Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks, Windamee Research

J. Brian Waterhouse

Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks

Windamee Research

Japanese Banks

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

Loan data for August 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for all Japanese commercial banks is now in negative territory, driven by a sharp YoY decline in lending by the major banks over the last four months.  Even on a month-on-month basis, total lending by Japanese banks has been falling for four out of the last five months.  Credit lines that were drawn down in 2020 as Japan went into nationwide COVID-induced lockdown, but were ultimately largely unneeded, are now being repaid.Interest rates remain at rock bottom, a fact that helps minimize funding costs, while the recovery in the stock market has given the banks some valuable ‘breathing space’ to offset rising credit costs with gains on selling some of the investment portfolio.  Nevertheless, margins remain under intense pressure, pushing core earnings down.  The quality of bank profits therefore continues to deteriorate, even though bottom-line profits for 1H FY3/2022 are likely to exceed most banks’ cautious initial earnings guidance.  That said, we expect few banks to opt to raise their full-year guidance significantly, regardless of 1H FY3/2022 results (due out mid-November).The Japanese banking sector in 2021 has outperformed Topix for the first time in several years, aided by a weakening Yen against the US$.  Yet, as we head into the third quarter of FY3/2022, much of the earlier outperformance by the banking sector against Topix has already been given back.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/232/501/original/8300-WR-JBanks-2021-0719-TooLow4Zero-TPNBNKvsTPX+2015-2021.jpg?1632884040" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="232501"></figure></section>

Loan data for August 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for all Japanese commercial banks is now in negative territory, driven by a sharp YoY decline in lending by the major banks over the last four months.  Even on a month-on-month basis, total lending by Japanese banks has been falling for four out of the last five months.  Credit lines that were drawn down in 2020 as Japan went into nationwide COVID-induced lockdown, but were ultimately largely unneeded, are now being repaid.Interest rates remain at rock bottom, a fact that helps minimize funding costs, while the recovery in the stock market has given the banks some valuable ‘breathing space’ to offset rising credit costs with gains on selling some of the investment portfolio.  Nevertheless, margins remain under intense pressure, pushing core earnings down.  The quality of bank profits therefore continues to deteriorate, even though bottom-line profits for 1H FY3/2022 are likely to exceed most banks’ cautious initial earnings guidance.  That said, we expect few banks to opt to raise their full-year guidance significantly, regardless of 1H FY3/2022 results (due out mid-November).The Japanese banking sector in 2021 has outperformed Topix for the first time in several years, aided by a weakening Yen against the US$.  Yet, as we head into the third quarter of FY3/2022, much of the earlier outperformance by the banking sector against Topix has already been given back.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Japanese Bank Lending:  Too Low For Zero

Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Event-Driven

As SBI goes hostile on Shinsei Bank, Travis has covered the details on the tender <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/dashboard?collection=all-insights&amp;item=57426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. In order to examine the potential resting place of Shinsei Bank shares after SBI Holdings’ tender concludes, we provide below a valuation comparison vs. a variety of peers.

As SBI goes hostile on Shinsei Bank, Travis has covered the details on the tender here. In order to examine the potential resting place of Shinsei Bank shares after SBI Holdings’ tender concludes, we provide below a valuation comparison vs. a variety of peers.

Data for May 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for Japanese commercial banks continues to fall, led by the major banks where YoY loan growth is now in negative territory.  Loan growth at all banks fell to just +0.5% YoY at the end of May, according to the JBA (April was +2.6% YoY).  We expect that June data (to be released in mid-July) from the JBA and BoJ may reveal overall YoY loan growth is heading for the zero-level.January through mid-March saw an unusually strong rally in bank shares, in line with trends in other global stock markets.  The Topix Banks Index peaked at 162.08 on 19 March 2021  -  just 4 days after the notorious Ides of March ‘turning-point’ that we have often referred to in Smartkarma Insights on Japanese banks’ share price performance  -  and has softened to the 145 level.  The sector’s surprise outperformance of Topix in CY2021 has been undermined by a sub-par June performance and on a longer-term view (as we show at the end of this Insight) and despite this year’s rally the sector remains a disappointing investment against the broader Topix Index.<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mitsubishi-ufj-financial-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:218:1" rel="noopener">Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)</a> is the best performer of the major banks so far this year: up +33.6% over the last six months.  That said, this pales in comparison with bank stocks in other markets such as the US and Europe, where economies are recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and there are rising hopes of a mild steepening of the yield curve.  Meanwhile, despite greater concentration on boosting fee income and lowering overheads, many Japan’s banks remain seemingly unable to fully offset the adverse effects of the near-zero interest rate environment on domestic earnings.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/215/895/original/8300-WR-JBanks-2021-0628-ZeroSheFlies-TPNBNKvsTPXin2021.jpg?1624939811" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="215895"></figure></section>

Data for May 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for Japanese commercial banks continues to fall, led by the major banks where YoY loan growth is now in negative territory.  Loan growth at all banks fell to just +0.5% YoY at the end of May, according to the JBA (April was +2.6% YoY).  We expect that June data (to be released in mid-July) from the JBA and BoJ may reveal overall YoY loan growth is heading for the zero-level.January through mid-March saw an unusually strong rally in bank shares, in line with trends in other global stock markets.  The Topix Banks Index peaked at 162.08 on 19 March 2021  -  just 4 days after the notorious Ides of March ‘turning-point’ that we have often referred to in Smartkarma Insights on Japanese banks’ share price performance  -  and has softened to the 145 level.  The sector’s surprise outperformance of Topix in CY2021 has been undermined by a sub-par June performance and on a longer-term view (as we show at the end of this Insight) and despite this year’s rally the sector remains a disappointing investment against the broader Topix Index.Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP) is the best performer of the major banks so far this year: up +33.6% over the last six months.  That said, this pales in comparison with bank stocks in other markets such as the US and Europe, where economies are recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and there are rising hopes of a mild steepening of the yield curve.  Meanwhile, despite greater concentration on boosting fee income and lowering overheads, many Japan’s banks remain seemingly unable to fully offset the adverse effects of the near-zero interest rate environment on domestic earnings.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Ever more, ever higher: deposits in Japan keep flooding into the banks as each month passes, reaching an all-time high at the end of April 2021 of ¥859.952 trillion (US$7.88 trillion), according to data provided by the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA).  It was the 175th continuous month of increase, according to the JBA, although the rate of increase on both a MoM (+0.6%) and YoY (+8.2%) basis did not set a new record, reflecting a barely perceptible slowdown in the inflow.According to the Bank of Japan (BoJ), average deposit balances in April 2021 rose +1.5% MoM, or by ¥15.772 trillion (US$144.7 billion), to ¥1,083.032 trillion (US$9.936 trillion); this was also an all-time high level.  On a YoY basis, according to the BoJ data, average deposit balances rose by a remarkable +8.4%, or by ¥83.991 trillion (US$770.56 billion), so well short of last month’s record +8.7% YoY growth rate.What to do with all that cash?  Despite the bankers’ best efforts to lend out those funds to help support an economic recovery, the rate of inflow far surpasses the rate of outflow.  So much so that major banks’ loan to deposit (LDR) ratios have now fallen to historic lows of 48.8%, with lending margins remaining under constant downward pressure.  Japanese banks’ investments in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) are currently at their highest level in 5 years, according to Bank of Japan data, even though yields are minimal at best, and negative-yielding in many cases.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/210/232/original/8300-WR-JBanks-2021-0531-Evermore-JBAData-LDR-MajorvsReg-2017-2021.jpg?1622461040" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="210232"></figure></section>“Caveat Emptor!”  (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Ever more, ever higher: deposits in Japan keep flooding into the banks as each month passes, reaching an all-time high at the end of April 2021 of ¥859.952 trillion (US$7.88 trillion), according to data provided by the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA).  It was the 175th continuous month of increase, according to the JBA, although the rate of increase on both a MoM (+0.6%) and YoY (+8.2%) basis did not set a new record, reflecting a barely perceptible slowdown in the inflow.According to the Bank of Japan (BoJ), average deposit balances in April 2021 rose +1.5% MoM, or by ¥15.772 trillion (US$144.7 billion), to ¥1,083.032 trillion (US$9.936 trillion); this was also an all-time high level.  On a YoY basis, according to the BoJ data, average deposit balances rose by a remarkable +8.4%, or by ¥83.991 trillion (US$770.56 billion), so well short of last month’s record +8.7% YoY growth rate.What to do with all that cash?  Despite the bankers’ best efforts to lend out those funds to help support an economic recovery, the rate of inflow far surpasses the rate of outflow.  So much so that major banks’ loan to deposit (LDR) ratios have now fallen to historic lows of 48.8%, with lending margins remaining under constant downward pressure.  Japanese banks’ investments in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) are currently at their highest level in 5 years, according to Bank of Japan data, even though yields are minimal at best, and negative-yielding in many cases.“Caveat Emptor!”  (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Japanese Bank Deposits:  In the Land of Evermore

The lending ‘boom’, caused by Japanese corporates rushing to secure lines of credit in anticipation of extended nationwide ‘lock-downs’ to counteract the spread of the coronavirus in Japan, is largely over.  Data for April 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for Japanese commercial banks is falling sharply back to previous mean levels of 2%-3% after peaking at +6.9% YoY in July 2020.January through mid-March saw an unusually strong rally in bank shares, in line with trends in other global stock markets.  As often happens once mid-March is reached, the bank sector then sharply underperformed for the next six weeks, only to rally once again through May.  However, trees do not grow to Heaven, and stock prices do not rise for ever  –  especially Japanese bank stocks.  Although the Japanese bank sector is still up some +16% over Topix for CY2021, we note that the sector has once again started to underperform Topix over the past week. Reverting to the mean is an uninspiring development when it comes to Japanese bank stock performance, as the graph at the end of this Insight clearly shows.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.<section class="figure"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/210/200/original/JBanks-2021-0531-TPNBNKvsTPX-2021.jpg?1622450797" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="210200"></figure></section>

The lending ‘boom’, caused by Japanese corporates rushing to secure lines of credit in anticipation of extended nationwide ‘lock-downs’ to counteract the spread of the coronavirus in Japan, is largely over.  Data for April 2021 from both the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirm that YoY loan growth for Japanese commercial banks is falling sharply back to previous mean levels of 2%-3% after peaking at +6.9% YoY in July 2020.January through mid-March saw an unusually strong rally in bank shares, in line with trends in other global stock markets.  As often happens once mid-March is reached, the bank sector then sharply underperformed for the next six weeks, only to rally once again through May.  However, trees do not grow to Heaven, and stock prices do not rise for ever  –  especially Japanese bank stocks.  Although the Japanese bank sector is still up some +16% over Topix for CY2021, we note that the sector has once again started to underperform Topix over the past week. Reverting to the mean is an uninspiring development when it comes to Japanese bank stock performance, as the graph at the end of this Insight clearly shows.“Caveat Emptor!” (May the Buyer Beware) remains our advice to would-be investors in Japanese bank stocks for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Japan

The 77 Bank, Ltd. is a regional bank in Tohoku area.  The Bank provides general banking services including deposits, loans, and exchange transactions. The Bank also provides others financial services such as securities brokerage, trust banking, letter of credit, leasing, credit cards, and computer services.

Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company established through the merger of Yamaguchi Bank and Momiji Holdings. The Group provides variety of financial services such as deposits, loans, foreign exchange transactions, leasing and credit cards.

Seven Bank, Ltd. provides banking services mainly through Automated Teller Machine (ATM) across Japan. The bank cooperates with affiliated financial institutions to establish the nationwide ATM network and provide remote banking services, including deposits and loans.

The Gunma Bank, Ltd. is a regional bank based in Gunma Prefecture.  The Bank provides banking services such as deposits, loans, and foreign exchange transaction.  The Gunma Bank also provides financial services such as leasing, credit cards, letter of credit, and investment advisory, and develops information systems.

Hokuhoku Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company, which manages financial operations for its subsidiaries.  As a financial group, the Company provides general banking services including deposits, loans, and foreign exchange transactions.  The Group also provides other financial services such as leasing and credit cards.

Kyushu Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company established through the merger of Higo Bank and Kagoshima Bank.  The Bank provides banking services such as deposits, loans, and exchange transactions.  Kyushu Financial Group also provides other financial services including security brokerage, credit cards, leasing, and letters of credit.

Nishi-Nippon Financial Holding Inc. is a holding company established through the merger of The Nishi-Nippon City Bank, Limited, The Bank of Nagasaki, Ltd and Nishi Nippon Shinyo Hosho. The group manages the subsidiary companies and provides variety of financial services.

Suruga Bank Ltd. is a Shizuoka based regional bank mainly operating in the Kanto area (central eastern part of Japan) including Tokyo.  The Bank provides deposits, loans, and foreign exchange transactions.  The Suruga Bank also provides financial services such as leasing, letter of credit, and credit cards services.

The San-in Godo Bank, Ltd. is a regional bank mainly operating in Shimane and Tottori Prefectures.  The Bank offers banking services including deposits, loans, foreign exchange transactions, and securities brokerage.  The San-in Godo Bank also provides financial services such as leasing, credit cards, letter of credit, invests in venture capital, and develops software.

North Pacific Bank, Ltd. is the surviving company through the merger of Sapporo Hokuyo Holdings. The company provides banking services including deposits, loans, foreign currency transactions, trust banking, and securities investments.

Trustmark Corporation is the holding company for Trustmark National Bank. The Bank offers a variety of banking, investment, and insurance solutions to corporate, institutional, and individual customers in Mississippi and Tennessee.

Tisco Financial Group Pcl is a bank holding company.  The Company's banking subsidiary offers working capital, project, term, automobile and home loans; custodian services; securities brokerage; mutual funds; and private banking; and advises on equity and debt capital markets, privatizations, debt restructuring, project finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

BNK Financial Group Inc. a holding company, provides a full range of consumer and commercial banking-related financial services. The Company's main businesses include banking, trust banking, and assets management to individuals, businesses, and other financial institutions.

Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint-Stock Bank, known as Sacombank, operates various personal and corporate banking services such as deposits, foreign exchange transactions, loans, outward transfer, and international payments.

Bank of Chongqing Co. Ltd. provides commercial banking services. The Company offers financial services to individuals and enterprises including deposits, loans, settlement, currency trading, financial & government bonds, and credit cards services. Bank of Chongqing also offers international services.

PT Bank Permata Tbk provides commercial and foreign exchange banking services through a network of offices in Indonesia.  The Bank also performs custodianship and trusteeship services as well as manages pension funds.

Customers Bancorp, Inc. provides banking services. The Company offers checking and saving accounts, personal and commercial loans, and retirement planning services. Customers Bancorp serves customers throughout the State of Pennsylvania.

Triumph Financial Inc. offers traditional banking products as well as commercial finance products to businesses that require specialized and tailored financial solutions.

Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida operates as a bank holding company. The Bank, through its subsidiaries, offers a full range of banking and investment services, including personal and business deposit products, personal, commercial, and mortgage loans, wealth management services, and treasury management solutions.

King's Town Bank accepts deposits and offers various kinds of loans. The Bank provides notes and bills discounting, collecting, guarantee, remittance, securities brokerage and financing, letter of credit, foreign exchange, and traveler checks services.

Aozora Bank, Ltd. provides banking services including deposits, savings, loans, foreign exchange transactions, and securities investments. Aozora Bank also provides services such as trust account, resolution and collection, and venture capital.

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Aozora Bank Ltd (8304 JP)

Japanese Bank Lending: Too Low For Zero

Data for August 2021 from both the JBA and the BoJ confirm that YoY loan growth for all Japanese commercial banks has turned negative, driven by a...

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Shinsei Bank - Valuations

In order to examine the potential resting place of Shinsei Bank shares after SBI Holdings’ tender concludes, we provide below a valuation...

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Japanese Bank Lending: Zero She Flies

The sector’s surprise outperformance of Topix in CY2021 has been undermined by a sub-par June performance. Zero growth beckons. Caveat Emptor...

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Japanese Bank Deposits: In the Land of Evermore

Ever more, ever higher: deposits in Japan keep flooding into the banks. Despite the bankers’ best efforts to lend out those funds, the rate of...

J. Brian Waterhouse

Japanese Bank Lending: Mean Reversion

The lending ‘boom’, triggered by companies rushing to secure bank funding in anticipation of extended nationwide ‘lock-downs’ to counteract the...

J. Brian Waterhouse

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