Overview
- On Thursday DBS reported a record second-quarter net profit of S$3.08 billion, a 9% year-on-year rise that beat analyst estimates and prompted a S$0.81 per-share payout estimated at about S$2.3 billion.
- Net interest margin fell to 1.87% from 2.05% and group net interest income declined, forcing the bank to substitute lending revenue with higher fee, trading and treasury income.
- DBS said assets under management in its wealth division passed S$500 billion and reiterated a target to grow AUM to more than US$1 trillion by 2030, with plans to hire about 600 front-line advisers and platform engineers by 2028.
- The bank raised its full-year 2026 guidance, now expecting total income to exceed 2025 levels, and upgraded its commercial-book non-interest income outlook while publishing forward assumptions on rates, deposit growth, cost-to-income and loan provisions for H2.
- DBS’ results start Singapore’s Q2 reporting season and signal a wider test for regional lenders on whether wealth and markets businesses can sustainably offset margin pressure and lead to more adviser hiring and customer product expansion.