Group 1 - The article discusses the author's journey into investing, starting in high school in 2011, focusing on REITs, preferred stocks, and high-yield bonds, indicating a long-standing interest in markets and the economy [1] - The author has recently adopted a strategy that combines long stock positions with covered calls and cash secured puts, emphasizing a fundamental long-term investment approach [1] - The author primarily covers REITs and financials on Seeking Alpha, with occasional articles on ETFs and other stocks influenced by macro trade ideas [1]

Group 1 - The fourth quarter results for Dutch bank ING Groep N.V. showed a net profit approximately 11% below sell-side consensus [1] - The performance of ING Groep N.V. has been compared to previous assessments, indicating a shift in outlook [1] Group 2 - The analysis emphasizes a long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy focused on stocks that can sustainably deliver high-quality earnings [1]

Core Insights - ING Capital LLC has closed $424 million in credit facilities for International Transportation Service (ITS) to support a terminal redevelopment project that will increase yard capacity by 50% and electrify its fleet [1][2][3] Financing Details - The credit facilities consist of $224 million in taxable financing and $200 million in tax-exempt financing [2] - Up to $100 million of the credit facilities are designated as Green Loans aimed at procuring electrified terminal equipment [4] Terminal Redevelopment Plan - The redevelopment plan includes a slip-fill project with an estimated capital expenditure of approximately $300 million [3] - The expansion will allow ITS to accommodate up to two 18,000 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) vessels simultaneously [3] Environmental Initiatives - ITS is making strategic investments in decarbonization initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions, in alignment with the California Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) [4] - Key decarbonization strategies include electrification and the adoption of zero-tailpipe emissions equipment, such as hydrogen [4] Company Background - ITS is a container terminal operator at the Port of Long Beach, owned by a Macquarie Asset Management-managed vehicle [1][7] - Macquarie Asset Management manages approximately $633.7 billion in assets across various investment solutions [8]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any specific insights or data regarding gold prices or market trends [1] - There is no relevant information about companies or industries in the provided content [2][3]

Core Viewpoint - The European Central Bank (ECB) has notified ING Group regarding its decision on the 2024 Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP), which includes prudential requirements and capital requirements for 2025 [1]. Capital Requirements - ING Group's fully loaded Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) requirement remains unchanged at 10.87%, which includes a countercyclical capital buffer of 94 basis points as of the third quarter of 2024 [2]. - The Pillar 2 additional own funds requirement (P2R) is set at 165 basis points and will be applicable starting January 1, 2025 [2]. Current Financial Position - As of September 30, 2024, ING's CET1 ratio stands at 14.3%, significantly above the regulatory requirements [3].

Group 1 - Goldman Sachs projects muted returns for Euro Area stock markets in 2025, indicating a cautious outlook for the region [1] - Valuations across 11 sectors in the Euro Area are significantly cheaper compared to P/E multiples in the US, suggesting potential undervaluation [1] - Earnings growth expectations in the Euro Area are described as tepid, indicating limited growth prospects for companies in the region [1]

Core Viewpoint - ING Groep (ING) has experienced a downtrend with a 6.2% decline in stock price over the past four weeks, but it is now in oversold territory, suggesting a potential turnaround due to analysts' positive earnings outlook [1]. Group 1: Technical Indicators - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for ING is at 26.75, indicating that the heavy selling pressure may be exhausting, which could lead to a price rebound [3]. - RSI is a momentum oscillator that helps identify oversold conditions when the reading falls below 30, allowing investors to spot potential entry opportunities [2]. Group 2: Fundamental Indicators - There is a strong consensus among sell-side analysts to raise earnings estimates for ING, resulting in a 0.7% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [4]. - ING holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, further supporting the potential for a near-term turnaround [4].

Continued execution of our strategy to accelerate growth, increase impact and deliver value 3Q2024 ING Group 31 October 2024 do your thinq Continuation of our strong growth trajectory | --- | --- | --- | --- | |---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Total income reached a record level in Q3 2024, with fee income exceeding €1 billion for the first time [6][10] - Annualized customer balances growth (lending and deposits combined) was 5.3% in the first nine months, surpassing the 4% expectation set during Capital Markets Day [10] - CET1 ratio increased to 14.3% at the end of Q3 2024, with a four-quarter rolling return on equity of 13.8% [14][41] - Total risk costs were €336 million in Q3, or 20 basis points on average customer lending, in line with the through-the-cycle average [39] Business Line Performance - The lending book grew by €9 billion, with strong performance in mortgages, particularly in the Netherlands where market share increased due to digitalization and flexible operations [8] - Wholesale Banking saw growth in lending and financial markets, partially offset by capital optimization efforts [9] - Retail Banking experienced a net inflow of €5.5 billion in deposits in Belgium due to a successful marketing campaign [9][29] - Fee income in Wholesale Banking increased due to higher deal flow in global capital markets and corporate finance [36] Market Performance - ING Poland is one of the largest franchises with income of around €2 billion, showing strong growth in customer balances with a CAGR of 9% since 2019 [17][19] - The company has €28 billion of sustainable volume mobilized in Q3 and €85 billion in the first nine months, a 15% increase compared to the previous year [13] Strategic Direction and Industry Competition - The company is focusing on digitalization, with the rollout of a one-app solution for business banking clients in Germany [11] - ING is committed to sustainability, with €250 million provided to the National Heat Fund in the Netherlands to make buildings more sustainable [13] - The company is expanding its Terra approach to include aluminum and dairy sectors, and has updated its oil and gas policy to stop new financing for pure-play upstream oil and gas companies developing new fields [20][22] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects total income to exceed €22.5 billion for the year, with a cost/income ratio of around 53% and a return on equity forecasted to be more than 13% [25] - The company is confident in maintaining a liability margin between 100 to 110 basis points, with expectations for 2025 to be at the lower end of this range [34][95] Other Important Information - ING announced an additional distribution of €2.5 billion, including a €2 billion share buyback and a €500 million cash dividend in January 2025 [15][16] - The company has been recognized as a top employer in five European countries and continues to invest in improving the employee experience [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Replicating income and deposit repricing confidence [44] - The company is confident in maintaining the margin due to volume growth, lower deposit costs, and strong replication tailwinds [47][48] Question: M&A strategy and cross-border consolidation [51] - ING is focused on organic growth but is open to domestic consolidation in retail and acquiring new skill sets or product capabilities [52][53] Question: Volume growth drivers and cost optimization [55] - Growth is expected mainly in retail, particularly in mortgages, with cost optimization ongoing through digitization and operational efficiencies [56][62] Question: Belgium deposit inflow and treasury income [65] - The Belgian deposit campaign aims to convert customers into primary clients for cross-selling, while treasury income is volatile but expected to range between €200 million to €300 million [66][68] Question: Wholesale Banking RWA efficiencies and Germany Mittelstand sector [71] - RWA efficiencies are expected to materialize in 2025, with a focus on digital offerings in the Mittelstand sector [73][74] Question: Belgian deposits and replicating portfolio [77] - The €5.5 billion deposit inflow in Belgium was partially offset by outflows from business banking, and the replicating portfolio distribution remains unchanged [79][80] Question: Asset quality and deposit margin balance [81] - Risk costs are managed through the cycle, with vigilance in sectors like commercial real estate and automotive, while deposit margins are maintained through competitive pricing and promotional campaigns [84][89] Question: Lending NII and liability margin outlook [92] - Lending NII is expected to hover around 130 basis points, with liability margins guided to be between 100 to 110 basis points in 2025 [94][95] Question: Retail lending margin and treasury income trends [98][102] - Retail lending margins were stable in Q3, and treasury income has declined due to ECB reserve requirements but is expected to stabilize [100][104] Closing Remarks [106] - Management thanked participants and expressed confidence in the company's strategic execution and future performance [106]

Despite being roughly flat since my last update in May, Dutch bank ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING ) has nonetheless had an okay year so far, returning around 20% (with dividends).I like to take a long term, buy-and-hold approach to investing, with a bias toward stocks that can sustainably post high quality earnings. Mostly found in the dividend and income section. Blog about various US/Canadian stocks at 'The Compound Investor', and predominantly UK names on 'The UK Income Investor'.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we ha ...