Scotia Investments in transition

Scotia Investments (SIJL) reported net income of $1.79 billion results for the year ended October 2014, down $205 million from the last year. Net income for the quarter was $450 million, down $54 million from the previous quarter, and $123 million from the corresponding quarter last year.
Earnings per share for the year ended at $4.23 compared to $4.71 in 2013. The Return on Average Equity fell was from 16.55 percent in 20123 to 13.6 percent.
Net interest income for the year was $2.3 billion, down $519 million or 18 percent below last year and for the quarter, $499 million, down $81 million or 14 percent below the July quarter.
Non-interest income, which includes fee income, securities trading gains and net foreign exchange trading income, was $1.89 billion for the year, is up $237 million or 14 percent; and $487 million for the quarter, down $61 million compared with the July last quarter.
Total Operating Income, comprising net interest revenue and other income was $4.17 billion, a reduction of $281 million relative to prior year. Total Operating Income for the quarter of $986 million was down $233 million over the corresponding quarter last year.
Total operating expenses for the year was $1.62 billion, up $33 million or 2 percent compared to 2013. Expenses amount to $364 million for the October quarter, down $32 million or 8 percent against the July 2014 quarter, and it is also down 19 percent, against the 2013, October quarter.
Total on balance sheet assets amount to $72 billion and show a reduction of $1.4 billion compared to last year. At the end of October 2014, total funds under management stood at $151 billion, $96 billion or 64 percent represents off-balance portfolio, compared to 60 percent last year. The Scotia Premium Money Market Fund grew to $10 billion by the end of the year. For 2014, funds managed through the unit trusts and mutual funds increased by 17 percent year over year, due to both growth in volume and appreciation in value of the funds. Management states that “the change is consistent with our strategic initiative to focus on the growth of our unit trusts and mutual fund portfolios.”
Shareholders’ equity stood at $13.6 billion as at October 31, 2014, an increase of $1.15 billion or 9 percent compared to last year. Net asset value per share is $32.14 and the stock price $23.40 with the PE ratio just above 5 times 2014 earnings. With interest rates falling and the funds under management rising SIJL should put into a better performance in 2015.