UBS Group (UBS) To Post Q2 Earnings: What's In The Cards?

UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2017 results on Aug 4.

The Swiss banking giant’s first-quarter 2017 net profit attributable to common shareholders increased 79.5% year over year. Results primarily benefited from improved trading income. Further, the company’s efficient expense management initiatives led to stable expenses on a year-over-year basis.

Looking at the price performance, UBS stock has gained 16% year to date, marginally underperforming the 16.2% rally of its industry.

Factors to Influence Q2 Results

The company’s profitability is likely to be hit by the lingering negative interest rate environment which was adopted by the Swiss National Bank (“SNB”) in late 2014. Later in Jan 2015, SNB lowered the rate on bank deposits. While the central bank’s aim is to boost growth and inflation by keeping interest rates low, this will keep UBS Group’s net interest income under pressure.

In 2017, management expects a CHF350 million year-over-year decline in net interest income. In addition, a substantial increase in funding costs, related to achieving TLAC requirements, is foreseen.

However, the Wealth Management division might benefit to some extent from the company’s consistent focus on loan growth.

UBS, which had gradually shifted focus on the wealth management business, post crisis, to reduce dependence on more capital intensive investment banking business, remains confident of achieving its target for net new money growth.

During the second quarter, the market experienced low volatility. Thus, the company is likely to face fixed-income trading slump. Moreover, trading in equities is likely to be down due to lower client activities.

Revenues from advisory and underwriting might be on the lower side due to decrease in M&A activities during the quarter. However, improved equity underwriting might support them to some extent.

Currently, UBS currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Among other foreign banks, Banco Santander (MC:SAN) Chile (NYSE:BSAC) is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Jul 28. Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) will release results on Jul 27 and ING Group, N.V. (NYSE:ING) on Aug 2.

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