BAHL Profit Declines 8.66% to Rs19.79B

Karachi, August 27, 2025, 10:17 PM PKT — Bank AL Habib Limited (PSX: BAHL) has reported a profit after tax of Rs19.79 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2025, a stark 8.66% drop from Rs21.66 billion in 2024, as per official financials, signaling market pressures. Earnings per share (EPS) fell to Rs17.8 from Rs19.49, a 8.67% decline, with total income slumping 7.54% to Rs83.12 billion, driven by a 26.91% plunge in mark-up/interest earned to Rs178.13 billion, though non-markup income rose 9.74% to Rs16.61 billion, boosted by a 17.29% jump in fee and commission income and a 2.59% rise in foreign exchange income.

Operating expenses surged 12.28% to Rs44.93 billion, pushing total non-markup expenses up 11.46%, yet a Rs2.65 billion reversal in credit loss allowance (versus a Rs7.39 billion provision last year) offered some relief. Profit before taxation dipped 3.50% to Rs39.98 billion from Rs41.43 billion, with taxation at Rs20.19 billion yielding a profit attributable to equity holders of Rs19.78 billion, down 8.68% year-on-year. The board declared an interim cash dividend of Rs3.5 per share, matching last year’s payout, while the stock held steady, closing 0.7% below opening amid a negative market trend, reflecting investor confidence. Web context on banking performance shows past volatility, while posts found on X reflect concern mixed with trust—some note resilience, others question decline causes. Critically, the narrative of “financial stability” may mask underlying challenges—web data hints at rate impacts, and X sentiment suggests distrust in sustained growth, pointing to potential risks.