No consensus on ANZ outlook
The majority of sell-side analysts left Westpac on Hold or Neutral after the bank released its half-year results last week, while ANZ's results prompted a more mixed response.Six of nine commentaries seen by Banking Day have Westpac on Hold or Neutral. Two are recommending the stock as an Outperform, while one is recommending it as an Underweight.Westpac reported a net profit of A$2.9 billion for the six months to March - a fall of 25 per cent on the previous corresponding period and two per cent below the September half. Total operating income, of $8.8 billion, was up six per cent on the previous corresponding period and up three per cent since September.Most analyst reports said Westpac was doing a good job with its productivity initiatives and had produced a sound result. However, a number felt the bank had limited opportunities for revenue growth in the period ahead.Four out of 10 analysts have ANZ as a Hold or Neutral. The feeling among these analysts is that the bank's Asian and institutional divisions did well but the bank as a whole was held back by a disappointing result from the Australian division.Three analysts, who put more emphasis on the Asian side of the story, have the stock as a Buy or Outperform. Three are recommending a Sell or Underperform. ANZ has been the strongest performer among the big banks, in terms of share price movement, and there is a feeling among these analysts that its superior share price performance has run its course.ANZ reported a net profit of A$2.9 billion for the six months to March - an increase of 10 per cent over the previous corresponding period, and eight per cent higher than the September half. Total operating income was up two per cent year-on-year.Among the bank's divisions, profit for the Australian business (which represents 46.7 per cent of total bank earnings) rose one per cent year-on-year but was down seven per cent from the September half.Institutional banking, the bank's other big division, reported a four per cent increase in profit year-on-year and a 23 per cent increase over the September half.Asia Pacific, Europe and America was up eight per cent year-on-year and up 19 per cent on the September result.