Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Independent Insight Provider

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Equity Bottom-Up

*Results Supported By Premature Provision Cut: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 2Q21 results of INR 45.7 bn, increasing INR 3.8 bn (9.2%) linked quarter. Results were even better when we exclude the FY 1Q21 exceptional gain of INR 15.4 bn – increasing INR 19.2 bn or 72.6% linked quarter. Results were driven by three factors: a) net interest income improvement of INR 15.4 bn (5.8%) due primarily to NIM improvement of 8 bp to 2.96%; b) a loan loss provision decline of INR 18.1 bn (16.0%) despite much weaker credit metrics; and c) non-interest income improvement of INR 5.7 bn (7.2%); and* Credit Risk and Weak Cover: By our calculation, we find net new NPL growth of INR 144.0 bn or 44.4% on an annualized basis and that the annualized NCO rate of 66 bp – which are quite troublesome even for an SOE bank. We also find that reserves are light in the neighborbood of INR 1.1 tn  - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap.

*Results Supported By Premature Provision Cut: State Bank of India (SBIN.IN) [SBI] reported FY 2Q21 results of INR 45.7 bn, increasing INR 3.8 bn (9.2%) linked quarter. Results were even better when we exclude the FY 1Q21 exceptional gain of INR 15.4 bn – increasing INR 19.2 bn or 72.6% linked quarter. Results were driven by three factors: a) net interest income improvement of INR 15.4 bn (5.8%) due primarily to NIM improvement of 8 bp to 2.96%; b) a loan loss provision decline of INR 18.1 bn (16.0%) despite much weaker credit metrics; and c) non-interest income improvement of INR 5.7 bn (7.2%); and* Credit Risk and Weak Cover: By our calculation, we find net new NPL growth of INR 144.0 bn or 44.4% on an annualized basis and that the annualized NCO rate of 66 bp – which are quite troublesome even for an SOE bank. We also find that reserves are light in the neighborbood of INR 1.1 tn  - nearly four years of pre-tax results or 61% of market-cap. 

State Bank of India – Credit Continues To Fall Off A Cliff

*All Good: Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC.IN) [HDFC] reported FY 2Q21 bottom-line results of INR 33.7 bn - increasing INR 3.8 bn (12.6%) linked quarter. From a core operating perspective, we note that HDFC came in at INR 32.0 bn, a whopping INR 15.5 bn (93.4%) increase over FY 1Q21.*Credit Risk Decelerating: The trend in annualized NCOs has declined, by our calculation, to 16 bp from 21 bp in the previous quarter. In addition, the level of net new NPLs has also decelerated to INR 3.6 bn or 14.2% on an annualized basis versus 46.6% in FY 1Q21. We would have preferred that HDFC remained more vigilant given the continued uncertainty with COVID-19. As such, we still find that HDFC’s reserve still needs shoring up by another INR 68 bn or just over two quarters of core operating results; and*Positive Operating Jaws: . Key to core operating result performance was: a) net interest income improvement of INR 2.8 bn (8.3%) led by both linked quarter loan growth of 2.0% and NIM improvement of 17 bp to 2.75%; b) an INT 306 mn (7.7%) decline in operating expenses which pushed HDFC’s C/I ratio even lower by 160 bp to 9.2%.

*All Good: Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC.IN) [HDFC] reported FY 2Q21 bottom-line results of INR 33.7 bn - increasing INR 3.8 bn (12.6%) linked quarter. From a core operating perspective, we note that HDFC came in at INR 32.0 bn, a whopping INR 15.5 bn (93.4%) increase over FY 1Q21.*Credit Risk Decelerating: The trend in annualized NCOs has declined, by our calculation, to 16 bp from 21 bp in the previous quarter. In addition, the level of net new NPLs has also decelerated to INR 3.6 bn or 14.2% on an annualized basis versus 46.6% in FY 1Q21. We would have preferred that HDFC remained more vigilant given the continued uncertainty with COVID-19. As such, we still find that HDFC’s reserve still needs shoring up by another INR 68 bn or just over two quarters of core operating results; and*Positive Operating Jaws: . Key to core operating result performance was: a) net interest income improvement of INR 2.8 bn (8.3%) led by both linked quarter loan growth of 2.0% and NIM improvement of 17 bp to 2.75%; b) an INT 306 mn (7.7%) decline in operating expenses which pushed HDFC’s C/I ratio even lower by 160 bp to 9.2%.

Housing Development Finance Corp. – “Great Quarter Guys”

*Manufactured Improvement: IndusInd Bank (IIB.IB) [IndusInd] reported FY 2Q21 bottom-line results of INR 6.5 bn, improving INR 1.9 bn (40.5%) linked quarter. Like most other banks in India, IndusInd cut its loan loss provision INR 2.9 bn or 13.0% on a linked quarter basis – driving FY2Q21 bottom-line – a bizarre move given the accelerated levels of NPL creation which no doubt will be reversed going forward; and*Credit Weaker, Not Better: You can dress IndusInd up and put as much make-up on as you like but at the end of the day – credit is ugly. NCOs of INR 18.4 bn amount to 3.72% on an annualized basis, while net new NPLs are increasing at a 117.5%. From our vantage point, we find that IndusInd’s reserve needs to be more than tripled with a shortfall of INR 75.7 bn – representing nine quarters of pre-tax results if you believe the FY 2Q21 result wasn’t manufactured – or 17.0% of market cap. This is a problem, as IndusInd’s CET 1 at 14.5% is substantially still lower than the CET 1 ratio of the large private banks (18% on an average).

*Manufactured Improvement: IndusInd Bank (IIB.IB) [IndusInd] reported FY 2Q21 bottom-line results of INR 6.5 bn, improving INR 1.9 bn (40.5%) linked quarter. Like most other banks in India, IndusInd cut its loan loss provision INR 2.9 bn or 13.0% on a linked quarter basis – driving FY2Q21 bottom-line – a bizarre move given the accelerated levels of NPL creation which no doubt will be reversed going forward; and*Credit Weaker, Not Better: You can dress IndusInd up and put as much make-up on as you like but at the end of the day – credit is ugly. NCOs of INR 18.4 bn amount to 3.72% on an annualized basis, while net new NPLs are increasing at a 117.5%. From our vantage point, we find that IndusInd’s reserve needs to be more than tripled with a shortfall of INR 75.7 bn – representing nine quarters of pre-tax results if you believe the FY 2Q21 result wasn’t manufactured – or 17.0% of market cap. This is a problem, as IndusInd’s CET 1 at 14.5% is substantially still lower than the CET 1 ratio of the large private banks (18% on an average).

IndusInd Bank – Now Dealing With Negative Operating Jaws

*Solid Number Appear Sustainable: Shriram Transport Finance (SHTF.IN) [Shriram] reported FY 2Q21 profits of INR 6.8 bn, increasing 113.9% linked quarter. Bottom-line improvement was attributed to two factors: 1) a net interest income improvement of INR 2.0 bn (11.0%) primarily as a result of NIM improvement - on the back of lower funding costs – of 61 bp to 7.24%; and 2) wouldn’t you know it, an INR 4.1 bn (38.4%) decline in loss provisions as net new NPL growth turned negative; and*Very Encouraging Credit Trends:  Most encouraging, and in contravention to sector trends that we have seen thus far, we note that Shriram’s level of net new NPLs linked quarter actually declined INR 2.2 bn or negative 10.0% on an annualized basis.

*Solid Number Appear Sustainable: Shriram Transport Finance (SHTF.IN) [Shriram] reported FY 2Q21 profits of INR 6.8 bn, increasing 113.9% linked quarter. Bottom-line improvement was attributed to two factors: 1) a net interest income improvement of INR 2.0 bn (11.0%) primarily as a result of NIM improvement - on the back of lower funding costs – of 61 bp to 7.24%; and 2) wouldn’t you know it, an INR 4.1 bn (38.4%) decline in loss provisions as net new NPL growth turned negative; and*Very Encouraging Credit Trends:  Most encouraging, and in contravention to sector trends that we have seen thus far, we note that Shriram’s level of net new NPLs linked quarter actually declined INR 2.2 bn or negative 10.0% on an annualized basis.

Shriram Transport Finance – Frightening Glory

*Better – But Not Good: Bank of Baroda (BOB.IN) [BOB] reported FY 2Q21 results of INR 16.8bn, quite a reversal of fortune from the losses of INR 8.6 bn in FY 1Q21. Several factors drove BOB’s outperformance: a) net interest income improvement of INR 7.5 bn (11.0%) linked quarter driven solely by NIM expansion of 31 bp to 2.86% while the loan book contracted 1.8%; b) fee revenue improvement of INR 2.6 bn (22.2%) on the back of higher loan processing fees as retail loan disbursements increased; and c) most importantly, an INR 26.3 bn (46.7%) reduction in loss provisions as annualized net new NPL creation dropped precipitously to just 2.0%;*Poor Reserve Cover: Excluding the September 2016 Supreme Court standstill on NPL classification, BOB’s NPLs still would have declined INR 19.9 bn (2.9%) and the NPL ratio would have been 9.30% - still improving 10 bp over the previous quarter. Anything over 8% suggest institutions are insolvent. By our calculation, however, BOB’s reserves still remain light by INR 245 bn or nearly ten quarters of pre-tax earnings – this prior to its merger with Vijaya and Dena Banks; and       *Capital Raise A Real Challenge: Merger-related challenges leading to growth slowdown, higher NPLs on portfolio alignment, and continued deterioration in the international business. Equity dilution is BOB’s single largest risk.

*Better – But Not Good: Bank of Baroda (BOB.IN) [BOB] reported FY 2Q21 results of INR 16.8bn, quite a reversal of fortune from the losses of INR 8.6 bn in FY 1Q21. Several factors drove BOB’s outperformance: a) net interest income improvement of INR 7.5 bn (11.0%) linked quarter driven solely by NIM expansion of 31 bp to 2.86% while the loan book contracted 1.8%; b) fee revenue improvement of INR 2.6 bn (22.2%) on the back of higher loan processing fees as retail loan disbursements increased; and c) most importantly, an INR 26.3 bn (46.7%) reduction in loss provisions as annualized net new NPL creation dropped precipitously to just 2.0%;*Poor Reserve Cover: Excluding the September 2016 Supreme Court standstill on NPL classification, BOB’s NPLs still would have declined INR 19.9 bn (2.9%) and the NPL ratio would have been 9.30% - still improving 10 bp over the previous quarter. Anything over 8% suggest institutions are insolvent. By our calculation, however, BOB’s reserves still remain light by INR 245 bn or nearly ten quarters of pre-tax earnings – this prior to its merger with Vijaya and Dena Banks; and       *Capital Raise A Real Challenge: Merger-related challenges leading to growth slowdown, higher NPLs on portfolio alignment, and continued deterioration in the international business. Equity dilution is BOB’s single largest risk.

India

iShares MSCI India ETF is an exchange-traded fund incorporated in the USA. The ETF seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI India Index.

iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA US)

State Bank of India – Credit Continues To Fall Off A Cliff

STATE BANK OF INDIA: Costs Increasing, Credit Deteriorating, Reserve Cover Declining. This Is A Recipe For A Massive Capital Raise.

Thomas J. Monaco

Housing Development Finance Corp. – “Great Quarter Guys”

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORP: Positive Operating Jaws Were Just An Outgrowth Of This Well Oiled Machine. Credit Risk Too Substantially...

Thomas J. Monaco

IndusInd Bank – Now Dealing With Negative Operating Jaws

INDUSIND BANK: IndusInd Remains Challenged With Accelerating NPL Formation, And Poor Coverage. However, Negative Operating Jaws Are Now A New Twist.

Thomas J. Monaco

Shriram Transport Finance – Frightening Glory

SHRIRAM TRANSPORT FINANCE: Shriram Is Exhibiting Early Signs of Positive Credit Deltas, And Likely Exits This COVID Crisis Earlier Than Peer.

Thomas J. Monaco

Bank of Baroda – Scary On Halloween

BANK OF BARODA: Manufactured Profits Ahead Of Capital Raise. BOB Already Appears Insolvent With 9.3% NPLs and 10 Quarter Reserve Shortfall

Thomas J. Monaco