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Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG) Earnings Rise in 1H24, NII Declines

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Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG - Free Report) reported profits attributable to owners of the parent for the first half of fiscal 2024 (ended Sep 30) of ¥927.3 billion ($6.42 billion), up significantly year over year.

Increased gross profits, a rise in net fees and commissions and net trading profits acted as tailwinds. Also, a rise in loan and deposit balances was positives. On the flip side, a decline in net interest income (NII) was a dampener.

Gross Profits Rise, G&A Expenses Decline

Gross profits (before credit costs for trust accounts) for the first half were ¥2.49 trillion ($17.23 billion), up 7.1% year over year. The upsurge was mainly on higher net fees and commissions, as well as net trading profits.

Results reflect a 26.5% decline in NII, which was ¥1.23 trillion ($8.51 billion). Nonetheless, trust fees, along with net fees and commissions, totaled ¥848.7 billion ($5.87 billion), up 9.9%. Net trading profits (including net other operating profits) were ¥409 billion ($2.83 billion) against a loss of ¥122.8 billion in the prior year.

Mitsubishi UFJ’s total credit costs in the first half of fiscal 2024 were ¥181.2 billion ($1.25 billion), down from ¥243.8 billion for the first half of fiscal 2023.

G&A expenses witnessed a year-over-year decrease from ¥1.43 trillion to ¥1.4 trillion ($9.69 billion).

The expense ratio was 56.3%, down from 61.4% in the prior-year period. A decrease in this ratio indicates a rise in profitability.

Balance Sheet Position Strong

As of Sep 30, 2023, Mitsubishi UFJ reported period-end loans of ¥114.88 trillion ($768.9 billion), up 1.4% sequentially. The rise can be primarily attributed to an increase in overseas loans.

Deposits sequentially rose to ¥217.86 trillion ($1.46 trillion) from ¥216.59 trillion as demand for domestic corporates and overseas and other deposits increased.

Total assets summed ¥398.18 trillion ($2.67 trillion), up 2.8% on a sequential basis.

Conclusion

MUFG has a robust business model, a diversified product mix and solid capital ratios. However, high costs may hurt the bottom line in the near term.

Concurrently, MUFG has announced a share repurchase plan. Under the plan, the company’s board of directors authorized to buy back up to 400 million shares or nearly 3.31% of its outstanding shares (excluding treasury stock) for an aggregate amount of ¥400 billion. The shares are expected to be repurchased between Nov 15, 2023 and Mar 31, 2024.

Mitsubishi UFJ currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Performance of Other Foreign Banks

Deutsche Bank (DB - Free Report) reported a third-quarter 2023 profit attributable to its shareholders of €1.03 billion ($1.12 billion), down 7.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Germany-based lender reported a profit before tax of €1.72 billion ($1.88 billion), up 6.7% year over year.

The results of DB were largely driven by higher net revenues, lower provisions and a strong capital position. However, a rise in operating expenses was an offsetting factor.

Barclays (BCS - Free Report) reported a third-quarter 2023 net income attributable to ordinary equity holders of £1.27 billion ($1.61 billion), down 16% from the prior-year quarter.

BCS recorded an increase in revenues, along with higher credit impairment charges. Operating expenses increased marginally in the quarter under review.


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