Hiroyuki Moriuchi
Analyst · BofA Securities
This is Moriuchi, CFO. Thank you for joining us. I will now give you an overview of our financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2026. Please turn to Page 2. Return on equity was 10.3%, reaching the quantitative target for 2030 of 8% to 10% or more for the seventh consecutive quarter. Group-wide net revenue came in at JPY 551.8 billion, up 7% over the last quarter. Income before income taxes fell 1% to JPY 135.2 billion, while net income fell 1% to JPY 91.6 billion. EPS for the quarter were JPY 30.19. The 4 main divisions performed solidly, but the segment -- other incurred losses because of the downturn in market conditions for the digital asset-related businesses. For all 4 divisions in total, pretax income rose 8% to JPY 142.9 billion. This is the highest level in 18.5 years since the first quarter of the fiscal year ended March 2008. Wealth Management achieved growth of around 30% versus the previous quarter, which was itself a strong quarter. Investment Management saw business revenue rise to an all-time high since the establishment of the division, thanks to the consolidation of the public asset management business of the Macquarie Group, which we acquired in December 1, 2025, but profits fell because of weaker investment gains and onetime expenses associated with this acquisition. In wholesale, both Equities and Investment Banking performed solidly generating record revenues. Banking also generated solid revenues from lending activities as well as trust and agent services. In view of our strong momentum, we resolved to set up a share buyback program in order to enhance shareholder return and capital efficiency. The program will run from February 17 to September 30 of this year with an upper limit of 100 million shares and JPY 60 billion in amount. Before we go into details for each business, let us first take a look at earnings in the first 9 months of the fiscal year. Please turn to Page 3. As shown on the bottom left, income before income taxes rose 15% year-on-year to JPY 432.1 billion, net income rose 7% to JPY 288.2 billion. Earnings per share came in at JPY 94.67, and return on equity came in at 10.8%. Please see the bottom right for breakdown of income before income taxes. Pretax income at 4 main divisions rose 10% to JPY 381.3 billion. On a 9-month basis, income before income taxes is running slightly ahead of the target of over JPY 500 billion in our 2030 management vision. Looking at individual divisions, Wealth Management continue to generate stock strong profits and year-on-year recurring revenue cost coverage ratio rose sharply, improving revenue stability. Profits fell in Investment Management because of onetime expenses associated with the Macquarie acquisition, but existing operations continued to generate organic growth, thereby steadily broadening the division's business foundations with a view to future growth. Moreover, at all wholesale businesses -- business lines, they performed well, thereby actively driving group-wide earnings. Banking saw costs rise ahead of the introduction of the new deposit sweep service in the next fiscal year, but loans outstanding and investment trust balances rose smoothly. We will take a look at the third quarter results. Please turn to Page 7. All percentages discussed from now on are based on a quarter-on-quarter comparison. On the top left, you can see that Wealth Management net revenue increased 14% to JPY 132.5 billion, while income before income taxes of JPY 58.5 billion represents a growth of 29% versus the previous quarter, which was itself a strong quarter. The margin of over 40% on income before income taxes was not only high in absolute terms, but was ahead of the street, too. On the bottom left, you can see that recurring revenue rose to an all-time high of JPY 52.7 billion. The first and third quarters tend to be flat quarters for recurring revenue because investment advisory fees are only booked in the second and fourth quarters, but this was completely offset this quarter, thanks to net inflows of recurring revenue assets in excess of JPY 500 billion. Floor revenue also increased sharply to JPY 79.8 billion. Accurate assessment of market movements and client needs, along with supply of new products, helped to ensure strong revenue. Recurring revenue cost coverage ratio also rose 1 percentage point to 71% amid ongoing cost control initiatives. Please turn to Page 8, where you can see an update on total sales by product. Total sales rose around JPY 300 billion to JPY 6.6 trillion, thanks to growth across a wide range of products. Equities registered growth of 4%, thanks to increased secondary trading during market correction phases as well as major primary deals. Bonds registered a decline of 25%, yen-denominated bond sales came in flat as rising interest rates boosted yields and ensured solid demand, but foreign bond sales were hit by the disappearance of primary deals booked in the previous quarter. Investment Trusts and Discretionary Investments, which make up recurring revenue assets saw steady growth in sales and insurance sales remained strong. This demonstrates that the shift from savings to investment has now firmly taken root. Next, we take a look at the KPIs on Page 9. On the top left, you can see that recurring revenue assets saw a net inflow of JPY 503.9 billion, although there were some liquidity needs prompted by record highs in major markets, we secured the largest net increase on record. Our efforts to expand the recurring business are steadily producing results, strengthening our confidence. Meanwhile, as shown on the top right, recurring revenue assets totaled JPY 28.1 trillion at the end of December, which also presents an all-time high. As shown on the bottom left, the number of flow business clients rose by around 270,000 to 1.53 million. Volume market conditions led to an upturn in client activity and primary deals such as the SBI Shinsei Bank IPO, also encouraged trading activity. Next, let's take a look at Investment Management on Page 10. On the top left, you can see that net revenue came in flat at JPY 60.9 billion, and the income before income taxes fell 42% to JPY 17.9 billion, mainly because of onetime expenses associated with the Macquarie acquisition, together with weaker gain associated with American Century Investments, which came under investment gains and losses. On the bottom left, you could see that business revenue, which constitutes stable revenue rose to an all-time high of JPY 57.8 billion, benefiting from revenue from the acquisition that we completed in December last year as well as from solid performance in asset management business in Japan. However, Investment gains fell because of smaller gains related to American Century Investments and the disappearance of gains in the sales of portfolio companies at Nomura Capital Partners. Although profits for the division fell because of weaker investment gain and onetime expenses associated with the acquisition. The impact was offset in consolidated accounts via the reversal of the valuation allowance for deferred taxes, -- deferred tax assets. Let's now turn to Page 11 and examine our Asset Management business, which is a key source of business revenue for the division. The graph on the upper left shows that assets under management reached an all-time high of JPY 134.7 trillion at the end of December as shown on the bottom left, net inflows amounted to JPY 115 billion, representing the 11th consecutive quarter of net inflows. Net inflows to domestic investment trust business totaled JPY 71 billion. Although there were outflows from ETFs for profit taking amid rising equity markets and from Japanese equity investment trusts due to early redemptions, they were offset by inflows into newly established Japanese equity active funds, private assets and balanced funds. Net inflows into domestic investment advisory and International businesses totaled JPY 44 billion, with the outflows from U.S. high-yield bonds and the business we acquired, but influenced mainly into yen-denominated bonds in Japan. As shown at the bottom right, alternative assets under management rose to a new high of JPY 3.3 trillion. This represents growth of about JPY 400 billion versus the end of September, more than half of which stems from net inflows. Next, let's take a look at wholesale on Page 12. On the top left, you can see that wholesale net revenue rose 12% to JPY 313.9 billion, while income before income taxes rose 17% to JPY 62.3 billion. The breakdown on the bottom left shows that global market net revenue rose 9%, while Investment Banking net revenue rose 31%. Please turn to Page 13 for an update on each business line. Page 13, please. Net revenue in the Global Markets business rose 9% to JPY 256.8 billion. Please look at the middle section on the right. Fixed income revenue rose 12% to JPY 136.9 billion. In macro products, rates, revenue growth in Japan and the Americas increased flows, while FX emerging revenues rose in EMEA and also recovered in ASIA from the previous quarter. In Spread products, credit revenues fell in AEJ of investors adopted a cautious approach, but securitized products revenues remained high in the Americas, in particular. Equities revenue rose 5% to a new high of JPY 119.9 billion. Equity Products revenue rose sharply in the Americas on strong performance in derivatives, and execution services revenues rose sharply in Japan, particularly thanks to primary deals. Turn to Page 14, please. As you can see on the bottom left, Investment Banking net revenue rose 31% to JPY 57.1 billion. This represents the strongest performance for the period since the fiscal year ended March 2017, the earliest period for which we can make meaningful comparisons by product in advisory momentum remained strong in Japan with multiple transactions involving moves to take companies private and cross-border deals, and international businesses made the contribution with multiple deals, including deals in closely watched sectors, mainly in EMEA and AEJ. Revenue rose sharply in financing and solutions. Major IPOs and public offerings made strong contributions to growth in ECM, especially in Japan. Elsewhere, solutions revenue and DCM revenue in Japan also remained strong. Now let's look at banking. Please turn to Page 15. As seen on the top right, in banking, net revenue came to JPY 13.7 billion, up 7% from the previous quarter. Income before income taxes rose 31% to JPY 4.2 billion. Income from lending business and trust agent business held firm as the division established in April 2025 increased the outstanding balances that we have set as KPIs, while benefits of marketing and advertising strategies slowly started to emerge. Preparations for the deposit sweep service scheduled for introduction in the next fiscal year are progressing as planned. Next, Page 16, for expenses. Group-wide expenses came to JPY 416.5 billion, a 10% or JPY 37.7 billion increase from previous quarter. As shown on the right, the drivers of the increase include an FX impact of JPY 9 billion as well as JPY 13 billion in one-off costs, such as onetime expenses associated with the acquisition and the temporary costs arising from partial changes to the deferred compensation plan. Other major factors include operating expenses related to the acquired business provisions for performance-linked bonus and commissions and the floor brokerage fees. These are primary strategic investments aimed at strengthening our future earnings base or variable costs that move in line with revenue. Moving forward, we will continue to execute strict cost control and work to secure our profitability. Last, Page 17 for financial position. In the table on the bottom left, we can see that Tier 1 capital at the end of December came to JPY 3.6 trillion, up JPY 60 billion since the end of September, while risk-weighted assets came to JPY 24 trillion, up by JPY 700 billion. The common equity Tier 1 ratio at the end of December came to 12.8%. Our common equity Tier 1 ratio finished the quarter down 13% at the end of September, but this is mainly attributable to the negative effect of 0.5% as a calculation method for regulatory capital ratio changed with the completion of the acquisition of the business from Macquarie Group. This concludes our overview of third quarter results. In closing, in the Q3, strong performance continued across all 4 segments, as stable revenue grew and repeat client flows were monetized against backdrop of U.S. Japanese equities rising to new heights, while absorbing one-off costs associated with acquisition, ROE for the Q3 came to 10.3% and ROE based on performance in the 9 months through the end of Q3, came to 10.8%. Let me touch upon the situation in January. In Wealth Management, net revenue thus far in January is about even with the level in the third quarter. Client sentiment has been favorable despite some selling pressures in the market, and we think household financial assets are steadily shifting into investment in response to concerns about the inflation and heightened long-term diversified investment need. In wholesale, due to seasonal factors, Q4 tends to be somewhat slower than the previous quarter, even though GM, or Global Market, is striking broadly in line with the prior quarter. Meanwhile, Investment banking has gotten off to a slower -- slightly slow start, but overall, the pipeline is solid, and we are not concerned. In Q3, the impact on earnings from fraudulent transactions stemming from phishing and scams was negligible based on recent conditions, we think the impact on earnings will continue to be very minimal. Also, there are 2 items that needs additional explanation regarding Laser and Investment Management division. First, starting with Laser. Let me explain the losses in the segment Other. In this past quarter, we recorded losses in part of our business in EMEA owing to digital asset market movements and the effect of currency hedges. Specifically, earnings at Laser Digital, the unit that runs digital asset business were negatively impacted by market movements observed in October and November of last year. Laser became profitable 2 years after its establishment and its performance was solid in Q2, but the units suffered a temporary negative impact in the third quarter. Earnings in the crypto asset business are volatile by nature, and we are well aware of management of the business over medium to long term, has to take that volatility into account. At the same time, to limit short-term earnings fluctuations, we have further tightened control over positions and risk exposure. Moving forward, we will continue to capture growth in crypto markets while strengthening our services and customer base. Next, regarding Investment Management division's performance, let me add -- let me explain the existing platform and acquired business separately. First, excluding the impact of the acquisition of existing platform's AUM expanded from JPY 101 trillion as of end of September to JPY 110 trillion at the end of December, supported by net inflows and the business revenue reached a record high. I will explain next the acquired business after consolidating December results. We newly recorded approximately JPY 25 trillion in assets under management, business revenue for the period was JPY 7 billion, and operating expenses were JPY 5 billion, in addition, one-off acquisition-related costs and amortization of intangible assets were recorded, bringing total expenses, including operating costs to roughly JPY 11 billion. These one-off acquisition costs reduced the division's pretax profit, but the impact on consolidated net profit after tax was offset by releasing valuation allowances against deferred tax assets associated with the acquisition. As we explained at the investor event in December, we expect total future expenses of $100 million or so for transfer and integration-related costs and other items. These costs will be incurred over the next 2 years, but the majority is expected to be recognized over the 1-year period starting from the fourth quarter, we are now going over the details of what we expect to spend on growth investments and plan to present this information at the Investor Day event in May because the acquisition was only just been completed, have commented in some detail here about the contribution of the acquired business, but as acquired the business, becomes more fully integrated into operational commentary on business performance, we will treat the division as a unified whole while maintaining the disclosure transparency once we are through the initial investment phase of the J-curve, our long-term aim is to grow profits by maximizing synergies between our existing and the newly acquired business. The company celebrated its centennial on December 25 last year. Going forward, we aim to continue striving for growth with the help of our stakeholders and other stakeholders. We are grateful for your continued support. Thank you.