The investment banking powerhouse said Tuesday that it earned $3.9 billion in the fourth quarter, or $10.81 a share. But analysts had been forecasting a profit of $4.1 billion, or $11.70 a share. Shares of Goldman Sachs tumbled nearly 8% on the news.
Goldman Sachs said that overall revenue for the fourth quarter came in at $12.6 billion, topping forecasts and rising 8% from a year ago.
The company has also stepped up its efforts to cater to consumers and not just businesses, Goldman Sachs’ consumer and wealth management business, which includes the company’s Marcus online banking unit, posted record revenue last year.
For the full year, Goldman Sachs generated revenue of more than $59 billion and net income of $21.6 billion.
“2021 was a record year for Goldman Sachs. The firm’s extraordinary performance is a testament to the strength of our client franchise and people,” said Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon in a statement. “Moving forward, our leadership team remains committed to growing Goldman Sachs, diversifying our businesses and delivering strong returns for shareholders.”
Solomon also warned investors on the company’s conference call with analysts that inflation brought about by rising wages and supply chain disruptions tied to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 will likely persist for some time.
“There’s no surprise that the recent surge in cases is putting even more pressure on supply chains. Inflation is persisting in many countries, and major central banks are beginning to raise rates,” Solomon said.
He added, “Inflation may be above trend for some time. And in the near term, inflationary pressures may continue to intensify before they start to decrease. I also believe that we could see more volatility as these easing policies are unwound.”
“My view is that Covid-19 will be endemic and as a society, we will find a way to live with it, supported by the efficacy of vaccines and new treatments,” he said, adding that Goldman Sachs will need to be “flexible and dynamic with our protocols to adapt to this new state of the world while also enabling the majority of our people to be back in the office safely.”
Goldman Sachs employees benefited from the solid 2021 results though. The company said Tuesday it set aside $17.7 billion in compensation and benefits for its staff last year, an increase of 33% from 2020. That works out to an average of nearly $404,000 for the firm’s 43,900 workers.
