Financials & FinTech research, Galliano’s Financials Research

Victor Galliano

Financials & FinTech research

Financials & FinTech, EM & Developed Markets

Galliano’s Financials Research

Galliano's Financials Research provides fundamental research in Emerging Markets financials, including FinTech, as well as financials in select Developed Markets.

The investment style applied is generally value oriented, although Growth At Reasonable Price (GARP) strategies can also be used where appropriate. 

Our investment research approach aim is often contrarian, looking to capitalise on overly sceptical or optimistic consensus views. In terms of valuation techniques, the focus is on PBV ratio to ROE, PE multiples and dividend yield, as well as the application of PEG ratios and, where appropriate, Sum of the Parts (SOTP) valuations.

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Nubank’s shares are above the issue price post-IPO, with investors buying into the digital banking opportunity in Brazil as well as Mexico and Colombia</li>
<li>The bulls argue that the growth potential is not yet reflected in valuations; it has very low costs, and its positive returns will follow from greater loan and product penetration</li>
<li>Nubanks’s valuation is very stretched; good customer penetration does not yet equal deep product penetration which drives revenue growth, and new markets – Mexico and Colombia – will pressure costs</li>
</ul>


Nubank’s shares are above the issue price post-IPO, with investors buying into the digital banking opportunity in Brazil as well as Mexico and Colombia
The bulls argue that the growth potential is not yet reflected in valuations; it has very low costs, and its positive returns will follow from greater loan and product penetration
Nubanks’s valuation is very stretched; good customer penetration does not yet equal deep product penetration which drives revenue growth, and new markets – Mexico and Colombia – will pressure costs


Nubank (NU US) – IPO Done, Now Comes the Hard Part

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Brazil’s credit quality trends to April seem positive, on balance</li>
<li>Compared to March, there appear to be less concerning consumer credit quality and arrears (15-90 days delay) data</li>
<li>Credit quality to corporates shows that  even though credit risks are rising, the rate of growth is “shallow” in both large corporates as well as micro-enterprises and SMEs</li>
<li>In essence, we believe that credit quality risks may be moderating going forward, especially in higher risk consumer and in micro-enterprise and SME categories</li>
<li>In addition, the bank system’s generally high provisioning levels relative to delinquency provides a healthy buffer, in our view</li>
<li>Credit spreads ticked lower in April, and are still well below their recent highs of early 2020</li>
<li>We continue to see value in the sector and find <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bradesco-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24569:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)</a> attractive</li>
<li>Risks to positive view on these big cap Brazil banks include worse than expected credit quality, weak opex control and erosion of credit spreads</li>
</ul>


Brazil’s credit quality trends to April seem positive, on balance
Compared to March, there appear to be less concerning consumer credit quality and arrears (15-90 days delay) data
Credit quality to corporates shows that  even though credit risks are rising, the rate of growth is “shallow” in both large corporates as well as micro-enterprises and SMEs
In essence, we believe that credit quality risks may be moderating going forward, especially in higher risk consumer and in micro-enterprise and SME categories
In addition, the bank system’s generally high provisioning levels relative to delinquency provides a healthy buffer, in our view
Credit spreads ticked lower in April, and are still well below their recent highs of early 2020
We continue to see value in the sector and find Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) and Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ) attractive
Risks to positive view on these big cap Brazil banks include worse than expected credit quality, weak opex control and erosion of credit spreads


Brazil Bank Sector Trends to April in Ten Charts

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-inter-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28162:1" rel="noopener">Banco Inter SA (BIDI11 BZ)</a> is a leading digital bank in Brazil, only second to Nubank in scale and scope, with over 10m clients at the end of March 2021</li>
<li>It is also seeing accelerating loan growth to 1Q21 and broadening its service base deriving fees from its services and shopping platform</li>
<li>Yet, even on comparable FinTech valuations, as well as on the PEG ratio metric, Banco Inter’s market value seems stretched</li>
<li>In addition, given the acceleration in loan growth and the resultant absorption in capital, we see a real risk of a further equity cash call in coming quarters</li>
<li>We explore three scenarios for Banco Inter in this report; in our view, none of these scenarios’ implied returns make Banco Inter stock compelling at current valuations</li>
<li>Banco Inter’s upside risks include better than expected opex control especially on new customer acquisition driving better than expected returns</li>
</ul>



Banco Inter SA (BIDI11 BZ) is a leading digital bank in Brazil, only second to Nubank in scale and scope, with over 10m clients at the end of March 2021
It is also seeing accelerating loan growth to 1Q21 and broadening its service base deriving fees from its services and shopping platform
Yet, even on comparable FinTech valuations, as well as on the PEG ratio metric, Banco Inter’s market value seems stretched
In addition, given the acceleration in loan growth and the resultant absorption in capital, we see a real risk of a further equity cash call in coming quarters
We explore three scenarios for Banco Inter in this report; in our view, none of these scenarios’ implied returns make Banco Inter stock compelling at current valuations
Banco Inter’s upside risks include better than expected opex control especially on new customer acquisition driving better than expected returns


Banco Inter (BIDI11 BZ): Too Much Optimism Built into Valuations

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a>’s 1Q21 results reflect its sound credit quality and coverage, as well as its healthy capital adequacy</li>
<li>Banco do Brasil’s NPL ratio is the best of the big four Brazil banks, and it also registers the lowest ratio of renegotiated loans to total loans</li>
<li>Its core capital adequacy is also the best of the big four at 1Q21, and this is despite a mark to market hit in the quarter</li>
<li>The new CEO Is committed to reduce the cost base, and enhance returns; administrative expenses declined QoQ and YoY</li>
<li>We believe that these 1Q21 results reinforce our positive view on Banco do Brasil shares and their potential to narrow the PBV ratio discount</li>
<li>Risks to our view include heightened corporate governance risks, as well as worsening credit quality in the forbearance portfolio</li>
</ul>



Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)’s 1Q21 results reflect its sound credit quality and coverage, as well as its healthy capital adequacy
Banco do Brasil’s NPL ratio is the best of the big four Brazil banks, and it also registers the lowest ratio of renegotiated loans to total loans
Its core capital adequacy is also the best of the big four at 1Q21, and this is despite a mark to market hit in the quarter
The new CEO Is committed to reduce the cost base, and enhance returns; administrative expenses declined QoQ and YoY
We believe that these 1Q21 results reinforce our positive view on Banco do Brasil shares and their potential to narrow the PBV ratio discount
Risks to our view include heightened corporate governance risks, as well as worsening credit quality in the forbearance portfolio


Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ): Solid 1Q21, with the Prospect of Improving Returns

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>We think of value based on traditional valuation metrics, such as PE multiples and PBV ratios, and supplement these by metrics like PE to growth ratios to identify the more attractive names amongst growth – including FinTech – stocks</li>
<li>In Brazil, we continue to like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a>  and we add <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bradesco-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24569:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)</a> to the attractive value category</li>
<li>We turn cautious on Brazilian challenger <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-inter-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28162:1" rel="noopener">Banco Inter SA (BIDI11 BZ)</a>, based on valuation; it trades on a consensus 2022E PBV ratio of 17.8x and even compared to Nubank’s estimated valuation, and those of other digital banks, Inter seems expensive</li>
<li>In Mexico, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF)</a> is much more of a positive consensus recommendation, yet we still believe that the stock has further to run</li>
<li>There is heightened political risk in Peru; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a>  has de-rated and is a stock to watch</li>
<li>Among the LatAm payments companies, we are positive on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pagseguro-digital-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27939:1" rel="noopener">Pagseguro Digital Ltd (PAGS US)</a> </li>
<li>Despite its premium growth in AUM, we are cautious on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xp-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28619:1" rel="noopener">XP Inc (XP US)</a>, due to eroding take rate and rising IFA costs</li>
<li>In exchanges, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/b3-sa-brasil-bolsa-balcao" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24580:1" rel="noopener">B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ)</a>’s valuations have descended from the stratosphere but we believe that this stock could have further downside risk</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil and Bradesco include higher than expected NPLs and lower than expected credit spreads, as well as soft fee growth; similar risks apply to Banorte, BanBajio and in the case of Credicorp we also add political risk; Banco Inter’s upside risks include better than expected opex control especially on new customer acquisition driving better than expected returns; XP upside risks include higher than expected take rate and lower than expected opex, and B3 could deliver stronger than expected revenue growth in FICC and derivatives especially</li>
</ul>


We think of value based on traditional valuation metrics, such as PE multiples and PBV ratios, and supplement these by metrics like PE to growth ratios to identify the more attractive names amongst growth – including FinTech – stocks
In Brazil, we continue to like Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)  and we add Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ) to the attractive value category
We turn cautious on Brazilian challenger Banco Inter SA (BIDI11 BZ), based on valuation; it trades on a consensus 2022E PBV ratio of 17.8x and even compared to Nubank’s estimated valuation, and those of other digital banks, Inter seems expensive
In Mexico, Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) is much more of a positive consensus recommendation, yet we still believe that the stock has further to run
There is heightened political risk in Peru; Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)  has de-rated and is a stock to watch
Among the LatAm payments companies, we are positive on Pagseguro Digital Ltd (PAGS US) 
Despite its premium growth in AUM, we are cautious on XP Inc (XP US), due to eroding take rate and rising IFA costs
In exchanges, B3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao (B3SA3 BZ)’s valuations have descended from the stratosphere but we believe that this stock could have further downside risk
Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil and Bradesco include higher than expected NPLs and lower than expected credit spreads, as well as soft fee growth; similar risks apply to Banorte, BanBajio and in the case of Credicorp we also add political risk; Banco Inter’s upside risks include better than expected opex control especially on new customer acquisition driving better than expected returns; XP upside risks include higher than expected take rate and lower than expected opex, and B3 could deliver stronger than expected revenue growth in FICC and derivatives especially


LatAm Financials Review: Focus on the Value Opportunities

Brazil

Banco Bradesco S.A. attracts deposits and offers commercial banking services. The Bank offers business loans, personal credit, mortgages, lease financing, mutual funds, securities brokerage, and Internet banking services.  Bradesco operates in Brazil and Argentina, the United States, the Cayman Islands, and the United Kingdom.  Bradesco offers credit cards, insurance, and pension funds.

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Banco Bradesco (BBDC4 BZ)

Nubank (NU US) – IPO Done, Now Comes the Hard Part

More than other digital banks, Nubank suffers from a disconnect between size of customer base & loan & deposit balances; also, we estimate that...

Victor Galliano

Brazil Bank Sector Trends to April in Ten Charts

April credit quality data is better than March, the bank system has good NPL coverage & the debt servicing burden is declining with falling lending...

Victor Galliano

Banco Inter (BIDI11 BZ): Too Much Optimism Built into Valuations

Banco Inter, as a leading Brazilian digital challenger bank, is growing fast. Yet our 3 scenarios show that premium growth does not mean premium...

Victor Galliano

Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ): Solid 1Q21, with the Prospect of Improving Returns

Post 1Q21 result, we believe that Banco do Brasil's PBV ratio discount (c60%) should narrow, supported by its healthy credit quality and capital...

Victor Galliano

LatAm Financials Review: Focus on the Value Opportunities

We identify the most attractive LatAm financials on value and GARP metrics; Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Banorte, BanBajio, PagSeguro; we are...

Victor Galliano

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