Summary
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) reported net earnings of $6.08 billion for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 28% compared to 2014, primarily due to provisions of $3.37 billion for an agreement in principle to resolve mortgage-backed securities investigations. This significantly impacted the firm's return on average common shareholders' equity, which fell to 7.4% from 11.2% in the prior year. Despite the earnings decline, book value per common share increased by 5% to $171.03, reflecting ongoing capital management and share repurchases. Net revenues for 2015 were $33.82 billion, a slight decrease from 2014, driven by a substantial decline in Investing & Lending, partly offset by higher revenues in Investment Banking and Investment Management. Operating expenses rose by 13% to $25.04 billion, largely due to the aforementioned provisions for litigation and regulatory matters. The firm maintained strong capital ratios, with a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 12.4% under the Basel III Advanced approach, indicating robust capital adequacy in a changing regulatory environment.
Financial Highlights
38 data points| Interest Expense | $5.39B |
| Net Income | $6.08B |
| EPS (Basic) | $12.35 |
| EPS (Diluted) | $12.14 |
| Shares Outstanding (Basic) | 448.90M |
| Shares Outstanding (Diluted) | 458.60M |
Key Highlights
- 1Net earnings decreased by 28% to $6.08 billion, significantly impacted by $3.37 billion in provisions for mortgage-related investigations.
- 2Return on average common shareholders' equity (ROE) declined to 7.4% from 11.2% in the prior year.
- 3Book value per common share increased by 5% to $171.03, reflecting effective capital management.
- 4Net revenues were $33.82 billion, a 2% decrease, with Investment Banking and Investment Management showing growth, while Investing & Lending declined.
- 5Operating expenses increased by 13% to $25.04 billion, mainly due to increased provisions for litigation and regulatory matters.
- 6Common Equity Tier 1 ratio remained strong at 12.4% (Basel III Advanced approach), demonstrating robust capital position.
- 7The firm repurchased $4.20 billion of its common stock during the year, signaling a commitment to returning capital to shareholders.