On Friday, Berenberg raised the price target for Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (SEBA:SS) (OTC: SKVKY) shares to SEK149.00, up from the previous SEK143.00, while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. The adjustment follows the bank's recent second-quarter results, which were announced on Monday.
The bank's potential for capital growth in the coming years was highlighted as a significant positive outcome from its Q2 2024 financial report. Berenberg pointed out that the ability to transfer its pension surplus and gain corporate model approvals are expected to mitigate the challenges posed by the new Basel IV regulations.
According to the analyst, these developments could allow Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken to surpass the forecasted total yield estimates of 10-11% for fiscal years 2025-26.
The current price-to-earnings (P/E) premium of 40% that SEB holds over the sector, which stands at 9.7 times the firm's FY 2025 estimates, is deemed a fair representation of the bank's superior quality.
The bank's stock rating remains at Hold, indicating that while there may be positive aspects to the bank's financial outlook, the current valuation already reflects these expectations. The new price target suggests a modest upside from the previous target, acknowledging the bank's stable financial performance and future capital prospects.
In other recent news, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, also known as SEB, faced a downgrade from Barclays (LON:BARC). The firm has revised its rating for SEB from Equal Weight to Underweight, prompted by a cautious outlook on the bank's future financial performance.
This downgrade was primarily driven by concerns about the bank's capital returns and net interest income for fiscal years 2025-2026, which Barclays believes might not meet market expectations.
The firm's analysis suggests a misalignment between consensus estimates and Barclays' projections, particularly concerning SEB's earnings per share (EPS). Consequently, Barclays has reduced its EPS estimates for SEB by 1-4% for FY25-26, citing anticipated lower buyback activities, reduced fee income, and increased expenses.
Furthermore, the potential extension of the Lithuania bank tax into 2025 could pose additional downside risks to Barclays' EPS estimate for FY25. These recent developments have led Barclays to set a new price target for SEB at SEK124.
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