United Overseas Bank Limited – Fee income disappoints but NIM resilient

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ NIM resilience on funding cost discipline. NIM held at 1.82% (-18bps YoY, -2bps QoQ),
tracking above the upper end of FY26 guidance of 1.75%-1.80%. Execution was strong:
+15bps from active funding cost management nearly fully offset by -14bps asset repricing
drag, despite a 16bps fall in 3M SORA and a 72bps fall in 1M HIBOR. Exit NIM in March 2026
was 1.83%, and we believe margin pressure is stabilising. UOB’s house view is for one more
Fed cut and a limited downside in SORA. We expect FY26e NIM to come in at the upper end
of guidance, providing a tailwind for NII and PATMI.
+ Cost discipline maintained; CIR improved QoQ. Total expenses of S$1,523mn were
broadly flat QoQ (-2% YoY), with CIR improving 1.9pp QoQ to 44.5%. Management is
maintaining headcount discipline via productivity gains and natural attrition while
continuing to invest in technology and wealth capabilities. FY26 cost growth guidance of
low single digits remains unchanged, suggesting management is balancing reinvestment in
the 2H26 wealth rollout with cost discipline.

United Overseas Bank Limited – Earnings recover as provisions stabilise

United Overseas Bank Limited – Provisions stockpiling hits earnings

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – NII and allowances pull down earnings

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – Stashing provisions under the mattress

United Overseas Bank Limited – Higher allowances hurt earnings

United Overseas Bank Limited – Other non-interest income boost earnings

United Overseas Bank Limited – ROE to sustain at 14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – Trading and investment offset fees growth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – Non-interest income growth offset NII decline

 

 

The Positives

+ Fee income continues to grow. Fees grew 5% YoY, largely due to higher loan-related fees of S$244mn (+3% YoY) and a pickup in wealth management fees to S$164mn (+6% YoY) due to a return in investor confidence. Notably, wealth management assets under management (AUM) grew 11% YoY to S$179bn. Credit card fees continued to grow, reaching S$90bn in 1Q24 (+11% YoY) but normalized from last quarter’s seasonal high (-28% QoQ). Fee income makes up 16% of total income (1Q23: 16%).

+ Trading and investment income rose 10% YoY. The growth was led by customer-related treasury income hitting a record level of S$219mn (+8% YoY) from increased retail bond sales and strong hedging demands, while trading and liquidity management activities continued to perform well (+11% YoY). Customer-related treasury income makes up 42% of trading and investment income (1Q23: 43%). Other non-interest income was up 3% YoY and 33% QoQ.

+ Credit costs and new NPAs dip YoY. Credit costs dipped 2bps YoY to 23bps as total allowances fell slightly by 3% YoY, mainly from a decline in SPs (-4% YoY) on lower NPL formation, while GPs remained stable. New NPA formation fell by 17% YoY to S$249mn as asset quality stabilised during the quarter. NPL ratio improved by 10bps YoY and remained stable QoQ at 1.5%. Asset quality remained resilient, with SP/NPA stable at 32%. 1Q24 NPA coverage is at 99%, and unsecured NPA coverage is at 204%.

 

 

The Negative

- NII declines YoY as NIMs soften. NII dipped 2% YoY from NIM falling 12bps YoY to 2.02% mainly due to loan margin compression due to competition for high-quality credits and high cost of funding as the impact from the recent deposit repricing has yet to be felt. Nonetheless, interbank and securities margin remained stable at 1.11% from active management of excess liquidity. Loans grew slightly by 2% YoY, driven by selective good credits and short-term trade loans.

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