Genworth, one of Australia’s leading providers of lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), is currently struggling due to changing economic conditions, according to the firm's latest quarterly financial results.
Reported net profit after tax fell 22.4% from $67.3m to $52.2m from the first quarter in 2016 to the first quarter of 2017. However, the underlying net profit increased by 10.7% from $61.7m to $68.3m during the same time period. This included a $21m after-tax gain after the firm rebalanced its investment portfolio.
Genworth is under pressure as the number of high loan to valuation (HLVR) loans drops over time. In 2016, 22% of all loans were HLVR compared to 37% eight years prior.
According to the most recent statistics from the
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), $376bn worth of loans were approved in 2016. Out of this, $31bn had LVRs over 90% while $52bn had LVRs between 80% and 90%.
Within Genworth’s book, delinquency rates rose slightly by eight basis points to 0.48% on a nationwide basis. This was split in the following way for each state and territory:
| |
March 2016 |
March 2017 |
Change |
| New South Wales |
0.29% |
0.31% |
2 bps |
| Victoria |
0.35% |
0.38% |
3 bps |
| Queensland |
0.55% |
0.68% |
13 bps |
| Western Australia |
0.53% |
0.78% |
25 bps |
| South Australia |
0.52% |
0.66% |
14 bps |
| Australian Capital Territory |
0.18% |
0.19% |
1 bps |
| Tasmania |
0.38% |
0.36% |
-2 bps |
| Northern Territory |
0.21% |
0.42% |
21 bps |
New business volume, measured by new insurance written, was $6.2bn. Of this, 17% was for loans with an LVR of 90.01% and above. This can be compared with the same quarter of 2016 when $7.2bn worth of new insurance was written, 29% of which was for loans with an LVR of more than 90.01%.
“Our results in the first quarter of the year were in line with our expectations. Our profitability remains strong despite revenue being pressured by a smaller high loan-to-value ratio market. At this time, our full year 2017 guidance is unchanged from that provided to the market in February,” said Georgette Nicholas, chief executive officer and managing director of Genworth.
“Australian regulators have taken further steps recently to reinforce sound housing lending practices, with a particular focus on slowing the growth in investor lending and limiting the flow of new interest-only lending. We are supportive of regulatory measures that promote prudent mortgage lending standards and ultimately foster long-term sustainable credit growth.”
Related stories:
S&P rating now negative for national LMI provider
Mortgage stress sees cut to LMI provider profits
Australia’s largest insurer raises LMI pricing loader
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