America’s biggest banks are set to give more money back to shareholders after easily passing the Federal Reserve’s latest stress test. Notably, financial heavyweights like Bank of America (BAC), J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM), and Goldman Sachs (GS) have swiftly announced plans to boost dividends and share buybacks. The moves signal renewed confidence in their balance sheets and mark a return to aggressive capital distribution following years of regulatory caution since the 2008 financial crisis.
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Fed Clears Major US Banks in Annual Stress Test
The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) stress test is an annual financial health checkup for large U.S. banks. The latest stress test showed that 22 of the largest U.S. banks hold enough capital to face a severe economic downturn, including rising unemployment and market volatility.
These results reassure regulators and investors about the stability of the financial system and clear the way for banks to move forward with shareholder payouts like dividends and stock buybacks.
Big Banks Respond with Hefty Payouts
Following the test results, Goldman Sachs plans to raise its dividend by 33%, while J. P. Morgan will increase its quarterly common stock dividend by 7% to $1.5 per share for Q3 2025. Meanwhile, Bank of America is set to lift its dividend by 8%, and both Citigroup (C) and BNY Mellon have announced increases of 7% and 13%, respectively.
In addition, J.P. Morgan announced plans to authorize a share repurchase of up to $50 billion, while Morgan Stanley (MS) unveiled a buyback program valued at up to $20 billion.
Which Bank Stock Offers the Highest Upside, According to Analysts?
We used TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool to place J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs against each other to pick the best bank stock as per Wall Street analysts. Among the three banks, BAC stock holds a Strong Buy rating from analysts, with a price target of $50.33, implying over 4% upside from current levels. On the other hand, GS and JPM carry Moderate Buy ratings, but analysts currently see potential downside from current levels.
