The business stories that matter, by Fortune's Colin Barr
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March 4, 2008, 10:47 am

Citi hits new low

Citi (C) sank 6% to a nine-year low amid rising worries about the banking giant’s financial health. Analyst Guy Moszkowski at Merrill Lynch cut his 2008 earnings estimate to 24 cents a share from $2.74, citing billions of dollars in subprime-related writedowns and other problems, starting with the U.S. consumer. “We remain concerned about loss provision potential, the direction of long-term strategy, and weak markets for the Capital Markets businesses,” Moszkowski writes.

Concerns about Citi are widespread. CNBC reports the bank could be forced to cut more than 30,000 jobs - up from a previously announced plan to cut 24,000 positions - in a bid to bring expenses back in line with revenue. The CEO of Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund believes the $22 billion Citi has raised recently won’t be enough to keep the bank from going back to the markets for more capital soon.

The good news, such as it is, is that with the stock trading around $22 - down from $55 last summer - Citi is trading roughly on par with book value on a pro forma basis, Mozkowski writes, adjusted for an expected first-quarter loss and recent capital-raising activity. While there’s no telling how much further Citi shares might fall, a bank stock trading at book value can expect to start attracting at least some attention from value-minded investors.

All Citi Group employees… should have always owned shares plus you should buy even more now and never sell. Ohh and take the red pill while your at it…get unplugged.

Posted By Investor, San Diego, CA : April 23, 2008 2:57 am

I worked for Citi as well. I left just before they started going through the hell they are going through now.(THANK GOD). There is life after Citi as someone else said. I have friends left there who are miserable. The morale was poor before I left…I can only imagine now.

Posted By Greg T, Chicago, IL : March 29, 2008 12:51 am

i do not regret leaving Citi one bit. I do however regret ever working for them. After leaving the company, I have been receiving notices of overpayments from Citi. I would call every day, and try and figure out what was going on but no one seemed to know. Except that they want over $1000 from me that was supposedly paid to me after I closed my checking account. They said they would look it into it and call me back. But I still receive notices, and NO returned calls. It amazes me that such a “prosperous” financial institution would worry over $1000 from a former employee. But from the looks of things, Citi is trying to find every penny possible.

Posted By Tanya T, Bristol TN : March 26, 2008 9:49 pm

Being a former Citi employee, I am not suprised to see how many current and former employees are talking bad about the Corporation. It is one of,if not the worst managed Corporations in the History of the World. Employee moral @ Citi has always been and will be bad as long as they treat their employees like dirt. They have a knack for hiring & promoting clueless people into management. Theye are notorious for running off their most productive employees when their salary is deemed too high. They have never understood you get what you pay for. Their is one exception to this. They do have some of the best Corporate Attorneys to fight all of the class action lawsuits filed against them. What worries me is I retirement income coming to me when I hit 62. So I am praying they get back on their feet.

Posted By David G, Brandon, MS : March 5, 2008 6:11 pm

Citi has a morale issue. This company is lead by heartless individuals who don’t have a single thread a decentness in their fiber. It never fails, how come the educated well diverse leaders of companies like Citi don’t get it, when you mistreat people your demise is sure to come.

The company leaders need to find God, before even attempting to devise another sneak, greedy, low down business model.

Posted By Jackson Smith, NJ : March 5, 2008 12:54 pm

As a current employee, I wonder how we have stayed in business.. there are some many things that go on that shouldn’t. Employee morale is low, we are all waiting for our portfolio’s to be sold off.. or so the rumor is…

Posted By R Gibson, Hurst, TX : March 5, 2008 7:34 am

Citi is trading at book value –for now– after more asset impairment writedowns, BV will probably fall further!

Best,
David J Phillips, Publisher
http://www.10qdetective.blogspot.com

Posted By david phillips, norfolk, ma : March 5, 2008 1:39 am

Citi is a management bloaded, beaurocratic monster. By the time you get throught the layer cake of managment and red tape to make the changes neccasary, it will be to late. I say get out while you can.

Posted By Distressed in MO. : March 4, 2008 3:45 pm

Warren Buffet had a big stake in Salomon Brothers that he sold to Sandy Weill to merge with Travelers Group/Smith Barney. He won’t go back in. Also, the bad stuff is in the Investment Bank’s balance sheet along with the subprime stuff they underwrote but couldn’t sell. Nevertheless, they are also an originator of good loans that perform well and should prove to be good value

Posted By Ken NY NY : March 4, 2008 3:08 pm

As a current employee I see my stock options completely gone now, there is no way I will be exercising the options from 1999-2004 since they are in the mid 50’s. Emotionally, employees are really at an all time low right now. Everone is preparing to be fired.

Posted By Franklin, Newcastle, DE : March 4, 2008 2:53 pm

The Bank is losing business. It’s Smith Barney is going to charge CitiBank’s customers $50 annual fees no matter what. Why should I pay them even I had no advise from them. I believe this will be another blow to Citi. In addition, asian banks in Taiwan , Hong Kong and China might team up to sue Citi. I had planned to downgrade my CitiGold account to normal account and move my money to other institute.

Posted By chan, NY, NY : March 4, 2008 2:04 pm

the bank’s name itself is still a valuable asset, not the mention it is paying great dividends.

Posted By Alan, Houston, TX : March 4, 2008 1:25 pm

The bank’s name itself is a great asset, not to mention at this price it is paying attractive dividends. Time to buy.

Posted By Alan, Houston, TX : March 4, 2008 1:18 pm

Warren Buffett should buy a large stake in Citigroup. At these ratios, Citigroup is a really cheap financial servies stock. He’s got to have his eye on it…

Posted By JasonJ, Sugar Hill, GA : March 4, 2008 12:51 pm

As a former employee, I believe Citi has a long way to fall. Their management is ineffective and every major decision they made when I was employed seemed to be the wrong one. I feel for their current employees. As an employee that was cut in the last two years, there is life after Citi.

Posted By Sophie, Orlando, FL : March 4, 2008 12:44 pm

they just had their big changes at the top levels. just have to give them time to work. it’s a big boat to turn around.

Posted By Thomas, San Ignacio, California : March 4, 2008 12:13 pm

I don’t think the future of the bank is bright. I see a lot of changes coming down the pipeline in the near future

Posted By Rich, NY, NY : March 4, 2008 11:26 am
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Colin Barr covers business and finance for Fortune.com. Previously he was an editor at TheStreet.com and author of the weekly Five Dumbest Things on Wall Street column, and an editor at Dow Jones Newswires.
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