4 Global Bank Stocks with Vaccine after Phase 3 COVID-19 (苦尽甘来)

Vaccination is started globally and Singapore will enter Phase 3, bringing hope to end COVID-19 pandemic, as well as light at the end of tunnel for global bank stocks in crisis to recover with great discounted prices.

In this article, you will learn from Dr Tee on 4 Global Giant Bank Stocks of 4 Countries for longer term investing and / or short term trading with COVID-19 recovery stock rally. Bonus for readers who could read every words of the entire article, learning unique strategy to position in each giant bank stocks and also generalized strategy for all bank stocks.

1) Singapore Giant Bank Stock: OCBC Bank (SGX: O39)

2) Malaysia Giant Bank Stock: Public Bank (Bursa: 1295)

3) US Giant Bank Stock: Wells Fargo Bank (NYSE: WFC)

4) HK / China Giant Bank Stock: ICBC Bank (HKEX: 1398)

During COVID-19 pandemic, most bank stocks suffer in businesses mainly due to higher NPL (Non-Performing Loan) and very low interest rate. As a result, many global bank stocks prices are significantly corrected to low optimism level.  However, “Buy Low” may not able to “Sell High” in future if a bank business is affected permanently.

Therefore, it is crucial to focus only on giant bank stocks for market cycle investing during COVID-19 stock crisis with Buy Low Sell High strategy.  In general, most bank stocks would follow the global stock markets to recover in share prices, especially with improvement in bank businesses and stronger global economy after vaccination is implemented in most countries, allowing life back to normal as before COVID-19.

A giant stock may not need to be big in size, even a small company could be a giant stock. Let’s study 4 giant bank stocks (following Dr Tee criteria) recovering from low optimism in 4 stock exchanges interested by readers:

1) Singapore Giant Bank Stock: OCBC Bank (SGX: O39)

OCBC Bank is the second largest bank in Singapore, businesses during pandemic and share prices in short term (V-shape recovery) are generally aligned with DBS Bank and UOB Bank.  These Top 3 largest Singapore banks have to set aside provisions to prepare for higher default and NPL.  Singapore MAS also requires the local banks to limit the dividend distributions to 60% of last financial year. This has resulted OCBC Bank stock prices to fall by about 40% during COVID-19 pandemic.

There are 30 Banking & Finance Stocks in Singapore including OCBC Bank (investor has to focus only on giant stocks for investing):

AMTD IB OV (SGX: HKB), B&M Hldg (SGX: CJN), DBS Bank (SGX: D05), Edition (SGX: 5HG), G K Goh (SGX: G41), Global Investment (SGX: B73), Great Eastern (SGX: G07), Hong Leong Finance (SGX: S41), Hotung Investment (SGX: BLS), IFAST Corporation (SGX: AIY), IFS Capital (SGX: I49), Intraco (SGX: I06), Maxi-Cash Finance (SGX: 5UF), MoneyMax Finance (SGX: 5WJ), Net Pacific Finance (SGX: 5QY), OCBC Bank (SGX: O39), Pacific Century (SGX: P15), Prudential USD (SGX: K6S), Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68), SHS (SGX: 566), Sing Investments & Finance (SGX: S35), Singapore Reinsurance (SGX: S49), Singapura Finance (SGX: S23), TIH (SGX: T55), Uni-Asia Group (SGX: CHJ), UOB Bank (SGX: U11), UOB-KAY HIAN HOLDINGS (SGX: U10), UOI (SGX: U13), ValueMax (SGX: T6I), Vibrant Group (SGX: BIP).

The uniqueness of OCBC is the optimism level (34%) is relatively lower than DBS and UOB, therefore having more upside potential in medium term when COVID-19 fear is fading with global vaccination and also entering of Phase-3 COVID-19 measures in Singapore, allowing stronger growth in local economy which needs banks services. While waiting for recovery of share prices to fair value, OCBC stock investors could enjoy bonus with 3+% dividend yield (6% if there is no MAS limitation), much higher than bank interest rate less than 0.5%.

Many investors “play safe” during stock crisis by keeping the money as cash deposits in banks, providing nearly free loan for banks to expand business and multiply wealth.  A smart investor would carefully select a portfolio of giant stocks (including banks) to leverage on strong business fundamental to grow in share prices.

2) Malaysia Giant Bank Stock: Public Bank (Bursa: 1295)

Public Bank is the third largest bank in Malaysia, businesses during pandemic and share prices in short term (V-shape recovery) are generally aligned with other 34 Banking & Finance Stocks in Malaysia (investor has to focus only on giant stocks for investing):

AFFIN (Bursa: 5185), ABMB (Bursa: 2488), ALLIANZ (Bursa: 1163), AMBANK (Bursa: 1015), APEX (Bursa: 5088), BIMB (Bursa: 5258), BURSA (Bursa: 1818), CIMB (Bursa: 1023), ECM (Bursa: 2143), ELKDESA (Bursa: 5228), FINTEC (Bursa: 0150), HLBANK (Bursa: 5819), HLCAP (Bursa: 5274), HLFG (Bursa: 1082), INSAS (Bursa: 3379), JOHAN (Bursa: 3441), KENANGA (Bursa: 6483), KUCHAI (Bursa: 2186), LPI (Bursa: 8621), MAA (Bursa: 1198), MAYBANK (Bursa: 1155), MBSB (Bursa: 1171), MANULFE (Bursa: 1058), MNRB (Bursa: 6459), MPHBCAP (Bursa: 5237), OSKVI (Bursa: 0053), P&O (Bursa: 6009), PBBANK (Bursa: 1295), RCECAP (Bursa: 9296), RHBBANK (Bursa: 1066), TAKAFUL (Bursa: 6139), TA (Bursa: 4898), TUNEPRO (Bursa: 5230).

Major Banks in Malaysia (Public Bank, Maybank, CIMB Bank, RHB Bank, Hong Leong Bank, etc) have suffered triple crisis over the past few years: economy slowdown during COVID-19 pandemic, low bank interest rate and also political instability. This has resulted Public Bank stock prices to fall by nearly 50% over the past few years, a very significant discount.

The uniqueness of Public Bank is relatively lower optimism level (25%) with stronger business fundamental than other Malaysia bank stocks, therefore having more upside potential in medium term when COVID-19 fear is fading with global vaccination and also less CMCO COVID-19 measures in Malaysia, allowing stronger growth in local economy which needs banks services. While waiting for recovery of share prices to fair value, Public Bank stock investors could enjoy bonus with 2% dividend yield, comparable with bank interest rate.

3) US Giant Bank Stock: Wells Fargo Bank (NYSE: WFC)

Wells Fargo Bank is the third largest bank in USA, businesses during pandemic and share prices in short term (V-shape recovery) are generally aligned with hundreds of Banking & Finance Stocks in US, including JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Citi Group (NYSE: C), Blackrock (NYSE: BLK), etc.

Major Banks in US have suffered correction in share prices due to US lockdown in Q2/2020 pandemic and fear of COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted Wells Fargo Bank stock prices to fall over 50% over the past few years, a very significant discount.

The uniqueness of Wells Fargo is lower optimism level (25%) than the peers but this is the result of weaker businesses in the last few quarters of pandemic. Therefore, Wells Fargo is more suitable for crisis investing, having more upside potential in medium term when COVID-19 fear is fading with global vaccination and also more QE (Quantitative Easing) in US after Joe Biden officially becomes US President on 20 Jan 2021, allowing stronger growth in local economy which needs banks services. While waiting for recovery of share prices to fair value, Wells Fargo Bank stock investors could enjoy bonus with 5+% dividend yield, much higher than the Fed ultra-low interest rate of 0-0.25%. 

Since Wells Fargo Bank has relatively weaker business fundamental (despite large in business size), diversification is required for crisis investing in this marginal giant bank stock. In fact, there are other much smaller but stronger fundamental bank stocks in US with similar low optimism level as Wells Fargo Bank but much safer for investing in longer term.  A smart investor may consider those state (not national) bank giant stocks, having even more upside potential but mostly are undervalue as they are less well known internationally.

4) HK / China Giant Bank Stock: ICBC Bank (HKEX: 1398)

ICBC Bank is the largest bank in China and the world, businesses during pandemic and share prices in short term (V-shape recovery) are generally aligned with other 14 major bank stocks / H-Shares in Hong Kong (investor has to focus only on giant stocks for investing):

Bank of China Hong Kong (HKEX: 2388), Hang Seng Bank (HKEX: 11), China Construction Bank (HKEX: 939), CM Bank (HKEX: 3968), Chong Hing Bank (HKEX: 1111), Bank of East Asia (HKEX: 23), Bank of Communication (HKEX: 3328), Dahsing Banking (HKEX: 2356), ICBC Bank (HKEX: 1398), Citic Bank (HKEX: 998), Bank of China (HKEX: 3988), Minsheng Bank (HKEX: 1988), HSBC Bank (HKEX: 5), Stanchart Bank (HKEX: 2888).

Major Banks in Hong Kong / China have suffered correction in share prices due to US-China trade war, China lockdown in Q1/2020 pandemic and global fear of COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted ICBC Bank stock prices to fall nearly 50% over the past few years, a very significant discount.

The uniqueness of ICBC is recovering from lower optimism level (39%), more cyclical than the peers in medium term (every few years) with stable business businesses. Therefore, ICBC is more suitable for cyclic investing, having more upside potential in medium term when COVID-19 fear is fading with global vaccination and also less tension in US-China trade war after Joe Biden officially becomes US President on 20 Jan 2021, allowing stronger growth in local economy which needs banks services. While waiting for recovery of share prices to fair value, ICBC Bank stock investors could enjoy bonus with 6% dividend yield, much higher than current very low interest rates in Hong Kong banks.

There are other giant stocks in Hong Kong / China which are stronger and lower optimism than ICBC Bank, despite smaller in size. In fact, the largest local bank in Hong Kong is HSBC Bank but it is a poor bank stock (non-giant stock with weak fundamental).  A smart investor would only consider giant bank stocks, not buying any other bank stocks at historical low prices (a common mistake for beginner investors to buy at “cheap” prices without considering the declining value in businesses), having even more upside potential with much lower risk. Risk management with a portfolio of giant stocks is key for crisis investing, so that “Buy Low” would have higher chance of “Sell High” in future.

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There are over 1500 giant stocks in the world based on Dr Tee criteria, choice of 10 Dream Team giant stocks have to align with one’s unique personality, eg. for shorter term trading (eg. momentum or swing trading) or longer term investing (cyclic investing, undervalue investing or growth investing). Readers should not just “copy and paste” any stock (What to Buy, When to Buy/Sell) as successful action taking requires deeper consideration (LOFTP strategies – Level / Optimism / Fundamental / Technical / Personal Analysis) which you could learn further from Dr Tee Free 4-hr Webinar.

Drop by Dr Tee free 4hr webinar (learning at comfort of home with Zoom) to learn how to position in global giant stocks during COVID-19 stock crisis with 10 unique stock investing strategies, knowing What to Buy, When to Buy/Sell.

Zoom will be started 30 min before event, bonus talk (Q&A on any investment topics from readers) for early birds. There are many topics we will cover in this 4hr webinar, Dr Tee can have more time for Q&A if you could stay later after the webinar, you could ask on any global and local stocks including but not limited to 30 STI component stocks:

Ascendas Reit (SGX: A17U), CapitaLand (SGX: C31), CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX: C38U), City Development (SGX: C09), ComfortDelGro (SGX: C52), Dairy Farm International (SGX: D01), DBS Bank (SGX: D05), Genting Singapore (SGX: G13), Hongkong Land (SGX: H78), Jardine Cycle & Carriage (SGX: C07), Jardine Matheson Holdings JMH (SGX: J36), Jardine Strategic Holdings JSH (SGX: J37), Keppel Corp (SGX: BN4), Keppel DC Reit (SGX: AJBU), Mapletree Commercial Trust (SGX: N2IU), Mapletree Industrial Trust (SGX: ME8U), Mapletree Logistics Trust (SGX: M44U), OCBC Bank (SGX: O39), SATS (SGX: S58), Sembcorp Industries (SGX: U96), Singapore Airlines (SGX: C6L), Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68), Singtel (SGX: Z74), ST Engineering (SGX: S63), Thai Beverage (SGX: Y92), UOB Bank (SGX: U11), UOL (SGX: U14), Venture Corporation (SGX: V03), Wilmar International (SGX: F34), YZJ Shipbldg SGD (SGX: BS6).

Dr Tee will cover over 20 case studies, Singapore giant stocks, eg. CapitaLand Mall Trust (SGX: C38U), Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68), Keppel Corp (SGX: BN4), Top Glove (SGX: BVA), Jardine Matheson Holdings JMH (SGX: J36), Vicom (SGX: WJP) and many others, Malaysia giant stocks, Hong Kong giant stocks and US giant stocks, both long term investing and short term trading.

There are limited tickets left for this 4hr free webinar, please ensure 100% you could join when register: www.ein55.com

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