Fidelity Bank: When Strong Numbers Support Possible High Payout, Price Rally
Fidelity Bank Plc recently presented an impressive 2019Q4 unaudited financials, arising from improved risk management which may support higher dividend payout, as will be confirmed by in the expected full-year audited scorecard. This is also noticeable in its 4.8% Non-Performing Loan ratio, which is below the 5% regulatory threshold and has been successfully brought down from 5.70% in the corresponding full-year of 2018. This is despite the increase in total loan book by 26%, as the bank’s 92% Loan to Deposit Rate, which is significantly above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 65% benchmark, leading other banks in the industry. Fidelity Bank’s price action is currently trading 20-Day Moving Average on a daily and weekly time frame. The stock started its recent rally mid-September 2019 to remain above the 20-DMA, which placed it in a buy range of N1.79 to N2.22, on the expected full-year earnings report. There is a huge potential for banking stocks, and indeed, the nation’s stock ...