The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is pushing higher on Friday.
In morning trade, the banking giant’s shares are up almost 1% to $24.10.
Where next for the Westpac share price?
According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, while its analysts aren’t recommending the bank’s shares as a buy, they do see significant upside potential for them.
The note reveals that this morning the broker has retained its neutral rating and $27.29 price target.
Based on the current Westpac share price, this implies potential upside of 13% for investors. And if you include dividends, the return stretches to approximately 18%.
What did the broker say?
Goldman highlights that Westpac has agreed to merge its BT Fund Management’s personal and corporate superannuation funds with Mercer Super Trust and sell its Advance Asset Management business.
The broker notes that these transactions are consistent with its simplification strategy and expect them to boost its CET1 ratio. It said:
We view these transactions as entirely consistent with WBC’s strategy of simplifying the overall group, and we note that at the time of its 1H22 result, WBC noted other assets sales that have been announced but not yet finalized would add a further 16 bp to WBC’s CET1 ratio.
Post this transaction, operations that remain within the Specialist business and are under review to potentially being sold include the platforms business (i.e. Panorama) and Westpac Pacific, the latter which WBC had previously attempted to sell (proposed sale on 7-Dec-20) but had been blocked by regulators.
The broker concluded:
We are Neutral-rated on WBC. Our 12-month TP of A$27.29 is based on a 50%/50% blend of our DCF / ROTE vs. P/NTA valuations. Upside risks: higher interest rates, outperformance on NIM management, better than expected performance on cost management. Downside risks: Slower-than-expected housing growth, risk of higher investment spend, higher exposure to NSW property market.
The post Where next for the Westpac share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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More reading
- 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
- What’s the outlook for ASX 200 dividend shares in the second half of 2022?
- ASX 200 midday update: Appen rockets, Westpac super update
- Here’s why the Westpac share price is pushing higher today
- Own Westpac shares? Here’s why the bank’s $45b super business is hitting headlines
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. 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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