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>BBVA Mexico expanded its premium return on equity of the big nine Mexican banks to 23% to December, and through opex control, it “works” its healthy core capital ratio hard</li>
<li>The bank system trends remain healthy, with additional improvements to NPL ratios and healthy coverage; Banorte and BanBajio screen better than peers on combined credit quality metrics to December</li>
<li>We believe that mid-cap bank BanBajio is good value, and are positive on BBVA for its Mexican exposure; on balance, we remain cautious on Banorte, due largely to valuation</li>
</ul>


BBVA Mexico expanded its premium return on equity of the big nine Mexican banks to 23% to December, and through opex control, it “works” its healthy core capital ratio hard
The bank system trends remain healthy, with additional improvements to NPL ratios and healthy coverage; Banorte and BanBajio screen better than peers on combined credit quality metrics to December
We believe that mid-cap bank BanBajio is good value, and are positive on BBVA for its Mexican exposure; on balance, we remain cautious on Banorte, due largely to valuation


Mexican Banks’ December Data Adds to Positive Trend on Credit Quality, but Lending Spread Eroding

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Citi is to sell its Mexican retail and SME banking operations, which we call new Banamex; it is an attractive banking franchise that needs investment and a focus on costs</li>
<li>Based on peer group valuations, and on new Banamex’s disclosed parameters, we estimate that the disposal entity’s valuation range could range from USD7bn to USD10bn, and we identify potential bidders</li>
<li>We believe that our new Banamex valuation range emphasizes BanBajio’s attractive valuations, we stick with our positive view on mid-cap BanBajio; we believe that Banorte is fully valued</li>
</ul>


Citi is to sell its Mexican retail and SME banking operations, which we call new Banamex; it is an attractive banking franchise that needs investment and a focus on costs
Based on peer group valuations, and on new Banamex’s disclosed parameters, we estimate that the disposal entity’s valuation range could range from USD7bn to USD10bn, and we identify potential bidders
We believe that our new Banamex valuation range emphasizes BanBajio’s attractive valuations, we stick with our positive view on mid-cap BanBajio; we believe that Banorte is fully valued


Citi’s Mexican Exit; Our Thoughts on “new Banamex”

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>BBVA Bancomer delivered the best return on equity (ROE) of the biggest nine Mexican banks to September, at 20%, improving on a MoM basis due largely to a sub 40% efficiency ratio; in terms of ROE to core capital ratio, we identify that BBVA Bancomer and Banorte retain the best position, “working” their healthy levels of core capital harder than their peers</li>
<li>The bank system trends seem healthy, with well controlled NPL ratios and healthy coverage; one core risk to this rosy scenario is, in our view, worse than expected GDP growth leading to an up-tick in consumer delinquencies going forward, which would warrant an increase in cost of risk charges. Another factor that could upset returns is eroding credit margins due to rising funding costs</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-s-a-b-de-c-v" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNORTEO MF)</a>  and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-del-bajio-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28382:1" rel="noopener">Banco del Bajio SA (BBAJIOO MM)</a> continue to screen better than peers on credit quality metrics to August, with best-in-class combination of low NPL ratios and healthy coverage. Despite its good metrics, we recently turned negative on Banorte, due largely to valuation and increasing competition; we would highlight mid-cap bank BanBajio for its better relative value, and in the context of improving consumer credit quality</li>
</ul>


BBVA Bancomer delivered the best return on equity (ROE) of the biggest nine Mexican banks to September, at 20%, improving on a MoM basis due largely to a sub 40% efficiency ratio; in terms of ROE to core capital ratio, we identify that BBVA Bancomer and Banorte retain the best position, “working” their healthy levels of core capital harder than their peers
The bank system trends seem healthy, with well controlled NPL ratios and healthy coverage; one core risk to this rosy scenario is, in our view, worse than expected GDP growth leading to an up-tick in consumer delinquencies going forward, which would warrant an increase in cost of risk charges. Another factor that could upset returns is eroding credit margins due to rising funding costs

Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNORTEO MF)  and Banco del Bajio SA (BBAJIOO MM) continue to screen better than peers on credit quality metrics to August, with best-in-class combination of low NPL ratios and healthy coverage. Despite its good metrics, we recently turned negative on Banorte, due largely to valuation and increasing competition; we would highlight mid-cap bank BanBajio for its better relative value, and in the context of improving consumer credit quality


Mexican Banks’ September Data Looks Benign, but Not Without Potential Challenges

Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB d / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>BBVA Bancomer continued to deliver the best returns of the biggest nine Mexican banks, on a trailing twelve months basis to May; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF)</a> retained its second place with upper-teens ROE</li>
<li>To June 2021, bank system ROE recovered further from historically low levels, helped by low cost of risk</li>
<li>Top line returns were supported by limited erosion of credit spreads, and higher benchmark rates from June should be spread supportive</li>
<li>Banorte and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-del-bajio-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28382:1" rel="noopener">Banco del Bajio SA (BBAJIOO MM)</a> screen better than peers on credit quality metrics to June, with best-in-class combination of low NPL ratios and to healthy coverage</li>
<li>In terms of ROE to core capital ratio, we identify that BBVA Bancomer and Banorte “work” their core capital harder than their peers</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Banorte and BanBajio include higher than expected opex, greater than expected spread pressure from higher funding costs and a further worsening of credit quality resulting in higher credit charges</li>
</ul>


BBVA Bancomer continued to deliver the best returns of the biggest nine Mexican banks, on a trailing twelve months basis to May; Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) retained its second place with upper-teens ROE
To June 2021, bank system ROE recovered further from historically low levels, helped by low cost of risk
Top line returns were supported by limited erosion of credit spreads, and higher benchmark rates from June should be spread supportive
Banorte and Banco del Bajio SA (BBAJIOO MM) screen better than peers on credit quality metrics to June, with best-in-class combination of low NPL ratios and to healthy coverage
In terms of ROE to core capital ratio, we identify that BBVA Bancomer and Banorte “work” their core capital harder than their peers
Risks to our positive view on Banorte and BanBajio include higher than expected opex, greater than expected spread pressure from higher funding costs and a further worsening of credit quality resulting in higher credit charges


Mexican Banks ROE Recovery Continues into June

<ul>
<li>Payment holidays and deferrals on loans came to an end in 4Q20 in Mexico, and this is reflected in the credit quality metrics</li>
<li>Loan balances fell in the year, as shown in Figure 2</li>
<li>We are starting to see the impact of the end of pandemic programmes, such as loan payment holidays and deferrals, translating into higher delinquency</li>
<li>Consequently, the rising cost of risk impacted Mexican bank sector returns for the full year, as shown in Figure 4</li>
<li>Yet banks seem well provisioned with system NPL coverage at 160% at YE 2020, and Banorte’s at 228%</li>
<li>We reiterate our positive view on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-banorte-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24780:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF)</a>, and believe that it is in a stronger position than BBVA Bancomer and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-santander-mexico-sa-in" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27672:1" rel="noopener">Banco Santander Mexico-B (BSMXB MM)</a> in terms of restructurings and deferrals; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grupo-financiero-inbursa-o" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24776:1" rel="noopener">Grupo Financiero Inbursa-O (GFINBURO MM)</a> also seems to screen well, in our view</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Banorte include much worse than expected delinquency, especially in the consumer and SME segments, as a result of the pandemic induced economic contraction driving worse than expected cost of risk</li>
</ul>


Payment holidays and deferrals on loans came to an end in 4Q20 in Mexico, and this is reflected in the credit quality metrics
Loan balances fell in the year, as shown in Figure 2
We are starting to see the impact of the end of pandemic programmes, such as loan payment holidays and deferrals, translating into higher delinquency
Consequently, the rising cost of risk impacted Mexican bank sector returns for the full year, as shown in Figure 4
Yet banks seem well provisioned with system NPL coverage at 160% at YE 2020, and Banorte’s at 228%
We reiterate our positive view on Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF), and believe that it is in a stronger position than BBVA Bancomer and Banco Santander Mexico-B (BSMXB MM) in terms of restructurings and deferrals; Grupo Financiero Inbursa-O (GFINBURO MM) also seems to screen well, in our view
Risks to our positive view on Banorte include much worse than expected delinquency, especially in the consumer and SME segments, as a result of the pandemic induced economic contraction driving worse than expected cost of risk


Mexican Banks YE 2020 Credit Quality Data Points; Banorte Screens Better than Peers

Mexico

Grupo Financiero Inbursa, SAB de C.V. is a holding company.  The Company, through its subsidiaries, attracts deposits and offers retail and commercial banking services.  The Bank manages stock and fixed income funds, and offers fire, transportation, automobile, agriculture, liability, casualty, and health insurance.  Inbursa also offers automobile and equipment lease financing.

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Grupo Financiero Inbursa-O (GFINBURO MM)

Mexican Banks’ December Data Adds to Positive Trend on Credit Quality, but Lending Spread Eroding

Credit quality ends the year strong, with evidence of marginal spread erosion in December; we like mid-cap bank BanBajio and BBVA for BBVA Mexico;...

Victor Galliano

Citi’s Mexican Exit; Our Thoughts on “new Banamex”

Citi sale of its Mexican commercial bank, new Banamex, will need the acquirer to control opex; in this report we estimate the valuation range &...

Victor Galliano

Mexican Banks’ September Data Looks Benign, but Not Without Potential Challenges

Mexican banks data to September are healthy, but rising funding costs threaten credit spreads, and any potential GDP slowdown could worsen consumer...

Victor Galliano

Mexican Banks ROE Recovery Continues into June

June data shows Mexican banks' ROE is rising helped by falling cost of risk; capital is sound, NPLs are contained; BBVA Bancomer & Banorte employ...

Victor Galliano

Mexican Banks YE 2020 Credit Quality Data Points; Banorte Screens Better than Peers

Mexican banks' YE 2020 credit data points to the coming wave of worsening credit quality; Banorte is best positioned among its peers to confront...

Victor Galliano

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