MB makes impressive breakthrough in first half

MB stocks are buoyed up by several factors

The stock of MB raised by 4 per cent last week to peak at VND43,450 ($1.89) on June 30, a rise of 90 per cent over the VND22,700 (99 US cents) on January 1. This stellar rise is underpinned by four core factors.

Outstanding business results

In 2021, MB targets to gain VND13.2 trillion ($573.9 million) in consolidated profit, up 20 per cent on-year, with total assets and credit growing 11 per cent and bad debt ratio controlled below 1.5 per cent.

In the first quarter of 2021, MB reported VND4.58 trillion ($199.13 million) in pre-tax profit, doubling on-year and reaching 35 per cent of the yearly plan. Of this, the profit from banking activities (not including insurance, or added-value services) was also more than twice as high as in the same period in the year prior, reaching VND4.1 trillion ($178.26 million).

These results speak of standout performance, with return on assets (ROA) standing at 2.71 per cent (it was 1.59 per cent in the same period last year) and return on equity (ROE) at 27.24 per cent (against 16.09 per cent). The bank's bad debts ratio decreased by 33 points. Current account savings account (CASA) has risen 3.8 points on-year to 36.9 per cent, one of the best figures in the sector. New account openings at MB soared sharply thanks to attractive campaigns.

In a report for the second quarter released on July 5, SSI Securities Corporation estimated MB's pre-tax profit in the second quarter at VND4-4.5 trillion ($173.9-195.65 million), a rise of 37-50 per cent on-year, thanks to credit and deposit growth at the parent bank reaching 10 and 6 per cent as of the end of May compared to early 2021. Meanwhile, bad debts are being controlled (under 1 per cent at the parent bank) and NIM is increasing.

MB has been consistently outperforming the VN-Index this year

Business strategy for 2021

2021 is the closing year of MB's 2017-2021 strategy and would set the tone for the next five years.

In order to make quick and steady progress in digital transformation and improve service quality, this year, MB is making continuous investments in the comprehensive digitalisation of all activities like business, operations, as well as risk and human resources management. This improves labour productivity and reduces costs.

At present, MB is developing in Hanoi and the northern provinces, however, the bank is also building an office in Ho Chi Minh City to improve its brand identity and growth in the south.

Vietinbank is going to raise charter capital to VND48 trillion ($2.1 billion) soon. While Vietcombank is planning to raise to VND50 trillion ($2.2 billion) from VND37.039 trillion ($1.6 billion). Techcombank's charter capital is VND35 trillion ($1.5 billion) and has no plan for an outstanding rise this year.