Who are the best bankers in the world? How do you measure a piece of string?
Courtesy of market intelligence firm Tricumen, there might be a measuring stick to use. Stacking up bank revenues in the first half of the year and dividing by the number of front-office Full Time Employees (FTE), Tricumen devises the comparative efficiency (or rather, revenue produced) of each bank’s bankers.
Based on Tricumen’s data, Goldman and JPM’s “Capital Markets” people (a wide net encompassing both investment banking and trading) are, by some margin, the best in the industry. On average, they produce 1.5 higher standard deviations more revenue than their peer group – way higher than closest competitors, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo, who are also strong performers but only produced 0.5 standard deviations more revenue, on average.
Morgan Stanley’s runner-up position is not a surprise, but Wells Fargo is. Data from (fellow) market intelligence provider Dealogic doesn’t put the bank on its global top seven for ECM, DCM, or M&A revenue (or even in the top ten for investment banking as a whole).
And yet Wells Fargo has by far the most efficient investment bankers in the industry, producing revenues two standard deviations above the average. That’s pretty big – a number of banks got closest (including Royal Bank of Canada and BofA) but none got up to one standard above the average.
In sales and trading, Deutsche Bank’s Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities (FICC) traders put up a valiant effort but were behind both Goldman and JPM’s. Morgan Stanley put up a similar fight for equities, with the same level of success.
The charts below show relative performance, measured by operating revenue per front office full-time employee. Banks are compared relative to a group average, in standard deviations from that average. The dashed circle indicates the average. Each dash on the lines eminating from the centre indicate half a standard deviation from the average.
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FAQs
Both banks generate a sizable portion of revenues from market-making. However, Goldman Sachs is more dependent on such business. JPMorgan's revenue streams are a bit more diversified. JP Morgan has over three times the amount of assets as Goldman Sachs and generates over three times the net revenue.
What is the hardest bank to get a job from? ›
Which is the hardest investment bank to get into? Goldman Sachs is notoriously difficult to get into. One statistics recently rolled out was that it received 100,000 applications for just 2,300 global internship positions. This means that it received 24 applications for every job it posted.
What makes J.P. Morgan different from other banks? ›
How is J.P. Morgan different from other banks that work with startups? The firm has decades of global experience, a robust professional and venture capital network, and scalable treasury management solutions—which can make us the only bank you'll ever need.
Why is J.P. Morgan so prestigious? ›
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is one of the world's oldest, largest and best-known financial institutions. The firm is built on the foundation of more than 1,200 predecessor institutions that have come together through the years to form today's company.
Which bank is more prestigious? ›
The Top 10 Most Prestigious Investment Banks for 2024:
Goldman Sachs & Co. Morgan Stanley. J.P. Morgan.
What are the cons of J.P. Morgan? ›
On the negative side, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing doesn't offer as many investing options as its major competitors, especially Fidelity and Charles Schwab. For example, you cannot engage in futures trading, nor is cryptocurrency trading offered. The company also does not offer margin accounts.
What's unique about J.P. Morgan? ›
We're not just a financial institution, we're one of the world's biggest technology-driven companies. We spend $14 billion in technology, of which approximately half is dedicated to investments.
Is J.P. Morgan the most powerful bank? ›
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an American multinational finance company headquartered in New York City and incorporated in Delaware. It is the largest bank in the United States and the world's largest bank by market capitalization as of 2023.
What are JP Morgan's weaknesses? ›
Weaknesses. Regulatory Challenges: As a global financial institution, JPMorgan is subject to complex and evolving regulatory environments in multiple countries. Compliance with these regulations can be costly and time-consuming, potentially impacting the company's operational efficiency and profitability.
Where does JP Morgan rank in the US? ›
The Bankrate promise
| RANK | BANK NAME | TOTAL ASSETS |
|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase | $3.40 trillion |
| 2 | Bank of America | $2.54 trillion |
| 3 | Wells Fargo | $1.73 trillion |
| 4 | Citigroup | $1.68 trillion |
11 more rowsApr 2, 2024
Exceptional Client Service
For more than two centuries, JPMorgan Chase has always been there for our constituents around the world. In the toughest of times when strong banks are needed the most, we never waver in our support, and we never lose sight of our main mission: serving our clients.
Why is Goldman Sachs better than other banks? ›
Unlike other investment banks, GS strategically positions itself as the “friend of corporations” and defends businesses against hostile actors. Corporate defense has historically been an integral part of the Goldman Sachs M&A franchise.
Is J.P. Morgan the number 1 bank? ›
JPMorgan Chase is the richest bank in the U.S., based on Federal Reserve data for consolidated assets. It has over $3.3 trillion in total assets, more than any bank in the country. Total assets include everything a bank owns, from loans and investments to physical assets like buildings and equipment.
Which is better, Morgan Stanley or Goldman Sachs? ›
Profit and Revenue: Despite similar challenges, the banks reported divergent profit figures. Morgan Stanley's profit dipped by 8.5%, while Goldman saw a more significant drop of 33%. However, in terms of revenue, Morgan Stanley edged ahead with a 2% rise, whereas Goldman registered a 1% decrease.
How much money do you need for J.P. Morgan Private Bank? ›
JP Morgan private bank minimum requirement is $10 million. Chase private bank minimum requirement is an average beginning day balance of $150,000 or more. Morgan Stanley private bank minimum requirement does not exist.
