Preview: Axis Bank likely to report 22% rise in Q4 NII

NEW DELHI: Axis Bank Ltd is slated to declare its earnings for the quarter ended March 31 on Wednesday. The private sector bank is expected to report a 22.80 per cent YoY rise in its fourth quarter net interest income ( NII) at Rs 2635 crore as against Rs 2146.10 crore reported in the year-ago period, according to an ET Now poll.

The private sector bank is expected to report a 14.8 per cent YoY rise in its fourth quarter net profit at Rs 1466 crore as against Rs 1277.30 crore reported in the year-ago period, according to estimates.

Pre provision profit (PPP) or profit before deducting any provisions is likely to rise by 22.50 per cent on year-on-year basis. PPP is expected to have grown to Rs 2497 crore, up 22.50 per cent YoY, compared to Rs 2037.60 crore reported in the year ago period.

Net interest margins are likely to come stable sequentially. Slippages are likely to rise, but asset quality needs to be watched. Third quarter gross NPAs are likely to come at 1.1 per cent and net NPAs at 0.3 per cent.

Loan growth is likely to come about 18-19 per cent YoY.

Key to watch: management outlook on

Overall growth outlook

Margin performance & CASA trends

Asset quality (slippages, recoveries, restructured assets)

Note: The bank has high exposure to power and infra (power 9.8%, infra 9.3% )

Note on margins

Margins are likely to get some support by recent capital issuance and fall in bulk deposit rates, but 4Q which is generally a weak quarter due to priority sector lending may put some pressure on margins.