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Equity Market Report (Ghana)

25 March 2021

Market Watch

Today’s market session saw activity across 08 tickers.

The market closed today’s trading on a quiet note as total trade volume and value was 48,604 and GHS 58,102.69 (~USD 10,133.84) respectively.

There were neither gainers nor losers today.

The highest volume of shares traded today was 14,195 Scancom Plc. shares (MTNGH) whilst the highest value of share traded today was GHS 13,642.00 worth of Benso Oil Palm Plantation shares (BOPP) (~USD 2,379.34).

Indices

The GSE-CI (remained flat) and the GSE-FSI (remained flat) closing at 2,214.58 and 1,849.04 respectively.

YTD of the GSE-CI and GSE-FSI are recorded at 14.06% and 3.72% respectively

**Market News**

GCB Bank Limited Posts GHS 445.38 Million PAT for FY2020

Income Statement

(GHS ‘000 ) 2020 2019 Growth
Total Revenue 1,938,908 1,555,646 25%
Net interest income 1,508,698 1,168,452 29%
Net fees and commission 277,980 241,505 15%
Net trading income 166,628 141,745 18%
Operating Income 1,967,680 1,572,869 25%
Net impairment Loss 219,647 75,521 191%
Opex (ex. Impairment) 1,129,641 923,271 22%
PBT 610,826 573,668 6%
PAT 445,389 428,457 4%

Balance Sheet

(GHS ‘000 ) 2020 2019 Growth
Cash balance 1,567,241 1,572,538 -0.34%
Total assets 15,453,897 12,524,084 23%
Deposits 11,345,240 9,320,878 22%
Loans and Advances 3,612,588 3,587,653 1%
Total equity 2,185,998 1,780,362 23%

Profitability

(GHS ‘000 ) 2020 2019 Growth
Net interest Margin 78% 75%
Profit Before tax margin 32% 37%
Net Profit margin 23% 28%
Net profit growth      

Efficiency Ratios

(GHS ‘000 ) 2020 2019 Growth
Return on Assets 2.88% 3.42%
Return on Equity 20.4% 24.1%
Asset Turnover 12.5% 12.4%
Cost-to-income 58.3% 59.3%

Asset Quality

(GHS ‘000 ) 2020 2019 Growth
NPL ratio 8.71% 6.01%
CAR 20.70% 17.50%
Liquid ratio 64.00% 60.00%

Income Statement

After a rather delayed release in financials for 2020 among banks, GCB bank set the pace, posting rather impressive numbers for full year 2020. This comes against the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic that slowed economic activity and growth globally.
GCB Bank Limited (GCB) has reported a topline growth of 25% y-o-y to GHS 1,938 million (vs. 7%y/y decline in FY2019).
Generally, the bank recorded double figure growth rates for the various income line items on income statement for 2020.
Net income recorded the highest growth within the category posting 29% y-o-y growth to GHS 1,508 million whilst net fees and commissions saw the least growth of 15% y-o-y to GHS 277.9 million.
In the cost category however, Operating expense also grew by 22% to GHS 1,129 million. Growth in cost line items may be due to COVID related expenses as well as GCB’s historically high operating expense.
Net impairments sky-rocketed by as much as 191% to GHS 219.6 million.

Despite the huge write offs done in 2020, NPL ratio seems to be clawing up gradually from 6.01% in 2019 to 8.71% in 2020. However, the figure remains one of the lowest, compared to industry averages for distress loan portfolios held by banks in Ghana.
The preceding developments consequently had an adverse impact on bottom line as Profit before tax (PBT) and Profit after tax (PAT) witnessed stunted growths of 6% and 4% respectively. The Bank therefore posted PBT of GHS 610.8 million and PAT of GHS 445.3 million for FY 2020.
GCB’s profitability could have been higher but for high Opex.
It is therefore imperative that the bank takes a critical look at rolling out measures to prevent gains from being further eroded in the future.

Balance Sheet

Cash and near cash positions declined y-o-y by 0.34% to GHS 1,567 million whilst customer deposits increased by 22% to GHS 11,345 million. GCB’s total assets stood at GHS 15,453 million as of FY2020.
Loans advanced grew only by 1% to GHS 3,612 million. The slowed growth in loans advanced could be attributed to the uncertainty that surrounded economic activity in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Currency Update

The local unit closed at 5.7244/5.7302 against the US Dollar on the interbank market.

Average Open: 5.7273

Average Close: 5.7273

Day % Ch GHS/USD: 0.00%

1-Month %Ch GHS/USD: +0.46%

3-Month %Ch GHS/USD: +0.09%

YTD Cedi Depreciation Against USD: +0.57%

52 Week Range: 5.3963– 5.7618

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