Banco Macro S.A. ADR (representing Ten Class B Common Shares)

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for waiting. At this time, we would like to welcome everyone to Banco Macro's ¼-25 earnings conference call. We would like to inform you that the first quarter 2025 press release is available to download at the Investor Relations website of Banco Macro, www.macro.com.ar slash Relaciones dash Inversores. Also, this event is being recorded and all participants will be in a listen-only mode during the company's presentation. After the company's remarks are completed, there will be a question and answer session. At that time, further instructions will be given. It is now my pleasure to introduce our speakers. Joining us from Argentina, Mr. Jorge Scarinci, Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Nicolás Torres, IR. Now I will turn the conference over to Mr. Nicolás Torres. You may begin your conference.

Thank you. Good morning and welcome to Banco Marco's first quarter 2025 conference call. Any comment we may make today may include forward-looking statements which are subject to various conditions and these are outlined in our 20F which was filed to the SEC and it's available at our website. The first quarter 2025 press release was distributed yesterday and it's available at our website. All figures are in Argentine pesos and have been restated in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting period. As of 2020, the bank began reporting results applying hyperinflation accounting in accordance with IFRS IAS 29 as established by the central bank. For ease of comparison, figures of previous quarters have been restated applying IAS 29 to reflect the accumulated effect of the inflation adjustment for each period through March 33, 2025. I will now briefly comment on the bank's first quarter 2025 financial results. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Macro's net income totaled 45.7 billion pesos. This result was 59% or 65.3 billion pesos lower than the fourth quarter of 2024. This result was mainly due to lower net income from financial assets and liabilities for value to profit or loss, and the bigger loss related to the result from the net monetary position. Higher inflation was observed in the quarter. which was partially offset by higher other operating income and lower employee benefits and administrative expenses. The annualized return on average equity and the accumulated annualized return on average assets were 3.8% and 1.2% respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, net operating income before general and administrative expenses was 801 billion pesos. 9% or 82.6 billion pesos lower compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 due to lower income from interest on government securities. On a yearly basis, net operating income before general and personal expenses decreased 68% or 1.7 trillion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, provision for loan losses totaled 66 billion pesos, 62% or 25.3 billion pesos higher than the fourth quarter of 2024, given the loan growth experience in the quarter. On a yearly basis, provision for loan losses increased 124% or 36.6 billion pesos. In the quarter, net interest income totaled 579.2 billion pesos, 1 billion pesos higher than the fourth quarter of 2024, and 122% or 318 billion pesos higher year on year. This result is due to an 8% decrease in interest expense and a 3% decrease in interest income. In the quarter, a 21% decrease in income from interest on government securities stand up. In the first quarter of 2025, interest income totaled 866.7 billion pesos, 3% or 22.6 billion pesos lower than in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 22% or 247.8 billion pesos lower than in the first quarter of 2024. Income from interest on loans and other financing totaled 592.3 billion pesos, 9% or 49.6 billion pesos higher compared with the previous quarter, mainly due to an 18% increase in the average volume of private sector loans, which was partially offset by a 200 basis points decrease in the average lending rate. On a yearly basis, income from interest on loans decreased 18% or 132.2 billion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, interest on loans represented 68% of total interest income. In the first quarter of 2025, income from government and private securities decreased 21% or 71.5 billion pesos quarter on quarter, mainly due to lower income from bonus del Tesoro Nacional and inflation-adjusted bonds. and increased 83% or 123 billion pesos compared with the same period of last year. This result is explained 93% by income from government and private securities at amortized cost, and the remaining 7% is explained by income from government securities valued at fair value rather than comprehensive income. In the first quarter of 2025, income from RIPOs totaled 864 million pesos, 79% or 382 million pesos higher than the previous quarter, and almost 100% or 236 billion pesos lower than a year ago. It is worth noting that as of July 22, 2024, the central bank decided to terminate RIPOs and replace them with LEFIs, which are now issued by the Treasury. In the first quarter of 2025, FX income totalled a 6.4 billion pesos gain, 95% or 118.7 billion pesos lower than a year ago. In the quarter, the Argentine peso depreciated 4% against the US dollar as the central bank for Argentina lowered the crawling peg from 2% per month to 1% per month, effective as of February 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, interest expense totaled 287.6 billion pesos, decreasing 8% or 23.5 billion pesos compared to the previous quarter, and 66% or 565.8 billion pesos lower compared to the first quarter of 2024. Within interest expenses, interest on deposits represent 95% of the bank's total interest expense, decreasing 8% or 22.3 billion pesos quarter on quarter due to a 274 basis points decrease in the average rate paid on deposits, while the average volume of private sector deposits increased 15%. On a yearly basis, interest on deposits decreased 67% or 547.9 billion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, the bank's net interest margin, including FX, was 23.2%, lower than the 24.7% posted in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the 26.1% posted in the first quarter of 2024. In the quarter, fee income totaled 169.8 billion pesos, 1% or 943 million pesos lower than the fourth quarter of 2024. In the quarter, ATM transactions fees decreased 18% or 1.9 billion pesos and credit card fees decreased 2% or 635 million pesos, which were partially offset by a 3% or 1.7 billion pesos increase in fees charged on deposit accounts. On a yearly basis, fee income increased 29% or 38.5 billion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, net income from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss totaled 66.4 billion pesos gain, decreasing 55% or 80 billion pesos compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. This result is mainly due to lower income from government securities. On a yearly basis, net income from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss decreased 97% or 1.9 trillion pesos. In the quarter, other operating income totaled 68.5 billion pesos, 29% or 15.5 billion pesos higher than the fourth quarter of 2024 due to higher other service-related fees, which increased 29% or 6.2 billion pesos, and higher income from credit and debit cards. On a yearly basis, other operating income decreased 2% or 1.4 billion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Macro's administrative expenses plus employee benefits totaled 257 billion pesos, 10% or 27.3 pesos lower than the previous quarter, due to lower employees' benefits, which decreased 9%, and lower administrative expenses, which decreased 11%. On a yearly basis, administrative expenses plus employee benefits decreased 19% or 58.5 billion pesos. In the first quarter of 2025, deficiency ratio reached 38.2%, improving from the 39.4% posted in the fourth quarter of 2024 and deteriorating from the 14.7% posted a year ago. In the first quarter of 2025, expenses decreased 10%, while net interest income plus net fee income plus FX income and other operating income plus net income from financial assets for value of profit or loss decreased 7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, the result from the net monetary position totaled 267.1 billion pesos loss, 11% or 27.1 billion pesos higher than the lows posted in the previous quarter, and 81% or 1.1 trillion pesos lower than the lows posted one year ago. Higher inflation was observed during the quarter, 54 basis points above the fourth quarter of 2024, up to 8.6% from 8% in the fourth quarter of 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, Banco Macro's effective income tax rate was 43% higher than the one registered in the fourth quarter of 2024. Further information is provided in note 21 to our financial statements. In terms of loan growth, the bank's total financing reached 7.7 trillion pesos, increasing 22% of 1.4 trillion pesos quarter on quarter, and increasing 97% of 3.8 trillion pesos year on year. In the first quarter of 2025, private sector loans increased 22% or 1.3 trillion pesos. On a yearly basis, private sector loans increased 94% or 3.6 trillion pesos. Within commercial loans, overdrafts and others stand out with a 107% or 628.7 billion pesos increase and a 16 or 188.4 billion pesos increase respectively. Within consumer lending, almost all product lines increased during the first quarter of 2025. Personal loans and credit card loans stand out with a 28% or 354.1 billion pesos increase and a 4% or 65.2 billion pesos increase, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, peso financing increased 21% or 1 trillion pesos, where U.S. dollar financing increased 22% or 262 million dollars. It is important to mention that Banco Macro's market share over private sector loans as of March 2025 reached 9.5%. On the funding side, total deposits increased 5% or 485.4 billion pesos quarter-on-quarter, totaling 9.6 trillion pesos and increased 23% or 1.8 trillion pesos year-on-year. Private sector deposits increased 4% or 349.6 billion pesos quarter-on-quarter, but public sector deposits increased 20% or 136.6 billion pesos quarter-on-quarter. The increase in private sector deposits was led by time deposits, which increased 83% or 1.8 trillion pesos, while demand deposits decreased 22% or 1.2 trillion pesos quarter on quarter. Within private sector deposits, peso deposits increased 15% or 899.5 billion pesos, while U.S. dollar deposits decreased 17% or $497 million dollars. As of March 2025, Banco Macro's transactional accounts represented approximately 48% of total deposits. Banco Macro's market share over private deposits as of March 2025 totaled 7.8%. In terms of asset quality, Banco Macro's non-performing total financial ratio reached 1.44%. The coverage ratio measured as total allowances under expected credit losses over non-performing loans under central bank rules reached 163.34%. Consumer portfolio non-performing loans deteriorated 37 basis points up to 1.81% from 1.44% in the previous quarter, while commercial portfolio non-performing loans improved 22 basis points in the first quarter of 2025, down to 0.66% from 0.88% in the previous quarter. In terms of capitalization, Banco Macro accounted an excess capital of 3.2 trillion pesos, which represented a capital adequacy ratio of 34.3% and a tier one ratio of 33.6%. The bank's aim is to make the best use of this excess capital. The bank's liquidity remained more than appropriate. Liquid assets total deposit ratio reached 68%. Overall, we have accounted for another positive quarter. We continue showing a solid financial position. We keep a well-optimized deposit base. Asset quality remains under control and closed monitor. And we can keep on working to improve more our efficiency standards. At this time, we would like the questions that you may have.

Okay, at this time we are going to open it up for questions and answers. If you would like to ask a question, please press the Q&A button at the bottom of the screen. Or to ask a question on audio, click on Raise Hand. You will then receive a request to activate your microphone. One moment please for the first question. Our first question comes from Brian Flores with Citi.

Hi, Tim. Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to ask question. The first one is just a quick update on guidance to see if anything has changed. We remember you discussed maybe a real loan growth of 60%, deposits at around 30, an ROE ranging between 12 and 15, and with the core equity tier one ratio maybe at 25, 26%. So just wanted to know if there are any updates on that. And then a second, just to maybe seize the opportunity on capital, right? Because You benefited from capital. You have one of the strongest positions in the system. So just wanted to hear your thoughts on that. If you're going to focus completely on organic growth or if at some point in organic growth is also an opportunity. Thank you.

Good morning, Brian. This is Jorge Carinzi. On your first question, We are going to keep some of the guidance that we gave on the last quarter, and we are going to change a little bit some of them. In terms of loan growth, we continue to maintain the 60% loan growth in real terms for 2025. In deposits, we are forecasting a real growth of 45%. In terms of capital ratio, we should maybe increase a little bit our forecast. The capital ratio by the end of 2025 should be ranging in the area of 28, 29%. And in terms of ROE, We are downgrading a little bit from the former conference. We expect to have between 8% to 10% ROE for 2025. Of course, this is going to be or could be affected by the evolution of bond prices. This 8% to 10% is considering an ordinary evolution of prices. If we see price is improving, ROE could be ranging slightly above 10%. But let's say 8 to 10 is the range that we are forecasting as a normal scenario in 2025. In terms of your second question and the capital structure, yes, we know that we have the best capital in the Argentine banking sector. That's why we are speeding up in increasing organic growth as much as we can and taking advantage of long demand. And that is what we are focusing on for the moment. We believe that in the future there will be some other opportunities, maybe for M&A. Honestly, there's nothing that we are studying right now, but we are positive that in the next couple of years or three years, the number of banks in Argentina might shrink. And we are going to be on alert and trying to analyze any acquisition target that should appear in the market.

Thank you, Jorge. And if I may just follow up on what you mentioned on deposits. Is this increase, because it's significant, right? It's from 30 to 45. Is this driven by maybe looking to compete on remunerated accounts that some of your competition is doing? Or what is driving these better prospects on deposit growth?

The thing is that the first quarter in terms of volume growth, both in in loans and deposits, but more in deposits, were slightly ahead of expectations. That's why we are increasing that. And also because we are seeing maybe dollar deposit growth slightly stronger than what we had expected.

Super clear. Thank you.

You're welcome, Brian.

Our next question comes from Ernesto Gabilondo with Bank of America.

Thank you. Hi, good morning, Jorge and Nico. Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions. My first question will be on your macro expectations. Just wondering what are you expecting in terms of interest rates, inflation, GDP growth in FX for this and next year? And my second question will be on operating expenses. As you mentioned in your remarks, there was a decline in the first quarter. So just wondering how should we think about the OPEX growth this year? And then my second question will be on your loan to deposit ratio and your strong capital ratio. On your loan to deposit ratio, I believe it's already at 86%. So how are you expecting the evolution of this ratio, especially considering a long road of 60% and that now you're expecting deposits to grow at 45%. And then your capital ratio, it seems very strong. No, you have an excess of capital. So a follow-up to the first question is if there could be M&A in the sector, and this especially considering that if we have a positive outcome on the midterm elections next October, probably will be a good timing to do it before that. Or do you think there will still chance to do it after that? but considering to pay higher multiples in a potential consolidation in the sector. So I just wanted to hear your thoughts on that. Thank you.

Hi Ernesto, how are you? Well, let's start from the first question in terms of macroeconomic expectations. For GDP, we are forecasting a real growth for this year of 5% and 3% for 2026. In terms of inflation, we are expecting, according to the consensus, 30% area inflation in 2025 and 22% area inflation for 2026. In terms of interest rates, we believe that we are going to see in 2025 at least some declining trend in domestic interest rates. And according to the margins, I think that these are going to be slightly positive for the margins of the sector and Banco Macro, basically because our deposits reprice faster than our loans, plus that the mixing in loans that we are lending faster in consumer that is the segment that showed the highest rates, that is going to help to maybe expand a little bit the margins along 2025. In terms of operating expenses, yes, we put some decrease in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of last year. If I have to assume for 2025, I would assume operating expenses to move close to inflation rate. So let's say in the area of 30%, maybe in the bottom part of the area of 30%, maybe one or two percentage points below inflation, but let's assume close to inflation for 2025. In terms of the loans to deposit ratio, yes, we are increasing that ratio. Also, we are increasing the other ratio that is loans as a percentage of total assets. Remember that one year ago, loans represented only 25% of total assets. And in the first quarter of this year, loans represented 48% of total assets. So that's a big increase. Even in the quarter, we jumped from 40% in the fourth quarter loans to assets to 48% in the current quarter. So we are speeding up in terms of moving from low levels of loans as a percentage of assets, also reducing the exposure to the public sector and increasing the exposure on the private sector. Going forward, this ratio could be in the area of 90 or low 90s by the end of 2025, Ernesto. And in terms of your last question, according to capital ratio, again, I have been stating this, but on the buy side of the table, we believe that we are the only ones. Honestly, is not depending a lot on us when we are going to maybe acquire another bank or the multiples. We have to see if there is an opportunity on the table. As I mentioned before, we are not analyzing anything for the moment. So we have to be patient and see when the opportunity appears. Also, I also mentioned this before, but Depending on the scenario in March, April of 2026, the board also could be considering some increase in the dividends for next year in order to maybe trim down a little bit the excess of capital that we have. But that is something that is going to be considered next year, depending on macroeconomic expectations. By then, if there is an opportunity of M&A, So we are conscious that we do not feel that comfortable with this excess capital. So the idea is to work on different strategies in order to reduce it in the most efficient way for the bank.

Thank you very much, Jorge.

Welcome, Ernesto. Thank you.

Our next question comes from Carlos Gomez Lopez with HSBC.

Hello, and thank you for taking my question. I want to ask you about your bond portfolio, your public securities, and we want to know how you would like to be positioned. And I'm thinking about what currency, what indexator, do you prefer inflation linkers, not inflation linkers? And what your preference is as to how you want to have this classified available for sale, trading, or healthy maturity. Where would you like to have the bond portfolio, let's say, for the next year? And how would you contrast that to other banks? And the second question is, I think that you have your CEO here for the first time, and maybe you want to introduce him to us. Thank you.

Hi, Carlos. How are you? Thanks for your questions. In terms of the bond portfolio, there's a clear table in page 20 of the press release with all the exposure and the accounting slots that we have. We are working on maybe some permutative changes, but that is related on maybe reserve requirements just to move some bonds in replace of others. we want to have an available for sale level of maybe 1 billion pesos, similar than the current level, but maybe with different bonds in order to be able to trim down this public sector exposure in order to keep on fueling the long road that we are forecasting. And in terms of exposure, For the moment, we feel comfortable having a high exposure on inflation. For the moment, we believe that is the best way to hedge the equity of the bank. And in terms of the CEO, he has to step up for a second. He has a phone call. But if he comes back, we are going to introduce Juan on the call.

Okay, very good. And I mean, it's good what you were saying. So you are, I mean, distinctly more exposed to inflation linkers. And again, for you, that is justified by the fact that you have more capital than your peers. Is that correct?

Yes, that's correct.

Thank you very much. Carlos.

Once again, if you would like to ask a question, please press the Q&A button at the bottom of the screen or to ask questions on audio, click on raise hand. You will then receive a request to activate your microphone. Please hold while we poll for questions. There are no more questions at this time. This concludes the question and answer session. I will now turn over to Mr. Nicolás Torres for final considerations.

Thank you all for your interest in Banco Macro. We appreciate your time and look forward to speaking with you again. Have a good day.