains related to legacy assets as it made significant progress resolving legacy issues. “Last year was a necessary repair and rebuilding year,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan. “Our results reflect the progress we are making at putting legacy – primarily mortgage-related – issues behind us. We earned $10.2 billion before goodwill impairment charges, rebuilt our capital positions, reduced the risk on our balance sheet, and shed more than $19 billion in assets that didn't directly serve customers and clients. “We enter 2011 with the best customer franchise in the business against a backdrop of an improving economy. Full economic recovery depends on housing market stability. We will return value to shareholders by focusing on customers and clients, continuing to build capital, and executing our strategy.”