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>The market is likely to fear that <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a> CEO Andre Brandao’s resignation threatens the restructuring plan, and other pro-market management initiatives</li>
<li>The replacement candidate for CEO is internal, according to press reports, which could imply lesser potential for restructuring, and limited potential for enhanced returns going forward</li>
<li>Despite these concerns, it is relevant to stress that the bank has a relatively strong balance sheet, with an improved core capital ratio and healthy credit quality metrics; rising benchmark rates in Brazil should also support credit spreads going forward</li>
<li>We expect near term downside to the share price, but given its current 64% and 57% PBV ratio discounts to <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itau-unibanco-holding-sa-9d47d196-e503-471b-a84e-ca4401033062" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24550:1" rel="noopener">Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bradesco-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24569:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)</a>  respectively, a lot seems priced in; the current PBV ratio discounts are close the maximum discounts of the last five years</li>
<li>The share price downside should be limited, in our view, as the market was already cautious on the Banco do Brasil stock following the Petrobras CEO removal</li>
<li>Risks to our view include a more interventionist and populist approach by government towards the management and the strategic direction of Banco do Brasil, as well as a weaker than expected economic recovery leading to higher than expected delinquencies and cost of risk going forward</li>
</ul>


The market is likely to fear that Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) CEO Andre Brandao’s resignation threatens the restructuring plan, and other pro-market management initiatives
The replacement candidate for CEO is internal, according to press reports, which could imply lesser potential for restructuring, and limited potential for enhanced returns going forward
Despite these concerns, it is relevant to stress that the bank has a relatively strong balance sheet, with an improved core capital ratio and healthy credit quality metrics; rising benchmark rates in Brazil should also support credit spreads going forward
We expect near term downside to the share price, but given its current 64% and 57% PBV ratio discounts to Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ) and Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)  respectively, a lot seems priced in; the current PBV ratio discounts are close the maximum discounts of the last five years
The share price downside should be limited, in our view, as the market was already cautious on the Banco do Brasil stock following the Petrobras CEO removal
Risks to our view include a more interventionist and populist approach by government towards the management and the strategic direction of Banco do Brasil, as well as a weaker than expected economic recovery leading to higher than expected delinquencies and cost of risk going forward


Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ): CEO Resignation, near Term Downside, but How Much Is Already Discounted?

<ul>
<li>The macro-economic and political backdrop for Brazil is a challenging one, which has driven the poor performance of Brazil assets and the BRL</li>
<li>Governance concerns re <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a>, in the wake of the removal of the Petrobras CEO, have added to the negative share price impact, yet we see cause for optimism</li>
<li>Attractive absolute valuations, as well as relatively low PBV ratios, are discounting a lot of the bad news</li>
<li>Banco do Brasil’s balance sheet is much improved at YE 2020, in terms of capital adequacy as well as NPL coverage, and its exposure to higher risk loan segments is limited</li>
<li>The prospect of rising benchmark interest rates is already leading to better new loan pricing sector-wide and the potential of recovering credit spreads contributes to the bull case</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil include the removal of its market oriented CEO, worse than expected credit delinquency going forward as well as a less than expected positive impact from rising spreads</li>
</ul>


The macro-economic and political backdrop for Brazil is a challenging one, which has driven the poor performance of Brazil assets and the BRL
Governance concerns re Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ), in the wake of the removal of the Petrobras CEO, have added to the negative share price impact, yet we see cause for optimism
Attractive absolute valuations, as well as relatively low PBV ratios, are discounting a lot of the bad news
Banco do Brasil’s balance sheet is much improved at YE 2020, in terms of capital adequacy as well as NPL coverage, and its exposure to higher risk loan segments is limited
The prospect of rising benchmark interest rates is already leading to better new loan pricing sector-wide and the potential of recovering credit spreads contributes to the bull case
Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil include the removal of its market oriented CEO, worse than expected credit delinquency going forward as well as a less than expected positive impact from rising spreads


Brazil Banks - Market Concerns Overdone, with the Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ) Strengths Under-Rated

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-do-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24564:1" rel="noopener">Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ)</a> screens reasonably well relative to its peers on credit quality, even if its problem loan (D-H) coverage is relatively low</li>
<li>It has the lowest level of renegotiations as a share of total loans among the big-cap listed banks</li>
<li>More importantly, Banco do Brasil surprised positively in the quarter on capital adequacy</li>
<li>At YE 2020, Banco do Brasil ranks as the strongest of the big-cap listed banks by core capital (CET1) ratio, a total reversal from its weakest position in YE 2019</li>
<li>Despite <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itau-unibanco-holding-sa-9d47d196-e503-471b-a84e-ca4401033062" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24550:1" rel="noopener">Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ)</a> screening best on problem loan (D-H) level and coverage, Banco do Brasil is now strong on capital, and also compelling on its attractive valuation</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil include worse than expected delinquency trends going forward, putting downward pressure on earnings through higher credit costs</li>
</ul>



Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) screens reasonably well relative to its peers on credit quality, even if its problem loan (D-H) coverage is relatively low
It has the lowest level of renegotiations as a share of total loans among the big-cap listed banks
More importantly, Banco do Brasil surprised positively in the quarter on capital adequacy
At YE 2020, Banco do Brasil ranks as the strongest of the big-cap listed banks by core capital (CET1) ratio, a total reversal from its weakest position in YE 2019
Despite Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ) screening best on problem loan (D-H) level and coverage, Banco do Brasil is now strong on capital, and also compelling on its attractive valuation
Risks to our positive view on Banco do Brasil include worse than expected delinquency trends going forward, putting downward pressure on earnings through higher credit costs


Brazil Banks YE2020 Snapshot II: Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ) Fair Credit Quality, Positive on Capital

<ul>
<li>The system ended the year with an NPL ratio of 2.1% and NPL coverage of 295%, in Brazilian GAAP terms, as shown in Figures 5 and 10 in this report</li>
<li>Although these headline NPL ratios and coverage for the bank sector at December 2020 look reassuring, they are, in our view, not the optimal metric for credit risk going forward</li>
<li>We note that early delinquency indicators, which often act as a leading indicator for headline NPLs, are starting to rise as the pandemic mandated grace period ends for the bulk of renegotiated loans, as seen in Figure 9</li>
<li>System data to December 2020 shows that household loan renegotiations have risen sharply, and in 4Q20 delinquencies on renegotiated loans have, as shown in Figure 8, started to rise</li>
<li>The Brazilian household debt service ratio is rising and the debt burden is at a 13 year high, as shown in Figures 13 and 14</li>
<li>The largest three private sector banks in Brazil have reported 4Q20 results, and we compare some credit quality metrics; in the cases of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itau-unibanco-holding-sa-9d47d196-e503-471b-a84e-ca4401033062" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24550:1" rel="noopener">Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-santander-brasil-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27709:1" rel="noopener">Banco Santander Brasil SA (SANB11 BZ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bradesco-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24569:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)</a>, we believe that the low domestic GAAP NPL ratios may not be an accurate reflection of the credit risk outlook, so we compare these with the central bank defined D-H poor credit quality “buckets” in Figure 2, and the D-H coverage ratio</li>
<li>We conclude that on D-H share of total loans and coverage, Itau Unibanco’s Brazilian operations screen best, despite having the highest Brazil GAAP NPL ratio in 4Q20; Bradesco has the highest D-H share of total loans, and the lowest D-H coverage along with Santander Brasil</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on Itau Unibanco include a worse than expected outcome on Brazilian credit quality for Itau in Brazil and its non-Brazilian LatAm operations, thereby raising pressure on their cost of risk outlook</li>
</ul>


The system ended the year with an NPL ratio of 2.1% and NPL coverage of 295%, in Brazilian GAAP terms, as shown in Figures 5 and 10 in this report
Although these headline NPL ratios and coverage for the bank sector at December 2020 look reassuring, they are, in our view, not the optimal metric for credit risk going forward
We note that early delinquency indicators, which often act as a leading indicator for headline NPLs, are starting to rise as the pandemic mandated grace period ends for the bulk of renegotiated loans, as seen in Figure 9
System data to December 2020 shows that household loan renegotiations have risen sharply, and in 4Q20 delinquencies on renegotiated loans have, as shown in Figure 8, started to rise
The Brazilian household debt service ratio is rising and the debt burden is at a 13 year high, as shown in Figures 13 and 14
The largest three private sector banks in Brazil have reported 4Q20 results, and we compare some credit quality metrics; in the cases of Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ), Banco Santander Brasil SA (SANB11 BZ) and Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ), we believe that the low domestic GAAP NPL ratios may not be an accurate reflection of the credit risk outlook, so we compare these with the central bank defined D-H poor credit quality “buckets” in Figure 2, and the D-H coverage ratio
We conclude that on D-H share of total loans and coverage, Itau Unibanco’s Brazilian operations screen best, despite having the highest Brazil GAAP NPL ratio in 4Q20; Bradesco has the highest D-H share of total loans, and the lowest D-H coverage along with Santander Brasil
Risks to our positive view on Itau Unibanco include a worse than expected outcome on Brazilian credit quality for Itau in Brazil and its non-Brazilian LatAm operations, thereby raising pressure on their cost of risk outlook


Brazil Banks YE 2020 Snapshot: Itau (ITUB4 BZ) Well Positioned to Confront Tougher Credit Quality

<ul>
<li>We believe that 2021 and 2022 consensus EBITDA and net earnings estimates for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xp-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28619:1" rel="noopener">XP Inc (XP US)</a> are too aggressive</li>
<li>XP’s “investment” in the IFA network is set to continue into 2021, in our view, to counter growing competition, largely from BTG Pactual where an IFA “arms race” seems to be brewing</li>
<li>XP’s September announcement to eliminate trading fees at Rico and to sharply reduced them at XP direct, although barely expected to impact revenue, is a sign of greater competitive pressures, mainly from other digital players</li>
<li>There is a cost outlay to broaden out XP’s suite of financial products, like credit cards, that will add to opex in 2021</li>
<li>We still expect XP to deliver strong growth, but based on our CAGR for EBITDA and net earnings, the EVG of 1.16x and PEG ratio of 1.84x look stretched</li>
<li>In addition, there is the stock overhang from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itau-unibanco-holding-sa-9d47d196-e503-471b-a84e-ca4401033062" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24550:1" rel="noopener">Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ)</a>’s planned disposal of a 5% stake in XP, as well as the potential rotation from tech to value that could pressure XP’s premium multiples</li>
<li>Risks to our bearish view on XP include stronger than expected asset inflows, successful opex control and a rebound in the take rate from retail operations</li>
</ul>


We believe that 2021 and 2022 consensus EBITDA and net earnings estimates for XP Inc (XP US) are too aggressive
XP’s “investment” in the IFA network is set to continue into 2021, in our view, to counter growing competition, largely from BTG Pactual where an IFA “arms race” seems to be brewing
XP’s September announcement to eliminate trading fees at Rico and to sharply reduced them at XP direct, although barely expected to impact revenue, is a sign of greater competitive pressures, mainly from other digital players
There is a cost outlay to broaden out XP’s suite of financial products, like credit cards, that will add to opex in 2021
We still expect XP to deliver strong growth, but based on our CAGR for EBITDA and net earnings, the EVG of 1.16x and PEG ratio of 1.84x look stretched
In addition, there is the stock overhang from Itau Unibanco Holding Sa (ITUB4 BZ)’s planned disposal of a 5% stake in XP, as well as the potential rotation from tech to value that could pressure XP’s premium multiples
Risks to our bearish view on XP include stronger than expected asset inflows, successful opex control and a rebound in the take rate from retail operations


XP (XP US): Competition Headwinds to Persist

Brazil

Banco Bradesco S.A. is a Brazilian financial services company that provides a wide range of banking products and services, including retail banking, investment banking, asset management, and specialized financial services. It also offers various insurance products such as life, health, and non-life insurance, along with pension plans. The company was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Osasco, Brazil.

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Banco Bradesco (BBDC4 BR)

Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ): CEO Resignation, near Term Downside, but How Much Is Already Discounted?

Banco do Brasil CEO's resignation is a near term share price hit, but we see that lots of bad news is priced into its PBV ratio discounts relative...

Victor Galliano

Brazil Banks - Market Concerns Overdone, with the Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ) Strengths Under-Rated

Concerns re Brazil macro and governance has hit the Banco do Brasil share price hard; we think the high PBV discount to its core peers is...

Victor Galliano

Brazil Banks YE2020 Snapshot II: Banco Do Brasil (BBAS3 BZ) Fair Credit Quality, Positive on Capital

Banco do Brasil screens fairly on credit quality, but has strengthened capital more than its peers in 2020, and remains a clear value option, with...

Victor Galliano

Brazil Banks YE 2020 Snapshot: Itau (ITUB4 BZ) Well Positioned to Confront Tougher Credit Quality

Investors should look beyond the headline NPL ratios and coverage for Brazilian banks; we conclude that on the D-H share of loans and coverage,...

Victor Galliano

XP (XP US): Competition Headwinds to Persist

Brazil fintech XP is in an IFA "arms race" with brokerage competitors that threatens its premium EBITDA growth and its stretched multiples; also...

Victor Galliano

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