HSBC Holdings plc Annual Results 2022

Noel Quinn, Group Chief Executive, said:

“2022 was another good year for HSBC. We completed the first phase of our transformation and our international connectivity is now underpinned by good, broad-based profit generation around the world. This contributed to a strong overall financial performance. We are on track to deliver higher returns in 2023 and have built a platform for further value creation. With the delivery of higher returns, we will have increased distribution capacity, and we will also consider a special dividend once the sale of HSBC Canada is completed.”

2022 financial performance (vs 2021)

• Reported profit before tax fell by $1.4bn to $17.5bn, including an impairment on the planned sale of our retail banking operations in France of $2.4bn. Adjusted profit before tax increased by $3.4bn to $24.0bn. Reported profit after tax increased by $2.0bn to $16.7bn, including a $2.2bn credit arising from the recognition of a deferred tax asset.
• Reported revenue increased by 4% to $51.7bn, driven by strong growth in net interest income, with increases in all of our global businesses, and higher revenue from Global Foreign Exchange in Global Banking and Markets (‘GBM’). This was in part offset by a $3.1bn adverse impact of foreign currency translation differences, the impairment on the planned sale of our retail banking operations in France and adverse movements in market impacts in insurance manufacturing in Wealth and Personal Banking (‘WPB‘). In addition, fee income fell in both WPB and GBM. Adjusted revenue increased by 18% to $55.3bn.
• Net interest margin (‘NIM’) of 1.48% increased by 28 basis points (‘bps’), reflecting interest rate rises.
• Reported expected credit losses and other credit impairment charges (‘ECL’) were $3.6bn, including allowances to reflect increased economic uncertainty, inflation, rising interest rates and supply chain risks, as well as the ongoing developments in mainland China‘s commercial real estate sector. These factors were in part offset by the release of most of our remaining Covid-19-related reserves. This compared with releases of $0.9bn in 2021. ECL charges were 36bps of average gross loans and advances to customers.
• Reported operating expenses decreased by $1.3bn or 4% to $33.3bn, reflecting the favourable impact of foreign currency translation differences of $2.2bn and ongoing cost discipline, which were in part offset by higher restructuring and other related costs, increased investment in technology and inflation. Adjusted operating expenses increased by $0.4bn or 1.2% to $30.5bn, including a $0.2bn adverse impact from retranslating the 2022 results of hyperinflationary economies at constant currency.
• Customer lending balances fell by $121bn on a reported basis. On an adjusted basis, lending balances fell by $66bn, reflecting an $81bn reclassification of loans, primarily relating to the planned sale of our retail banking operations in France and the planned sale of our banking business in Canada, to assets held for sale. Growth in mortgage balances in the UK and Hong Kong mitigated a reduction in term lending in Commercial Banking (‘CMB’) in Hong Kong.
• Common equity tier 1 (‘CET1’) capital ratio of 14.2% reduced by 1.6 percentage points, primarily driven by a decrease of a 0.8 percentage point from new regulatory requirements, a reduction of a 0.7 percentage point from the fall in the fair value through other comprehensive income (‘FVOCI’) and a 0.3 percentage point fall from the impairment following the reclassification of our retail banking operations in France to held for sale. Capital generation was mostly offset by an increase in risk-weighted assets (‘RWAs’) net of foreign exchange translation movements.
• The Board has approved a second interim dividend of $0.23 per share, making a total for 2022 of $0.32 per share.

4Q22 financial performance (vs 4Q21)

• Reported profit before tax up $2.5bn to $5.2bn, reflecting strong reported revenue growth and lower reported operating expenses, while reported ECL increased. Adjusted profit before tax up 92% to $6.8bn. Reported profit after tax up $2.9bn to $4.9bn.
• Reported revenue up 24% to $14.9bn, due to strong growth in net interest income and an increase in revenue from Markets and Securities Services (‘MSS’), partly offset by the adverse impact of foreign currency translation differences. Adjusted revenue up 38% to $15.4bn.
• Reported ECL were $1.4bn in 4Q22 and included stage 3 charges relating to exposures in the mainland China commercial real estate sector, as well as corporate exposures in the UK. This compared with charges of $0.5bn in 4Q21.
• Reported operating expenses down 6% to $8.9bn due to the favourable impact of foreign currency translation differences and ongoing cost discipline, which more than offset increases in technology investment and performance-related pay. Adjusted operating expenses up 2% to $7.8bn.

Outlook

• The impact of our growth and transformation programmes, as well as higher global interest rates, give us confidence in achieving our return on average tangible equity (‘RoTE‘) target of at least 12% for 2023 onwards.
• Our revenue outlook remains positive. Based on the current market consensus for global central bank rates, we expect net interest income of at least $36bn in 2023 (on an IFRS 4 basis and retranslated for foreign exchange movements). We intend to update our net interest income guidance at or before our first quarter results to incorporate the expected impact of IFRS 17 ‘Insurance Contracts’.
• While we continue to use a range of 30bps to 40bps of average loans for planning our ECL charge over the medium to long term, given current macroeconomic headwinds, we expect ECL charges to be around 40bps in 2023 (including lending balances transferred to held for sale). We note recent favourable policy developments in mainland China’s commercial real estate sector and continue to monitor events closely.
• We retain our focus on cost discipline and will target 2023 adjusted cost growth of approximately 3% on an IFRS 4 basis. This includes up to $300m of severance costs in 2023, which we expect to generate further efficiencies into 2024. There may also be an incremental adverse impact from retranslating the 2022 results of hyperinflationary economies at constant currency.
• We expect to manage the CET1 ratio within our medium-term target range of 14% to 14.5%. We intend to continue to manage capital efficiently, returning excess capital to shareholders where appropriate.
• Given our current returns trajectory, we are establishing a dividend payout ratio of 50% for 2023 and 2024, excluding material significant items, with consideration of buy-backs brought forward to our first quarter results in May 2023, subject to appropriate capital levels. We also intend to revert to paying quarterly dividends from the first quarter of 2023.
• Subject to the completion of the sale of our banking business in Canada, the Board’s intention is to consider the payment of a special dividend of $0.21 per share as a priority use of the proceeds generated by completion of the transaction. A decision in relation to any potential dividend would be made following the completion of the transaction, currently expected in late 2023, with payment following in early 2024. Further details in relation to record date and other relevant information will be published at that time. Any remaining additional surplus capital is expected to be allocated towards opportunities for organic growth and investment alongside potential share buy-backs, which would be in addition to any existing share buy-back programme.

For further information contact:

Media Relations

UK – Gillian James
Telephone: +44 (0)7584 404 238
Email: pressoffice@hsbc.com

UK – Kirsten Smart
Telephone: +44 (0)7725 733 311
Email: pressoffice@hsbc.com

Hong Kong – Aman Ullah
Telephone: +852 3941 1120
Email: aspmediarelations@hsbc.com.hk

Investor Relations

UK – Richard O’Connor
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7991 6590
Email: investorrelations@hsbc.com

Hong Kong – Mark Phin
Telephone: +852 2822 4908
Email: investorrelations@hsbc.com.hk