Access Bank Plc (ACCESS) yesterday released its Q3-17 results, wherein gross earnings (9.31% q/q and 18.26% y/y, in line with our estimate) came in lower relative to Q2-17.
This follows lacklustre performance across income lines-interest income grew lower than expected (1.69% q/q and 21.84% y/y, 4.32% below our estimate) and non-interest income declined 28.25% q/q (+10.35% y/y), 11.37% above our estimate.
However, following significant declines in loan loss provision and opex, PBT (+0.12% q/q and -5.08 y/y – 7.63% below our estimate) grew marginally, while PAT (26.04% q/q and -3.81% y/y – 9.28% below our estimate) grew double-digit, supported by a lower effective tax rate during the quarter.
The marginal q/q growth in interest income during the period was driven by 6.35% q/q (+13.22% y/y) decline in interest on loans and advances, which muted the double-digit growth in interest earned on investment securities –available for sale (+31.84% q/q and 105.90% y/y), held for trading (+2.68% q/q and +152.26% y/y), and held for maturity (+25.54% q/q and +1.73% y/y) – thus supporting a slight expansion in assets yield by 3 bps y/y to 10.35%.
Accordingly, net interest margin expanded 10 bps y/y to 5.51%, despite a more-than-expected growth in interest expense (7.735 q/q and 46.91% y/y – 11.78% above our estimate), driven by the elevated interest charges on customers deposit (12.24% q/q), and borrowings – debt securities issue (+4.97% q/q) and other borrowed funds (+304.72% q/q) – reflecting the impact of the premium on the USD112 million refinancing of its Eurobond and an additional N59 billion commercial paper issued in H1-17.
The steep contraction in NIR stemmed from significant declines in fixed income securities and derivative instruments trading, the cumulative impact of which masked the 36.85% q/q growth in foreign exchange trading income and marginal growth in fee income.
On the positive, total opex declined (17.82% q/q and +6.74% y/y, in line with our estimate) in Q3-17, following significant contraction in operating expenses (29.03% q/q and +6.74% y/y), which subdued growth in personnel expenses (8.18% q/q and 13.52% y/y) and depreciation and amortization (10.56% q/q and 24.94% y/y).
Overall, over 9M-17, gross earnings grew double-digit (by 33.05%), in line with our estimate. While PBT grew marginally by 1.26%, PAT declined slightly by 1.23%. The impressive growth in gross earnings over the period broadly reflects robust interest income, on impressive yield on interest earning assets (+190bps to 12.92%), and the surge in foreign exchange trading income, which supported 27.91% growth in NIR. The bottom-line contraction was due to opex increasing by 34.49% y/y, with cost to income ration expanding 665 bps y/y to 64.32%.
Over 9M-17, asset quality deterioration persists, with NPL ratio rising 41 bps y/y to 2.51% (3 bps above the 2.48% in H1-17), while additional provisioning of N2.46 billion in Q3-17 pushed annualized cost of risk 40 bps y/y higher to 1.22%.
The provisioning came in below our estimate of N7.62 billion. Given the impressive PAT over Q3, we believe management is still on course to deliver its 2017F ROE guidance of 20.0% (vs. 17.4% in FY-16). While acknowledging the slow growth in interest income in Q3, we believe ACCESS is poised to outperform in 2017F, driven by (1) the significant growth reported in interest income and (2) foreign exchange trading gain booked in 9M-17. Based on our last TP of N12.06, we have a BUY recommendation on the stock.
Dipo Olowookere 
Aduragbemi Omiyale