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On Monday, Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) analysts increased the price target for Alpha Bank AE (ALPHA:GA) (OTC: OTC:ALBKY) to €3.35 from €3.00, while maintaining a Buy rating. The revision follows Alpha Bank (AT:ACBr)’s robust first-quarter performance, highlighting strong loan growth and resilience to lower interest rates. The bank’s stock has demonstrated remarkable momentum, surging 120% over the past six months and maintaining a P/E ratio of 11.5x. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears slightly overvalued at current levels.
The analysts noted that Alpha Bank’s loan portfolio grew by 13% year-over-year, positioning it as the least sensitive among its peers to lower rates. This growth, coupled with strategic mergers and acquisitions, is expected to bolster the bank’s financial strength. Notably, the acquisitions of Astrobank and Axia Ventures are seen as strategic moves to deploy excess capital efficiently. InvestingPro data shows the bank maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score, with particularly strong momentum metrics. Subscribers can access 12 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis.
Alpha Bank’s partnership with Unicredit (BIT:CRDI) is also contributing positively to its financial outlook. The agreement has already begun impacting fee income, with Deutsche Bank analysts projecting double-digit fee growth through 2025-2027. This growth is anticipated to significantly support the bank’s core revenues.
The analysts emphasized that while net interest income is expected to remain stable in 2025, it is projected to experience significant growth in subsequent years. This outlook reflects the bank’s strategic initiatives and its ability to navigate the current economic landscape effectively.
In other recent news, Alpha Bank has experienced notable upgrades in its ratings from two major agencies, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Ratings. Fitch upgraded Alpha Bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings to ’BB+’ from ’BB’, citing improvements in the bank’s credit profile, including reduced problem assets and improved profitability. The outlook remains positive, bolstered by Greece’s favorable economic conditions. Similarly, Moody’s upgraded Alpha Bank’s long- and short-term deposit ratings to Baa2/P-2 from Baa3/P-3, reflecting enhancements in loan quality and financial fundamentals. The bank’s nonperforming exposures decreased to 3.8% of gross loans by the end of 2024, with expectations to reduce further. Alpha Bank’s common equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio improved to 16.3% in December 2024, with plans to exceed 17% by 2027. The bank’s liquidity coverage ratio stood at 200%, and it has successfully met its Minimum Requirement for own funds and Eligible Liabilities (MREL) ahead of schedule. Both Fitch and Moody’s maintain a positive outlook on Alpha Bank, anticipating continued improvements in asset quality and profitability.
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