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HSBC Adjusts Target Prices For Greek Banks, Highlights Rising Dividends As Key Attraction

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 27, 2025

HSBC has revised its target prices for Greek banks, with an emphasis on increasing dividends as the main factor attracting investors, even as profitability momentum slows.

For Alpha Bank, the target price is set at €3.05, up from €3, with a “buy” recommendation and a potential upside of 75.3%. Eurobank’s target remains unchanged at €3.50, also with a “buy” rating and a 44% upside potential. National Bank’s target has increased to €9.90, up from €9, with a “hold” recommendation and a 16.2% upside margin, while Piraeus Bank’s target is raised to €7.25 from €6, with a “buy” rating and a 63.7% upside potential.

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HSBC notes that the sector’s main appeal lies in the anticipated rise in dividends, with a forecasted 27% increase in dividends per share by 2026, leading to dividend yields of 7-10%. The outlook is supported by strong nine-month 2024 results, improving capital strength, better credit ratings, and the limited impact of faster DTC amortization, which positions all banks to achieve a payout ratio of 50% by 2026.

Despite profitability declines due to lower interest rates, higher payouts will likely drive further stock appreciation, with HSBC indicating that lower book valuations and high dividend yields leave room for gains. The profitability of Greek systemic banks is expected to decline by 9% in 2025, but this follows a strong base. However, HSBC has revised its 2024/25/26 profit forecasts upwards by 16/14/20% on average, reflecting factors like robust credit expansion in Greece, asset management momentum, and a reduction in the cost of risk.

HSBC has downgraded National Bank to a “hold” from a “buy” due to limited downward adjustment potential in its funding costs, which may result in weaker net interest income (NII) prospects over the next two years. Conversely, Piraeus Bank stands out with a 10% dividend yield for 2026, one of the highest in CEEMEA. Eurobank is favored for its successful capital allocation and attractive valuation, while Alpha Bank is seen as the most accessible exposure to Greek banks, with a positive earnings outlook and a compressed valuation.

While Greek banks are appealing, HSBC also highlights alternatives with better combinations of earnings growth and dividend yield, including PKO, Moneta, and Isbank, particularly due to factors such as reduced mortgage loan provisions and favorable shifts in interest rates.

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Industry Uproar Over Reduction in Electric Vehicle Subsidies

by News Editor

April 26, 2025

The recent move by the government to curtail subsidies for electric vehicles has stirred significant discontent among car importers in Cyprus. The Department of Road Transport (DRT) has slashed available grants under the Electric Vehicle Promotion Scheme as of April 23, leading to a rapid depletion of the subsidy pool and leaving many potential applicants disappointed.

Importers’ Concerns

According to the Cyprus Motor Vehicle Importers Association (CMVIA), the lack of transparency and failure to engage stakeholders prior to the decision have eroded trust in the government’s commitments. Importers now find themselves facing a precarious situation, with substantial stocks of electric vehicles and mounting promotional expenditures.

Public Interest and EU Compliance

Although the scheme aimed to support the transition to zero-emission transport until 2025, the DRT states that the curtailing of funds was necessary to comply with European funding terms, which warned against delays in vehicle deliveries. This decision has fueled market uncertainty despite the application portal experiencing dynamic changes.

Industry’s Ongoing Demand

The CMVIA refutes any claims suggesting waning interest in electric vehicles, underscoring the rapid exhaustion of available grants as proof of substantial demand. They highlight the importance of meeting Cyprus’s green transition targets, including putting 80,000 electric vehicles on roads by 2030.

While the total budget for subsidies saw an increase to €36.5 million in 2023, thanks to additional funding, ongoing difficulties in timely vehicle distribution have led to premature closures of applications. In response, CMVIA has called for urgent dialogue with the Minister of Transport to reassess the decision, fearing that it could endanger the future of e-mobility in Cyprus.