Tag - RoE

31 Aug

Ambitious to take ROE to 18% – Axis Bank

Update on the Indian Equity Market:

On Tuesday, Nifty 50 closed at a record high of 17,132 (+1.2%), led by BHARTIARTL (+6.7%), BAJFINANCE (+5.1%), and HINDALCO (+4.9%). The top losers were TATAMOTORS (-1.5%), NESTLEIND (-1.2%), and INDUSINDBK (-1.2%). The sectoral gainers were led by METAL (+1.5%), HEALTHCARE (1.4%), and IT (+1.4%). MEDIA (-0.1%) was the only sector that ended in the red.

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank (AXISBANK) published in The Economic Times on 27th August 2021:

  • There are reasonable indications that the private capex creation has started, but only in some segments at this stage. The private sector capex is robust in segments such as upstream refinery, steel, cement, chemical, pharma, renewable, and storage systems.
  • The government has come up with a scheme inviting investments into the electronics and industrial automation, logistics, and export-oriented industries. The government is also investing in railways, roads, and highways. An accommodative stance by the RBI and the government is helping in the economic revival.
  • A lot of retail customers were supported in the first covid wave through two specific moratoriums and restructuring. This resulted in retail delinquencies not being as high as estimated. During the second wave, there was no moratorium and a lot of customers who availed of the moratorium were adversely impacted by the second wave.
  • For AXISBANK, a lot of the slippages on the retail side were from secured assets and loan-to-value against the secured assets were low. Either the customer repays, or the bank sells the assets. Hence, recovery was never an issue, it was a timing issue.
  • The stimulus led to a system liquidity surplus resulting in lower market borrowing rates. As a result, well-rated corporates are sitting on huge piles of cash and have repaid their borrowings. As a result, the credit growth of the industrial sector is being led by mid-sized corporates and some refinancing.
  • AXISBANK believes there are considerable credit opportunities as the economy starts reviving.
  • The bank is already operating in the zone of 15-16% Return on Equity (ROE). The ambition is to take it to 18%, which is an uphill battle.
  • AXISBANK believes it is very important to scale the subsidiaries further over the next couple of years.
  • Over the past 5 years, the acceleration towards embracing technology with the rapid emergence of fintech and Covid has only hastened the pace. AXISBANK recognised a few years back the need to scale up investments in technology. The technology spend has gone up ~78% in the last 2 years.
  • The entire strategy of AXISBANK on the digital front is around challenging themselves and working in partnerships with fintechs to provide solutions. AXISBANK will expand partnerships with fintechs going forward.
  • There are significant growth opportunities for the next 5-7 years. The Bank is laying the foundation for the future where it can capitalise on business opportunities in every segment.

Asset Multiplier Comments

  • Though slippages could remain elevated in the near term, healthy PCR (Provision Coverage Ratio) protects the Balance Sheet against any potential stress.
  • The bank is positive on economic revival which will lead to credit growth, healthy NIMs eventually helping to achieve the Bank’s target of 18% ROE.
  • With the work-from-anywhere culture and remote decision making, each organisation has realised that technology up-gradation is non-negotiable. AXISBANK has taken a step in the right direction by undertaking technology investments and execution of transformation projects.

Consensus Estimate: (Source: market screener and investing.com websites)

  • The closing price of AXISBANK was ₹ 738/- as of 31-August-2021. It traded at 2.0x/ 1.8x/ 1.5x the consensus book value estimate of ₹ 370/ 420/ 479 for FY22E/FY23E/FY24E respectively.
  • The consensus target price of ₹ 871/- implies a PB multiple of 1.8x on FY24E BV of ₹ 479/-.

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

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10 Jul

Aim to go back to 20%-22% ROE- Mahindra & Mahindra

Update on the Indian Equity Market:

 

On Thursday, Nifty closed 1.0% higher at 10,755. Within NIFTY50, HINDALCO (+6.6%), HDFC (+4.3%), and SBIN (+4.1%) were the top gainers, while INFRATEL (-1.9%), COALINDIA (-1.5%) and TECHM (-1.2%) were the top losers. Among the sectoral indices, METAL (+1.9%), FIN SERVICE (+1.6%), and BANK(+1.4%) gained the most.  FMCG(-0.3%) was the only sector to close in red.

 

Aim to go back to 20%-22% ROE- Mahindra & Mahindra

 

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Anish Shah, Joint MD–Mahindra & Mahindra published on ET Auto dated 7thJuly2020:

  • M&M’s loss making subsidiaries had a difficult couple of years. M&M is now looking to take direct action.
  • The loss-making subsidiaries are being evaluated and categorized into 3 groups – Category A: companies with clear path to 18% Return on Equity (ROE). Category B: companies with unclear path to profitability but can deliver quantified strategic benefit, and Category C: Calls for a possible exit through alliance or sale as it does not fit into A or B.
  • This review of subsidiaries will be carried out every 6 months to ensure businesses are on track and milestones are being achieved.
  • Over the last 4 years, profits of M&M were being eroded by the loss-making subsidiaries- 1% in FY17, 12% in FY18 because of international subsidiaries, 25% in FY19, and over 1.7% in FY20.
  • 2 years ago, M&M management started ‘challenge round’ where as Head of Group Strategy, Mr. Anish Shah was asked to challenge all proposals and recommend to the board whether to invest or not. In the process, tough calls have been taken on two-wheeler business, Baby Oye, and Mom and Me among others.
  • In 4QFY20, M&M took a call to stop further investments in SsangYong and Gen Z. Almost 60% of losses came from SsangYong and Gen Z.
  • By the end of this FY21E, the remaining loss making subsidiaries will be addressed and shut down in absence of a clear path. Entering into FY22, a lot of these problems will be history.
  • M&M aims to have a simpler structure going forward. While the focus is looking at the loss making subsidiaries and getting them back on track, M&M does not want to change the spirit of entrepreneurship.
  • Multiple reasons led to the losses in last 2 years. The environment is one reason and excess confidence in some business is the other. Essentially, there will be a higher financial discipline that will come in.
  • M&M’s share price, as of high of August 2018, had a 31% annualized growth rate over a period of 17 years. The factors that drove this return were, – earnings-per-share growth of 34%, cash generation of Rs 23 bn per year on an annualized basis and annual return on equity of 22%. In order to get back to that kind of performance, M&M will have to get back to 20%-22% RoE and 30%-plus growth rate in cash generation.
  • M&M’s ROE in the last few years has gone down from 20% to 12%. In stage 1, by fixing loss making subsidiaries M&M should be back to 18% ROE. In the next stage, taking a look at 0-10% ROE businesses and fixing them, should mean going back to 20-22% of ROE.
  • M&M’s preference is to have a solid and conservative business over a rapidly growing risky business. M&M Finance’s business is strong and M&M is putting in capital to ensure that in any scenario, if things get much worse, there is no impact on the business. Mahindra Finance has always raised capital before it is needed, so they didn’t wait until the capital was needed. There were some analyst concerns regarding the capital issue but M&M is confident that M&M Finance should have a very high degree of subscription.
  • M&M aims to be the gateway to the largest and fastest growing themes in India and hospitality is one of them. M&M has a timeshare model and a long-term bond with the consumers. As a result, M&M expects that it’s hospitality business may not be impacted much. Post the COVID-19 crisis, M&M’s hospitality business can grow much faster.
  • As for Meru, M&M is looking at it closely to see what the real path to profitability is. M&M does not have a definitive answer to that yet.

Consensus Estimate: (Source: market screener and investing.com websites)

  • The closing price of M&M was ₹ 563/- as of 09-July-2020. It traded at 22.1x/ 16.7x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 25.5/ 33.7for FY21E/ FY22E respectively.
  • Consensus target price of ₹ 556/- implies a PE multiple of 16.5x on FY22E EPS of ₹ 33.7/-.

 

Disclaimer: “The views expressed are for information purposes only. The information provided herein should not be considered as investment advice or research recommendation. The users should rely on their own research and analysis and should consult their own investment advisors to determine the merit, risks, and suitability of the information provided.”

 

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