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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>EM Bank shares have lifted off their recent lows, as investor sentiment turns in favour of value in general, and attractive value EM assets in particular</li></ul><ul><li>We highlight 5 EM banks we see as standouts on our bank screens, and in which EM investors have reduced weightings throughout 2020, and are likely to rebuild positions going forward; <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a>, <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>, <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>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc-cde59529-fb78-4659-85d0-127942b44ba7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27581:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/turkiye-garanti-bankasi-as" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25026:1" rel="noopener">Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI)</a> </li></ul><ul><li>We like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shinhan-financial-group-adr" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4534:1" rel="noopener">Shinhan Financial Group Adr (SHG US)</a> and <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> as other positive re-rating plays, based on attractive valuations and sound balance sheet metrics</li></ul><ul><li>We also believe that EM bank core holdings throughout the pandemic crisis, such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kotak-mahindra-bank-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:126:1" rel="noopener">Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB IN)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-central-asia-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:440:1" rel="noopener">Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ)</a>, may, in valuation terms, now be more exposed to negative rotation</li></ul><ul><li>Risks to our view include a worsening of sentiment towards EM equities and banks in particular, due to a deterioration in the pandemic outlook and a worsening of the macro-economic outlook for emerging markets</li></ul>

EM Bank shares have lifted off their recent lows, as investor sentiment turns in favour of value in general, and attractive value EM assets in particularWe highlight 5 EM banks we see as standouts on our bank screens, and in which EM investors have reduced weightings throughout 2020, and are likely to rebuild positions going forward; Credicorp Ltd (BAP US), Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ), Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF), Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM) and Turkiye Garanti Bankasi As (GARAN TI) We like Shinhan Financial Group Adr (SHG US) and Bank Of China Ltd (H) (3988 HK) as other positive re-rating plays, based on attractive valuations and sound balance sheet metricsWe also believe that EM bank core holdings throughout the pandemic crisis, such as Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB IN) and Bank Central Asia (BBCA IJ), may, in valuation terms, now be more exposed to negative rotationRisks to our view include a worsening of sentiment towards EM equities and banks in particular, due to a deterioration in the pandemic outlook and a worsening of the macro-economic outlook for emerging markets

EM Banks: Screening for Value and Resilience

Event-Driven

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentari / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>In our view, the PNC-BBVA USA Bancshares deal reflects the trend towards “in country” domestic bank consolidation in developed markets, given very low interest rates, the pressure on fees and the need to focus on opex reduction</li>
<li>The attractive price tag of USD11.6bn (€9.7bn) provides <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/banco-bilbao-vizcaya-argentari" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21251:1" rel="noopener">Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentari (BBVA SM)</a> with a big capital uplift at a limited cost to earnings; it reflects a historic (2019A) PE multiple of 19.7x and PTBV ratio of 1.34x, equivalent to 45% of market cap on at the close of 13<sup>th</sup> November</li>
<li>The US commercial bank disposal also gives BBVA a 294bps boost to its core capital ratio, which stood at 11.52% at 3Q20 end, and post deal would result in CET1 ratio of c 14.5%</li>
<li>Even though BBVA’s disposal will be EPS dilutive post-deal, the cost of foregone earnings is relatively low, given the sale price; USA Bancshares accounted for less than 10% of groups earnings in 2019 and 13% of the group’s gross income in the first nine months of 2020</li>
<li>BBVA management intends to redeploy capital in its core markets, and also has the option to do a large share buy-back at current share prices, ECB permitting</li>
<li>The big question is how management will focus on excess capital redeployment through potential M&amp;A going forward, and will look to redress the earnings split between its core emerging (c 70%) and developed markets (c 30%), post this disposal; we put forward our views on M&amp;A options in this report</li>
<li>Risks to our positive view on BBVA include the ECB maintaining strict regulatory constraints on a share buyback; also that BBVA is selling its USA franchise at a relatively low point in the macro-economic cycle</li>
</ul>


In our view, the PNC-BBVA USA Bancshares deal reflects the trend towards “in country” domestic bank consolidation in developed markets, given very low interest rates, the pressure on fees and the need to focus on opex reduction
The attractive price tag of USD11.6bn (€9.7bn) provides Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentari (BBVA SM) with a big capital uplift at a limited cost to earnings; it reflects a historic (2019A) PE multiple of 19.7x and PTBV ratio of 1.34x, equivalent to 45% of market cap on at the close of 13th November
The US commercial bank disposal also gives BBVA a 294bps boost to its core capital ratio, which stood at 11.52% at 3Q20 end, and post deal would result in CET1 ratio of c 14.5%
Even though BBVA’s disposal will be EPS dilutive post-deal, the cost of foregone earnings is relatively low, given the sale price; USA Bancshares accounted for less than 10% of groups earnings in 2019 and 13% of the group’s gross income in the first nine months of 2020
BBVA management intends to redeploy capital in its core markets, and also has the option to do a large share buy-back at current share prices, ECB permitting
The big question is how management will focus on excess capital redeployment through potential M&amp;A going forward, and will look to redress the earnings split between its core emerging (c 70%) and developed markets (c 30%), post this disposal; we put forward our views on M&amp;A options in this report
Risks to our positive view on BBVA include the ECB maintaining strict regulatory constraints on a share buyback; also that BBVA is selling its USA franchise at a relatively low point in the macro-economic cycle


BBVA: So Long, Sun-Belt – What Next; Buybacks and Potentially M&A?

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks</li>
<li>We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked” loan provision charges, even though this potentially sacrifices near term returns</li>
<li>We also take into account valuation versus returns metrics</li>
<li>Our analysis picks are skewed towards LatAm, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> and <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> at the top of the attractive pile, and <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> also screening well on value, albeit to a lesser degree</li>
<li>Outside of LatAm, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commercial-international-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27625:1" rel="noopener">Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)</a>  screens well, along with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:714:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank A (600036 CH)</a> and – one newcomer since our July report – <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bdo-unibank-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:329:1" rel="noopener">BDO Unibank Inc (BDO PM)</a> </li>
<li>Names to watch include <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc-cde59529-fb78-4659-85d0-127942b44ba7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27581:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM)</a>, <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> and – even though outside the value spectrum – <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-rakyat-indonesia-persero" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:484:1" rel="noopener">Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ)</a> </li>
<li>Risks to our view include a protracted downturn that warrants further large loan loss provisioning charges going forward, which suppress profitability</li>
</ul>


Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks
We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked” loan provision charges, even though this potentially sacrifices near term returns
We also take into account valuation versus returns metrics
Our analysis picks are skewed towards LatAm, with Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) and Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) at the top of the attractive pile, and Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) also screening well on value, albeit to a lesser degree
Outside of LatAm, Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)  screens well, along with China Merchants Bank A (600036 CH) and – one newcomer since our July report – BDO Unibank Inc (BDO PM) 
Names to watch include Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM), Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ) and – even though outside the value spectrum – Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero (BBRI IJ) 
Risks to our view include a protracted downturn that warrants further large loan loss provisioning charges going forward, which suppress profitability


EM Banks Through the Credit Quality and Value Lens

<ul>
<li>Banks in EM need to be prepared for the deteriorating credit quality outlook, as the Covid-19 driven contraction in GDP growth and economic activity takes hold</li>
<li>In this report, we look at the 1Q20 data in terms of balance sheet resilience – leverage ratio as well as NPL ratio and coverage – and which banks have been most proactive in the bolstering of loan loss provisioning</li>
<li>We then apply our valuation screen to see which attractively valued stocks – in terms of book value versus returns – are best prepared for the potential credit quality challenges, from loan loss provisioning and capital buffer perspectives</li>
<li>Our conclusions are that the best ranked are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-merchants-bank-co-ltd-3388a037-4214-4997-b45d-520518cfdb57" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10987:1" rel="noopener">China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK)</a> in Asia, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> and <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> in LatAm and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commercial-international-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27625:1" rel="noopener">Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)</a> of Egypt in CEEMEA</li>
<li>We also identify another four EM banks that rank solidly in the “runners up” category, and which we discuss in the report</li>
<li>By contrast, the three Indian banks included in this report generally rank poorly</li>
<li>Risks to our positively viewed EM banks include a more protracted and deeper hit to emerging economies adding to NPLs and needing further big bad loan provision charges, along with lower loan volumes and tighter lending spreads</li>
</ul>


Banks in EM need to be prepared for the deteriorating credit quality outlook, as the Covid-19 driven contraction in GDP growth and economic activity takes hold
In this report, we look at the 1Q20 data in terms of balance sheet resilience – leverage ratio as well as NPL ratio and coverage – and which banks have been most proactive in the bolstering of loan loss provisioning
We then apply our valuation screen to see which attractively valued stocks – in terms of book value versus returns – are best prepared for the potential credit quality challenges, from loan loss provisioning and capital buffer perspectives
Our conclusions are that the best ranked are China Merchants Bank H (3968 HK) in Asia, Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) and Grupo Financiero Banorte-O (GFNORTEO MF) in LatAm and Commercial International Bank (COMI EY) of Egypt in CEEMEA
We also identify another four EM banks that rank solidly in the “runners up” category, and which we discuss in the report
By contrast, the three Indian banks included in this report generally rank poorly
Risks to our positively viewed EM banks include a more protracted and deeper hit to emerging economies adding to NPLs and needing further big bad loan provision charges, along with lower loan volumes and tighter lending spreads


Emerging Market Banks: Measuring Their Response and Resilience to the Tougher Credit Quality Outlook

<ul>
<li>We highlight six EM Banks from our value screen of a total of 40 banks, selected from the top 65 EM banks by MSCI weighting</li>
<li>Our preferred name, on a quality to value basis, is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/credicorp-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25963:1" rel="noopener">Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)</a> </li>
<li>We see Credicorp as a quality bank, which is inexpensive relative to its historic PBV range with potential for continued premium returns</li>
<li>We also highlight <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> 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>  from the LatAm Universe, given Brazil’s recent foreign investor out-flows</li>
<li>In the case of EM banks ex-LatAm, we highlight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sberbank-of-russia-pjsc-cde59529-fb78-4659-85d0-127942b44ba7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27581:1" rel="noopener">Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-bank-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24988:1" rel="noopener">Standard Bank (SBK SJ)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commercial-international-bank" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27625:1" rel="noopener">Commercial International Bank (COMI EY)</a> </li>
<li>Risks to our view on these EM banks include a reversal in “risk on” sentiment towards EM, potentially driven by liquidity reversal, USD appreciation, increased oil price volatility and increased political risk</li>
</ul>


We highlight six EM Banks from our value screen of a total of 40 banks, selected from the top 65 EM banks by MSCI weighting
Our preferred name, on a quality to value basis, is Credicorp Ltd (BAP US) 
We see Credicorp as a quality bank, which is inexpensive relative to its historic PBV range with potential for continued premium returns
We also highlight Banco Do Brasil Sa (BBAS3 BZ) and Banco Bradesco Sa (BBDC4 BZ)  from the LatAm Universe, given Brazil’s recent foreign investor out-flows
In the case of EM banks ex-LatAm, we highlight Sberbank of Russia PJSC (SBER RM), Standard Bank (SBK SJ) and Commercial International Bank (COMI EY) 
Risks to our view on these EM banks include a reversal in “risk on” sentiment towards EM, potentially driven by liquidity reversal, USD appreciation, increased oil price volatility and increased political risk


EM Banks Value Screen: Focus on a Half Dozen

Bermuda

Credicorp Ltd. provides a full range of financial services including commercial banking, corporate finance, brokerage services, asset management, trust and insurance. The Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in Peru.

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Credicorp Ltd (BAP US)

EM Banks: Screening for Value and Resilience

We highlight 5 EM banks we see as standouts on our bank screens, Credicorp, Banco do Brasil, Banorte, Sberbank and Garanti. EM investors reduced...

Victor Galliano

BBVA: So Long, Sun-Belt – What Next; Buybacks and Potentially M&A?

BBVA's sale of its US bank will give it excess capital to redeploy, in both share buybacks and potentially M&A too; we explore some potential M&A...

Victor Galliano

EM Banks Through the Credit Quality and Value Lens

Our 2Q20 screens reveal the wide range in cost of risk amongst EM banks We screen for banks that are well capitalised and have ”kitchen sinked”...

Victor Galliano

Emerging Market Banks: Measuring Their Response and Resilience to the Tougher Credit Quality Outlook

Banks in EM need to be prepared for the deteriorating credit quality outlook, as the Covid-19 driven contraction in GDP growth and economic...

Victor Galliano

EM Banks Value Screen: Focus on a Half Dozen

We highlight six EM Banks from our value screen of a total of 40 banks, selected from the top 65 EM banks by MSCI weighting Our preferred name, on...

Victor Galliano

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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