$DBS Group Holdings (D05.SG)$ DBS Group achieved a record pe...

DBS Group achieved a record performance in 2023 as net profit rose 26% to SGD 10.3 billion. Return on equity climbed from 15.0% to a new high of 18.0%. Total income grew 22%, exceeding SGD 20 billion for the first time, driven by a higher net interest margin, a rebound in fee income and record treasury customer sales. Asset quality was resilient with specific allowances remaining low at 11 basis points of loans.

For the fourth quarter, net profit grew 2% from a year ago to SGD 2.39 billion. A 9% rise in total income to SGD 5.01 billion from higher net interest income and non-interest income resulted in a 7% increase in profit before allowances to SGD2.80 billion. Total allowances of SGD 142 million were higher than a year ago when there had been a general allowance write-back. Compared to the previous quarter, net profit fell 9% due to a lower net interest margin and seasonally lower non-interest income.

The Board proposed a final dividend of 54 cents per share for the fourth quarter, an increase of six cents from the previous payout. This brings the ordinary dividend for the financial full year to SGD 1.92 per share, an increase of 42 cents from the previous year. In addition, the Board proposed a bonus issue on the basis of one bonus share for every existing 10 ordinary shares held. The bonus shares will qualify for dividends starting with the first-quarter 2024 interim dividend and will increase the pace of capital returns to shareholders. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the annualised ordinary dividend going forward will be SGD 2.16 per share over the enlarged share base, which represents a 24% increase from the SGD 1.92 per share for financial year 2023. Based on the closing share price on 6 February 2024, the post-bonus annualised dividend yield would be 7.5%. The stepped-up capital returns reflect the Group’s strong capital position and are in line with the policy of paying sustainable dividends that rise progressively with earnings.