After the analyst meeting, we slash TP to Bt17 from Bt25 to reflect rising asset quality risk. However, we maintain our Outperform as we believe the plunge in share price (down 12% after release of 2Q24 results and 38% YTD) already reflects rising asset quality risk from the weak economic growth. We cut our 2024F by 3% and 2025F by 8%, raising credit cost and lowering loan growth, which are partly offset by an upward revision of NIM (on a hike in lending rates). We now expect EPS growth of 12% in 2024 and 15% in 2025. Raise credit cost forecast. TIDLOR expects 2024 credit cost to be higher than earlier guidance of 3-3.35% and likely to be close to 2Q24’s 3.6%. We thus raise our 2024F credit cost to 3.6% (+21 bps) from 3.45%, expecting a further rise in 2H24. We also raise our 2025F credit cost to 3.55% (-5 bps) from 3.4%. Lowering loan growth forecast. TIDLOR expects 2024 loan growth to be at the low end of its target of 10-20% due to a further tightening in credit extensions to control asset quality. We cut our loan growth forecast to 12% from 17% in 2024 and 12% from 16% in 2025. We expect QoQ loan growth in 3Q24 and 4Q24 of 3% QoQ, similar to 1Q24 and 2Q24.
Raise NIM forecast to expansion mode. TIDLOR expects a rise in NIM in 2024 as a result of a 100 bps hike to reflect higher risk-adjusted return for newer vintages. In 2Q24, NIM rose 21 bps QoQ to 15.89% in 2Q24 after a 35 bps hike in lending interest rates in December, 2023. At the same time, the rise in cost of funds appeared to be lower than expected at 10 bps in 2Q24 vs its guidance of +40 bps in 2024. We raise our NIM forecast by 33 bps to 15.84% (+27 bps) in 2024 and by 43 bps to 16% (+15 bps) in 2025.
Good brokerage fee income growth. TIDLOR expects 2024 non-life insurance premium growth to approach the mid to high end of its 10-20% target vs. +22% YoY in 1H24. It recently rebranded its insurance brokerage business to “Shield Insurance”. We expect this to help boost brand awareness and premium sales. We expect good fee income growth of 17% in 2024 and 15% in 2025.
Cut earnings forecast to moderate growth. We cut our 2024F by 3% and 2024F by 8%, giving moderate earnings growth of 16% (+12% for EPS) in 2024 and 15% in 2025. We expect earnings to be flat QoQ and grow YoY in 3Q24 and 4Q24.
Maintain Outperform but slash TP. We maintain our Outperform rating with a cut in TP to Bt17 (at 1.35x PBV based on 12.5% L-T ROE, 9.7% cost of equity and 2% L-T growth) or 9.3x 2024F PE from Bt25.
Key risks: 1) Asset quality risk from an uneven economic recovery, 2) credit cost risk from falling used vehicle prices, 3) rising competition from banks, 4) regulatory risk and 5) ESG risk from market conduct.
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