Credit cards could be key to JPMorgan Chase earnings

JPMorgan Chase (JPM), the largest U.S. bank by assets, reports its first-quarter earnings early tomorrow morning. Analysts are expecting profit of 32 cents a share, compared with a loss of 28 cents a share last quarter and a 68-cents-a-share profit a year ago. If surprisingly good results from Goldman Sachs (GS) and Wells Fargo (WFC) are any indication, JPMorgan may well exceed expectations, too.

Still, there's sure to be plenty of interesting information tucked into tomorrow's announcement, especially for anyone trying to figure out what the future might hold for financial companies' performance. One area to watch: JPMorgan's credit-card business.