Results Catch-up

KCB: saw 38% rise in Q1 after tax profits helped by strong loan growth (ksh16bn year on year (44%)) which drove 22% rise in interest income and 24% growth in Fees and commissions. Gratingly for those who like to see banks doing their intermediary role, KCB is driving loan growth forward without concomitant rise in loan loss provisions. KCB’s current momentum (it plans to open 10 new branches every year and expand regionally to Sudan, TZ and Ug in that order), explain the recent share spilt.
Equity: A doubling of income (both interest income and fees) led to a massive 226% rise in PAT from prior yr’s Q1 and led to questions about sustainability. The bank has now acquired a ksh6.9bn loan to help further expansion as it looks to enter the mortgage sector.
NBK: Saw Q1 PAT fall by ksh7m to ksh152m on falling net income. NBK has finally had ksh20bn of its Ksh33bn NPLs written-off by GoK. Though there will be no immediate impact, earnings will improve in the long-term as a cleaner balance sheet allows it to lend more. This will and is atracting speculators in the short-term.
KQ’s 15% drop in PAT for FY was a surprise when it shouldn't have been i.e. CEO Titus had flagged this earlier in the yr. The surprise was in the reasons for the fall (weaker dollar and fuel costs). The dollar is weaker compared to prior yr, but was only below the average rate of 72 for around 2 months of KQ's financial year. Fuel costs can be hedged to a large extent.
DTK: After tax profits doubled from year earlier with strong income on a growing loan book supported by only a slight increase in expenses . DTK is issuing a rights issue for its TZ business.
Its AKD stable mate, Jubilee also announced FY which grew by 51% on growth across all income streams. For its shareholders, there is a final dividend of ksh3.25 and 1 for 4 shares held bonus share issue to look forward to.
Finally, NIC Bank's strategy of niching the market seems to have paid-off in FY06 with PAT growing by 59%. NIC continues to innovate and its contrary strategy means it will make money at times when others may not. As with other growing medium-sized banks, NIC will need to recapitalise at some pt (possibly via a long-term loan or rights issue) as affirmed by Fitch ratings agency.