Financial Statement Analysis Westpac (Wbc) Westpac Banking Essay

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Financial Statement Analysis

Westpac (WBC)

Westpac banking corporation is one of the largest banking organizations in Australia, and the largest bank in New Zealand. Westpac provides arrays of banking and financial services in Austria, which include institutional banking, retail banking, and wealth management services. Established in 1817, Westpac is the first bank established in Australia. Since its formation, Westpac has increased in its strength, and at present Westpac has the market capitalisations that reach $69.5 billions and total assets worth 618.3 billions. (Westpac Annual Report, 2010).

The objective of this paper is to analyze whether Westpac could be a potential company to invest my $50,000.

With the present economic crisis where many companies have suffered financial losses, it is critical to subject a company to financial analysis since I have decided to invest my $50,000 on the medium-term investment; there is a need to make thorough analysis on the company before making an investment decision. I will use several financial tools to analyze the financial performances of Westpac before making an investment decision.

Financial Analysis of Westpac

Ratio analysis is one of the methods to evaluate the financial performances of an organization. Salmi and Martikainen (1994) argue that ratio analysis is very useful to forecast future success of a company. One of the commonly accepted ratios analysis is profitability. The profitability reveals the extent an organization has been able to manage its resources efficiently. The profitability could also be used to reveal the weakness and strength of an organization. By analyzing the profitability of Westpac, the paper will evaluate the strength and weakness of the company, and the paper reveals the extent the company has been able to provide values to the shareholders. Methods to analyze the profitability of Westpac are as follows:

Profitability ratio or Net profit margin

Return on assets (ROE)

Return on equity (ROA)

Basic earning per share

Profitability

To analyze the profitability of Westpac, the paper uses the last three years financial data. Analyzing the financial data of the company enhances the investment decisions toward the company.

Using the financial data of Westpac between 2008 and 2010, the profitability of the company during the period is as follows:

Table 1: Profitability Ratio of Westpac

Profitability Ratios in %

2010

2009

2008

Profitability Ratio

11.4%

7.2%

Return on Assets (ROA)

1.04%

0 .60%

0 .96%

Return on Equity (ROE)

17.4%

10.8%

23.1%

Basic earning per shares

$214.2

$125.3

$20.6

Cash earnings to equity (%)

16.1%

14.0%

22.30%

Formulas to calculate the profitability of Westpac are as follows:

Profitability ratio is calculated by dividing net income by total sales.

ROA is calculated by dividing net profits by total assets.

ROE is calculated by dividing net profits by total equity

Basic earning is based on the weighted number of paid ordinary shares

From table 1, it is revealed that the Westpac demonstrates sound improvement in the financial performances between 2009 and 2010. Based on the findings in the company profitability ratios, ROE, and ROA, Westpac has demonstrated a strong improvement in the financial performances during the period. Between 2009 and 2010, Westpac recorded high improvement on return on equity. In 2009, the ROE was 10.8% and in 2010, the ROE increased to 17.4% revealing 61.1% increase. In 2008, Westpac recorded 23.1% in ROE demonstrating high performances during the period. However, between 2008 and 2009, there was a decline in the Westpac in the ROE performance revealing 132.8% decline in performances. However, the company recovered in 2010 with increase of 61% in ROE between 2009 and 2010. (Westpac Annual Report 2010).

In addition, the company basic earning per shares improved from 2008 to 2010. The basic earning per shares was $20.6 in 2008, and the basic earning per share increased to $125.3 in 2009. Similarly, the basic earning per shares increased to $214.2 in 2010. In addition, Westpac recorded strong performance on cash earning to equity in 2008 with 22.3% ratio. However, there was a decline in cash earning to equity between 2008 and 2009. The company recorded 14.0% in 2009 compared to its performance of 22.3% in 2008.

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However, the company recovered in 2010 by recoding 16.1% in 2010 in cash earning per share demonstrating 15% increase.

To provide greater understanding on the financial performances of the Westpac, the paper also provides the market-based ratios.

Market-Based Ratio

The Westpac market performances were impressive between 2009 and 2010. The net profits attributed to the equity between 2009 and 2010 shows 84% increase. In 2010, Westpac recorded $6,346 millions in the net profits attributed to equity compared to $3,446 million in 2009. Moreover, the dividends declared by the company between 2009 and 2010 represent an increase of 20%. Based on the company profitability and market-based ratios, the paper examines the changes that have occurred in the company financial data over the last three years and the reason for the changes.

Significant Changes in the Westpac Financial Data

The financial data of Westpac shows that the company recorded high performances in the net income in 2008. However, Westpac recorded decline in the financial performances in 2009. The reason is due to the global financial crisis that affects many financial institutions in all advanced countries. With the credit crunch, that affects many financial institutions across the world, many banks are unable to meet their financial obligations. The credit crunch that affects many banks across the world also affected the performances of Westpac in 2009. For Example, there was a decline of 132.8% in the company ROE in 2009. In addition, there was 60% decline in the ROA in 2009. Although, the company recovered in 2009, and revealing high performances in both ROA and ROE. (Westpac, 2011).

Despite the decline in the company performances in 2009, there is strong indication that Westpac is able meet its short-term, medium term and long-term obligations.

Findings

Based on the financial analysis of Westpac, it is revealed that the company will be able to meet its medium-term obligations. For example, the company cash flow from financing activities increased from $9.7 in 2009 billions to $35.1 billions in 2010. Although the cash flow was $42 billions in 2008, however the company recovered in 2010 despite the decline in the cash flow in 2009. Moreover, total liquid assets of Westpac in 2011 are $11 billions. In addition, the company has been able to increase its revenue over the three-year period by 11.09% and there is 84% growth rate in the company income. The company has also been able to record the increase in the growth rate over the period. The dividends per share and earnings per share also increase by 19.83% and 68.6% respectively. Compare to the industry average, the dividend growth rate ranks the highest, and the growth rate in earning per share is above the industry average.

In 2010, Westpac was also able to increase its cash reserve by 36.43% and the cash reserve growth rate increases by 89.53%. The company cash reserve was $1.19 billions and the company cash for investing was $32.26 billions. Westpac was able to generate $468 millions in cash from operations. (Financial Times,2011).

Based on the company financial performances, the paper recommends that the investor should invest in the stocks and shares of Westpac. The expert opinion also supports these recommendations.

"As of Oct 14, 2011, the consensus forecast amongst 18 polled investment analysts covering Westpac Banking Corporation advises investors to hold their position in the company. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Nov 03, 2010. The previous consensus forecast advised that Westpac Banking Corporation would outperform the market" (Financial Times, 2011 P. 1)

Based on Fig 1, 14 financial analysts offer positive opinion on Westpac Banking Corporation with the median target of 2,104. "The median estimates represent an 11.38% increase from the last price of 2.158." (Financial Times P. 1). The investing in the Westpac stocks and shares will be favourable in the next 12 months. Thus, there is a strong recommendation to invest in Westpac capital market as being revealed in Fig 2.

Fig 1: Analysts Forecast on Westpac.....

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