Westpac Banking (NYSE:WBK) Corp’s net profit soared by 26% to $7.2 billion for the fiscal year 2022-23, supported by an expansion in deposits, mortgages, and institutional banking sectors. The second-half profit witnessed a substantial rise of 32% to $3.19 billion, although it was still 20% lower than the first half of 2023.
The bank’s CEO, Peter King, highlighted the improved return on equity and increased earnings per share amidst a challenging environment. He also emphasized the necessity for additional cost-cutting measures given the uncertain economic climate, even though operating expenses were reduced by 1% to A$10.69 billion.
The bank’s net interest income grew 3.7% to $9.2 billion, while non-interest income tripled to $1.4 billion due to improved deposit spreads. Net loans saw a 4% increase. However, despite the growth in net interest margins to 1.95%, the bank warned about tighter loan spreads and a surge in low-yield assets due to intense competition.
In the consumer unit’s mortgage competition, profits fell by 7% amidst a 6% expense surge. Nevertheless, cash backs up to $2,000 for loan refinancing led to market share loss for other banks but benefited Westpac and ANZ, helping retain most of the $74 billion in expired fixed-rate mortgages.
Westpac declared a final dividend of A$0.72 per share, up from A$0.64 last year. The bank has also initiated a $1.5 billion share buyback program leveraging its surplus capital.
King underscored the bank’s intent to decrease the cost-to-income ratio and noted an increase in impairment provisions for appropriate balance sheet positioning. The common equity tier 1 capital ratio, a crucial financial stability indicator, stood at 12.4% at the end of September, marking a 109 basis points increase year-on-year.
The bank’s P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q2 2023 is 10.97, suggesting a relatively low valuation compared to near-term earnings growth. The PEG ratio stands at 0.41, indicating the potential for future earnings growth.
Westpac has consistently increased its earnings per share, aligning with the CEO’s remarks on improved return on equity and increased earnings. The bank is a prominent player in the industry and has maintained dividend payments for 32 consecutive years, reinforcing the bank’s recent declaration of a final dividend.
Despite these strengths, Westpac is not without challenges. The bank is reportedly burning through cash quickly, which may necessitate further cost-cutting measures. Additionally, analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, which aligns with the bank’s net profit growth.
