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Raiffeisen, a part of the RBI Group, has seen significant declines in its Russian operations this year. The bank reported a 5.7% decrease in profitability from January to September, falling to just over $1 billion. Additionally, the operating income suffered a 19.2% decrease to €2.1 billion ($2.2 billion) during the same period.
The bank’s loan portfolio also contracted by two-thirds within nine months, shrinking to €6.3 billion. In the third quarter alone, Raiffeisen reported an after-tax profit of €339 million, significantly lower than the previous year. The revenue for this quarter was recorded at €331 million.
Raiffeisen and UniCredit are the only foreign banks listed as systemically important credit institutions by the Russian central bank. These banks play a crucial role in euro and dollar transactions in Russia.
Despite pressure from Western governments including the US, EU, and ECB for a swift exit from Russia, RBI Governor Johann Strobl announced a delay until the end of this year. This decision contradicts an earlier plan for a September spin-off of its Russian business.
In an unexpected move indicating potential expansion plans, Raiffeisen registered a new logo in Russia in September. Despite economic sanctions and declining profitability, Raiffeisen’s presence remains integral to providing financial services and supporting Russia’s economy.
InvestingPro Insights
In light of the recent performance of Raiffeisen, InvestingPro has provided some valuable insights. According to InvestingPro data, the company’s market cap is adjusted to $5297.02M. The company’s P/E Ratio is 1.62, demonstrating a low earnings multiple, which is one of the key InvestingPro Tips for a potentially undervalued stock. This is further supported by the Price / Book ratio, which is at a low 0.24 as of Q2 2023, suggesting that the company’s stock may be undervalued compared to its book value.
InvestingPro Tips also highlight the company’s high earnings quality, with free cash flow exceeding net income. This strong earnings performance should allow management to continue dividend payments, a point of interest for income-focused investors. Despite a recent slowdown in revenue growth, the company has shown a significant return over the last week and month, which could signal a positive trend for investors.
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