The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s GS fourth-quarter 2021 earnings per share of $10.81 have lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.10. Further, the bottom line fell 10.5% from the year-earlier quarter.The stock dipped 3.9% during the pre-market trading, reflecting investors’ concerns over the results. Notably, the full-day trading session will display a clearer picture.While strength in the debt underwriting, wealth management and consumer banking businesses acted as a tailwind, the bank’s results were hurt by lower Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Client Execution (“FICC”) revenues.Impressive financial advisory revenues, owing to the rise in industry-wide completed mergers and acquisition transactions, acted as tailwinds.Net earnings of $3.94 billion decreased 13% from the prior-year quarter.For 2021, earnings per share of $59.45 were higher than the year-ago period’s $12.08. However, earnings lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $60.70. Results included the impacts of $9.51 related to net provisions for litigation and regulatory proceedings during the year.Revenues Jump, Expenses RiseNet revenues of $12.64 billion rose 8% from the year-ago quarter. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.09 billion.For 2021, the company reported revenues of $59.34 billion, up 33% year over year. Further, revenues beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $58.72 billion.Total operating expenses flared up 23% year over year to $7.27 billion.Provision for credit losses was $344 million, lower than $293 million in the prior-year quarter.Mixed Segmental PerformanceThe Investment Banking (IB) division generated revenues of $3.79 billion in the reported quarter, up 45% year over year. Results reflect higher net revenues in financial advisory, supported by a significant increase in completed mergers and acquisition volumes. Corporate lending revenues of $192 million significantly increased from the prior-year quarter. Tough comps from the prior-year quarter resulted in a decline in equity underwriting revenues.The Global Markets division recorded revenues of $3.99 billion, down 7% year over year. The downtick indicated a decline in net revenues in FICC due to lower intermediation net revenues. Also, a decline in equities revenues (11%) was recorded due to lower equities intermediation.The Consumer and Wealth Management division’s revenues were $1.97 billion, 19% higher than the year-ago reported figure. Increased revenues from wealth management (up 22%) and consumer banking (up 8%) resulted in the upsurge.The Asset Management division recorded revenues of $2.89 billion, indicating a 10% year-over-year decline. The downside resulted from notably lower net revenues in equity investments as well as lending and debt investments.Firmwide assets under supervision reached a record $2.47 trillion, up 15.5% year over year.Capital Position Weak, Profitability DownAs of Dec 31, 2021, the standardized Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 14.2%. The figure was down from the prior-year quarter’s 14.7%. The company’s supplementary leverage ratio was 5.6% as of Dec 31, 2021, down from the prior-year quarter figure of 7%.Also, return on average common shareholders’ equity (on an annualized basis) decreased to 15.6% in the reported quarter.Capital Deployment UpdateIn the quarter under review, Goldman returned $1.20 billion of capital to common shareholders. This included share repurchases worth $500 million and common stock dividends of $698 million.ConclusionGoldman’s results highlight a disappointing end to the year. Elevated mergers and acquisition deals were the driving factors. The company’s well-diversified business, apart from its core IB operations, will ensure earnings stability going forward.However, increasing expenses hurt bottom-line growth.The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. QuoteCurrently, Goldman has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Performance of BanksFirst Republic Bank’s FRC fourth-quarter 2021 earnings per share of $2.02 have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91. Additionally, the bottom line improved 26.3% from the year-ago quarter.First Republic’srevenues were $1.37 billion in the December-end quarter, up 26.9% year over year. The figure also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34 billion.Citigroup C delivered an earnings surprise of 5.04% in fourth-quarter 2021. Income from continuing operations per share of $1.46 handily outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.39. However, the reported figure declined 24% from the prior-year quarter.Citigroup’s revenues increased 1% year over year to $17.02 billion in the December-ended quarter. The top line, however, lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.06 billion.Wells Fargo & Company’s WFC fourth-quarter 2021 earnings per share of $1.38 surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 1.09. Also, the bottom line improved 86% year over year.Wells Fargo’s total quarterly revenues were $20.86 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $18.73 billion. Moreover, the top line was higher than the year-ago quarter’s $18.5 billion. Just Released: Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2022 In addition to the investment ideas discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 top picks for the entirety of 2022? From inception in 2012 through 2021, the Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolios gained an impressive +1,001.2% versus the S&P 500’s +348.7%. Now our Director of Research has combed through 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank and has handpicked the best 10 tickers to buy and hold. Don’t miss your chance to get in…because the sooner you do, the more upside you stand to grab.See Stocks Now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS): Free Stock Analysis Report Wells Fargo & Company (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report Citigroup Inc. (C): Free Stock Analysis Report First Republic Bank (FRC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.