Banco Santander revealed its 1Q19 numbers. Intermediation margin (NII or margin of interest) € 8.68 + 3% yoy <€ 8.75 bn € e cons. Attributed net profit is 1.84 bn € -10.41% yoy against the 1.83 bn € estimated by the consensus, after a net charge of € 108 M for restructuring costs in the United Kingdom and Poland and assets sale. Ordinary profit has grown in seven of its ten main markets.
Marco Troiano (Scope Ratings) | We assign the rating BBB- to the AT1 bonds of 7.5% of Santander issued in February 2019 for an amount of 1.2 billion dollars.
Alphavalue | During the last decade, Banco Santander has successfully diversified constructing a portfolio of low risk/high growth activities. Although it should guarantee the longevity of the group, it has not translated into profits for smaller shareholders.
Alphavalue | Santander bank just created the Company Landmark Iberia to transfer all the land assets it has due to its exposure to the housing market.
Alex Fusté (Andbank) | There is a notable difference between US and European banks: the stock market pays 35% less for European banks. This claim is confirmed by the price/book value ratio, whose average for the 10 largest banks in the US sector is 1.24, while in Europe it falls to 0.8%. In the case of the two largest Spanish banks, Banco Santander and BBVA, the market price is even lower than the average, given that they show ratios of 0.8 and o.7 respectively.
On Tuesday Banco Santander announced that it will not exercise the repurchase of its contingent convertible bonds (CoCos) – the AT1 – of 1.5 billion euros and coupon of 6.25%. The bank, which referred to financial reasons, had already warned in its presentation of results that it would only make the call if conditions were adequate.
Banco Santander increased attributable profit during the first nine months of 2018 by 13% to €5,742 million (+28% in constant euros), as strong growth in revenues in several markets, combined with improvements in credit quality, more than offset the impact of exchange rate depreciation against the euro in certain currencies, including the Argentine peso. Profit before tax for the period was €11,230 million–up 10 % (+23% in constant euros).
According to a document given by the Spanish bank to the SEC, Brexit could result in increased financial instability and reduced economic growth, as well as increased unemployment and inflation in the UK, in addition to having adverse impacts on the bank´s business.
Banco Santander increased attributable profit in the first half of 2018 to €3,75 2 million, 4 % higher than the same period of last year after a €300 million net charge primarily related to integration costs for Banco Popular. At the time of the Popular acquisition, on June 7 th 2017, the Group said it expected to register € 300 million in integration costs per year until 2019.
Bankinter analysts believe the markets are undervaluing the European Financial Sector. Expect average BPA for the sector as a whole to exceed 10% in 2018.