Corporate results: HBL most profitable bank in 2011

The result could not lift investor sentiments as stock price fell Rs2.61.

KARACHI:

Habib Bank’s stellar growth of 31% took net profit to Rs22.33 billion in 2011, making it the most profitable bank of the industry.

The bank also declared 10% bonus shares and a final cash dividend of Rs4 per share alongside the results, taking the full-year dividend payout to Rs7 per ordinary share of Rs10.

The company’s result could not lift investor sentiments as the stock price fell Rs2.61 to close at Rs122.56 during trade at the Karachi Stock Exchange on Friday.

Net interest income rose 20% to Rs98.6 billion against Rs81.3 billion posted in the same period last year on the back of relatively higher lending yields, according to a Burj Capital research note.

Non-interest income rose by a relatively higher 16%, likely driven by strong foreign exchange income and gains on equity portfolio, adds the note. Meanwhile, the final quarter growth remained more subdued at 3% on a quarterly basis.

In line with the industry trend, provisioning expense declined by 14% to Rs6.68 billion in 2011.

Meanwhile, the bank also posted its highest quarterly earnings during the final quarter (October to December 2011) of Rs6.61 billion, showing signs of better days for the industry.

Top four private banks profitability surges 27%

Profits of the top four private banks – including Habib Bank, United Bank, MCB Bank and Allied Bank which contribute more than 50% share of the listed private banks’ deposits – jumped 27% to Rs66 billion in 2011 on a yearly basis.

Bank-wise profitability shows that UBL posted highest profitability growth 39%, followed by HBL 33%, ABL 23% and MCB 15%, according to a Topline Securities research note.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2012.