Heartland Group Holdings Limited (NZX: HGH) Guidance Update

Monday 10th May 2021

Heartland considers a guidance update appropriate given the uncertainty which remains as to New Zealand’s resilience to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the timing of the economic recovery. All financial results in this announcement are based on the unaudited financial statements of Heartland and its subsidiaries for the nine months to 31 March 2021 (YTD). Relative growth rates are annualised, and include the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates.

Financial update

Heartland has achieved a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $21.0 million for the three months ended 31 March 2021 (3Q2021), bringing YTD NPAT to $65.1 million (or $64.3 million on an underlying basis, excluding the impacts of one-offs as detailed in Heartland’s announcement of its results for the six months to 31 December 2020 (1H2021)).

Underlying return on equity (ROE) was 11.9% (annualised YTD NPAT as a percentage of average equity), flat on 1H2021 underlying ROE.

Momentum in lending increased in 3Q2021, with gross finance receivables (including reverse mortgages) growing $158.6 million (13.7%), a significant uplift from $59.3 million (2.5%) in 1H2021, resulting in a YTD growth of $218.0 million (6.2%).

Growth was experienced in Motor, both New Zealand and Australian Reverse Mortgages and Business Intermediated. Current Home Loans pipeline momentum remains strong, with $580 million approved online and $30.3 million drawn down YTD. Heartland recently expanded its Home Loans offering with the provision of a Revolving Credit facility at New Zealand’s lowest rate.

Heartland maintained net interest margin (NIM) of 4.30% in the nine months to 31 March 2021, up 2 basis points on 1H2021.

The underlying cost to income (CTI) ratio for 3Q2021 was 44.1%, bringing the underlying YTD CTI ratio to 45.3% (1H2021: 45.9%). The reduction in the underlying CTI ratio during 3Q2021 demonstrates Heartland’s continuous focus on creating end-to-end processing efficiencies through ongoing digitalisation.

Impairments continue to perform strongly with a YTD impairment expense ratio (annualised impairment expense as a percentage of average receivables) of 0.27% (1H2021: 0.19%). The increase is due to higher than usual repayments in 1H2021, combined with significantly stronger growth in receivables in 3Q2021 compared with 1H2021.

Please see the link below for details

Strong trend continues for Heartland Group performance: Guidance update

Source: Heartland Group Holdings Limited

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