๐ CMP: โน727 | ๐ Market Cap: Mid-to-Large Cap Banking Play | Portfolio Weightage: ~1.8% from 2%
AU Small Finance Bank (AUBANK), headquartered in Jaipur, is one of Indiaโs fastest-growing private banks, transforming from a vehicle finance company to a full-fledged small finance bank in 2017. It has carved a niche in retail-focused lending, particularly in semi-urban and rural India, and is now expanding into digital-first offerings. The bankโs core strengths include a strong deposit franchise, diversified asset book, and focus on underserved markets.
The Indian banking sector is undergoing a structural growth phase driven by:
Credit Growth: 14โ16% CAGR industry-wide, led by retail and SME lending.
Financial Inclusion: Government-backed schemes (Jan Dhan, PM SVANidhi) expanding formal credit access.
Digital Banking: Increasing adoption of UPI, mobile banking, and fintech partnerships.
Private Bank Advantage: Better asset quality, higher ROE, and capital efficiency compared to PSU peers.
Outlook: AUBANK, with its retail focus and strong Tier-2/3 city penetration, is well-positioned to ride the credit growth wave while expanding into new segments.
Key Observations:
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Advances grew at 35% CAGR (7-year) and 32% CAGR (3-year).
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Revenue outpaced profit growth in recent years, driven by high loan book expansion.
โ ๏ธ NPM has compressed from 16โ21% historically to ~11% recently due to their transition from MFI to SFB. .
โ ๏ธ GNPA has risen slightly from 1.7% (FY2023) to 2.47% (FY2026E).
๐ Current Multiples: PE ~22x FY26E EPS, PBV ~2.8x FY26E BV โ Valuation in mid-range historically.
Revenue: โน5,189 Cr (+21.3% YoY)
Net Profit: โน581 Cr (+15.5% YoY)
GNPA: 2.28% (vs 1.67% YoY)
NIMs & Margins: NPM down to 11.2% (-56 bps YoY)
Cost Growth: +22.2% YoY, with provisions rising sharply (+88.3%).
Positives:
โ Strong advances growth with retail dominance.
โ Expanding deposit base and geographic footprint.
โ Consistent PE re-rating potential as bank matures.
Risks:
โ NPM compression due to higher provisions and rising costs.
โ Slight uptick in GNPA needs close monitoring.
โ Valuation premium demands continued high growth to sustain.
Reward Potential:
If the bank sustains 20โ25% credit growth with GNPA under 2.5%, EPS could triple by FY2035 โ implying 3xโ5x price appreciation potential in the next decade.
AU Small Finance Bank offers high-growth banking exposure with a proven track record in retail credit and financial inclusion. While near-term margins are under pressure, long-term potential remains strong if asset quality stabilizes. Suitable for aggressive long-term portfolios with a 10+ year view, ideally accumulated during valuation dips.
This report is for educational purposes and not investment advice. Investors should perform independent research before making any investment decisions.