MANILA, PHILIPPINES — SM Investments Corporation reported a consolidated net income of PHP 42.9 billion in the January to September period, higher by 50% from PHP 28.6 billion in the same period last year.
Consolidated revenues rose 31% to PHP381.9 billion in the first nine months from PHP292.6 billion in the same period last year.
“We continued to gain momentum in our growth this quarter, supported by increased economic activity and strong consumer sentiment. With encouraging results, we remain confident about sustained growth in the fourth quarter,” SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said.
“With the addition of Philippine Geothermal Production Company and profitable performance across our invested companies, our portfolio investments have also become a meaningful contributor to the group,” Mr. he added.
SM Investments received approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission to acquire the 81% stake of related parties in Allfirst Equity Holdings Inc., the holding company for PGPC. This transaction brought SM Investments’ ownership in PGPC to 100%.
Portfolio companies accounted for 13% of reported net earnings. Banking took the largest share at 45%, followed by property at 23%, and retail at 19%. Total assets were at PHP 1.5 trillion. Gearing ratio stood at 38% net debt to 62% equity.
Retail
SM Retail reported retail net income in the first nine months was at PHP 11.5 billion from PHP 4.8 billion in the previous period, up 138% and surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
With the resumption of face-to-face schooling, there was a pick-up in demand for school essentials – shoes, bags and other supplies as well as fashion items.
Retail revenues grew 26% to PHP 258.1 billion from PHP 204.9 billion in the previous period.
Notably, net income for specialty stores grew 139% and revenues were up 35% as discretionary spending continued to be strong.
“Increasing employment and higher OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) remittances across the country helped fuel spending and we anticipate continued momentum towards the fourth quarter with the resumption of normalized holiday activities,” Frederic explained.
Property
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. reported PHP 22.0 billion in consolidated net income in the first nine months, 41% higher than last year’s PHP 15.6 billion. This is supported by the PHP 73.7 billion in consolidated revenues, a 30% growth from last year’s PHP 56.8 billion.
Its Philippine mall revenues surged to PHP 33.9 billion from PHP 15.8 billion in the same period last year. In July 2022, SM Supermalls announced the resumption of charging full rental fees across its Philippines malls after more than two years of providing rent concessions to its tenants.
Its residential business group, led by SM Development Corp. (SMDC), reported revenues of PHP 28.3 billion, 12% lower than the PHP 32.1 billion in 2021. Reservation sales grew 10% to PHP 83.9 billion from PHP 76.3 billion in 2021.
Its other businesses, which include offices, hotels, and convention centers, generated PHP 7.2 billion in revenues, up 56% increase from PHP 4.6 billion in the same period a year ago.
Banking
BOO Unibank, Inc. grew its net income to PHP 40.0 billion in the first nine months compared with PHP 32.4 billion in the same period last year on solid results across its core businesses.
Gross customer loans went up by 10% year-on-year, largely funded by low-cost Current Account/Savings Account (CASA) deposits. Due to its high CASA base, net interest income increased to PHP 108.1 billion.
The bank maintained its conservative provisioning policy by setting aside provisions of PHP 12.2 billion, resulting in a higher Non-Performing Loan (NPL) coverage of 152%.
China Banking Corporation reported a net income of PHP 14.7 billion in the first nine months, up 31% year-on-year, on higher top line revenues and core fee income.
Net interest income rose 17% to PHP 33.7 billion from higher volume of earning assets, offsetting the higher interest expense amid a rising interest rate environment.
Stronger demand for corporate and consumer loans led to a 14% increase in gross loans to PHP 697 billion. On the funding side, deposits breached the trillion-mark, increasing by 18%, driven by sustained CASA growth of 10%.
Even as gross NPL ratio eased to 2% from 3.4%, China Bank hiked its credit provisions by 7% to PHP 6.9 billion for an NPL coverage of 161%, well above the industry average.
