Hold maintained. HL Bank's 9MFY12 net profit of MYR1.25b (+49% YoY) was broadly within our expectations (74% of full-year) and consensus (77%). Provisions were lower than expected, but this was offset by non-interest income coming in at the low end. Fundamentals of the group remain solid but there was little to excite in the results, with trailing loan growth and NIM compression. Our forecasts are retained. Our TP is unchanged at RM11.60 (P/BV of 1.7x, CY2012 ROE: 15.5%).
Click here for full reportSource: Maybank Research - 17 May 2012