Morgan Stanley rerates banking sector, sees 41% upside in select stocks

Market Outlook

What has surprised some money managers is that the credit growth has jumped in India when global issues have resurfaced, and a global economic slowdown looks imminent. That means, Indian lenders are bucking the global trend.

‘); $ (‘#lastUpdated_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘lastupdate’]); //if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] > 0){ // $ (‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“redtxt”).addClass(“greentxt”); // $ (‘.arw_red’).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”); //}else if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] < 0){ // $ (‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“greentxt”).addClass(“redtxt”); // $ (‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”); //} if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] >= 0){ $ (‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“redtxt”).addClass(“greentxt”); //$ (‘.arw_red’).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”); $ (‘#gainlosstxt_’+articleId).find(“.arw_red”).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”); }else if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] < 0){ $ (‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“greentxt”).addClass(“redtxt”); //$ (‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”); $ (‘#gainlosstxt_’+articleId).find(‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”); } $ (‘#volumetxt_’+articleId).show(); $ (‘#vlmtxt_’+articleId).show(); $ (‘#stkvol_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘volume’]); $ (‘#td-low_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘daylow’]); $ (‘#td-high_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘dayhigh’]); $ (‘#rightcol_’+articleId).show(); }else{ $ (‘#volumetxt_’+articleId).hide(); $ (‘#vlmtxt_’+articleId).hide(); $ (‘#stkvol_’+articleId).text(”); $ (‘#td-low_’+articleId).text(”); $ (‘#td-high_’+articleId).text(”); $ (‘#rightcol_’+articleId).hide(); } $ (‘#stk-graph_’+articleId).attr(‘src’,’//appfeeds.moneycontrol.com/jsonapi/stocks/graph&format=json&watch_app=true&range=1d&type=area&ex=’+stockType+’&sc_id=’+stockId+’&width=157&height=100&source=web’); } } } }); } $ (‘.bseliveselectbox’).click(function(){ $ (‘.bselivelist’).show(); }); function bindClicksForDropdown(articleId){ $ (‘ul#stockwidgettabs_’+articleId+’ li’).click(function(){ stkId = jQuery.trim($ (this).find(‘a’).attr(‘stkid’)); $ (‘ul#stockwidgettabs_’+articleId+’ li’).find(‘a’).removeClass(‘active’); $ (this).find(‘a’).addClass(‘active’); stockWidget(‘N’,stkId,articleId); }); $ (‘#stk-b-‘+articleId).click(function(){ stkId = jQuery.trim($ (this).attr(‘stkId’)); stockWidget(‘B’,stkId,articleId); $ (‘.bselivelist’).hide(); }); $ (‘#stk-n-‘+articleId).click(function(){ stkId = jQuery.trim($ (this).attr(‘stkId’)); stockWidget(‘N’,stkId,articleId); $ (‘.bselivelist’).hide(); }); } $ (“.bselivelist”).focusout(function(){ $ (“.bselivelist”).hide(); //hide the results }); function bindMenuClicks(articleId){ $ (‘#watchlist-‘+articleId).click(function(){ var stkId = $ (this).attr(‘stkId’); overlayPopupWatchlist(0,2,1,stkId); }); $ (‘#portfolio-‘+articleId).click(function(){ var dispId = $ (this).attr(‘dispId’); pcSavePort(0,1,dispId); }); } $ (‘.mc-modal-close’).on(‘click’,function(){ $ (‘.mc-modal-wrap’).css(‘display’,’none’); $ (‘.mc-modal’).removeClass(‘success’); $ (‘.mc-modal’).removeClass(‘error’); }); function overlayPopupWatchlist(e, t, n,stkId) { $ (‘.srch_bx’).css(‘z-index’,’999′); typparam1 = n; if(readCookie(‘nnmc’)) { var lastRsrs =new Array(); lastRsrs[e]= stkId; if(lastRsrs.length > 0) { var resStr=”; var url = ‘//www.moneycontrol.com/mccode/common/saveWatchlist.php’; $ .get( “//www.moneycontrol.com/mccode/common/rhsdata.html”, function( data ) { $ (‘#backInner1_rhsPop’).html(data); $ .ajax({url:url, type:”POST”, dataType:”json”, data:{q_f:typparam1,wSec:secglbVar,wArray:lastRsrs}, success:function(d) { if(typparam1==’1′) // rhs { var appndStr=”; var newappndStr = makeMiddleRDivNew(d); appndStr = newappndStr[0]; var titStr=”;var editw=”; var typevar=”; var pparr= new Array(‘Monitoring your investments regularly is important.’,’Add your transaction details to monitor your stock`s performance.’,’You can also track your Transaction History and Capital Gains.’); var phead =’Why add to Portfolio?’; if(secglbVar ==1) { var stkdtxt=’this stock’; var fltxt=’ it ‘; typevar =’Stock ‘; if(lastRsrs.length>1){ stkdtxt=’these stocks’; typevar =’Stocks ‘;fltxt=’ them ‘; } } //var popretStr =lvPOPRHS(phead,pparr); //$ (‘#poprhsAdd’).html(popretStr); //$ (‘.btmbgnwr’).show(); var tickTxt =’‘; if(typparam1==1) { var modalContent = ‘Watchlist has been updated successfully.’; var modalStatus = ‘success’; //if error, use ‘error’ $ (‘.mc-modal-content’).text(modalContent); $ (‘.mc-modal-wrap’).css(‘display’,’flex’); $ (‘.mc-modal’).addClass(modalStatus); //var existsFlag=$ .inArray(‘added’,newappndStr[1]); //$ (‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’ to your watchlist’); //if(existsFlag == -1) //{ // if(lastRsrs.length > 1) // $ (‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’already exist in your watchlist’); // else // $ (‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’already exists in your watchlist’); // //} } //$ (‘.accdiv’).html(”); //$ (‘.accdiv’).html(appndStr); } }, //complete:function(d){ // if(typparam1==1) // { // watchlist_popup(‘open’); // } //} }); }); } else { var disNam =’stock’; if($ (‘#impact_option’).html()==’STOCKS’) disNam =’stock’; if($ (‘#impact_option’).html()==’MUTUAL FUNDS’) disNam =’mutual fund’; if($ (‘#impact_option’).html()==’COMMODITIES’) disNam =’commodity’; alert(‘Please select at least one ‘+disNam); } } else { AFTERLOGINCALLBACK = ‘overlayPopup(‘+e+’, ‘+t+’, ‘+n+’)’; commonPopRHS(); /*work_div = 1; typparam = t; typparam1 = n; check_login_pop(1)*/ } } function pcSavePort(param,call_pg,dispId) { var adtxt=”; if(readCookie(‘nnmc’)){ if(call_pg == “2”) { pass_sec = 2; } else { pass_sec = 1; } var url = ‘//www.moneycontrol.com/mccode/common/saveWatchlist.php’; $ .ajax({url:url, type:”POST”, //data:{q_f:3,wSec:1,dispid:$ (‘input[name=sc_dispid_port]’).val()}, data:{q_f:3,wSec:pass_sec,dispid:dispId}, dataType:”json”, success:function(d) { //var accStr= ”; //$ .each(d.ac,function(i,v) //{ // accStr+=”+v.nm+”; //}); $ .each(d.data,function(i,v) { if(v.flg == ‘0’) { var modalContent = ‘Scheme added to your portfolio.’; var modalStatus = ‘success’; //if error, use ‘error’ $ (‘.mc-modal-content’).text(modalContent); $ (‘.mc-modal-wrap’).css(‘display’,’flex’); $ (‘.mc-modal’).addClass(modalStatus); //$ (‘#acc_sel_port’).html(accStr); //$ (‘#mcpcp_addportfolio .form_field, .form_btn’).removeClass(‘disabled’); //$ (‘#mcpcp_addportfolio .form_field input, .form_field select, .form_btn input’).attr(‘disabled’, false); // //if(call_pg == “2”) //{ // adtxt =’ Scheme added to your portfolio We recommend you add transactional details to evaluate your investment better. x‘; //} //else //{ // adtxt =’ Stock added to your portfolio We recommend you add transactional details to evaluate your investment better. x‘; //} //$ (‘#mcpcp_addprof_info’).css(‘background-color’,’#eeffc8′); //$ (‘#mcpcp_addprof_info’).html(adtxt); //$ (‘#mcpcp_addprof_info’).show(); glbbid=v.id; } }); } }); } else { AFTERLOGINCALLBACK = ‘pcSavePort(‘+param+’, ‘+call_pg+’, ‘+dispId+’)’; commonPopRHS(); /*work_div = 1; typparam = t; typparam1 = n; check_login_pop(1)*/ } } function commonPopRHS(e) { /*var t = ($ (window).height() – $ (“#” + e).height()) / 2 + $ (window).scrollTop(); var n = ($ (window).width() – $ (“#” + e).width()) / 2 + $ (window).scrollLeft(); $ (“#” + e).css({ position: “absolute”, top: t, left: n }); $ (“#lightbox_cb,#” + e).fadeIn(300); $ (“#lightbox_cb”).remove(); $ (“body”).append(”); $ (“#lightbox_cb”).css({ filter: “alpha(opacity=80)” }).fadeIn()*/ $ (“#myframe”).attr(‘src’,’https://accounts.moneycontrol.com/mclogin/?d=2′); $ (“#LoginModal”).modal(); } function overlay(n) { document.getElementById(‘back’).style.width = document.body.clientWidth + “px”; document.getElementById(‘back’).style.height = document.body.clientHeight +”px”; document.getElementById(‘back’).style.display = ‘block’; jQuery.fn.center = function () { this.css(“position”,”absolute”); var topPos = ($ (window).height() – this.height() ) / 2; this.css(“top”, -topPos).show().animate({‘top’:topPos},300); this.css(“left”, ( $ (window).width() – this.width() ) / 2); return this; } setTimeout(function(){$ (‘#backInner’+n).center()},100); } function closeoverlay(n){ document.getElementById(‘back’).style.display = ‘none’; document.getElementById(‘backInner’+n).style.display = ‘none’; } stk_str=”; stk.forEach(function (stkData,index){ if(index==0){ stk_str+=stkData.stockId.trim(); }else{ stk_str+=’,’+stkData.stockId.trim(); } }); $ .get(‘//www.moneycontrol.com/techmvc/mc_apis/stock_details/?sc_id=’+stk_str, function(data) { stk.forEach(function (stkData,index){ $ (‘#stock-name-‘+stkData.stockId.trim()+’-‘+article_id).text(data[stkData.stockId.trim()][‘nse’][‘shortname’]); }); }); function redirectToTradeOpenDematAccountOnline(){ if (stock_isinid && stock_tradeType) { window.open(`https://www.moneycontrol.com/open-demat-account-online?classic=true&script_id=$ {stock_isinid}&ex=$ {stock_tradeType}&site=web&asset_class=stock&utm_source=moneycontrol&utm_medium=articlepage&utm_campaign=tradenow&utm_content=webbutton`, ‘_blank’); } }

It doesn’t look like the rally in bank stocks will end anytime soon. At least that’s what can be inferred from how analysts are rerating select bank stocks, raising their target prices and earnings estimates.

Morgan Stanley has gone a step ahead and rerated the entire banking sector, initiating what it called the second leg of the rerating cycle. Bank stock rerating cycles work in two legs and Indian banks appear to be in a transition phase between the two, the brokerage house said in a September 6 note.

“The first leg is usually driven by expectations around better asset quality. As tail risks recede, stocks improve sharply to normalised multiples – this has already occurred over the past two years,” it said. “The second, more sustained leg is usually driven by loan growth acceleration that sets an earnings upgrade cycle, and we believe catalysts for this are falling into place.”

The impact of the first leg is already visible in the stock prices. The Nifty Bank index, a representative measure of the banking sector, is up over 11 percent so far this year compared to the much broader Nifty, which has risen 1.56 percent.

For the past few quarters, banks have enjoyed healthy credit growth, strong balance sheets and improving asset quality. Analysts at Morgan Stanley said they now expect loan growth to accelerate and be sustained as capex spending speeds up.

“Our macro team sees a new leg of investment upcycle led by improving trends in capacity utilisation rates, in addition to corporate sector profitability and de-leveraged banking sector balance sheets. This in turn could foster job creation, accelerate income growth, and drive more growth opportunities even in the retail/SME segment,” said Morgan Stanley.

Also read: Benchmark indices subdued but market cap at a new high on rally in broader space

It raised loan growth estimates by 2 percentage points (ppts) to 16 percent for FY24 and 3 ppts to 17 percent for FY25. This, coupled with lower credit costs, drives its earnings estimate upgrades (2 ppts in pre-provisioning operating profit growth) and higher RoE assumptions, the broker added.

What has surprised some money managers is that credit growth has jumped in India when global issues have resurfaced and an economic slowdown looks imminent. That means Indian lenders are bucking the global trend.

“In all past instances, we have seen Indian banks’ credit growth slipping as the global and Indian economy slowed. In this cycle, however, we are yet to see banking credit growth slow. In fact, this is for the first time that credit growth is improving even when global growth falters,” DSP Mutual Fund said in a recent note.

Also read: Axis Securities picks Maruti, Bajaj Finance among top 6 stocks that can return up to 15% as festival demand sets in

“Credit growth in India may not slow down significantly and lending may remain a strong investment case,” it added, reiterating what Morgan Stanley said in its report.

Morgan Stanley increased price targets for all bank stocks under its coverage. It sees an upside of up to 41 percent in these stocks, with ICICI Bank leading the charts.

MS-banks

“We scan for stocks that are not fully pricing in a growth upcycle, have access to retail deposits and high liquidity, and appear well-equipped to accelerate market share gains as the macro outlook improves,” it said, adding ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, and State Bank of India are well-placed to capitalise on the upcoming growth cycle.

It remains selective on mid-sized banks, with Federal Bank and AU Bank being preferred picks.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.