Commonwealth Bank of Australia posts $2.6bn cash profit and strong capital in Q1 update

The ASX 200 bank reported steady profit growth and strong capital in its September quarter trading update.

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Key points

  • Commonwealth Bank of Australia reported a quarterly cash NPAT of approximately $2.6 billion, with a 1% increase from the previous half-year and a strong CET1 ratio of 11.8%, above regulatory requirements.
  • The bank experienced growth in both deposit and lending volumes, contributing to a 3% rise in total operating income, despite a 4% increase in operating expenses due to wage and IT inflation.
  • CBA's shares have risen 17% over the past year, supported by strong capital management and investments in technology to enhance customer experiences, outpacing the broader market.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is in focus after the bank reported quarterly cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of approximately $2.6 billion, up 1% on the prior half-year quarterly average, and solid balance sheet strength highlighted by a CET1 ratio of 11.8%.

What did Commonwealth Bank of Australia report?

  • Unaudited cash NPAT of ~$2.6 billion, up 1% on 2H25 quarterly average and 2% year-on-year
  • Total operating income rose 3% for the quarter, driven by deposit and lending volume growth
  • Household deposits grew $17.8 billion, up 1.2 times system
  • Home loans increased $9.3 billion, up 1.1 times system
  • Operating expenses (excluding restructuring/notable items) increased 4% mainly due to wage and IT vendor inflation
  • Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 11.8%, remaining comfortably above APRA's 10.25% minimum

What else do investors need to know?

Commonwealth Bank maintained strong capital and provision coverage, with total customer deposit funding at 79% and liquidity buffers well above regulatory requirements. The bank issued A$16 billion in new long-term wholesale funding this financial year to date, reinforcing its conservative approach to funding and capital.

Credit quality stayed sound during the quarter, with loan impairment expense at $220 million and lower consumer arrears. The Bank spent $4.4 billion on dividend payments for the quarter, directly benefiting more than 800,000 shareholders and superannuation members nationwide. Additionally, Commonwealth Bank purchased more than $640 million in shares to satisfy its Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

What did Commonwealth Bank of Australia management say?

Matt Comyn, Chief Executive Officer said:

We remain focused on supporting our customers, disciplined execution of our strategy, investing in technology to deliver exceptional customer experiences and delivering strong financial outcomes for our shareholders.

What's next for Commonwealth Bank of Australia?

Looking ahead, Commonwealth Bank expects economic growth and household disposable income to keep recovering as market conditions stabilise. Management remains cautious given ongoing global and domestic uncertainties but is optimistic about the resilience of the Australian economy.

The bank says it will continue to invest in technology and productivity while adjusting its approach in a competitive financial system. The focus remains on supporting customers and maintaining a strong capital position to weather future challenges and deliver steady returns.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Commonwealth Bank shares have risen 17%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period. 

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

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