Bank stocks have taken a beating this year. Over the last six months, the Financial Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE: XLF) is down nearly 10% as volatility and global trade fears sapped investor confidence.
You see, many investors expected rising interest rates and the 2017 tax reform law to drive the financial sector to consistent highs in 2018. However, unfavorable trends in global trade and increased volatility have kept bank stocks from realizing their real profit potential.
However, that's all about to change...
Over the last week, XLF jumped over 3% as financial giants like Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) blew away Wall Street's estimates and delivered stellar earnings reports.
Despite the small pop, bank stocks are still undervalued - giving smart investors a breakout profit opportunity at bargain prices.
And we've identified the best bank stock to buy as the financial sector finally begins to break out in 2018....
Q2 Bank Earnings Prove That the Best Is Yet to Come
Over the course of 2018, a wave of negative press and financial fearmongering held bank stocks back from their real profit potential.
However, Wall Street's fear has been completely unwarranted.
Earlier this year, we reported on two important catalysts that have the potential to turbocharge the financial sector and make investors a killing in the process.
Life-Changing Profit Potential: One tiny firm is rapidly developing the parts for a game-changing technology - and the gains from its stock, trading for less than $10, could turn every $1,000 invested into $4,719. Learn more...
The first catalyst was the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017.
Under the new law, the nation's corporate tax rate was slashed from 35% to 21%, giving banks an immense tax break. Both JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) estimated they would end up paying an effective tax rate of 19% in 2018, well below the corporate average.
The new law also includes a 20% deduction on income for corporations organized as pass-through companies. Since a third of the nation's banks are structured as "pass-throughs," there's likely to be a significant boost in earnings and capital liquidity for thousands of smaller banks as well.
The second catalyst is significant financial deregulation...
On May 24, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. This bill removed a statute instituted by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act labeling banks with more than $50 billion or more in assets as "systemically important financial institutions."
The federal repeal of this measure raises the qualification of "systemically" important from $50 billion to $250 billion - a 500% increase.
As a result, it reduced the number of "systemically important" banks from 38 to a grand total of eight. These 30 other banks maintain a combined $5.3 trillion in assets - 25% of all of the assets of the financial sector.
This Book Could Make You a Millionaire: The secrets in this book have produced 42 chances to double, triple, and even quadruple your money this year alone. Claim your free copy...
With 30 of the nation's largest financial institutions free to aggressively grow profits though investing, banks' return on equity (ROE) is set to skyrocket. In fact, ROE is already growing at an average rate of 28% - faster than any rate over the last 10 years.
As a result, banks are going to be able to generate spectacular profits - and make a killing for investors in the process.
This week's earnings reports are a clear indication that both the tax reform law and broad deregulation are turbocharging the financial sector's profits.
Last week, Bank of America earnings jumped 33%, crushing earnings estimates. This week, Morgan Stanley reported a 39% increase in profits, sending its stock up nearly 4%.
And our favorite bank stock reported a record-breaking second quarter profit. Beating analyst expectations by 18%, it's a financial juggernaut that's primed to ride the catalysts driving banking profits to new highs.
Here's our pick...
This Bank Stock Is on Track for Tremendous Gains
[mmpazkzone name="in-story" network="9794" site="307044" id="137008" type="4"]
A financial stalwart, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is on track to generate substantial profits for investors.
According to Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald, JPM is an excellent buy due to its stellar growth and rock-solid management.
"CEO Jamie Dimon is as sharp as they come, and, I believe, the only CEO on Wall Street who truly understands how to make money in today's complicated financial markets," Keith said. "The company is well-managed and well-rounded, which means that it's got a nice balance between commercial and investment banking that gives it plenty of stability and upside potential."
JPM has surpassed analyst earnings expectations each of the last five quarters by an average of 12.32%. However, it's the enthusiasm analysts have shown for its future growth that really has Keith excited.
"The stock has received a whopping 40 upward earnings per share revisions in the past 30 days. Gross profits recorded for Q3 in late September were at $23.87 billion, which is an extraordinary 6% increase since Q4 at the end of 2016... and, as you already know, a growing profit margin always catches my eye as a good opportunity," says Keith.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently trades near $110. However, it has plenty of room to run...
Analysts recently gave JPMorgan Chase & Co. a high price target of $135. That represents a gain of 19% from today's price.
With great leadership, strong fundamentals, and a windfall of opportunity on its doorstep, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is one of the best bank stocks to buy in 2018.
With all the negative press that often surrounds great investments like JPM, it can be tough to identify the best investments on the market.
When looking for the next big winners, most investors turn to the "Google-Search Method" of stock picking.
They'll spend endless hours doing Google search after Google search - compiling a list of potential candidates.
The problem with this method is most of the information comes from journalists reporting the news, not bona fide market analysts giving you expert research.
So you end up with a list of companies getting the most coverage - but not the best investments.
That's why we trust the world's greatest stock picker.
As of the time of writing, this man has identified over 217 double- and triple-digit peak-gain winners since he began keeping track in August 2011.
This record is 100% genuine and documented.
His secret method has NOTHING to do with options, reinvested dividends, annuities, certificates, bonds, futures, or any of that baloney.
If you're one of those people who got burned buying stocks in the past... or lost some money on stocks... or just doesn't want anything to do with them... then stop now and just ignore this.
But if you want proof that you can make over $100,000 starting with a small amount of money... rolling stocks over and over again... then pay close attention...