Citigroup (NYSE:C) Ready to Initiate Reverse Stock Split?

With the next quarterly report of Citigroup (NYSE:C) not far away, Barclays wonders out loud if Citi is ready to split the stock at the time of their fourth quarter report.

Barclays said, "We expect C to report 4Q10 EPS of $0.08, in line with the current $0.08 consensus. Note every $400 million change in C's pre-tax income equates to about $0.01 of EPS, so it's relatively more difficult to move the needle. With the government now out of its common equity stake, we wonder if C announces its long awaited reverse stock split in conjunction with 4Q10 earnings.

"We look for C to comment broadly on the direction credit costs will trend in 2011 and to provide anecdotal commentary on the loan demand environment. It should reiterate its stance on starting to return capital to shareholders in 2012. Finally, we look for an update on the expected pace of its asset run-off in Holdings."

Barclays maintains an "Overweight" on Citigroup, which closed Tuesday at $4.94, up $0.03, or 0.61 percent. Barclays has a price target of $6 on Citi.