Writing about High Quality Companies, Enlightened Capital

Enlightened Capital

Writing about High Quality Companies

I have more than 8 years of investing experience across Equities and Fixed Income (Investment Grade/High Yield). I have largely focused on Financials, Energy, and Utilities professionally, but I am interested in exploring new sectors to find attractive opportunities. Right now, the Payments sector is occupying much of my time.

Equity Bottom-Up

First Republic represents a fascinating and unique case study as a rare compounder in the U.S. banking sector. FRC was founded in 1985 by Jim Herbert to provide residential mortgages to San Francisco area professionals. Since its founding FRC has compounded its capital by an incredible 26%/yr., making FRC the 14th largest bank in the U.S. by market cap.

First Republic represents a fascinating and unique case study as a rare compounder in the U.S. banking sector. FRC was founded in 1985 by Jim Herbert to provide residential mortgages to San Francisco area professionals. Since its founding FRC has compounded its capital by an incredible 26%/yr., making FRC the 14th largest bank in the U.S. by market cap.

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.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

It should be no surprise that US banks’ credit costs have turned to reversals. This is the case for the largest banks reporting, even if not for all the community or regional banks. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain exceptionally high compared with recent years. This suggests that credit costs can remain low during FY21.

It should be no surprise that US banks’ credit costs have turned to reversals. This is the case for the largest banks reporting, even if not for all the community or regional banks. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain exceptionally high compared with recent years. This suggests that credit costs can remain low during FY21. 

The main lever for US banks and others is credit costs. This is clear in data during the three quarters thus far this year. After the closing of economies credit costs soared and with the re-opening they have collapsed. But operationally US banks can also benefit from the steepening yield curve. The spread of 10-year US Treasuries over 1-year paper continues to expand. With vaccines, the Biden win and a better understanding of the cost-benefit on how governments reacted early this year, there is likely more risk of the yield curve remaining steep.

The main lever for US banks and others is credit costs. This is clear in data during the three quarters thus far this year. After the closing of economies credit costs soared and with the re-opening they have collapsed. But operationally US banks can also benefit from the steepening yield curve. The spread of 10-year US Treasuries over 1-year paper continues to expand. With vaccines, the Biden win and a better understanding of the cost-benefit on how governments reacted early this year, there is likely more risk of the yield curve remaining steep.

We have now seen US bank giants, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jpmorgan-chase-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:277:1" rel="noopener">JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/citigroup-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:279:1" rel="noopener">Citigroup Inc (C US) </a>report their quarterly results. Both reveal a significant decline in credit costs. These banks are far more important to the world than the small Indonesian bank that revealed something similar, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bank-mestika-dharma-tbk-pt" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9566:1" rel="noopener">Bank Mestika Dharma (BBMD IJ)</a>. The data from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commonwealth-bank-of-australia" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14:1" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU)</a> too suggests that credit metrics are improving. We expect others in the US and elsewhere to follow suit, and especially where credit costs were exaggerated during early in the year. The credit cost delta will be key for banks now.

We have now seen US bank giants, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (JPM US) and Citigroup Inc (C US) report their quarterly results. Both reveal a significant decline in credit costs. These banks are far more important to the world than the small Indonesian bank that revealed something similar, Bank Mestika Dharma (BBMD IJ). The data from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA AU) too suggests that credit metrics are improving. We expect others in the US and elsewhere to follow suit, and especially where credit costs were exaggerated during early in the year. The credit cost delta will be key for banks now.

There is granular data for US banks on loan modifications due to the economic shutdown as well as Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. One may presume that banks with a significant amount of the former especially, and potentially the latter too, would enjoy lower credit costs. The reality though may surprise many. For us, we wonder if together with recovery, from a crisis completely unlike others, as we flip the switch back on, if banks with high modifications may be t more positively leveraged?

There is granular data for US banks on loan modifications due to the economic shutdown as well as Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. One may presume that banks with a significant amount of the former especially, and potentially the latter too, would enjoy lower credit costs. The reality though may surprise many. For us, we wonder if together with recovery, from a crisis completely unlike others, as we flip the switch back on, if banks with high modifications may be t more positively leveraged?

United States

First Republic Bank and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and private wealth management in urban, coastal markets in the U.S. First Republic delivers relationship-based service by providing a single point of contact for all of its services.

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First Republic Bank (FRC US)

FRC: A rare bank compounder

First Republic represents a fascinating and unique case study as a rare compounder in the U.S. banking sector. FRC was founded in 1985 by Jim...

Enlightened Capital

US Banks – Crumbling Credit Costs

It should be no surprise that credit costs are in reversal for some. What may surprise though is that despite this, credit costs for FY20 remain...

Daniel Tabbush

US Banks – Borrow Short, Lend Long

While credit costs will remain a key focus for US banks over the coming quarters, we must not lose sight of the steepening yield curve and what it...

Daniel Tabbush

Banks – Collapsing Credit Costs

After JP Morgan and Citigroup have confirmed our hypothesis of lower credit costs driving positive results at banks, expect this trend to continue...

Daniel Tabbush

US Banks – Loan Modifications

There is granular data for US banks on loan modifications due to the economic shutdown as well as Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans. One may...

Daniel Tabbush

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