Goldman Sachs Posts Record Q2 Profit and Announces 33% Dividend Hike

Goldman Sachs delivered a stunning second-quarter performance, shattering Wall Street expectations with net revenues of $14.6 billion and earnings per share of $10.91. The investment bank's board approved a dramatic 33% dividend increase to $4 per share, underscoring confidence in sustained profitability. Return on equity reached 12.8%, while assets under supervision hit a record $3.3 trillion.

The firm's capital strength was evident in its 14.5% Common Equity Tier 1 ratio, with management committing to maintain a 50-100 basis point buffer above requirements. Shareholders received $4 billion in returns during the quarter, including $3 billion in buybacks. "Our results reflect the power of our diversified business model," said CEO David Solomon, though he declined to comment on cryptocurrency exposure.

Investment banking drove much of the success, with advisory revenues surging 71% year-over-year to $1.2 billion. The results come as traditional finance institutions increasingly compete with crypto-native firms for talent and market share in digital asset services.