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 take a more nuanced view on Nubank; the stock has corrected 16%+ from its high and, despite 28% YoY loan book growth, it has organically generated capital in 3Q24</li>
<li>Although Nubank is a digital bank success story, increased competition, especially from other fintechs, and a further deterioration in credit quality remain key business challenges going forward</li>
<li>Its recent share price correction and narrowing valuation gap leads us to recommend reducing short positions but, on balance, we remain sellers of Nubank; we stay positive on Bradesco</li>
</ul>


We take a more nuanced view on Nubank; the stock has corrected 16%+ from its high and, despite 28% YoY loan book growth, it has organically generated capital in 3Q24
Although Nubank is a digital bank success story, increased competition, especially from other fintechs, and a further deterioration in credit quality remain key business challenges going forward
Its recent share price correction and narrowing valuation gap leads us to recommend reducing short positions but, on balance, we remain sellers of Nubank; we stay positive on Bradesco


Nubank (NU US) – Gravity’s Pull and Key Business Factors

<ul>
<li>Bradesco’s quarterly results disappointed the market due to soft interest margins, despite the clear indications of Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality metrics</li>
<li>NuBank is a digital bank success story, but it has credit quality challenges and also potential capital constraints, due to its fast loan growth</li>
<li>We remain neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Banco do Brasil seems attractive on valuations, but it is more exposed to political risk; buy Bradesco, sell Nubank</li>
</ul>


Bradesco’s quarterly results disappointed the market due to soft interest margins, despite the clear indications of Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality metrics
NuBank is a digital bank success story, but it has credit quality challenges and also potential capital constraints, due to its fast loan growth
We remain neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Banco do Brasil seems attractive on valuations, but it is more exposed to political risk; buy Bradesco, sell Nubank


Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

<ul>
<li>We stick with Bradesco as the key pick in big-cap Brazilian and LatAm banks, for its earnings recovery prospects; the very low PEG and PBV ratio reflect its re-rating potential</li>
<li>NuBank is a digital bank success story, but one that we see has challenges in terms of credit quality and it has potential capital constraints given its fast loan growth</li>
<li>We are neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Itaú seems to be fairly valued whilst Banco do Brasil is optically attractive, but it is more exposed to political risk</li>
</ul>


We stick with Bradesco as the key pick in big-cap Brazilian and LatAm banks, for its earnings recovery prospects; the very low PEG and PBV ratio reflect its re-rating potential
NuBank is a digital bank success story, but one that we see has challenges in terms of credit quality and it has potential capital constraints given its fast loan growth
We are neutral on Itaú and Banco do Brasil; Itaú seems to be fairly valued whilst Banco do Brasil is optically attractive, but it is more exposed to political risk


Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco (BBDC4 BZ), the Earnings Recovery Play

<ul>
<li>Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick five longs and two shorts as our conviction calls; we add country-based equity risk premia to our screening process</li>
<li>Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, Hana Financial from South Korea, CIMB Group from Malaysia, Bradesco from Brazil and CCB from China; four of these are value picks</li>
<li>Our sells are Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank from India, both richly valued larger cap banks that have benefited from past economic and political tailwinds with headwinds now emerging</li>
</ul>


Among bigger cap GEM banks, we pick five longs and two shorts as our conviction calls; we add country-based equity risk premia to our screening process
Our core buys are Bank Mandiri from Indonesia, Hana Financial from South Korea, CIMB Group from Malaysia, Bradesco from Brazil and CCB from China; four of these are value picks
Our sells are Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank from India, both richly valued larger cap banks that have benefited from past economic and political tailwinds with headwinds now emerging


GEM Banks; Focus on Value Attributes and Returns Recovery Potential

<ul>
<li>Our focus charts this month are on Brazil banks’ liquidity and capital adequacy trends, which seem reassuring to us, as these are currently topical bank ratios in investors’ minds</li>
<li>The February NPL trends due to seasonal factors, we are concerned at the pace of NPL ratio worsening and arrears, especially in household credit</li>
<li>YoY system loan growth to February decelerated further to +12.6%, largely due to slower corporate loan growth; credit spread trends were mixed with individual spreads widening, and corporate spreads eroding</li>
</ul>


Our focus charts this month are on Brazil banks’ liquidity and capital adequacy trends, which seem reassuring to us, as these are currently topical bank ratios in investors’ minds
The February NPL trends due to seasonal factors, we are concerned at the pace of NPL ratio worsening and arrears, especially in household credit
YoY system loan growth to February decelerated further to +12.6%, largely due to slower corporate loan growth; credit spread trends were mixed with individual spreads widening, and corporate spreads eroding


February Brazil Bank Data in Charts – NPL Trends a Concern, yet Liquidity and Solvency Seem Sound

Brazil

Banco do Brasil is a Brazilian financial services company offering a wide range of banking products and services, including retail and corporate banking, investment management, insurance, and agribusiness loans. It serves individuals, companies, and the public sector, with a strong leadership position in retail banking in Brazil. The company is headquartered in Brasília, Brazil, and was founded on October 12, 1808.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
Market Cap (USDm)	0.00
P/E	0.00
Dividend (Yield)	0.00

Banco do Brasil (BBAS3 BR)

Nubank (NU US) – Gravity’s Pull and Key Business Factors

Its recent share price correction and narrowing valuation gap leads us to recommend reducing short positions but, on balance, we remain negative...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco (BBDC4 BZ), the Earnings Recovery Play

With its strong earnings recovery potential, Bradesco remains our buy in Brazilian banks while NuBank faces credit quality and potential capital...

Victor Galliano

GEM Banks; Focus on Value Attributes and Returns Recovery Potential

Top picks for bigger cap GEM banks include Bank Mandiri, Hana Financial, CIMB Group, Bradesco, and CCB, while Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank...

Victor Galliano

February Brazil Bank Data in Charts – NPL Trends a Concern, yet Liquidity and Solvency Seem Sound

We add Brazil banks’ liquidity & capital adequacy ratios, which seem reassuring, whilst the credit quality metrics are mixed with SME NPLs rising;...

Victor Galliano

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Nubank (NU US) – Gravity’s Pull and Key Business Factors

​Its recent share price correction and narrowing valuation gap leads us to recommend reducing short positions but, on balance, we remain negative...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco Stays Our High Conviction Buy, Nubank Remains a Sell

​The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...

Victor Galliano

Big-Cap Brazilian Commercial Banks; Bradesco (BBDC4 BZ), the Earnings Recovery Play

​With its strong earnings recovery potential, Bradesco remains our buy in Brazilian banks while NuBank faces credit quality and potential capital...

Victor Galliano

GEM Banks; Focus on Value Attributes and Returns Recovery Potential

​Top picks for bigger cap GEM banks include Bank Mandiri, Hana Financial, CIMB Group, Bradesco, and CCB, while Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank...

Victor Galliano

February Brazil Bank Data in Charts – NPL Trends a Concern, yet Liquidity and Solvency Seem Sound

We add Brazil banks’ liquidity & capital adequacy ratios, which seem reassuring, whilst the credit quality metrics are mixed with SME NPLs rising;...

Victor Galliano

Its recent share price correction and narrowing valuation gap leads us to recommend reducing short positions but, on balance, we remain negative...

The market has yet to recognise Bradesco’s improving returns and better credit quality, whilst Nubank faces credit quality challenges and...

With its strong earnings recovery potential, Bradesco remains our buy in Brazilian banks while NuBank faces credit quality and potential capital...

Top picks for bigger cap GEM banks include Bank Mandiri, Hana Financial, CIMB Group, Bradesco, and CCB, while Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Bank...