Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/united-overseas-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:113:1" rel="noopener">UOB (UOB SP)</a> just released their 3Q23 results, with their IR documents attached below. Our interpretation of their numbers is less positive than their own presentation. </li>
<li>Credit growth is faltering, with worsening NIM in QoQ, and with what appears to be topping out net interest income. Citi integration costs remain an issue. </li>
<li>Underlying credit metrics with worse recoveries and worse new NPAs are not positive, nor is the 126% rise YoY in credit costs in 3Q23.  Will this improve in 4Q23? </li>
</ul>



UOB (UOB SP) just released their 3Q23 results, with their IR documents attached below. Our interpretation of their numbers is less positive than their own presentation. 
Credit growth is faltering, with worsening NIM in QoQ, and with what appears to be topping out net interest income. Citi integration costs remain an issue. 
Underlying credit metrics with worse recoveries and worse new NPAs are not positive, nor is the 126% rise YoY in credit costs in 3Q23.  Will this improve in 4Q23? 


UOB - Net Profit Down 1.5% YoY, Credit Costs +126% YoY, Citi Costs ~5% of Profit, Expect Worsening

<ul>
<li>There is little in the long-term and current figures of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)</a> that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.</li>
<li>Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. </li>
<li>The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. </li>
</ul>


There is little in the long-term and current figures of Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.
Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. 
The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. 


Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

<ul>
<li>UOB can be harder hit than peers due to its greater SME focus. SME's may be less able to absorb or pass on higher costs, or manage worse demand.</li>
<li>Domestic credit growth is at -4.1% in July YoY, from -3.3% YoY in June and from 2.1% in May. This can represent risk-aversion, worse demand, deteriorating credit metrics in SG.</li>
<li>UOB's Greater China lending is SGD52bn, nearly identical to Thailand, Malaysia combined. Building &amp; Construction NPLs rose from SGD1.1bn to SGD1.4bn HoH to 2Q23.</li>
</ul>


UOB can be harder hit than peers due to its greater SME focus. SME's may be less able to absorb or pass on higher costs, or manage worse demand.
Domestic credit growth is at -4.1% in July YoY, from -3.3% YoY in June and from 2.1% in May. This can represent risk-aversion, worse demand, deteriorating credit metrics in SG.
UOB's Greater China lending is SGD52bn, nearly identical to Thailand, Malaysia combined. Building &amp; Construction NPLs rose from SGD1.1bn to SGD1.4bn HoH to 2Q23.


UOB - Weaker Credit | Struggling Cost Base | Moving to Trading | A Changing Face

<ul>
<li>Fee income is down 33% in the most recent quarter which may have prompted the bank to realize gains up 63% in the period to preserve profit growth</li>
<li>Quality of earnings is not strong, with more than half of the bank's pre-tax income delta driven by realized and unrealized gains, with credit cost decline the other key driver</li>
<li>Loss NPLs are now 26% of total NPLs, from 11% a few year ago, suggesting worsening credit metrics. Declining credit costs seem at odds with economy, NPL distribution.</li>
</ul>


Fee income is down 33% in the most recent quarter which may have prompted the bank to realize gains up 63% in the period to preserve profit growth
Quality of earnings is not strong, with more than half of the bank's pre-tax income delta driven by realized and unrealized gains, with credit cost decline the other key driver
Loss NPLs are now 26% of total NPLs, from 11% a few year ago, suggesting worsening credit metrics. Declining credit costs seem at odds with economy, NPL distribution.


Bank of Jiangsu - Fees -33%, Gains +64% Credit Costs -19%, Does Not Suggest Quality Earnings

<ul>
<li>Singapore credit growth turned negative at -3% YoY in July where STAN has major exposure, while many regions, are not high growth, where credit metrics are worsening, like HK, China</li>
<li>88% of loans in well-developed countries, so that the old moniker of STAN being 'an Emerging Market Bank' may no longer apply, with NPLs as an overlying risk</li>
<li>Credit costs rose 6x from 1Q23 to 2Q23, but the 19bps level in 2Q23 remains low relative to its longer-term 62bps average - which excludes the Asian Financial Crisis</li>
</ul>


Singapore credit growth turned negative at -3% YoY in July where STAN has major exposure, while many regions, are not high growth, where credit metrics are worsening, like HK, China
88% of loans in well-developed countries, so that the old moniker of STAN being 'an Emerging Market Bank' may no longer apply, with NPLs as an overlying risk
Credit costs rose 6x from 1Q23 to 2Q23, but the 19bps level in 2Q23 remains low relative to its longer-term 62bps average - which excludes the Asian Financial Crisis


Standard Chartered - Singapore Credit Growth Negative In July | Credit Costs Up 6x QoQ But Still Low

United Kingdom

Standard Chartered PLC is an international banking group operating principally in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Company offers its products and services in the personal, consumer, corporate, institutional and treasury areas.

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Standard Chartered (STAN LN)

UOB - Net Profit Down 1.5% YoY, Credit Costs +126% YoY, Citi Costs ~5% of Profit, Expect Worsening

UOB results are out just out, they do not look good, with worsening loan growth, sharply higher credit costs, meaningful divergence in recoveries...

Daniel Tabbush

Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

BOC has seen LDR expansion accompanied by narrowing NIM, raising questions on marginal lending. ROE is worsening dramatically, with credit costs...

Daniel Tabbush

UOB - Weaker Credit | Struggling Cost Base | Moving to Trading | A Changing Face

UOB is struggling with operating costs far more than peers, partly from Citibank, partly from oil. Its credit costs are doubling. It is relying...

Daniel Tabbush

Bank of Jiangsu - Fees -33%, Gains +64% Credit Costs -19%, Does Not Suggest Quality Earnings

Dramatically lower fee income, far higher realized gains, and lower credit costs are driving net profit growth, and do not suggest a positive or...

Daniel Tabbush

Standard Chartered - Singapore Credit Growth Negative In July | Credit Costs Up 6x QoQ But Still Low

Sing credit -3% July, a key region for STAN. The old descriptive is no longer valid , 'The Emerging Market Bank', given its footprint. Credit costs...

Daniel Tabbush

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