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Now that Alcoa has separated into two businesses, it no longer leads off earnings season. That crown has fallen on the big banks as they all report close together near the start of earnings season.

Bank shares have been soaring at the end of 2017 as the economy has heated up and on anticipation that the Federal Reserve would be raising interest rates again next year.

Many of them also have excellent earnings surprise track records. Can they keep that up this quarter?

And will they set a bullish tone for the rest of earnings season?

5 Big Bank Earnings Charts to Start the Earnings Season

1. Wells Fargo (WFC – Free Report) has only missed twice in the last 5 years. Given its PR issues, the shares haven’t been quite as strong as some of its competitors but in 2018 they have broken out to new highs. Is a bigger rally still to come?

2. PNC Financial (PNC – Free Report) has missed just once, and that was in 2016. Shares of this big regional bank have been on a tear and are trading near new highs.  

3. JP Morgan (JPM – Free Report) has beaten 8 quarters in a row. Shares have broken out to new 5-year highs in 2018. CEO Jamie Dimon usually helms the conference call and it has become “must listen” for his take on the banking sector and the economy.

4. First Republic Bank (FRC – Free Report) is a large bank that specializes in wealth management in the San Francisco Bay Area. It had a good beat record until the last 2 quarters where it has suddenly missed on the estimate. Shares have pulled back. Can it get its mojo back?

5. Citigroup (C – Free Report) has one of the hottest of the big bank stocks. Shares are trading at new 5-year highs. The last time it missed on earnings was in 2015. Can it keep its current hot streak in place?