ANZ Group maintains profit, boosts dividend amid rising costs

ANZ Group Holdings reported on Sunday that its annual net profit held steady at A$7.1 billion (US$4.51 billion), just shy of analysts’ expectations. Despite the economic headwinds of high interest rates and increasing costs, the bank announced an uptick in dividends alongside a 14% rise in cash earnings to A$7.41 billion.

CEO Shayne Elliott acknowledged the tough external factors impacting the financial sector, including global geopolitical tensions. However, he highlighted the bank’s strategic moves to bolster its financial position, with provisions for potential credit losses surpassing pre-pandemic levels and capital reserves reaching an all-time high.

In a move that signals confidence in its financial health, ANZ declared a final dividend of A$0.94 per share, marking an increase from the A$0.74 dividend distributed the previous year. This year’s dividend comprises a partially franked payout of A$0.81 and an additional one-off unfranked dividend of A$0.13.

Further underscoring its stability, ANZ’s key measure of financial strength, the Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio, saw a significant improvement, rising by 105 basis points to reach 13.3%. This robust capital buffer positions ANZ well to navigate ongoing economic challenges while continuing to reward its shareholders.

InvestingPro Insights

ANZ has been a consistent player in the banking industry, maintaining dividend payments for 44 consecutive years, a testament to its financial stability. According to InvestingPro data, ANZ’s P/E Ratio as of Q2 2023 is 9.85, indicating that it’s trading at a low price relative to its earnings. This is further highlighted by its PEG Ratio of 0.68, suggesting the company may be undervalued considering its earnings growth.

The company’s revenue has seen a growth of 4.66% in the last twelve months as of Q2 2023, although the growth has slowed down recently. The bank’s dividend yield as of 2023 stands at a healthy 3.18%, demonstrating its commitment to rewarding shareholders.

InvestingPro Tips suggest that while ANZ is a prominent player in the banking industry and has been profitable over the last twelve months, it suffers from weak gross profit margins and low earnings quality with free cash flow trailing net income. These are factors potential investors should consider.

Finally, it’s worth noting that InvestingPro offers more than 10 additional tips for ANZ, providing a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial health.

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