1st Quarter Results
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA
28 April 2008
First Quarter results for 2008
BBVA increases net profit 14.9% to €1.44bn excluding non-recurrent items
The Group once again demonstrates the strength and recurrent nature of its
results. Despite worldwide uncertainty and instability, it reported vigorous
marketing, high levels of efficiency and profitability, low risk, adequate
levels of capital and solid liquidity.
- Net attributable profit including non-recurrent items came to €1.95
billion - similar to the first quarter of 2007 - with capital gains from the
sale of Bradesco (€509m). The latter amount was €187m less than the capital
gains obtained a year earlier
- Earnings per share (EPS) excluding non-recurrent items increased 9.6%,
return on equity (ROE) stands at 25.2% and return on assets (ROA) is 1.24%.
Including non-recurrent earnings, ROE is 27.4% and ROA is 1.35%. All business
areas contributed to earnings
- A sharp rise in net interest income (up 22.4%) boosted operating profit
14.9% (21.6% in constant euros)
- Efficiency (measured by the cost/income ratio), including depreciation
but without Compass, stands at 40.6%, improving from 41.9% at March 2007
- Loan-loss provisions are less than the fourth quarter of 2007. They
include generic provisions generated by the increase in lending
- The non-performing loan ratio remains under control at 0.99% (0.89% in
December). The coverage ratio is 200% and total provisions now stand at €7.74
billion of which €5.71 billion is generic
- BBVA's core capital rises to 6.3% (5.8% in December) and it still holds
latent capital gains of nearly €3 billion
- The Spain & Portugal Area increased net attributable profit 18.0% to
€698m, combining selective growth with prudent risk management
- Net attributable profit in the Wholesale Banking & Asset Management
Area jumped 44.6% to €266m, supported by an excellent quarter in corporate and
investment banking and a positive performance by the global markets unit
- Mexico lifted net attributable profit 25.9% in constant euros to €501m,
with solid revenue growth and tight control of expenses thanks to the bank's
transformation plan
- The USA Area obtained net attributable profit of €84m. This was an
increase of 12.6% in constant euros compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. The
area's integration plan is on track. Excluding amortisation of intangibles, net
attributable profit in the quarter came to €110m
- In the South America Area net attributable profit rose 19.4% in
constant euros to €181m, with solid gains in revenues and a sharp increase in
business
At the end of the first quarter of 2008, BBVA obtained net attributable profit,
excluding non-recurrent items, of €1.44 billion. This was an increase of 14.9%
compared to the same period last year. The strength and recurrency of its
earnings, combined with its edge in efficiency, profitability, risk management,
capital adequacy and liquidity ratio, put the Group in an advantageous position
compared to its main competitors. Furthermore this has been achieved in a
context of global instability and uncertainty. Operating profit rose 14.9% with
good performances by all business areas and the cost/income ratio (a measure of
efficiency) improved further to 40.6% (excluding Compass), compared to 41.9% at
the same point last year. The non-performing loan ratio remains low, at 0.99%,
the coverage ratio stands at 200% and the core capital ratio is 6.3%. In summary
BBVA has started a difficult year by anticipating an uncertain scenario.
Nonetheless it was helped by its solid fundamentals and competitive advantages.
Moreover it was able to leverage its customer franchise and enviable positions
in terms of capital and liquidity.
The first quarter of 2008 was a period of great uncertainty and instability in
the markets and the international banking sector. Despite this environment the
BBVA Group once again demonstrated the recurrent nature and strength of its
earnings. Vigorous marketing by the bank's units boosted business volumes and
net interest income, the main contributor to recurrent revenues. This in turn
led to high levels of efficiency and profitability. Furthermore it showed that
these achievements can be compatible with low risk, appropriate capital adequacy
and solid liquidity.
All business areas performed positively in the first quarter:
1. Spain & Portugal presented an excellent performance thanks to its
ability to anticipate circumstances and selective business growth.
2. Wholesale Banking & Asset Management outperformed its competitors thanks
to a business model based on customers.
3. Mexico again demonstrated its strength as the top bank in that market.
4. South America made significant progress helped by the buoyant economic
situation in that region.
5. The USA also reported a comparatively favourable performance despite the
difficult economic and banking situation in that country.
The most relevant aspects of the Group's performance in the first quarter are
summarised below:
• Net attributable profit in the first quarter of 2008 came to €1,951m,
which was similar to the €1,950m obtained in the same quarter last year.
• These amounts include a number of non-recurrent items. The first quarter
of 2008 contains capital gains of €509m after tax on the divestment of the
Group's equity in Bradesco (a Brazilian bank). And the first quarter of 2007
included €696m in capital gains on the sale of shares in Iberdrola. All
subsequent remarks exclude these non-recurrent items unless otherwise stated
because this will provide a better picture of the underlying performance.
• Therefore net attributable income excluding non-recurrent items came to
€1,442m, rising 14.9% compared to €1,254m a year earlier. Taking into
consideration the results of the American subsidiaries, the increase would be
21.4%.
• Earnings per share (EPS) rose 9.6% year-on-year to €0.39 and ROE now
stands at 25.2%. Both indicators were affected by the capital increase in
September 2007. ROA is 1.24%. After including non-recurrent items EPS is €0.53,
ROE is 27.4% and ROA comes to 1.35%.
• The most dynamic component of the Group's revenues is net interest
income, which grew 22.4% helped by higher volumes of business and an improvement
in spreads. After including other revenues and deducting expenses, operating
profit rose 14.9% to €2,700m (up 21.6% at constant exchange rates). Efficiency
(measured by the cost/income ratio) including depreciation, is 42.9% (40.6%
without Compass), compared to 42.4% a year earlier.
• Loan-loss provisions in the first quarter were slightly less than the
fourth quarter of 2007 and they continue to include generic provisions
associated with higher lending. There was no need for asset provisions linked to
the instability in financial markets.
• Despite the current complex environment, the growth in lending proved
compatible with a moderate NPL ratio, which rose to 0.99% during the quarter
(0.89% at 31-Dec-07 and 0.84% at 31-Mar-07). The coverage ratio is still high at
200%. The current level of coverage funds stands at €7,740m of which €5,708m is
generic (€5,061m at 31-Mar-07).
• After payment of a third interim dividend of €0.152 per share (gross
amount) on 10th January and a final dividend of €0.277 on 10th April, the total
dividend paid against 2007 earnings comes to €0.733 per share. This is 15.1%
more than the amount paid against 2006 results.
• In reference to the Group's capital base and following Basel II rules,
at 31-Mar-08 core capital came to 6.3% (higher than the 5.8% at 31-Dec-07). Tier
I capital is 7.8% and the BIS ratio is 12.9%.
• In addition, at the end of March the Group had latent capital gains of
roughly €3,000m in its portfolios of equity holdings in spite of divestments
made in 2007 and 2008 and the recent downturn in the markets.
• In the first quarter Standard & Poor's raised its long-term rating for
BBVA from AA- to AA. Therefore over the last 12 months all the major agencies
(Moody's, S&P and Fitch) have revised their BBVA ratings upwards.
• Regarding the information by business areas, the United States will be
treated separately in view of its growing importance. Additionally, the
organizational changes implemented at the end of 2007 have produced small
variations between Spain & Portugal and Wholesale Banking and Asset Management
areas which are not significant.
• Once again the main source of revenue in Spain & Portugal was net
interest income, which increased 13.9% compared to the first quarter of 2007,
supported by higher volumes of business (lending was up 8.5%) and an improvement
in spreads. Expenses increased only 1.6% (only 0.2% in the Spanish retail
network) and this led to new improvements in efficiency. Operating profit was up
14.0% and net attributable profit rose 18.0% to €698m.
• Despite market turbulence during the quarter, Wholesale Banking & Asset
Management, with its business model based on customers, recorded strong
increases in lending and in customer funds from corporate and investment
banking. Once again this area generated high revenues. Operating profit for the
quarter grew 31.4% year-on-year and net attributable profit jumped 44.6% to
€266m.
• Mexico recorded higher levels of business. Lending was up 28.4% (with a
different product mix) and customer funds rose 14.1% in local currency. Together
with action to defend spreads this increase boosted net interest income 13.4% at
constant exchange rates. Other sources of income also contributed to ordinary
revenues which grew 20.9% whereas expenses rose more slowly. Therefore the cost/
income ratio improved once more, with operating profit rising 27.0% and net
attributable profit up 25.9% to €501m at constant exchange rates.
• The United States Area increased business volume in the first quarter,
contributing €181m to the Group's operating profit and €84m to net attributable
profit. At constant exchange rates the increase in operating profit was 13.6%
and net attributable profit rose 12.6%. In March BBVA received approval from the
US authorities to merge its four banks in that country. So far State National
Bank has been integrated with Compass Bank.
• In South America the strong growth in lending (up 27.8% at constant
exchange rates) and customer funds (up 16.8%) boosted net interest income, whose
growth accelerated to 39.2% at constant exchange rates. As a result operating
profit rose 31.3%. After higher provisions linked to the rise in lending, net
attributable profit increased 19.4% to €181m.
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