CBA share price: Morgan Stanley outlook sours as 2019 earnings loom
Here’s everything you need to know about Morgan Stanley’s latest research report on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).
As lower interest rates weigh on the outlook of the big four banks, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has seen its share price trend mostly flat ahead of its 2019 full-year results.
Commonwealth Bank share price at a peak?
Just last week, the investment bank Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on the Commonwealth Bank of Australia from A$67.50 per share to A$66.50 per share.
At CBA’s current price of A$81.88 per share, that would imply a potential decline of approximately 18%.
The expectation of weaker loan growth, the impact that low interest rates will have on the big four’s margins, and Morgan Stanley's opinion that we could be on the verge of witnessing an ‘earnings downgrade cycle' all contributed to this lowered price target.
UBS has taken a similarly bearish view on CBA, and currently has a price target of just $A72.00 per share of the bank.
Earnings in limbo
Overall, Morgan Stanley has downgraded the earnings outlook on the big four banks by an average of 3% for the 2020 and 2021 financial years.
This bearish outlook, argues Morgan Stanley, is primarily driven by the RBA’s recent decision to cut the official interest rate to a historic low of 1.00%.
While Morgan Stanley recognises the high quality of CBA’s retail banking arm – the RBA’s decision to cut rates to a historic low; has, in in Morgan Stanley’s view, created significant downside risk for the bank’s margins moving forward.
The bank's dividend in focus
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia's impressive dividend yield of 5.25% is likely one of the main reasons that CBA remains one of the most heavily traded stocks in Australia.
With that in mind then, and potentially of most concern to retail investors, is Morgan Stanley’s view that CBA may cut its dividend in the 2020 financial year.
As such, investors are likely to closely watch any commentary CBA makes around its dividend as well as any future dividend plans, when it releases its 2019 report Wednesday.
To read our previous coverage of CBA's 2019 full-year results, set to be released in just two days, click here now.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
Act on stock opportunities today
Go long or short on thousands of international stocks with CFDs.
- Get full exposure for a comparatively small deposit
- Trade on spreads from just 0.1%
- Get greater order book visibility with direct market access
See opportunity on a stock?
Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re on to something.
- Log in to your demo
- Try a risk-free trade
- See whether your hunch pays off
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.
- Trade a huge range of popular stocks
- Analyse and deal seamlessly on fast, intuitive charts
- See and react to breaking news in-platform
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take advantage while conditions prevail.
Live prices on most popular markets
- Forex
- Shares
- Indices
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.
