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

Iyogin Holdings, Inc. operates as a holding company. The Company provides operation and management of bank related subsidiary companies. Iyogin Holdings provides its services throughout Japan.

<ul>
<li>Our key themes for Japanese banks in 2026 are top line growth due to a hawkish BoJ and the potential for shareholder value creation through cross-holding disposals</li>
<li>In the big caps, we stick with Resona Holdings as our top pick for its strong gearing to rising interest rates and its relatively high equity cross-holdings to market value</li>
<li>Our top mid-caps picks are Iyogin Holdings and Hokuhoku, both of which are well positioned to benefit from higher interest rates and also have healthy cross-holdings relative to market value</li>
</ul>


Our key themes for Japanese banks in 2026 are top line growth due to a hawkish BoJ and the potential for shareholder value creation through cross-holding disposals
In the big caps, we stick with Resona Holdings as our top pick for its strong gearing to rising interest rates and its relatively high equity cross-holdings to market value
Our top mid-caps picks are Iyogin Holdings and Hokuhoku, both of which are well positioned to benefit from higher interest rates and also have healthy cross-holdings relative to market value


Japanese Banks – 2026 High Conviction Ideas

Nexi Spa provides payment services. The Company offers digital invoicing, credit card payment processing, online disbursement, and other related services. Nexi serves customers in Italy.

<ul>
<li>Our key picks for 1H 2026 are driven by fundamental valuations, margin and growth prospects; top of our buy list is Nexi, with PagSeguro in second place</li>
<li>Our key sell is Affirm; the increasingly competitive BNPL market is a potential “banana skin” for its premium growth forecasts, coupled with potentially worsening consumer credit delinquency</li>
<li>Klarna is one to watch in 1H 2026, but it is not there yet; the share price’s underwhelming performance post-IPO reflects the competitive BNPL market, especially in the US</li>
</ul>


Our key picks for 1H 2026 are driven by fundamental valuations, margin and growth prospects; top of our buy list is Nexi, with PagSeguro in second place
Our key sell is Affirm; the increasingly competitive BNPL market is a potential “banana skin” for its premium growth forecasts, coupled with potentially worsening consumer credit delinquency
Klarna is one to watch in 1H 2026, but it is not there yet; the share price’s underwhelming performance post-IPO reflects the competitive BNPL market, especially in the US


Payment Companies – Our 2026 High Conviction Ideas

Ping An Bank Co Ltd provides a full range of commercial banking services including RMB and foreign currency deposit, loan, international and domestic settlement, discount, currency trading, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and other related services.

<ul>
<li>Our GEM bank top picks for 1H 2026 are Banrisul, Bradesco and Ping An Bank for very attractive fundamental valuations with healthy dividends and earnings growth potential</li>
<li>We also have buy recommendations on China Construction Bank (CCB) and Hana Financial, both of which are deep value plays relative to their returns, combined with sound balance sheets</li>
<li>Kotak Mahindra bank is our only sell recommendation for its premium valuation, even among Indian banks, relative to its underwhelming ROE prospects</li>
</ul>


Our GEM bank top picks for 1H 2026 are Banrisul, Bradesco and Ping An Bank for very attractive fundamental valuations with healthy dividends and earnings growth potential
We also have buy recommendations on China Construction Bank (CCB) and Hana Financial, both of which are deep value plays relative to their returns, combined with sound balance sheets
Kotak Mahindra bank is our only sell recommendation for its premium valuation, even among Indian banks, relative to its underwhelming ROE prospects


Bolsa Mexicana De Valores Sab / Equity Bottom-Up

Bolsa Mexicana de Valores SAB de CV operates full service cash and derivatives exchanges, with equities and fixed income securities listings. The Group offers fully electronic platforms for cash equities, financial derivatives and OTC fixed income and derivatives. Bolsa Mexicana's post trade activities include central counterparts and clearing services.

Bolsa Mexicana De Valores Sab (BOLSAA MM)

<ul>
<li>We upgrade BolsaMex to a buy rating; we believe that it is too cheap to ignore and that it has sound growth credentials with its healthy share of post-trade revenues</li>
<li>We downgrade B3 Exchange to a neutral from buy, after its strong share price performance since mid-October lows; we feel it is still attractive but not as compelling as BolsaMex</li>
<li>We upgrade BSE to a neutral rating from sell despite it trading on rich fundamental valuations; India’s strong IPO pipeline is one major factor in de-railing our sell recommendation</li>
</ul>


We upgrade BolsaMex to a buy rating; we believe that it is too cheap to ignore and that it has sound growth credentials with its healthy share of post-trade revenues
We downgrade B3 Exchange to a neutral from buy, after its strong share price performance since mid-October lows; we feel it is still attractive but not as compelling as BolsaMex
We upgrade BSE to a neutral rating from sell despite it trading on rich fundamental valuations; India’s strong IPO pipeline is one major factor in de-railing our sell recommendation


GEM Exchanges –Bolsa Mexicana (BOLSAA MM) Is Our Top Pick

Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited provides various banking and financial services including commercial, consumer, credit card, and mortgage lending, international trade financing, investment banking, and securities services.

<ul>
<li>We turn cautious on our sole positive Thai recommendation Bangkok Bank, downgrading it to neutral from buy, despite its very attractive value attributes</li>
<li>We believe that Thailand’s unilateral suspension of the peace accord in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict is likely to be negative for sentiment towards Thai equities, including banks, in the short term</li>
<li>Consequently, in the worsening investor climate, we do not expect Bangkok Bank shares to benefit from a re-rating over the short term</li>
</ul>


We turn cautious on our sole positive Thai recommendation Bangkok Bank, downgrading it to neutral from buy, despite its very attractive value attributes
We believe that Thailand’s unilateral suspension of the peace accord in the Thailand-Cambodia conflict is likely to be negative for sentiment towards Thai equities, including banks, in the short term
Consequently, in the worsening investor climate, we do not expect Bangkok Bank shares to benefit from a re-rating over the short term


Bangkok Bank (SET:BBL) Downgraded on Thailand-Cambodia Suspension of Peace Accord