On Monday, BofA Securities revised the price target for Bandhan Bank Ltd. (BANDHAN:IN), reducing it to INR220 from the previous INR230, while keeping a Neutral rating on the shares. Bandhan Bank's performance in the second quarter of financial year 2025 (2Q25) was a mixed bag, with a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs9.4 billion. This figure represents a 12% decrease from the previous quarter but a 30% increase year-over-year.
The bank's earnings surpassed headlines due to an increase in non-interest income and controlled operating expenses. These factors helped to counterbalance a lower net interest margin (NIM), which fell by 20 basis points quarter-over-quarter, and a slight rise in provisions, which were reported at 189 basis points.
Bandhan Bank also experienced robust loan growth at 4% quarter-over-quarter, primarily driven by its non-EEB (Emerging Entrepreneurs Business) portfolio. Additionally, the bank reported a solid 7% quarter-over-quarter growth in deposits.
However, asset quality within the EEB segment remains a concern, with a 40% quarter-over-quarter increase in slippages, an uptick in the SMA (Special Mention Account) book to 3.3% from 2.0% in the previous quarter, and a drop in collection efficiency to 98.1% for the current quarter. The management anticipates improvements in these metrics starting from the fourth quarter onwards.
Despite the softer results, Bandhan Bank's management has decided to maintain its growth and credit cost guidance for the fiscal year 2025.
The bank's asset quality trends were noted to be slightly better compared to many of its peers, despite the challenges faced in the EEB segment. The report from BofA Securities provides investors with an updated assessment of Bandhan Bank's financial health and market position following the latest quarterly results.
InvestingPro Insights
Bandhan Bank's recent performance reflects a complex financial landscape, as highlighted by the latest InvestingPro data and tips. Despite the challenges noted in the article, particularly in the EEB segment, there are some positive indicators worth considering.
According to InvestingPro data, Bandhan Bank's revenue growth has been robust, with a 25.1% increase in the most recent quarter. This aligns with the article's mention of solid loan growth, especially in the non-EEB portfolio. Furthermore, the bank's market capitalization stands at $3.53 billion, underscoring its significant presence in the banking sector.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that analysts expect Bandhan Bank to be profitable this year, with net income projected to grow. This optimistic outlook could provide some reassurance to investors concerned about the recent quarterly profit decline mentioned in the article.
However, it's important to note that the stock has faced some headwinds recently. An InvestingPro Tip indicates that the stock has taken a big hit over the last week, which is reflected in the 9.06% decline in the one-month price total return. This volatility may be related to the mixed Q2 results and ongoing asset quality concerns in the EEB segment.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips for Bandhan Bank, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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