Westpac share price on watch following $1.3b earnings hit

The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price will be in focus on Tuesday after the bank revealed a $1.3 billion hit to its half-year earnings.

The hit – born from notable items, including a loss on the sale of Westpac Life Insurance – will dint the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank’s second-half net profit and cash earnings.

Westpac revealed the upcoming impact after the market closed on Monday. The bank’s stock ended Monday’s trade at $23.87.

Let’s take a closer look at the news that might drive the Westpac share price on Tuesday.

Westpac share price in focus on $1.3b impact

The Westpac share price could be one to watch after the bank announced its second-half results will include a significant dint.

Much of the $1.3 billion post-tax hit from notable items relates to the sale of its life insurance business.

The bank completed the sale of the business to a Dai-ichi Life Group subsidiary for $900 million in August.

That saw Westpac recognise a $1.37 billion loss, $270 million of which impacted its financial year 2021 earnings. The other $1.1 billion will be recognised in its results for the second half of financial year 2022.

Other notable items resulted from:

• The sale of Advance Asset Management and successor funds transfer of BT’s personal and corporate superannuation funds
• The sale of the bank’s motor vehicle and its vendor finance businesses
• Shrinking the bank’s corporate and branch footprint
• Higher provisions for customer refunds, associated costs, and litigation costs

Most of the notable items were previously disclosed to the market as divestments were announced.

They left a positive 12 basis points impact on the bank’s common equity tier 1 capital ratio. The completion of the life insurance sale added 17 basis points, while the other notable items had a 5 basis point impact.

The $83 billion banking giant will release its full-year results on 7 November.

The post Westpac share price on watch following $1.3b earnings hit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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