BBVA earns €3.08 billion in the first nine months, 85.8% more than a year earlier

BBVA posted net profit of €3.08 billion in the first nine months of the year (up 85.8% year-over-year) thanks to the strength of earnings and the sale of non-strategic assets. Gross income remained steady at more than €5 billion per quarter despite the complex environment.  The strength of the Group’s capital is also noteworthy in the current context.

BBVA president and COO Ángel Cano said, “Our cash dividend commitment going forward is a clear sign of our confidence in the growth of future earnings.”

Under current Basel rules the core capital ratio at the end of September stood at 11.4%, compared to 11.3% at the end of June. The ratio does not include the impact from the sales of the pension business in Chile, the 5.1% stake in China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited and the franchise in Panama. Such effect under Basel III fully loaded would lead to an increase of about one percentage point. Moreover BBVA’s leverage ratio under Directive CRD-IV (Basel III) was 4.8% compared to a future minimum regulatory requirement of 3%. The Group also improved its liquidity structure, reducing the liquidity gap by €22 billion through the end of September.

For yet another quarter BBVA’s earnings showed strength in a complex environment, despite negative variations in exchange rates and in a context of low-interest rates. In the period from January to September net interest income came to €10.85 billion. This was down 3.2% year-over-year, but up 1.4% at constant exchange rates.

This, together with good performances from the other sources of income, explained the solid gross income of €5.34 billion in the third quarter. The figure for the first nine months of the year was €16.30 billion, a decrease of 1.7% year-over-year but an increase of 1.9% excluding changes in exchange rates. BBVA's diversified model and the strength of emerging markets (Mexico, South America and Turkey), which contributed 58% of the gross income generated by BBVA’s business areas, supported the resilience of the Group’s margins.

The Group also successfully adapted its cost management in each region. The policy is to restrain costs in developed economies and to invest in maximizing growth potential in emerging ones. Operating income in the first nine months came to €7.95 billion (down 8.1% year-over-year and down 4.3% at constant exchange rates). The cost-to-income ratio was similar to that of the previous quarter: 51.2%. This means that BBVA remained one of the top banks in terms of efficiency, compared to its competitors.

The Group is focusing its investments on creating the best digital experience for its customers. Its goals include doubling the online customer base and multiply mobile banking users by four, all through 2016.

As expected, BBVA has carried out this quarter an extraordinary and demanding exercise that has led to a reclassification to non performing of €3.86 billion of refinanced loans in Spain. The exercise has impacted NPA ratios. The Group’s NPA ratio, excluding real estate activity in Spain, stands at 4.6%, with a coverage of 58%. The reclassification has led to additional provisioning of €600 million in the third quarter. Under the new classification 41% of net non-performing loans in the Spanish banking business are customers whose loans are, in fact, up to date with payments.

Regarding shareholder remuneration against 2013 earnings, BBVA has decided not to pay a dividend in January 2014. At the same time, BBVA plans to increase the shareholder remuneration payable in April 2014 to a total of 17 euro cents per share through the “dividend option” scheme to partially offset the said impact. Both decisions fit within the general recommendations that the Bank of Spain and other supervisors have made to the industry.

Going forward, BBVA intends to replace the current shareholder remuneration policy with a full cash dividend policy linked to the performance of Group earnings, with the final aim of an annual payout of between 35% and 40% of the profits obtained in each financial year.

This policy would be applied progressively, such that in 2014 two cash payouts will be combined with two “dividend option” payments.

Given BBVA’s geographical diversification between emerging and developed markets, the new shareholder remuneration policy will allow shareholders to participate in the Group’s expected growth.

By business areas

Income from banking activity in Spain was affected by the elimination of floor clauses. In the period from January to September gross income came to €4.73 billion, down 7.5% year-over-year. According to the latest available figures business in BBVA Spain increased its market share in lending (up 70 basis points) and in deposits (up 105 basis points.) Regarding credit quality the NPA ratio stood at 6.2% and the coverage ratio was 41% following the reclassification of refinanced loans. It should be noted that repayments on 41% of NPLs are, in fact, current. Attributable profit on banking business in the year to September came to €477 million.

The real estate business in Spain continued to reduce its exposure amid signs of improvement in the sector. Sales of properties maintained the brisk pace recorded in previous quarters, reaching 9,747 units in the year to September despite the seasonal effect. The corresponding figure for the same period last year was 4,447 units. Net exposure to developers continued to decline in the first nine months. The exposure has dropped 17.9% versus December 2011. Spanish real estate business recorded a net loss of €845 million in the year to September.

Business in the United States increased despite spreads being affected by the low-interest environment. The area focused on managing risk appropriately and restraining costs. Net interest income in the first nine months fell 7.9% year-over-year at constant exchange rates to €1.06 billion. In the same period gross income came to €1.6 billion (down 3.1% at constant exchange rates). The NPA ratio remained at 1.5% and the coverage ratio improved to 120%. Lending at BBVA Compass was up 10% year-over-year and customer funds rose 6.4%. The United States earned €314 million, which was 1.8% higher than the same period last year, at constant exchange rates.

In Eurasia Turkey’s Garanti recorded very solid margins thanks to buoyant business. In the period from January to September net interest income came to €702 million (up 21.4% year-over-year at constant exchange rates). In the same period the area generated net attributable profit of €647 million (down 19.2% at constant exchange rates).

Mexico remained the top franchise in that market with solid earnings supported by an improvement in the distribution model. Lending increased 9.9% and customer funds rose 8%. The franchise’s efforts generated gross revenues of €4.6 billion (up 6.4% year-over-year at constant exchange rates). Risk indicators remained stable with the NPA ratio at 4.1% and the coverage ratio at 105%. The area posted net attributable profit of €1.29 billion (up 3.7% at constant exchange rates).

South America is one of BBVA’s biggest commitments and it continued to display strength in all margins thanks to the buoyant level of business in the region. Lending was up 16.7% and customer funds increased 26%. From January to September net interest income jumped sharply by 29.2% year-over-year at constant exchange rates to €3.35 billion and gross income was up 20.4% to €4.03 billion. The NPA ratio was unchanged from the previous two quarters at 2.2% and the coverage ratio was 137%. Net attributable profit for South America in the same period was up 12.8% at constant rate rates to €885 million.