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Fundamental View
AS OF 26 Jun 2025Macquarie was tested during the global financial crisis, but managed to steer through the crisis without reporting losses. A strong balance sheet mitigated liquidity problems, but its banking unit had to turn to Australia’s central bank at that time for support.
The group has an impressive track record of managing risks and achieving good returns, and has built capabilities in a number of areas. Divestments are controlled based on market conditions. It was a beneficiary of market volatility in the commodity space in F23-24. Its Australian mortgage book has also shown strong but sensible growth.
Business Description
AS OF 26 Jun 2025- Macquarie grew out of the Australian business of Hill Samuel Australia, commencing operations in 1969. Macquarie Group Ltd (MGL) is the holding company and listed entity, under which there is the banking group Macquarie Bank Ltd (MBL) which consists of the Banking & Financial Services (BFS) and Commodities & Global Markets (CGM) businesses, and a non-banking group which consists of the Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) and Macquarie Capital (MC) businesses.
- From the 1990s, the group has been associated with the "Macquarie Model" which focused on identifying cash-generating infrastructure assets & packaging them into funds that could be sold, with Macquarie taking fees as banker, arranger and asset manager.
- It acquired asset managers including Delaware Investments in the US and Blackmont Capital in Canada, boutique investment bank Fox-Pitt Kelton and specialists such as Tristone Energy (Canada). It acquired US asset manager, Waddell & Reed in April 2021, which added around US$76 bn of assets under management. It has announced the sale of its public AM business in the US and Europe to Nomura.
- MAM has AUM of ~A$941 bn as of FY25, mostly in "traditional" funds management but also including its specialist infrastructure and real assets funds.
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 26 Jun 2025Macquarie has sizable exposures to credit and equity risk, and so could be adversely impacted by falls in asset prices. In addition, volatile/weak markets could and has impeded its ability to exit some of its investments. Its earnings profile partially depends on exits and therefore is lumpy in nature. So far it has managed this risk well.
As a relatively small group operating mainly in wholesale markets, it is vulnerable to a liquidity freeze, but it mitigates this through running a well-matched and liquid balance sheet.
It is a global leader in infrastructure investments and is well positioned for the green transition. It has been a strong beneficiary of volatility in commodity markets, a testament to its risk management capabilities.
Its banking unit, MBL, has been subject to enforcement action in Apr-21 by APRA over the incorrect treatment of some intra-group funding arrangements resulting in a A$500 mn operational risk overlay being applied as well as LCR and NSFR add-ons.
Key Metric
AS OF 26 Jun 2025| AUD mn | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Income | 13,298 | 17,833 | 19,576 | 17,071 | 18,130 |
| Cost/Income | 66.7% | 60.5% | 62.0% | 71.4% | 70.5% |
| Net Profit | 3,015 | 4,706 | 5,182 | 3,522 | 3,715 |
| Return on Equity | 14.3% | 18.7% | 16.9% | 10.8% | 11.2% |
| Total Impairments/Op Profit | 11.8% | 7.2% | 6.1% | (7.4%) | 6.0% |
| Annuity Business Profit Contribution | 46.7% | 42.6% | 34.2% | 36.5% | 43.6% |
| MBL CET1 Ratio (APRA) | 12.6% | 11.5% | 13.7% | 13.6% | 12.8% |
| MBL Liquidity Coverage Ratio | 174% | 175% | 214% | 191% | 175% |
| MBL Net Stable Funding Ratio | 115% | 121% | 124% | 115% | 113% |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 13 May 2025Macquarie has a strong record of profitability since its inception. Its asset mgmt business focused on infrastructure, and more recently green assets, is a global leader. It manages risks and returns effectively, and in FY22+23 was a large beneficiary of O&G and power price volatility. The Australian banking business has steadily gained mortgage marketshare. Large investment disposals from asset mgmt and Macquarie Capital led to a record year in FY22; strong commodities outperformance led to another record in FY23. FY24 income was lower on lower a) asset realisations and b) gas & power inventory management and trading income. 2H25 net income was helped by asset sales. Capital is adequate, ALM is conservative, and being APRA regulated is a plus. We like the bank AT1s and short dated T2s.
Recommendation Reviewed: May 13, 2025
Recommendation Changed: July 25, 2024
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