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On Thursday, BofA Securities adjusted its stance on Banco Santander (BME:SAN) Chile (NYSE:BSAC), downgrading the bank’s stock rating from Neutral to Underperform, despite increasing the price target to $24.00 from $22.00. The stock currently trades at $24.09, near its 52-week high of $24.90, after posting impressive returns of 33% year-to-date. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears overvalued at current levels. The reassessment by BofA Securities follows the bank’s first-quarter results and updated guidance for 2025.
The BofA Securities analysts have cited several reasons for the downgrade. Despite acknowledging Banco Santander Chile’s higher earnings estimates, which surpass market consensus, and a sustainable return on average equity (ROAE) of 23%—up from the previous 22%—the firm sees no further upside potential for the bank’s shares. This view aligns with InvestingPro data, which shows the bank maintaining strong profitability with a P/E ratio of 10.41, though trading at premium valuations. The cost of equity (CoE) for Banco Santander Chile is noted to be the lowest in the region.
BofA Securities points out that the bank’s valuation appears demanding. Banco Santander Chile’s stock is currently trading at 2.3 times its projected 2025 price-to-book value (P/BV), which represents a significant premium of over 40% compared to other large-cap banks in the region. Current P/B ratio stands at 2.42, confirming the premium valuation for this $11.39 billion market cap bank. In comparison, ITAU and Banorte, both with similar ROAE metrics, are trading at 1.7 times their projected 2025 P/BV.
BofA Securities also referenced the political climate, suggesting that even with a favorable outcome in the next presidential election, the valuation premium that Banco Santander Chile commands seems unwarranted when contrasted with its regional peers.
The updated price target of $24.00, up from $22.00, reflects a nuanced view of the bank’s financial health and market position, despite the lowered stock rating. The new target suggests a recognition of the bank’s strong fundamentals but also a cautionary stance on its stock’s growth prospects relative to the broader banking sector in Latin America.
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