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)

<ul>
<li>The risk for US small banks is clear with the major charge taken by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/new-york-community-bancorp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1193:1" rel="noopener">New York Community Bank (NYCB US)</a> for its CRE exposure</li>
<li>Small banks in the US, those outside the largest 25 by assets, have 45% of their loans in CRE which equates to 2.9x shareholders' equity </li>
<li>The reality is that NYCB's credit costs are now far higher than in the recessionary period of the early 1990s, showing what some banks can face in coming quarters</li>
</ul>


The risk for US small banks is clear with the major charge taken by New York Community Bank (NYCB US) for its CRE exposure
Small banks in the US, those outside the largest 25 by assets, have 45% of their loans in CRE which equates to 2.9x shareholders' equity 
The reality is that NYCB's credit costs are now far higher than in the recessionary period of the early 1990s, showing what some banks can face in coming quarters


US Banks - NYCB Credit Costs Are Much Higher than in the Early 1990s

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>DBS is now guiding for no profit growth during FY24. This may end up missing with negative growth more statistically likely, in a worsening world. </li>
<li>Credit metrics are not particularly positive in today's release with SGD215m of credit costs compared with SGD72m in the preceding quarter. </li>
<li>If rate rises are done or nearly done, than the main positive delta of DBS earnings are also done or nearly done. Management guidance suggests as much too. </li>
</ul>


DBS is now guiding for no profit growth during FY24. This may end up missing with negative growth more statistically likely, in a worsening world. 
Credit metrics are not particularly positive in today's release with SGD215m of credit costs compared with SGD72m in the preceding quarter. 
If rate rises are done or nearly done, than the main positive delta of DBS earnings are also done or nearly done. Management guidance suggests as much too. 


DBS - 0% Growth Guidance for FY24 | Quarterly Credit Costs Surging | As Good as It Gets

<ul>
<li>Our focus is not on the decimation of earnings at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/standard-chartered-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:193:1" rel="noopener">Standard Chartered (STAN LN)</a> but rather the granular detail of stage 2 and stage 3 loans</li>
<li>There is tremendous growth in stage 2 loans in the quarter, which means the bank enters the quarter with a far higher pool that can migrate to stage 3</li>
<li>Stage 3 remains markedly higher provisions, and the bank's rise in credit costs is still fairly low, it can rise another 50% before hitting average rates </li>
</ul>


Our focus is not on the decimation of earnings at Standard Chartered (STAN LN) but rather the granular detail of stage 2 and stage 3 loans
There is tremendous growth in stage 2 loans in the quarter, which means the bank enters the quarter with a far higher pool that can migrate to stage 3
Stage 3 remains markedly higher provisions, and the bank's rise in credit costs is still fairly low, it can rise another 50% before hitting average rates 


STAN - Stage 2 Loans Surge | Expect Migration to Stage 3 Loans | Credit Costs Can Move 50% Higher

<ul>
<li>There is no refuting the strong net interest income figures at DBS, although it seems toppy</li>
<li>DBS took credit costs/assets at 4bps in 2Q23 vs 13bps average during FY18, FY19 quarterly</li>
<li>There are not many banks that we can turn too with over 50% QoQ decline in credit costs</li>
</ul>


There is no refuting the strong net interest income figures at DBS, although it seems toppy
DBS took credit costs/assets at 4bps in 2Q23 vs 13bps average during FY18, FY19 quarterly
There are not many banks that we can turn too with over 50% QoQ decline in credit costs


DBS - Is This the Time To Take Provision Expenses at 70% Lower than Average?

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Cathay Pacific Airways / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The recent discrimination incident will likely affect traffic recovery pace of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cathay-pacific-airways-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:243:1" rel="noopener">Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK)</a> negatively if it turns into a full-scale boycott by mainland passengers.</li>
<li>The scenario of CX becoming majority-owned by <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK)</a> is getting increasingly possible. This may not be totally positive to CX given CA's weaker service ranking.</li>
<li>Consensus forecasts now look somewhat bullish following the incident, and the stock's 0.7x P/B does not stand out as attractive relative to history or ROE (7% in FY25F).</li>
</ul>


The recent discrimination incident will likely affect traffic recovery pace of Cathay Pacific Airways (293 HK) negatively if it turns into a full-scale boycott by mainland passengers.
The scenario of CX becoming majority-owned by Air China Ltd (H) (753 HK) is getting increasingly possible. This may not be totally positive to CX given CA's weaker service ranking.
Consensus forecasts now look somewhat bullish following the incident, and the stock's 0.7x P/B does not stand out as attractive relative to history or ROE (7% in FY25F).


United Kingdom

HSBC Holdings plc is the holding company for the HSBC Group. The Company provides a variety of international banking and financial services, including retail and corporate banking, trade, trusteeship, securities, custody, capital markets, treasury, private and investment banking, and insurance.  The Group operates worldwide.

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HSBC Holdings (HSBA LN)

US Banks - NYCB Credit Costs Are Much Higher than in the Early 1990s

US CRE loan risk is clearest now with the NYCB charge taken in 4Q23, putting its credit costs now well higher than the recessionary period in...

Daniel Tabbush

DBS - 0% Growth Guidance for FY24 | Quarterly Credit Costs Surging | As Good as It Gets

DBS is now guiding for 0% profit growth during FY24. The figures out today appear very much 'as good as they get.' Credit metrics are worsening,...

Daniel Tabbush

STAN - Stage 2 Loans Surge | Expect Migration to Stage 3 Loans | Credit Costs Can Move 50% Higher

STAN's traditional credit costs are surging and remain well below long term averages. Rising stage 2 loans are the real concern, with migration...

Daniel Tabbush

DBS - Is This the Time To Take Provision Expenses at 70% Lower than Average?

With July domestic credit growth turning negative at -3% YoY this is a new development, and the delta in Singapore credit growth downward has been...

Daniel Tabbush

Cathay Pacific (293 HK): Hard Landing

The recent iscrimination incident is likely to weigh on near-term traffic recovery while the increasingly possible scenario of CX becoming majority...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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