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HLF - Net interest income still on YoY downtrend

kiasutrader
Publish date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012, 09:24 AM
Earnings decline attributed to loan provisions.  HLF reported 3Q12 net profit of S$17m, down 24% YoY. This represents 28% of our 2012F. The sharp decline is largely due to provisions of S$3.3m, a reversal from 3Q11's S$3.6m writeback. Another  contributor  to  weak  earnings  was  the  4%  YoY  decline  in  net  interest income. However, fee & commission income rose 56% YoY (thought the absolute amount is small) and staff costs fell 5% YoY. We raise 2012F & 2013F net profit by a marginal 4% and 7% respectively. Maintain NEUTRAL with a slightly higher target price of S$2.43, pegged to 0.65x 2013 book.
Net  interest  income  weakness  offset  by  fee  &  commission  strength. Operating profit before provisions was up a marginal 1% YoY. Whilst net interest income fell 4% (or S$1.6m) YoY, it was up 4% QoQ.  Loans rose 24% YoY and 5%  QoQ,  reflecting  HLF's  loan  aggressiveness.  However,  pricing  for  lending products  remained  under  pressure.  Fee  &  commission  income  was  the  star performer, rising 56% (or S$1.4m) YoY, and almost offset the net interest income decline.
Four  consecutive  quarters  of  loan  deposit  ratio  decline,  as  deposits outgrew  loans.    Deposit  grew  32%  YoY  and  8%  QoQ.  This  led  to  loan  deposit ratio falling to 90.5%, from 93.3% in Jun 12. We view this positively as the strong deposit growth provides scope for further loan expansion going forward.
Target  P/B  is  between  historical  average  and  crisis  low.  HLF  trades  at  a historical  average  P/B  of  0.94x.  The  soft  lending  yields  and  the  uncertain economic environment will keep its share price below this historical average. Our target P/B of 0.65x is a premium to the 2009 global financial crisis low of 0.5x. 
Source: OSK
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