Billions in dividends, strong earnings and more to come

The banks are back, baby. Or so it seems. NAB, CBA, ANZ, and Westpac have handsomely rewarded investors for their patience during tumultuous 2020, with nearly $7 billion in dividends expected to flood the market over the coming months.  The good news doesn't stop there. Or at least, that's according to Wilson Asset Management's Matthew Haupt and Firetrail Investments' Scott Olsson. They argue the banks' recent earnings reports, released earlier this month, are "extremely encouraging", while the incoming deluge of dividends is supported by "strong reported earnings."  But with this good news in the bank (see what I did there?) is there a chance for these giants to fall, given interest rates are at historic lows and the banks' margins likely to come under pressure. In this thematic episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire Markets' James Marlay sits down with Matthew and Scott to discuss some of the successes, surprises, and shortfalls of the Big Four's earnings reports. Plus, they share some of the risks for investors to keep on their radar.   Note: You can watch, read or listen to the discussion below. This episode was filmed on 12 May 2021.