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 Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate</li>
<li>We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations</li>
<li>Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations</li>
</ul>


We turn positive on KakaoBank, for its increasingly secure competitive positioning in Korea, its attractive digital efficiency ratio, its low customer acquisition cost and for its high activity rate
We switch our buy rating from PAN to Inter as the latter has improved operationally, it is sound on capital and attractive on valuations
Nubank is executing well, but we remain cautious on Nubank shares as we continue to see potential capital constraints as a key risk, along with its stretched valuations


EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>The sharp run-up in the share price since its IPO does not, in our view, mean that Rakuten Bank’s rally is done; there is further fundamental justification for a re-rating</li>
<li>Rakuten Bank trades on a LTM PE multiple of 14.4x, LTM PBV ratio of 1.6x and an ROE of 13.2%, which is the best return of our neobank peers</li>
<li>Relative to its peer group, Rakuten Bank has premium long-run growth prospects; conservatively estimating Rakuten Bank’s growth (8% pa), implies a PEG ratio in the range of 1.2x to 1.3x</li>
</ul>


The sharp run-up in the share price since its IPO does not, in our view, mean that Rakuten Bank’s rally is done; there is further fundamental justification for a re-rating
Rakuten Bank trades on a LTM PE multiple of 14.4x, LTM PBV ratio of 1.6x and an ROE of 13.2%, which is the best return of our neobank peers
Relative to its peer group, Rakuten Bank has premium long-run growth prospects; conservatively estimating Rakuten Bank’s growth (8% pa), implies a PEG ratio in the range of 1.2x to 1.3x


Rakuten Bank (5838 JP): Premium Growth Neobank Still Trading at Attractive Valuations

<ul>
<li>Rakuten Bank’s IPO will add an attractively valued Japanese neobank to the globally listed neobank universe; furthermore, the Rakuten Group ecosystem is a powerful tool for customer acquisition and retention</li>
<li>On efficiency metrics, Rakuten Bank scores well versus its key domestic peers as well as global comparables; Rakuten Group companies act as a key conduit for new clients</li>
<li>At the announced issue price of ¥1,400, Rakuten Bank’s PBV ratio implies an attractive 25% discount to its core Japanese peer SBI Sumishin Net Bank, for similar ROE</li>
</ul>


Rakuten Bank’s IPO will add an attractively valued Japanese neobank to the globally listed neobank universe; furthermore, the Rakuten Group ecosystem is a powerful tool for customer acquisition and retention
On efficiency metrics, Rakuten Bank scores well versus its key domestic peers as well as global comparables; Rakuten Group companies act as a key conduit for new clients
At the announced issue price of ¥1,400, Rakuten Bank’s PBV ratio implies an attractive 25% discount to its core Japanese peer SBI Sumishin Net Bank, for similar ROE


Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) – A Keenly Priced Quality Addition to the Global Neobanks Universe

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick four longs and two shorts as our conviction calls for 2023</li>
<li>Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, Hana Financial from South Korea, China Construction Bank and BanColombia; we also have a special mentions category for Banco Itau and Nubank</li>
<li>Our key sells are ICICI Bank from India and digital bank Jago from Indonesia</li>
</ul>


Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick four longs and two shorts as our conviction calls for 2023
Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, Hana Financial from South Korea, China Construction Bank and BanColombia; we also have a special mentions category for Banco Itau and Nubank
Our key sells are ICICI Bank from India and digital bank Jago from Indonesia


<ul>
<li>Bradesco’s quarterly results disappointed the market due to soft interest margins, despite the clear indications of Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality metrics</li>
<li>NuBank is a digital bank success story, but it has credit quality challenges and also potential capital constraints, due to its fast loan growth</li>
<li>We remain neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Banco do Brasil seems attractive on valuations, but it is more exposed to political risk; buy Bradesco, sell Nubank</li>
</ul>


Bradesco’s quarterly results disappointed the market due to soft interest margins, despite the clear indications of Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality metrics
NuBank is a digital bank success story, but it has credit quality challenges and also potential capital constraints, due to its fast loan growth
We remain neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Banco do Brasil seems attractive on valuations, but it is more exposed to political risk; buy Bradesco, sell Nubank


Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

Brazil

NU Holdings Ltd. of the Cayman Islands operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides loans and digital banking services, as well as issues, administrates, processes, and transfers payments to post-paid credit cards and equity investments in other entities. NU Holdings serves clients worldwide.

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NU Holdings (NU US)

EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

KakaoBank raised to buy for its firm business niche, its positive banking and capital ratios; Inter is also a buy for its undemanding valuations...

Victor Galliano

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP): Premium Growth Neobank Still Trading at Attractive Valuations

Rakuten Bank’s mix of relative value metrics and premium growth potential are clear positive drivers for its further re-rating potential; company...

Victor Galliano

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) – A Keenly Priced Quality Addition to the Global Neobanks Universe

Rakuten Bank's IPO is priced to go; issue price PBV ratio implies an attractive 25% discount to core Japanese peer SBI Sumishin Net Bank, for...

Victor Galliano

GEM Banks; Conviction Calls for 2023

Our core buys are Bank Mandiri, Hana Financial, China Construction Bank and BanColombia; we also have special mention for Banco Itau and Nubank;...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...

Victor Galliano

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

EM Digital Banks – We Turn Positive on KakaoBank and Inter, Cautious on Nubank and Neutral on PAN

KakaoBank raised to buy for its firm business niche, its positive banking and capital ratios; Inter is also a buy for its undemanding valuations...

Victor Galliano

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP): Premium Growth Neobank Still Trading at Attractive Valuations

Rakuten Bank’s mix of relative value metrics and premium growth potential are clear positive drivers for its further re-rating potential; company...

Victor Galliano

Rakuten Bank (5838 JP) – A Keenly Priced Quality Addition to the Global Neobanks Universe

Rakuten Bank's IPO is priced to go; issue price PBV ratio implies an attractive 25% discount to core Japanese peer SBI Sumishin Net Bank, for...

Victor Galliano

GEM Banks; Conviction Calls for 2023

Our core buys are Bank Mandiri, Hana Financial, China Construction Bank and BanColombia; we also have special mention for Banco Itau and Nubank;...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

​The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...

Victor Galliano

The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...