Top broker reveals new ratings and price targets on ASX 200 bank shares

Macquarie has released a note on ASX 200 bank shares, and there's one common thread among them.

Bank building in a financial district.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Top broker Macquarie has released a note on ASX 200 bank shares, revealing each stock's latest rating and share price target.

A share price target represents a broker's best guess regarding where the stock will be trading in 12 months.

Seven of the eight ASX 200 bank shares are covered in the note (Macquarie has not rated itself).

The note reveals one glaringly common thread among the ASX 200 bank shares.

Not a single bank has a buy rating.

Let's take a look.

Macquarie re-rates ASX 200 bank shares

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The broker has placed an underperform rating on Westpac shares with a price target of $28.

Westpac shares are trading for $31.73 on Tuesday, up 0.51%.

Macquarie says:

WBC remains expensive, trading at approximately 17x FY26E P/E (in line with NAB and at a 26% premium to ANZ).

With execution risks around the transformation programme, we continue to see risk to WBC's earnings and multiple.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Macquarie has an underperform rating on Australia's largest ASX 200 bank share.

It has a 12-month price target of $105 for CBA shares.

CBA shares are trading for $151.76 on Tuesday, up 0.55%.

In its note, the broker commented on trends in non-performing loans and the differing management styles between the banks.

Trends appear stable or improving for CBA and WBC. ANZ is broadly stable, while NAB has experienced slow deterioration across both portfolios.

Although the root cause of this divergence remains unclear (hence investor concern), it may potentially be explained by the differences in the management of loans in arrears — for example, peers such as CBA appear to be more proactive and pre-empt customers entering the non-performing stage and restructure the loan before it becomes non-performing.

NAB's approach appears more passive, resulting in larger or stickier arrears.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The broker has given NAB a neutral rating with a share price target of $35.

NAB shares are changing hands for $34.35 apiece, up 0.98%.

Macquarie says:

NAB's relatively worse credit metrics are a concern for investors: The market is increasingly concerned with divergent credit quality trends for NAB.

While it is difficult to identify a specific reason … we suspect this may be due to differences in banks' approaches to managing arrears and troublesome customers rather than fundamental credit quality differences.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

Macquarie has a neutral rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $28.

The ANZ share price is currently $29.39, up 1.03%.

In terms of lending across key sectors of the economy, Macquarie notes that ANZ has the lowest exposure to commercial real estate and the highest exposure to manufacturing of the Big Four Banks.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

The rating for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank shares is underperform.

Macquarie expects the Bendigo share price to be trading at about $10 in 12 months.

Bendigo shares are $10.73 apiece at the time of writing, up 0.94%.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

Bank of Queensland shares are also expected to underperform.

Macquarie predicts this ASX 200 bank share will fall over the year to land at about $5.75 apiece.

The Bank of Queensland share price is $6.78, up 0.59% today.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The broker has applied a neutral rating to Judo Capital shares with a 12-month price target of $1.85.

The Judo share price is currently $1.82, down 0.71%.

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Share Market News

Winning woman smiles and holds big cup while losing woman looks unhappy with small cup
Share Gainers

Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

It was a happy hump day for ASX shares.

Read more »

Man presses green buy button and red sell button on a graph.
Broker Notes

Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Here's what brokers are recommending as buys this week.

Read more »

Two happy excited friends in euphoria mood after winning in a bet with a smartphone in hand.
Share Gainers

Why EBR Systems, Endeavour, Monadelphous, and Neuren shares are racing higher today

These shares are having a good session on Wednesday. But why?

Read more »

Frustrated stock trader screaming while looking at mobile phone, symbolising a falling share price.
Share Fallers

Why EOS, Humm, Pantoro Gold, and Robex shares are dropping today

These shares are having a tough time on hump day. But why?

Read more »

A woman in a business suit sits at her desk with gold bars in each hand while she kisses one bar with her eyes closed. Her desk has another three gold bars stacked in front of her. symbolising the rising Northern Star share price
Gold

Titan Minerals shares leaping 14% on Wednesday on 'spectacular' gold results

Investors are piling into Titan Minerals shares today following 'phenomenal' gold exploration results.

Read more »

Male hands holding Australian dollar banknotes, symbolising dividends.
Share Market News

BlueScope returns $438m to shareholders with special dividend

BlueScope will return $438 million to shareholders via a $1 per share special dividend after selling major assets.

Read more »

Man looking happy and excited as he looks at his mobile phone.
Broker Notes

Want silver exposure? Morgans says this ASX silver stock is a buy

The broker thinks this could be a high-risk, high-reward option for investors.

Read more »

CEO of a company talking.
Share Market News

Deep Yellow welcomes new CEO as part of ongoing uranium growth strategy

Deep Yellow has set a start date for new CEO Greg Field, with project development remaining on track as part…

Read more »