HDFC Bank, India's biggest lender by market capitalisation, is expected to report an annual 20 per cent growth in net profit for the March quarter.
The private lender is gearing up to announce its results this Saturday.The lender may report net profit of Rs 4,788.50 crore in January-March over Rs 3,990 crore in the same quarter last year, according to Prabhudas Lilladher.
A healthy show on net interest income (NII) is expected to be underpinned by strong loan growth riding on retail coupled with stable net interest margin (NIM).
The brokerage projected yearly increase of 21.70 per cent in NII and 17.90 per cent in pre-provision operating profit (PPOP) during the quarter under consideration.
Axis Capital expects a jump of 19 per cent, 20 per cent and 21 per cent in net interest income, operating profit and net profit, respectively.
Asset quality of HDFC Bank is likely to stay in good shape, with gross non-performing assets (GNPA) at around 1.30 per cent during the quarter gone by.Fees, especially retail fees, should remain strong, but lower treasury income could impact non-interest income.
Do not expect any negative surprises on asset quality, said Axis Capital in a report.Loan growth is projected to be strong at 22 per cent year-on-year, according to Motilal Oswal Financial Services.
Stock of HDFC Bank ruled almost flat at Rs 1,938 in the afternoon trade on Thursday.
Systematix Institutional Equities has Accumulate rating on HDFC Bank with a target price of Rs 2,100.Systematix Institutional Equities in its report said, We expect loan growth of 22 per cent yoy.
Healthy PPOP growth of around 19 per cent and stable asset quality will lead to over 20 per cent yoy earnings growth, a trend exhibited by the bank for the past several years.