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KE has upgraded its target price to $19.00 from $16.50, saying the lender has the lowest valuation among its peers.
"We believe UOB's regional strength and excess capital including the divestment gains will provide more room for growth," KE analyst Pauline Lee, who recommends a "buy" on the stock, said in a note to clients.
"Although valuations have risen to 1.7x price to book and 15x PE, UOB's price to book value is still the lowest among its peers," she added.
Kim Eng lifted its estimated net profit for 2006 and next year, backed by better loan growth and easing pressure on margins.
"Regional growth is likely to remain firm with strong loan growth momentum in Malaysia and Thailand at above 15% and 8%, respectively," Lee said.
Merrill Lynch said it has raised its target price to $20 from $18.50 and is keeping its "buy" rating on the stock on the view that the bank is best positioned in the sector for loan growth.
"UOB has the largest Singapore loan franchise and earns the highest yields," the brokerage said in a note. "UOB is relatively less reliant on low-cost funding to support its margins," it added.
Because the key focus has shifted from rising rates and improving earnings in the past two years to loan growth and return on equity, Merrill Lynch said it is switching its preferred pick in the banking sector from the best deposit franchise, DBS, to the best loan franchise, UOB.
It has also raised its earnings estimates for UOB by 4-5% to $1.45 per share for 2007 and to $1.70 for 2008, on the back of stronger loan growth.
Short term trend uncertain. Have to wait a few more days.
Citigroup has cut its rating to "hold" from "buy", saying the stock is trading near Citigroup's fair value estimate of $17 following recent gains.
"UOB is up 10% in six weeks (and 17% yoy), pricing in much of the 2007 outlook," Citigroup said in a note to clients.
Citigroup expects UOB's core net profit, excluding exceptional gains, to rise from $1.71b last year to $1.83b this year, and further to $1.95b in 2007 and to $2.06b in 2008.
UOB has been increasing its share of the domestic mortgages because of its focus on private housing mortgages, it noted.
Although JP Morgan upgraded its target price, I think the short term trend looks a little uncertain right now.
JP Morgan said it has upgraded its target price for UOB to $19.60 from $17.90 previously as it expects the bank to post better earnings this year on the back of improving net interest margins and rising loan growth.
"Margins are expected to be supported by a positive trend in the interbank lending business," JP Morgan said in a note to clients.
UOB has also been seeing a rapid increase in its mortgage lending, with this segment having grown in the last four quarters, while mortgage lending in other banks had been declining," it said.
Daiwa Institute of Research says it has raised its rating to "outperform" from "hold" because of the prospects for growth in its lending.
"We expect another building and construction boom that will last for several years, underpinned by major construction projects in the pipeline and the next wave of new building construction with the recovery of the property market," Daiwa said in a note to clients. This, it said, would increase demand for loans.
Daiwa has increased its target price for UOB to $17.30
target price 17.70.
lol scotty, hah guess alot of poor poeple here.
not very sure if its a good time to buy or not. If you wanna hold it for ten years then you can buy. If you wanna sell it 5 weeks later, then you can wait. Migh tdrop. And again, might not. Just like the STI.
Bank stocks too expensive lah... not many people can afford...
I am surprised that readers has no comment on UOB.
Sigh.
UOB just announced divestments; UOL, Haw Par and all OUE. Anybody has any comments on UOB? Can buy?