Asian bank research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Asian bank 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

National Australia Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>NAB holds significantly more maturing debt in the coming year than its largest 3 peer banks in Australia and also more than the 3 banks in Singapore, by comparison</li>
<li>The bank has grown its business loans aggressively, which can see lumpy bad loans in a poor economy, with high unseasoned loans, yet its HoH credit costs were flat</li>
<li>CRE loans are meaningful at NAB, adding another risk to maturing debt at the top of the rate cycle with what appears to optimistic credit costs in recent results</li>
</ul>


NAB holds significantly more maturing debt in the coming year than its largest 3 peer banks in Australia and also more than the 3 banks in Singapore, by comparison
The bank has grown its business loans aggressively, which can see lumpy bad loans in a poor economy, with high unseasoned loans, yet its HoH credit costs were flat
CRE loans are meaningful at NAB, adding another risk to maturing debt at the top of the rate cycle with what appears to optimistic credit costs in recent results


NAB - Maturing Debt AUD40bn | At Top of Rate Cycle | With High Unseasoned Loans, CRE Loans

<ul>
<li>Recently awarded "Maharatna" status, only 12 companies, FY24 is first full year for this</li>
<li>Growth is steady, with good returns, and major improvement in credit metrics</li>
<li>Its 4.77% dividend yield is incredibly high and about 3x higher than peers</li>
</ul>


Recently awarded "Maharatna" status, only 12 companies, FY24 is first full year for this
Growth is steady, with good returns, and major improvement in credit metrics
Its 4.77% dividend yield is incredibly high and about 3x higher than peers


RECL - Near Insatiable Power Credit Demand, Great NPL Trend, New Maharatna Status, 3x Avg Div Yield

<ul>
<li>We turn to granular Pillar 3 disclosure of NAB seeing divergent moves in PD buckets</li>
<li>Its worst PD buckets are seeing sharp rise, while best buckets are falling, flat-ish</li>
<li>LT credit cost data, PD buckets, timely CBA data, suggests higher provision costs</li>
</ul>


We turn to granular Pillar 3 disclosure of NAB seeing divergent moves in PD buckets
Its worst PD buckets are seeing sharp rise, while best buckets are falling, flat-ish
LT credit cost data, PD buckets, timely CBA data, suggests higher provision costs


NAB - Pillar 3 Data Shows Worst PD Buckets Highest Growth, Best Buckets Down, Risk To Credit Costs

Bendigo And Adelaide Bank / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>In any economy with persistently high interest rates, high living costs and decelerating loan growth, the risk is generally greater for bad corporate loans, not mortgage loans. </li>
<li>BEN is nearly only residential mortgage loans, highly different to CBA, NAB, WBC, ANZ and MQG. This is also clear in long-term low levels of credit costs. </li>
<li>NIM has moved up for BEN in FY23. There is limited risk of maturing debt to hurt its NIM in FY24, very much unlike large peer banks, especially NAB, MQG. </li>
</ul>


In any economy with persistently high interest rates, high living costs and decelerating loan growth, the risk is generally greater for bad corporate loans, not mortgage loans. 
BEN is nearly only residential mortgage loans, highly different to CBA, NAB, WBC, ANZ and MQG. This is also clear in long-term low levels of credit costs. 
NIM has moved up for BEN in FY23. There is limited risk of maturing debt to hurt its NIM in FY24, very much unlike large peer banks, especially NAB, MQG. 


2024 High Conviction - BEN - Almost All Mortgages | NPLs in Decline | Credit Costs Can Move Lower

<ul>
<li>AMP released 1H23 numbers with 24-26% underlying NPAT growth in 2 key divisions</li>
<li>AUD610m of returned capital in past 12 months will see AUD140m added by October</li>
<li>AMP Bank is unlike peers, which is deposit-funded, small, focused on mortgages</li>
</ul>


AMP released 1H23 numbers with 24-26% underlying NPAT growth in 2 key divisions
AUD610m of returned capital in past 12 months will see AUD140m added by October
AMP Bank is unlike peers, which is deposit-funded, small, focused on mortgages


AMP - Strong Numbers Released,, Returning Capital, Paying Down Debt, Deposit Funded, Mortgage Bank

Australia

National Australia Bank Limited is an international banking group which operates in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the United States.  The Group offers banking services, credit and access card facilities, leasing, housing and general finance, international and investment banking, wealth and funds management, life insurance and custodian, trustee and nominee services.

National Australia Bank (NAB AU)

NAB - Maturing Debt AUD40bn | At Top of Rate Cycle | With High Unseasoned Loans, CRE Loans

NAB has more maturity debt than large peers, which can mean worse NIM impact when refinancing at the top of the rate cycle. Business loan growth...

Daniel Tabbush

RECL - Near Insatiable Power Credit Demand, Great NPL Trend, New Maharatna Status, 3x Avg Div Yield

High demand for power related lending can last for decades, marked improvement in credit metrics, new Maharatna status (only 12 companies have...

Daniel Tabbush

NAB - Pillar 3 Data Shows Worst PD Buckets Highest Growth, Best Buckets Down, Risk To Credit Costs

Pillar 3 data at NAB shows the worst PD buckets seeing rising EAD while the best PD buckets are flat or falling. LT credit costs are around 2-3x...

Daniel Tabbush

2024 High Conviction - BEN - Almost All Mortgages | NPLs in Decline | Credit Costs Can Move Lower

BEN is unlike peers, with almost all mortgage loans, less of a problem with high rates, slowing economy. Its LT credit costs show this. NPLs are...

Daniel Tabbush

AMP - Strong Numbers Released,, Returning Capital, Paying Down Debt, Deposit Funded, Mortgage Bank

AMP is now launching an online bank, and this is a real concern. A the same time, its margin pressure at its AMP Bank is not strong, new guidance...

Daniel Tabbush