An earnings report is a great excuse to put Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) under a SWOT-light for a look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Wells' report had mixed headline numbers. Earnings were up year-over-year and beat expectations, but revenue missed expectations.

Strengths:

  • Wells Fargo joined JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) in posting year-over-year earnings increases. Peers Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) and Citigroup (NYSE: C) both reported lower earnings compared to 2010's first quarter.
  • Earnings aren't dependent on trading and investment banking operations, as they were for, say, JPMorgan and Bank of America.
  • Capital ratios -- a measure of financial strength – improved slightly and the Federal Reserve approved plans to raise the dividend and buy back shares.

Weaknesses:

  • Wells Fargo doesn't have the diversified, global footprint of its big bank brethren.
  • Mortgage banking income, mortgage applications and the application pipeline were down compared to both last quarter and the year-ago quarter.

Opportunities:

  • Credit quality has been improving across the board. Fewer late loan payments will let Wells Fargo and other banks continue to release some of the loss reserves they've been carrying.
  • Wealth management is showing strong growth. Results are currently a small slice of the earning pie, but the segment grew earnings by 72% and 20% compared to last quarter and the year-ago quarter.

Threats:

  • The easy money policy at the Fed will change at some point. I don't know when, but Fed rates only have one direction to go.
  • Mortgage interest rates have been inching higher. That's likely to crimp mortgage loan demand and will decrease the value of mortgages on the balance sheet.
  • Foreclosures and repurchase demands related to problem loans continue to be a focus of political attention and legal challenges.

Mr. Market wasn't impressed with Wells Fargo's report and trimmed four percent off the shares yesterday. The report wasn't glowing, but the market reaction seems overdone. There are still problems and risks, but Wells Fargo and other banks are putting problems behind them and have better days ahead. I think Mr. Market just put one of the best banks in the country on sale.

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