By Dipesh Ghimire
Analyzing Siddhartha Bank’s Q2: A 150% Profit Surge as Asset Quality Stabilizes
KATHMANDU – Siddhartha Bank Limited (SBL) has staged a dramatic financial turnaround in the second quarter (Q2) of the current fiscal year (2082/83). Emerging from a period of heavy provisioning that stifled its growth last year, the bank has reported a staggering 150.20% jump in net profit, reaching NPR 1.33 billion—up from NPR 530.2 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
This surge is a clear indicator of the bank's successful transition from "crisis management" to "earnings acceleration," driven primarily by a significant cooling of bad loan provisions.
The Engine of Recovery: Lower Provisions and Steady Income
The cornerstone of Siddhartha’s profit explosion is the sharp decline in impairment charges. Last year, the bank was forced to set aside NPR 2.27 billion to cover potential bad loans; this year, that figure has dropped to NPR 1.45 billion.
The Interpretation: By aggressively cleaning its loan book over the past year, SBL has managed to "de-risk" its balance sheet. This 35.87% reduction in the impairment burden allowed the Operating Profit to surge by 160.58%, reaching NPR 1.97 billion. While core Net Interest Income showed a steady growth to NPR 4.33 billion, it was the operational efficiency and recovery of non-performing assets that truly acted as the catalyst for this quarter's success.
Shareholder Metrics: EPS Skyrockets to NPR 17.93
For investors, the most tangible result of this turnaround is the massive spike in Earnings Per Share (EPS), which surged from NPR 7.53 to NPR 17.93.
The Interpretation: At an EPS of nearly 18, SBL has repositioned itself as a high-value bank within the commercial sector.
Distributable Profit: Most impressively, the bank now holds a distributable profit of NPR 2.74 billion. This is a massive jump that suggests a high capacity for dividends in the upcoming cycle, especially since this figure was effectively zero or negative in many peer reports last year.
Capital Adequacy: The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) improved to 12.18%, providing a healthy buffer for future credit expansion.
Valuation: With a P/E ratio of 21.51 times, the market is currently pricing SBL at a premium, reflecting renewed investor confidence in its recovery trajectory.
Business Volume: Expansion Amidst Efficiency
Siddhartha Bank continues to grow its scale, with total deposits reaching NPR 2.90 Kharba and loans expanding to NPR 2.25 Kharba.
The Interpretation: Interestingly, while the bank is lending more, it is also paying less for its funds. The Cost of Funds marginally declined to 3.90%, giving SBL a competitive edge in pricing its loans. However, the bank did see an increase in personnel expenses to NPR 1.68 billion, suggesting that the bank is investing in its workforce to support this new phase of growth.
Detailed Interpretation: The "Stabilization" Phase
Asset Quality and Recovery: The bank's ability to lower impairment charges significantly indicates that the "worst is over" regarding its bad loan pile. If the bank can maintain its Cost of Funds below 4%, it will likely continue to outperform its peers in terms of net interest margins.
Dividend Security: With NPR 2.74 billion in the distributable kitty, SBL is one of the few banks this quarter to show a strong ability to reward shareholders. This makes it a potential favorite for "Dividend Hunters" on the NEPSE.
Stock Sentiment: Trading at NPR 385.80, the stock has seen a recovery from previous lows. The high Net Worth per share of NPR 211.23 provides a strong fundamental anchor, making the current market price feel well-supported by actual book value.
The Verdict: Siddhartha Bank is currently a "Recovered Leader." It has successfully navigated the high-NPL era and is now focusing on profitability. The key for the next quarter will be managing rising operating costs while ensuring that the loan recovery trend remains consistent.
