Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

Equity Bottom-Up

China Construction Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The large SOE bank indicates that it will list its housing rental subsidiary, although the proceeds may be inconsequential given the size of CCB.</li>
<li>CCB shows lower (and very low) credit costs despite what appears to be a major weakening in its NPL distribution.</li>
<li>Loss NPLs are up 2.5x from FY19 to 1H23 much more than its 1.5x rise in total NPLs, so that its declining and benign credit costs may not last.</li>
</ul>


The large SOE bank indicates that it will list its housing rental subsidiary, although the proceeds may be inconsequential given the size of CCB.
CCB shows lower (and very low) credit costs despite what appears to be a major weakening in its NPL distribution.
Loss NPLs are up 2.5x from FY19 to 1H23 much more than its 1.5x rise in total NPLs, so that its declining and benign credit costs may not last.


CCB- Housing Rental Subsidiary Listing May Be Overshadowed By Weak Credit Metrics

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing / Equity Bottom-Up

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (388 HK)

<ul>
<li>Even the company itself shows in its recent presentation that a substantial portion of its revenue growth was due to rising rates on its cash deposit balances. This should wane. </li>
<li>The company's effective tax rate moved from 14% in the past few years, when it was stable to 10% in most recent period, this is not a core positive attribute. </li>
<li>Geopolitical risk, economic malaise in both Hong Kong and China, can lead to less interest in the market, trading, placements, perhaps suggesting its 6x PB is not warranted?</li>
</ul>


Even the company itself shows in its recent presentation that a substantial portion of its revenue growth was due to rising rates on its cash deposit balances. This should wane. 
The company's effective tax rate moved from 14% in the past few years, when it was stable to 10% in most recent period, this is not a core positive attribute. 
Geopolitical risk, economic malaise in both Hong Kong and China, can lead to less interest in the market, trading, placements, perhaps suggesting its 6x PB is not warranted?


Hong Kong Exchanges - Key Earnings Delta Was Rising Rates, Net Profit Inflated from Lower Taxation

<ul>
<li>There is little in the long-term and current figures of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:656:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK)</a> that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.</li>
<li>Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. </li>
<li>The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. </li>
</ul>


There is little in the long-term and current figures of Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) that leaves one assured of strength, stability, earnings power, and rather the opposite.
Sharply expanding LDR is an increase in loans relative to deposits, and it tends to drive rising NIM. Where LDR expands (a lot) but NIM contracts, it is a concern. 
The bank appears to have a 2-3x higher base of credit costs/operating profit, with an ROE of 10% now vs 18% some years ago - with much more geopolitical risk. 


Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In March, the HK Secretary for Financial Services announced a waiver of stamp duty on dual counter trading market making. In November, the Govt of HK <a href="https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202211/18/P2022111800254.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gazetted</a> a bill.</li>
<li>HKEX launched plans in December. 9 large HK names announced in March they'd apply (Tencent, Kuaishou, Geely, BOC, Anta, AIA, China Resources Beer, Bidu, HKEX). Six more in April.</li>
<li>All the announcements are similar. But one on 21 April caught my eye because it is a big H/A with strong southbound support. That's <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-mobile-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27:1" rel="noopener">China Mobile (941 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>


In March, the HK Secretary for Financial Services announced a waiver of stamp duty on dual counter trading market making. In November, the Govt of HK gazetted a bill.
HKEX launched plans in December. 9 large HK names announced in March they'd apply (Tencent, Kuaishou, Geely, BOC, Anta, AIA, China Resources Beer, Bidu, HKEX). Six more in April.
All the announcements are similar. But one on 21 April caught my eye because it is a big H/A with strong southbound support. That's China Mobile (941 HK). 


Another Reason To Like China Mobile (941 HK)

<ul>
<li>Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher</li>
<li>Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications</li>
<li>Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral</li>
</ul>


Credit costs at present are only 20bps of loans, these can move to 100bps or higher
Population data even before 2H22 shows contraction, with negative implications
Property prices are turning down even faster, which is banks' loan collateral


BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

Hong Kong

BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited is an investment holding company providing banking and related financial services through its principal operating subsidiary, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK). It offers a comprehensive range of financial, investment, and wealth management services to personal, corporate, and institutional customers, and is one of Hong Kong's three note-issuing banks and the sole Renminbi clearing bank. The company was incorporated in Hong Kong on September 12, 2001, and is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong.

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BOC Hong Kong (2388 HK)

CCB- Housing Rental Subsidiary Listing May Be Overshadowed By Weak Credit Metrics

CCB will list its subsidiary China Housing Rental although this may be small relative to the bank's total loans, and any benefits can be...

Daniel Tabbush

Hong Kong Exchanges - Key Earnings Delta Was Rising Rates, Net Profit Inflated from Lower Taxation

Hong Kong Exchanges shows that much of its profit was due to rising rates on it cash deposits, and this can reverse. Lower taxation inflates...

Daniel Tabbush

Bank of China - Surging LDR, Falling NIM, ROE, with Higher Base of Credit Costs/Operating Income

BOC has seen LDR expansion accompanied by narrowing NIM, raising questions on marginal lending. ROE is worsening dramatically, with credit costs...

Daniel Tabbush

Another Reason To Like China Mobile (941 HK)

China Mobile remains cheap as it likely has more dividend payout ratio upside as per the plans when the A-shares were listed. Now we are on track...

Travis Lundy

BOC HK - Negative Lending Growth, As Credit Costs Ratchet Higher?

BOC HK is now expensing credit costs/loans at 20bps, well higher than the preceding period, but still far lower than its more than 200bps in times...

Daniel Tabbush

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