LKF Partners

HONG LEONG BANK BERHAD (HLBANK 5819)

| Result Updates

QUARTERLY RESULTS

Quarter Ending Jun-24 Sep-24 Dec-24 Mar-25 Jun-25 Sep-25 Dec-25 Mar-26
Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
Interest Income 2,241,970 2,252,694 2,218,778 2,170,794 2,246,714 2,258,794 2,211,286 2,159,236
Interest Expense (1,260,910) (1,242,653) (1,226,105) (1,207,830) (1,224,866) (1,233,687) (1,209,026) (1,160,663)
Net Interest 981,060 1,010,041 992,673 962,964 1,021,848 1,025,107 1,002,260 998,573
Islamic Banking Income 259,914 287,813 297,441 271,953 302,626 317,726 310,689 298,065
Other Operating Income 235,637 300,020 341,935 313,051 295,665 341,997 353,863 283,811
Other Operating Expenses (628,117) (625,510) (627,485) (600,549) (625,655) (606,868) (595,819) (629,998)
Prov for Loan Losses 31,168 (7,582) (4,129) 398,218 (3,007) (38,010) (36,765) (37,344)
Impairment/Writeback on Fin Inv 0 0 0 0 99 0 491 (70)
Associates 402,125 374,588 400,175 324,150 366,598 311,100 371,784 344,568
Profit Before Tax 1,281,787 1,339,370 1,400,610 1,669,787 1,358,174 1,351,052 1,406,503 1,257,605
Tax Expense (247,790) (249,415) (252,426) (315,488) (269,568) (260,075) (237,967) (228,349)
Unusual Items (net of tax) 0 0 0 (407,602) 0 0
Profit After Tax 1,033,997 1,089,955 1,148,184 946,697 1,088,606 1,090,977 1,168,536 1,029,256
Net Profit After Tax 1,033,997 1,089,955 1,148,184 946,697 1,088,606 1,090,977 1,168,536 1,029,256
Diluted EPS (sen) 50.4 52.9 55.7 45.9 52.8 52.9 56.7 49.9
BALANCE SHEET
Gross Loans 194,927,414 194,231,854 199,373,123 201,247,097 210,063,757 211,816,976 215,657,857 218,183,471
Impaired Loans (1,622,946) (1,533,143) (1,526,530) (1,092,689) (1,099,167) (1,076,074) (1,058,744) (1,056,812)
Net Loans 193,304,468 192,698,711 197,846,593 200,154,408 208,964,590 210,740,902 214,599,113 217,126,659
Total Assets 297,789,072 292,918,077 296,251,551 300,904,859 314,618,124 312,722,009 316,095,983 317,309,976
Deposits from Customers 220,432,800 219,436,862 226,734,160 224,963,961 238,926,005 236,294,042 242,044,946 243,542,405
Deposits from Financial Institutions 11,370,939 5,994,709 9,193,529 10,247,203 9,935,753 12,592,144 10,328,113 7,685,974
Total Liabilities 260,494,984 256,476,520 258,197,611 262,411,462 275,331,148 273,769,134 276,254,514 277,108,886
Net Assets 37,294,088 36,441,557 38,053,940 38,493,397 39,286,976 38,952,875 39,841,469 40,201,090
Shareholders Equity 37,294,088 36,441,557 38,053,940 38,493,397 39,286,976 38,952,875 39,841,469 40,201,090

ANALYST RATINGS

Results Announcement Date: 26 May 2026 (Closing Share Price: RM21.90)
Below is a summary of analyst ratings and forecasts for Hong Leong Bank as at 28 May 2026:

Rating Target Price EPS
FY2026 (E)
EPS
FY2027 (E)
DPS
FY2026 (E)
DPS
FY2027 (E)
Remarks
Affin Hwang Investment Bank Buy 25.85 2.109 2.228 1.00 1.115
Maybank Investment Bank Buy 25.00 2.18 2.29 1.00 1.05
RHB Investment Bank Buy 24.70 2.14 2.26 0.99 1.05
UOB Kay Hian Buy 24.40 2.277 2.482 1.056 1.276
Average 24.99 2.18 2.32 1.01 1.12
*(E) = Estimate/Forecast

Results Announcement Date: 27 February 2026 (Closing Share Price: RM23.28)
Below is a summary of analyst ratings and forecasts for Hong Leong Bank as at 28 February 2026:

Rating Target Price EPS
FY2026 (E)
EPS
FY2027 (E)
DPS
FY2026 (E)
DPS
FY2027 (E)
Remarks
Affin Hwang Investment Bank Buy 28.28 2.109 2.245 1.00 1.115 Target Price increased from RM24.00
Maybank Investment Bank Hold 26.40 2.28 2.43 1.05 1.12 Hold Rating upgraded to Buy. Target Price increased from RM22.80
RHB Investment Bank Buy 25.7 2.2 2.31 1.01 1.07
UOB Kay Hian
Average 26.79 2.20 2.33 1.02 1.10
*(E) = Estimate/Forecast

Results Announcement Date: 27 November 2025 (Closing Share Price: RM21.20)
Below is a summary of analyst ratings and forecasts for Hong Leong Bank as at 28 November 2025:

Rating Target Price EPS
FY2026 (E)
EPS
FY2027 (E)
DPS
FY2026 (E)
DPS
FY2027 (E)
Remarks
Affin Hwang Investment Bank Buy 24.00 2.29 2.39 0.83 0.86
Maybank Investment Bank Hold 22.80 2.22 2.35 1.02 1.08 Buy Rating downgraded to Hold. MIB is of the view that share price upside is limited based on its Target Price of RM22.80 for HLBANK.
RHB Investment Bank Buy 25.70 2.20 2.31 1.01 1.07
UOB Kay Hian Buy 23.80 2.31 2.52 1.14 1.37
Average 24.08 2.25 2.39 1.00 1.09
*(E) = Estimate/Forecast

COMMENTARY

Hong Leong Bank Results Update (Dec 2025)

Hong Leong Bank Results Update FY2026Q2 (DECEMBER 2025)

Results Announcement Date: 27 February 2026 (Closing Share Price: RM23.28)

Net Profit for H1 of RM2.26 billion was flat from pcp of RM2.24 billion. The current period saw a significantly lower Associates contribution of RM683m compared to RM775m previously, mainly due to the dilution of its stake in Bank of Chengdu from 19.8% to 17.8%. Since the start of HLB’s financial year on 1/7/25, Customer Deposits grew 1.3%  to RM242 bil, while Net Loans grew 2.7%.

For the current quarter:

  • Cost to Income Ratio came in at 35.7% which again demonstrates HLB’s  superior cost discipline.
  • CASA ratio strengthened to 32.9% (up from 32.5% as at 30/9/25).
  • CET 1, Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios of 12.6%, 13.5% and 15.6% respectively as at 31/12/25. 
  • Dividends from Associates received to date remained at RM355 mil for 2026H1 compared to RM360 mil in FY2025H1.

FY26 guidance items maintained:
– CIR 39% (H1: 35.9%)
– GIL ratio <0.65% (Q2: 0.59%)
– CASA mix > 32% (Q2: 32.9%)
– ROE 11.5-12% (H1: 11.5%)

Hong Leong Bank ROE guidance would suggest a Net Profit target of around RM4.4 to RM4.5 billion, or EPS of RM2.15 to RM2.20 for FY2026. Assuming 48-50% dividend payout ratio (FY2025 was 46%), this would translate to DPS of between RM0.99 to RM1.10. Less the 30 sen Interim Dividend just declared, the final dividend would potentially be between 69 to 80 sen, compared to FY2025 final dividend of 68 sen.

Hong Leong Bank Results Update (Sep 2025)

Hong Leong Bank Results Update FY2026Q1 (SEPTEMBER 2025)

Results Announcement Date: 27 November 2025 (Closing Share Price: RM21.20)

Hong Leong Bank’s Net Profit was flat compared to pcp. Higher Net Interest Income, Islamic Banking and Other Operating Income were offset by higher loan loss provisioning and lower Associates income contribution.

  • Cost-Income Ratio (CIR) came in at a commendable 36.0%.
  • Since 31/12/25, Net Loans were up by 6.5% while Customer Deposits grew 4.2%.
  • Associates income was lower than pcp due to recent stake dilution in Bank of Chengdu.
  • Excluding Associates income, Operating Profit was RM1,040 mil compared RM964 mil in 2025Q1, up 7.8%.
  • CASA expanded 9.1% y-o-y to RM76.8 billion, which is a CASA ratio of 32.5%.

Dividends from Associates

  • Received RM355 mil compared to RM360 mil in pcp.

Management kept all FY26 guidance items:

  • CIR 39% (Q1: 36.0%)
  • GIL ratio <0.65% (Q1: 0.57%)
  • Net Credit Cost <10bps (Q1: 7bp)
  • CASA mix > 32% (Q1: 32.5%)
  • ROE 11.5-12% (Q1: 11.2%).

NIM guidance fine-tuned to 1.86-1.87% from 1.8-1.9% before (Q1: 1.84%). Despite CIR of 36% well below management’s target of 38-39%, it prefers to keep this unchanged as it assesses the sustainability of AI productivity benefits.

Hong Leong Bank ROE guidance would suggest a Net Profit target of around RM4.4 to RM4.5 billion, or EPS of RM2.15 to RM2.20 for FY2026.

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