Bank of America (BofA) recently increased its target prices for several Greek banks, with the target price for Eurobank raised to €2.84 from €2.76.
The agency explains that fund disbursements through the banking sector will help offset pressures anticipated on interest margins beginning in 2025, due to expected rate cuts by the European Central Bank (ECB).
JP Morgan reiterated its analysis of DTCs, prompted by Piraeus Bank’s plan to accelerate their amortization.
Greek banks, it notes, are focused on mitigating the impact through strategic efforts like loan growth, increased fee income, and lower-than-anticipated deposit betas for 2026.
Through the issuance of new bonds recently, the banks have significantly improved their capital positions while at the same time reducing the average cost of servicing their obligations.
Alpha Bank, Eurobank, National Bank, and Piraeus Bank are the Greek banks likely to record historical highs in profitability, paving the way for even greater shareholder rewards in 2025, with 35% of 2024 profits expected to be returned.
In its report, DBRS analyzed Q1 results for the four major Greek banks—Alpha Bank S.A., Eurobank S.A., National Bank of Greece S.A., and Piraeus Bank S.A.
Axia, one of the foreign analysts, considers the dividend approval as a crucial step towards the normalization of Greek banks post the 2010-2015 crisis.
Greek banks received ECB approval to resume dividend payments after 16 years and a painful debt crisis.
DB attributes the robust performance to multiple factors, including significantly improved profitability and resilience, as well as enhanced market liquidity following the allocation of shares of the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF).
Ratings firm considered the strictest of its peers, and the only one that still hasn't restored Greece's sovereign rating to investment grade
In Greece, the discussions between the four systemic groups and the system supervisor regarding the distribution of dividends from last year's profits are reaching their final stages, with favorable terms
Eurobank became the first completely restored private bank, with the repurchase of the state's stake (1.8%) in October 2023.
Demand for Greek assets remains high, as reflected in recent market transactions, with upward macroeconomic prospects, low domestic political risk, and positive catalysts, JP Morgan notes
Eurobank last week announced that its top management have already been relocated to the Bodosakis Building, renamed the “Eurobank Headquarters”, a noted structure in the heart of Athens.
Just as eyebrow-raising is a 1.55-million-euro fine against the Hellenic Bank Association.
Optimism pervaded discussions about dividend distribution from 2023 profits, with talks with regulators in preliminary stages.
The macroeconomic profile also reflects Greece's improved credit conditions, which are still characterized by high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) compared to the European sector.
Except for Eurobank, for which it retains the target price at €2.60, JP Morgan has increased its target prices for Alpha Bank to €2.50 from €2.20, National Bank of Greece to €8.40 from €8.10, and Piraeus Bank to €5.00 from €4.65