UOB

UOB: CS note that Underperformance overdone and valuations are starting to look attractive.

UOB now trades at 1.1x P/B, at decade lows excluding 2009. It appears overextended (-1.8 sd) vs 5yr avg of 1.6x and P/B vs peers is near 5yr lows. House think it is too early to assume UOB’s asset quality performance could be worse this cycle than peers’ and while book value risks are real, mgt has been actively managing the exposure and has
already taken provisions on the exposure. UOB’s underperformance appears overextended and could reverse in the short term.

UOB is ‘aggressively’ reducing its exposure to European securities, now significantly below $1b (vs S$1.2b as of Sept). With pressure on funding costs and efforts to shore up USD liquidity further, NIMs will probably remain under pressure near term. Asset quality remains comfortable—the NPL increase in 3Q11 does not indicate an incremental deterioration of the book. House however maintain U/p, TP $17.70.