Skip to main content
Equities

Commonwealth Bank (CBA): See the sunshine, feel the moonshine

FY21: $8.65bn cash NPAT, 200cps final dividend

The bank’s FY21 results are as follows: (1) statutory NPAT $8.84bn (BP $9.52bn); (2) cash NPAT (including discontinued operations and one-offs) $8.80bn (BP $8.51bn); (3) cash EPS (including discontinued operations and one-offs) 497¢ (BP 480¢); (4) cash NPAT (continuing operations) $8.65bn (BP $8.51bn); (5) cash EPS (continuing operations) 489¢ (BP 480¢); (6) final dividend 200¢ (BP 184¢) fully franked (payout ratio 72% in FY21, 73% in FY20); (7) ROE (continuing operations) 11.5% (BP 11.4%); (8) NIM (continuing operations) 2.03% (BP 2.02%); (9) loan impairment expense (LIE) $0.55bn/7bp GLA (BP $2.52bn/33bp); and (10) CET1 ratio 13.1% (BP 12.8%).

CBA’s $8.65bn cash NPAT (continuing operations) was 20% pcp higher mainly due to the recovery from COVID-19. This has been another solid result despite the expected pandemic impacts and ongoing lingering uncertainty in operating conditions. Again (and also looking past the pandemic noise), there were more positives, i.e. strong core volume growth, overall net interest income, other income, asset quality, capital, funding and liquidity – than negatives, i.e. NIM and operating expenses (perhaps for now) – in the result. Things appear to be settling down with metrics now closer between the two most recent halves (i.e. magnitude of operating income and loan impairment expense).

Price target upgraded to $118.00, back to Buy

The main changes to our cash NPAT (continuing) projections relate to higher noninterest income (mainly higher card fees, fee waivers and removal of wealth contributions) as well as a still lower LIE charge in FY22 and beyond. Given these, cash NPAT is now 2% higher in FY22, FY23 and FY24. We have also matched the statutory and cash dividend payout ratios as follows: FY22 75%; FY23 75%; and FY24 75%. As a result, we have increased the valuation and price target by $13.00 to $118.00 per share and this includes adding the value impact of higher excess CET1 capital. CBA’s target share price has done well in the past three months and up by more than 25% in absolute terms. The rating is now back to a Buy.

CBA - Earnings forecast

To read the full report click the button below.

View Detailed Report
Authored by TS Lim – Analyst – at Bell Potter Securities, 11 August 2021
Important Disclaimer—This may affect your legal rights: Because this document has been prepared without consideration of any specific client’s financial situation, particular needs and investment objectives, a Bell Potter Securities Limited investment adviser (or the financial services licensee, or the proper authority of such licensee, who has provided you with this report by arrangement with Bell Potter Securities Limited) should be consulted before any investment decision is made. While this document is based on the information from sources which are considered reliable, Bell Potter Securities Limited, its directors, employees and consultants do not represent, warrant or guarantee, expressly or impliedly, that the information contained in this document is complete or accurate. Nor does Bell Potter Securities Limited accept any responsibility to inform you of any matter that subsequently comes to its notice, which may affect any of the information contained in this document. This document is a private communication to clients and is not intended for public circulation or for the use of any third party, without the prior approval of Bell Potter Securities Limited. In the USA and the UK this research is only for institutional investors. It is not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part to any persons in the two specified countries. This is general investment advice only and does not constitute advice to any person.
Disclosure of Interest: Bell Potter Securities Limited receives commission from dealing in securities and its authorised representatives, or introducers of business, may directly share in this commission. Bell Potter Securities and its associates may hold shares in the companies recommended.