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

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/asx-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:552:1" rel="noopener">ASX Ltd (ASX AU)</a> is seeing weakness across key revenue items with best delta in what is non- core, net interest income. Suddenly, its operating cash flow is negative. </li>
<li>New listings are down from 217 companies to 57 companies YoY to FY23 and their market capitalization is down from AUD59bn to AUD3bn YoY to FY23. </li>
<li>SG&amp;A costs seem to be rising structurally now at 28% of gross profit in FY23 compared with 23% in FY22 and compared with 17-19% in preceding years. </li>
</ul>



ASX Ltd (ASX AU) is seeing weakness across key revenue items with best delta in what is non- core, net interest income. Suddenly, its operating cash flow is negative. 
New listings are down from 217 companies to 57 companies YoY to FY23 and their market capitalization is down from AUD59bn to AUD3bn YoY to FY23. 
SG&amp;A costs seem to be rising structurally now at 28% of gross profit in FY23 compared with 23% in FY22 and compared with 17-19% in preceding years. 


ASX - New Listings Big Decline, SG&A Costs Up Substantially, Best Income Delta Is Non-Core

<ul>
<li>The results for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-of-queensland-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16606:1" rel="noopener">Bank Of Queensland (BOQ AU)</a> are illustrative of risks for the mainstream banks in Australia and market expectations</li>
<li>Even with almost all residential mortgage loans, BOQ's credit costs rose from AUD13m to AUD71m YoY and Pillar 3 data shows mortgage NPLs up nearly 10% in past 2 months</li>
<li>Net interest income only +6% YoY and -8% HoH, with operating costs +8% YoY and fee income down, there is nothing core holding the P&amp;L together</li>
</ul>


The results for Bank Of Queensland (BOQ AU) are illustrative of risks for the mainstream banks in Australia and market expectations
Even with almost all residential mortgage loans, BOQ's credit costs rose from AUD13m to AUD71m YoY and Pillar 3 data shows mortgage NPLs up nearly 10% in past 2 months
Net interest income only +6% YoY and -8% HoH, with operating costs +8% YoY and fee income down, there is nothing core holding the P&amp;L together


BOQ - Illustrative of Australia Bank Risks Even for Nearly Pure Mortgage Lender and Mkt Expectations

<ul>
<li>QBE Insurance is seeing a deteriorating combined operating ratio, in part due to CAT events and it unclear to us how underwriting, exposures will immediately improve</li>
<li>Net profit is nearly static, USD750m in FY21, USD770m in FY22. USD400m profit in 1H23 may note repeat in 2H23, due in part to USD700m more debt in interim.</li>
<li>North America net earned premiums are seeing far more distribution toward Commercial, where the COR is especially poor at 109% in 1H23</li>
</ul>


QBE Insurance is seeing a deteriorating combined operating ratio, in part due to CAT events and it unclear to us how underwriting, exposures will immediately improve
Net profit is nearly static, USD750m in FY21, USD770m in FY22. USD400m profit in 1H23 may note repeat in 2H23, due in part to USD700m more debt in interim.
North America net earned premiums are seeing far more distribution toward Commercial, where the COR is especially poor at 109% in 1H23


QBE Insurance - COR 109% in N America Commercial, Where Growth Is High | Debt Surges USD700m in 1H23

<ul>
<li>During 1H24 CGF expects to sell its bank for ~AUD36m which could include a AUD11m gain and allow to free-up bank capital of around AUD40-50m.</li>
<li>Return on capital is now at the highest it has been since FY10 at 6.2% with a substantial 160bps increase in normalized ROE in 2H23 YoY to 13.1%</li>
<li>85% market share of annuity FUM from 50% about 10 years ago, operating in system with strong forced savings in superannution funds now at AUD3.5tr up 91% over 10 yrs.</li>
</ul>


During 1H24 CGF expects to sell its bank for ~AUD36m which could include a AUD11m gain and allow to free-up bank capital of around AUD40-50m.
Return on capital is now at the highest it has been since FY10 at 6.2% with a substantial 160bps increase in normalized ROE in 2H23 YoY to 13.1%
85% market share of annuity FUM from 50% about 10 years ago, operating in system with strong forced savings in superannution funds now at AUD3.5tr up 91% over 10 yrs.


Challenger (CGF AU) - Bank Sale 1H24 | ROC Highest in 23 Yrs | 85% Market Share Annuity FUM

Pan-Asia Tactical Market Calls (Quant-Driven), MRM Research

Nico Rosti

Pan-Asia Tactical Market Calls (Quant-Driven)

MRM Research

Quantitative Research

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/s-p-asx-200" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22901:1" rel="noopener">S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX)</a> closed down last week (CC=-1), this week is rising again, we analyze the new, reset resistance levels to see how far it can go.</li>
<li>Our <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/eqd-sp-asx200-index-will-it-break-out-of-its-range" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previous, recent insight</a> discussed the fact that the index has been locked in a range for 2 years, an uptrend may be unfolding but it must breach 7600.</li>
<li>The current trend pattern is bearish, the index won't rise more than 2-3 weeks, and it would probably go not very far: 7300-7400 should be the limit</li>
</ul>


The S&amp;P/ASX 200 (AS51 INDEX) closed down last week (CC=-1), this week is rising again, we analyze the new, reset resistance levels to see how far it can go.
Our previous, recent insight discussed the fact that the index has been locked in a range for 2 years, an uptrend may be unfolding but it must breach 7600.
The current trend pattern is bearish, the index won't rise more than 2-3 weeks, and it would probably go not very far: 7300-7400 should be the limit


EQD | S&P/ASX200 Index Looking Bearish: Resistance Levels Reset

Australia

Challenger Limited is an investment management firm  The Company offers annuities and other retirement income products as well as manages assets for domestic and international clients.

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Challenger Ltd (CGF AU)

ASX - New Listings Big Decline, SG&A Costs Up Substantially, Best Income Delta Is Non-Core

New listings in major decline, operating cash flow just turned negative, with SG&A moving well higher. Key profit delta is non-core and not likely...

Daniel Tabbush

BOQ - Illustrative of Australia Bank Risks Even for Nearly Pure Mortgage Lender and Mkt Expectations

Results today show the rampant deterioration in credit metrics, causing profit to fall 70% YoY, with other factors also at play. Read-through to...

Daniel Tabbush

QBE Insurance - COR 109% in N America Commercial, Where Growth Is High | Debt Surges USD700m in 1H23

COR is now at 109% in North America Commercial segment, where growth of premiums is especially high. Debt is now rising, this is new, up USD700m in...

Daniel Tabbush

EQD | S&P/ASX200 Index Looking Bearish: Resistance Levels Reset

The current MRM reading for the current SP/ASX 200 trend pattern is bearish, suggesting a 2-3 weeks rally maximum, with limited gains (2% to 3%...

Nico Rosti

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

ASX - New Listings Big Decline, SG&A Costs Up Substantially, Best Income Delta Is Non-Core

New listings in major decline, operating cash flow just turned negative, with SG&A moving well higher. Key profit delta is non-core and not likely...

Daniel Tabbush

BOQ - Illustrative of Australia Bank Risks Even for Nearly Pure Mortgage Lender and Mkt Expectations

Results today show the rampant deterioration in credit metrics, causing profit to fall 70% YoY, with other factors also at play. Read-through to...

Daniel Tabbush

QBE Insurance - COR 109% in N America Commercial, Where Growth Is High | Debt Surges USD700m in 1H23

COR is now at 109% in North America Commercial segment, where growth of premiums is especially high. Debt is now rising, this is new, up USD700m in...

Daniel Tabbush

Challenger (CGF AU) - Bank Sale 1H24 | ROC Highest in 23 Yrs | 85% Market Share Annuity FUM

Bank divestment in 1H24 can see gains, capital release, and better focus on life and funds. Improving returns are substantial, into a growing...

Daniel Tabbush

EQD | S&P/ASX200 Index Looking Bearish: Resistance Levels Reset

​The current MRM reading for the current SP/ASX 200 trend pattern is bearish, suggesting a 2-3 weeks rally maximum, with limited gains (2% to 3%...

Nico Rosti

The current MRM reading for the current SP/ASX 200 trend pattern is bearish, suggesting a 2-3 weeks rally maximum, with limited gains (2% to 3%...