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 see clear evidence that the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc-a723bd63-0890-486f-aaa0-3bb9ad2b95ce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21976:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN)</a> super-tanker is turning</li>
<li>Balance sheet strength at YE 2020, with delivery across most plan metrics in 2020 showing commitment</li>
<li>Execution on costs, the digital transformation, sustainably lower cost of risk going forward and the deepened Asia pivot, with an emphasis on Wealth and Personal Banking revenues, should be core drivers of returns</li>
<li>Potential disposals of France retail banking and possibly the US retail operations would also enhance returns and free up “trapped” RWAs</li>
<li>We believe that 2022E consensus ROE estimates are too conservative and that HSBC could potentially be on a c 8% dividend yield over the medium term</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on HSBC include slower than expected execution on costs, and tougher competition in Asia retail banking, as well as worse than expected credit quality leading to a lower than expected reduction in cost of risk charges</li>
</ul>


We see clear evidence that the HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN) super-tanker is turning
Balance sheet strength at YE 2020, with delivery across most plan metrics in 2020 showing commitment
Execution on costs, the digital transformation, sustainably lower cost of risk going forward and the deepened Asia pivot, with an emphasis on Wealth and Personal Banking revenues, should be core drivers of returns
Potential disposals of France retail banking and possibly the US retail operations would also enhance returns and free up “trapped” RWAs
We believe that 2022E consensus ROE estimates are too conservative and that HSBC could potentially be on a c 8% dividend yield over the medium term
Risks to our positive view on HSBC include slower than expected execution on costs, and tougher competition in Asia retail banking, as well as worse than expected credit quality leading to a lower than expected reduction in cost of risk charges


HSBC (HSBA LN): The Super-Tanker Is Turning

Financials Credit Analyst

Hank Calenti, CFA

CreditContinuum

Credit

Given its low capital buffer and plans to lower it further, along with high market risk tolerance and leverage finance exposure, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credit-suisse-group-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22253:1" rel="noopener">Credit Suisse's (CSGN VX)</a> Additional Tier 1 (AT1) trades too tight relative to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ubs-group-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22590:1" rel="noopener">UBS (UBSG VX)</a> and most other large banks globally. We see better value elsewhere at this point in the credit cycle.Many analysts compare CS and UBS and conclude that they are largely the same, with UBS having deleveraged its investment banking franchise years earlier. We disagree. While both may suffer outflows in assets under management during a prolonged equity market correction, UBS has a far less market-sensitive franchise during intermittent bouts of volatility, as was clearly shown over the past year. In addition to having a higher trading risk tolerance profile, CS appears to have a higher sensitivity to non-investment grade leverage finance and oil &amp; gas exposures.  These are more sensitive to the business cycle. As of now, with global growth set to accelerate post-vaccination, this is a benefit. However, this is also already priced into CS’ securities.  In fact, the longer-dated AT1 bonds are priced to perfection, in our view.In addition, CS has a substantially lower Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) buffer than UBS and many other European banks.  Furthermore, as CS targets an even lower capital ratio, this buffer is at risk of falling further over the near term. While lofty aspirations to operate at a higher leverage level may be aimed at equity holders, we think it best to take management’s word at face value. Lower capital ratios are not AT1 capital supportive. Unless the firm simultaneously de-risks, sensitivity to non-IG leverage finance and non-IG oil &amp; gas exposures may increase.Furthermore, while we were impressed by Mr. Hoarta-Osório’s leadership at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lloyds-banking-group-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21009:1" rel="noopener">Lloyds Bank (LLOY LN)</a> in the UK, despite several blemishes, we are surprised that the ex-CEO of a UK-centric mortgage bank would be chosen as Chairman of the Board at a global investment bank with wealth management growth aspirations in Asia. We are not convinced this is the best choice and we question if the execution risk from an eventual strategy pivot will be credit positive.We explore these themes and provide an overview of CS’s Q4 results within. We conclude that, taken together amongst its longer-dated peer-issued AT1 notes, we find better value in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/societe-generale-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21478:1" rel="noopener">Société Générale's (GLE FP)</a> 2030 first call AT1 than in the recently issued Credit Suisse security. (Please see: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/societe-generale-s-at1-better-fundamental-and-relative-value-than-bnp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:48177" rel="noopener">Société Générale’s AT1: Better Fundamental and Relative Value than BNP</a> for more details on SocGen). We also see greater spread pick-up in Credit Suisse’s 2025 first call AT1 note than further out the curve.

Given its low capital buffer and plans to lower it further, along with high market risk tolerance and leverage finance exposure, Credit Suisse's (CSGN VX) Additional Tier 1 (AT1) trades too tight relative to UBS (UBSG VX) and most other large banks globally. We see better value elsewhere at this point in the credit cycle.Many analysts compare CS and UBS and conclude that they are largely the same, with UBS having deleveraged its investment banking franchise years earlier. We disagree. While both may suffer outflows in assets under management during a prolonged equity market correction, UBS has a far less market-sensitive franchise during intermittent bouts of volatility, as was clearly shown over the past year. In addition to having a higher trading risk tolerance profile, CS appears to have a higher sensitivity to non-investment grade leverage finance and oil &amp; gas exposures.  These are more sensitive to the business cycle. As of now, with global growth set to accelerate post-vaccination, this is a benefit. However, this is also already priced into CS’ securities.  In fact, the longer-dated AT1 bonds are priced to perfection, in our view.In addition, CS has a substantially lower Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) buffer than UBS and many other European banks.  Furthermore, as CS targets an even lower capital ratio, this buffer is at risk of falling further over the near term. While lofty aspirations to operate at a higher leverage level may be aimed at equity holders, we think it best to take management’s word at face value. Lower capital ratios are not AT1 capital supportive. Unless the firm simultaneously de-risks, sensitivity to non-IG leverage finance and non-IG oil &amp; gas exposures may increase.Furthermore, while we were impressed by Mr. Hoarta-Osório’s leadership at Lloyds Bank (LLOY LN) in the UK, despite several blemishes, we are surprised that the ex-CEO of a UK-centric mortgage bank would be chosen as Chairman of the Board at a global investment bank with wealth management growth aspirations in Asia. We are not convinced this is the best choice and we question if the execution risk from an eventual strategy pivot will be credit positive.We explore these themes and provide an overview of CS’s Q4 results within. We conclude that, taken together amongst its longer-dated peer-issued AT1 notes, we find better value in Société Générale's (GLE FP) 2030 first call AT1 than in the recently issued Credit Suisse security. (Please see: Société Générale’s AT1: Better Fundamental and Relative Value than BNP for more details on SocGen). We also see greater spread pick-up in Credit Suisse’s 2025 first call AT1 note than further out the curve.

Credit Suisse – Perfection Priced into Long-Dated AT1

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc-a723bd63-0890-486f-aaa0-3bb9ad2b95ce" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21976:1" rel="noopener">HSBC Holdings' (HSBA LN)</a> recently issued 4.6% coupon 2030 first call note is beginning to look overbought relative to other banks and relative to its own credit curve. At the same time, returns are likely to be negatively impacted by rising interest rates as the year progresses. As such, we screen for value in HSBC’s Additional Tier 1 (AT1) curve for alternate investment options to achieve greater total returns this year.This is the second insight in a series on HSBC. In the first note, we considered the bank's ability to withstand a material increase in its credit costs and identified potential Covid-19 asset quality sensitivity. Please see <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/hsbc-capital-forbearance-and-covid-19-sensitivity" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:47598" rel="noopener">HSBC: Capital, Forbearance and Covid-19 Sensitivity</a> for more details.In this insight, we determine where the market may be mispricing the bank's credit risk and screen for potential extension risk while considering the liquidity of HSBC's AT1 instruments denominated in US$, Singapore-dollars and Euros.The longer the duration of the bond, the greater the price impact from a parallel shift in the yield curve. In theory, credit spreads should remain unchanged, to strengthen, as the economy recovers, and rates rise. In practice, this depends on the spread level per unit of duration along the credit curve. This accounts for the forward-looking nature of the market with respect to perceived credit risk. With an effective duration of 7.85 years and a relatively low credit risk premium, the 2030 callable AT1 note could suffer a lower total return than all other HSBC AT1s, as the yield curve steepens.Concurrently, given HSBC's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital buffer of approximately 370 basis points, the 10-year note trades tight relative to banks with higher CET1 buffers. In fact, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ubs-group-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22590:1" rel="noopener">UBS Group's (UBSG VX)</a> recently issued 4 3/8% coupon 2031 callable bond currently looks better value relative to each bank’s respective capital buffers.Taken together, we find better value elsewhere along HSBC’s AT1 curve.

HSBC Holdings' (HSBA LN) recently issued 4.6% coupon 2030 first call note is beginning to look overbought relative to other banks and relative to its own credit curve. At the same time, returns are likely to be negatively impacted by rising interest rates as the year progresses. As such, we screen for value in HSBC’s Additional Tier 1 (AT1) curve for alternate investment options to achieve greater total returns this year.This is the second insight in a series on HSBC. In the first note, we considered the bank's ability to withstand a material increase in its credit costs and identified potential Covid-19 asset quality sensitivity. Please see HSBC: Capital, Forbearance and Covid-19 Sensitivity for more details.In this insight, we determine where the market may be mispricing the bank's credit risk and screen for potential extension risk while considering the liquidity of HSBC's AT1 instruments denominated in US$, Singapore-dollars and Euros.The longer the duration of the bond, the greater the price impact from a parallel shift in the yield curve. In theory, credit spreads should remain unchanged, to strengthen, as the economy recovers, and rates rise. In practice, this depends on the spread level per unit of duration along the credit curve. This accounts for the forward-looking nature of the market with respect to perceived credit risk. With an effective duration of 7.85 years and a relatively low credit risk premium, the 2030 callable AT1 note could suffer a lower total return than all other HSBC AT1s, as the yield curve steepens.Concurrently, given HSBC's Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital buffer of approximately 370 basis points, the 10-year note trades tight relative to banks with higher CET1 buffers. In fact, UBS Group's (UBSG VX) recently issued 4 3/8% coupon 2031 callable bond currently looks better value relative to each bank’s respective capital buffers.Taken together, we find better value elsewhere along HSBC’s AT1 curve.

HSBC: AT1 Positioning for Greater Total Returns

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

*Super Results And Will Only Get Better: JP Morgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM.US) [JPM] reported 4Q20 bottom-line results of USD 12.1 bn, increasing USD 2.7 bn (28.5%) linked quarter. On a core operating basis, we note an even stronger QOQ improvement, with numbers coming in at USD 12.1 bn or USD 3.1 bn (34.6%) higher than 3Q20. Results were essentially driven by a reserve reversal of USD 1.9 bn, which no doubt will be a consistent theme in 2021;*Credit Weakness Significantly Decelerates: We find that net new NPLs on a linked quarter amounted to only USD 1 mn or well under 1.0% on an annualized basis. The pace of increase has decelerated from the 7.0% and 26% posted in 3Q20 and 2Q20, respectively; and*Solid Share Buyback In Place: JPM noted that it could repurchase a maximum number of shares of USD 4.5 bn for 1Q21.

*Super Results And Will Only Get Better: JP Morgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM.US) [JPM] reported 4Q20 bottom-line results of USD 12.1 bn, increasing USD 2.7 bn (28.5%) linked quarter. On a core operating basis, we note an even stronger QOQ improvement, with numbers coming in at USD 12.1 bn or USD 3.1 bn (34.6%) higher than 3Q20. Results were essentially driven by a reserve reversal of USD 1.9 bn, which no doubt will be a consistent theme in 2021;*Credit Weakness Significantly Decelerates: We find that net new NPLs on a linked quarter amounted to only USD 1 mn or well under 1.0% on an annualized basis. The pace of increase has decelerated from the 7.0% and 26% posted in 3Q20 and 2Q20, respectively; and*Solid Share Buyback In Place: JPM noted that it could repurchase a maximum number of shares of USD 4.5 bn for 1Q21. 

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

MSCI Emerging Markets Index / Technical Analysis

As we highlighted in last week’s Int’l Compass, the weight of the evidence suggests commodities are in the early stages of a new secular bull market. Global Materials remains a favorite Sector overweight and we believe outperformance is likely to continue considering the Sector’s long-term bullish RS reversal. Additionally, we are upgrading equal-weighted Energy to overweight due to bullish price and RS inflections -- add exposure with a focus on small- and mid-caps.

As we highlighted in last week’s Int’l Compass, the weight of the evidence suggests commodities are in the early stages of a new secular bull market. Global Materials remains a favorite Sector overweight and we believe outperformance is likely to continue considering the Sector’s long-term bullish RS reversal. Additionally, we are upgrading equal-weighted Energy to overweight due to bullish price and RS inflections -- add exposure with a focus on small- and mid-caps.

Global Commodity-Related Equity Sectors In Secular Bull

Switzerland

EFG International AG is a bank holding company.  The Bank offers private banking and asset management services.

Vontobel Holding AG is a globally active wealth and asset manager. The Company's wealth management provides professional, forward-looking advice to private clients, while the asset management division actively manages assets for institutional clients and funds. Vontobel's financial products business delivers custom investment solutions to intermediaries and other clients.

Credit Suisse Group AG operates as a wealth management firm. The Company specializes in investment banking and offers wealth management activities aiming to capitalize on both the large pool of wealth within mature markets, as well as the significant growth in wealth in Asia Pacific and other emerging markets. Credit Suisse Group serves customers worldwide.

HBM Healthcare Investments AG is a holding company established under Swiss law, domiciled in Zug, Switzerland. The Company is invested primarly in later-stage private equity, emerging pharmaceutical, medical technology and related industries. Portfolio companies are located mainly in Western Europe and the US.

Leonteq AG operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries provides structured solutions services, structured asset management and pension solutions. Leonteq operates internationally.

Cembra Money Bank AG provides financial services. The Company's services include personal loans, vehicle financing, credit cards, and savings and insurance services. Cembra Money Bank AG provides its services throughout Switzerland.

Zurich Insurance Group AG provides insurance-based financial services. The Company offers general and life insurance products and services for individuals, small businesses, commercial enterprises, mid-sized and large corporations, and multinational companies.

Swiss Re AG offers reinsurance, insurance and insurance linked financial market products. The Company offers automobile, liability, accident, engineering, marine, aviation, life, and health insurance. Swiss Re also manages fixed-income and equity investments for itself and other insurance companies.

Swiss Life Holding is a financial services company.  The Company provides life and property insurance, institutional investment management, and private banking services.

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV) attracts deposits and offers retail, private, and corporate banking services.  The Bank offers consumer loans, treasury management, pension funds, and investment management services, trades in commodities, advises on mergers and acquisitions, and offers securities brokerage services.  BCV operates primarily in the Canton of Vaud.

Macquarie Group Ltd. offers banking, financial advisory, investment and funds management services.  The Company offers financial advice, cash management, wealth management and private banking, life insurance, securities brokerage, corporate debt financing, real estate funds management, real estate development financing, investment funds management, and foreign exchange services.

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) is a global financial services company. The Company provides asset and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer, clearing, and treasury services for institutions, corporations, and high net worth individuals.

BlackRock, Inc. provides diversified investment management services to institutional clients and to retail investors through various investment vehicles. The Company offers the BlackRock Funds and Blackrock Liquidity Funds, and also provides risk management services to fixed income institutional investors.

S&P Global Inc. provides clients with financial information services. The Company offers information regarding ratings, benchmarks, and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets. S&P Global operates worldwide.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. operates global commodity and financial products marketplaces.  The Company operates electronic energy markets and soft commodity exchanges as well.  ICE offers access to contracts based on crude oil and refined products, natural gas, power and emissions, as well as agricultural commodities including cocoa, coffee, cotton, orange juice, and sugar.

CME Group Inc. operates a derivatives exchange that trades futures contracts and options on futures, interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities.  The Exchange brings together buyers and sellers of derivatives products on its trading floors, electronic trading platform, and through privately negotiated transactions that it clears.

The Charles Schwab Corporation provides a variety of financial services to individual investors, independent investment managers, retirement plans, and institutions.  The Company provides its clients with securities brokerage, banking, and related financial services through offices in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.

Moody's Corporation is a credit rating, research, and risk analysis firm.  The Company provides credit ratings and related research, data and analytical tools, quantitative credit risk measures, risk scoring software, and credit portfolio management solutions and securities pricing software and valuation models.

London Stock Exchange Group plc is the United Kingdom's primary stock exchange. The LSE provides markets that facilitate the raising of capital and the trading of corporate securities, access to a trading environment, as well as real-time pricing and reference information services worldwide.  Market coverage includes equities, derivatives and fixed-interest securities.

KKR & Co. Inc. operates as an investment firm. The Company manages investments such as private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit strategies, and hedge funds. KKR & Co serves clients worldwide.

UBS Group AG provides financial services to private, corporate, and institutional clients. The Company offers investment, retail, and corporate and institutional banking, as well as holistic wealth management planning and asset management services. UBS Group also offers securities services such as fund administration and third-party fund management.

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UBS Group (UBSG SW)

HSBC (HSBA LN): The Super-Tanker Is Turning

Cost gains, digital transformation, lower cost of risk going forward and the deepened Asia pivot on revenue growth, should be core drivers of...

Victor Galliano

Credit Suisse – Perfection Priced into Long-Dated AT1

Many analysts compare CS and UBS and conclude that they are largely the same. We disagree. Given its low capital buffer, higher leverage finance...

Hank Calenti, CFA

HSBC: AT1 Positioning for Greater Total Returns

HSBC’s recently issued AT1 is beginning to look overbought. Returns may be negatively impacted by rising interest rates. We screen for better total...

Hank Calenti, CFA

JP Morgan Chase & Co. – Just Wow

JP MORGAN CHASE: JPM] reported 4Q20 bottom-line results increased 28.5% linked quarter, driven by a reserve reversal. Net new NPLs on a linked...

Thomas J. Monaco

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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HSBC (HSBA LN): The Super-Tanker Is Turning

Cost gains, digital transformation, lower cost of risk going forward and the deepened Asia pivot on revenue growth, should be core drivers of...

Victor Galliano

Credit Suisse – Perfection Priced into Long-Dated AT1

Many analysts compare CS and UBS and conclude that they are largely the same. We disagree. Given its low capital buffer, higher leverage finance...

Hank Calenti, CFA

HSBC: AT1 Positioning for Greater Total Returns

HSBC’s recently issued AT1 is beginning to look overbought. Returns may be negatively impacted by rising interest rates. We screen for better total...

Hank Calenti, CFA

JP Morgan Chase & Co. – Just Wow

JP MORGAN CHASE: JPM] reported 4Q20 bottom-line results increased 28.5% linked quarter, driven by a reserve reversal. Net new NPLs on a linked...

Thomas J. Monaco

Global Commodity-Related Equity Sectors In Secular Bull

We believe commodities are in the early stages of a new secular bull market. Global Materials & Energy remain our favorite Sector overweights - add...

Vermilion Research