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Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio (BLX)
NYSE:BLX

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio (BLX) AI Stock Analysis

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BLX

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio

(NYSE:BLX)

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Outperform 70 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:70Outperform
Price Target:
$49.00
â–²(8.58% Upside)
Action:UpgradedDate:01/17/26
The score is primarily supported by attractive valuation (low P/E and high dividend yield) and solid profitability/capital metrics, reinforced by a constructive earnings call with reaffirmed guidance and strong deposit and fee-income growth. The main constraints are uneven financial consistency (recent revenue decline and historically volatile cash flows) and only mixed technical momentum (negative MACD despite stable RSI/stochastic).
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The strong revenue growth trajectory indicates expanding market reach and effective business strategies, supporting long-term sustainability.
Capital Strengthening
The successful capital issuance strengthens the bank's capital base, enhancing its ability to support high-value transactions and future growth.
Deposit Growth
Significant deposit growth reflects strong customer trust and provides a stable funding base for future lending and investment activities.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can strain financial stability, limiting flexibility and increasing vulnerability to market changes.
Cash Flow Challenges
Persistent cash flow challenges can hinder the company's ability to fund operations and growth initiatives, impacting long-term viability.
Decline in Net Interest Margin
A declining net interest margin may pressure profitability, affecting the bank's ability to generate income from its core lending activities.

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio (BLX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBanco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A., a multinational bank, primarily engages in the financing of foreign trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. The company operates through two segments, Commercial and Treasury. It offers short and medium-term bilateral loans, structured and syndicated credits, and loan commitments; financial guarantee contracts, such as issued and confirmed letters of credit, and stand-by letters of credit; and guarantees covering commercial risk and other assets, as well as co-financing arrangements, underwriting of syndicated credit facilities, structured trade financing in the form of factoring and vendor financing, and financial leasing. The company also provides treasury solutions, including term deposits and private placements. It primarily serves financial institutions, corporations, and sovereigns and state-owned entities. The company was formerly known as Banco Latinoamericano de Exportaciones, S.A. and changed its name to Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. in June 2009. Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S. A. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Panama City, the Republic of Panama.
How the Company Makes MoneyBLX generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans extended to clients, which include corporations and government entities in Latin America and the Caribbean. The bank also earns fees from trade finance operations, such as letters of credit and guarantees, which facilitate international trade transactions. Additionally, BLX engages in investment activities, managing its own portfolio of financial assets, which can provide capital gains and interest income. Significant partnerships with regional development banks and international financial institutions further enhance its ability to provide comprehensive financial solutions, while also contributing to its earnings through collaborative projects and shared risk management.

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 12, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presents a largely positive performance narrative: Bladex delivered record results across net income, revenue diversification, deposit growth and asset quality while strengthening capital and liquidity. Management acknowledges margin pressure from rate cuts, higher operating investments and isolated credit items, and expects a competitive, highly liquid 2026 with modest normalization in metrics. Overall, the company appears well-positioned with disciplined risk management and a clear plan to sustain growth, making the positives substantially outweigh manageable challenges.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Net Income and Strong Profitability
Net income reached a record $227 million in 2025, up ~10% year-over-year. Adjusted return on equity was 15.8% for the full year (14.2% in Q4). Q4 net income was $56 million, one of the strongest quarters in history.
Commercial Portfolio and Loan Growth
Total credit portfolio grew to $12.6 billion, representing ~12% year-over-year growth. Commercial portfolio expanded 11.5% YoY; loan balances grew roughly $800 million (~10% YoY) with medium-term loans increasing by >$750 million in 2025.
Significant Deposit Expansion and Strong Funding Mix
Deposits grew 22% year-over-year and represented ~62% of total funding at year-end. Class A shareholder deposits comprised 35% of total deposits. Yankee CD program reached $1.5 billion and Yankee CDs represented ~23% of total deposits.
Net Interest Income and Margin Resilience
Net interest income set a record, increasing ~5% YoY. Full-year net interest margin was 2.36% (above guidance of 2.30%), and Q4 NIM was 2.39%, supported by active balance sheet and pricing actions.
Large Noninterest Income and Revenue Diversification
Noninterest income grew 54% YoY to $68.4 million, now representing ~19–20% of total revenues (up from ~13% four years prior). Fee lines drove growth: letters of credit fees +20% YoY; syndication/structuring fees rose >70% YoY with 13 transactions across 11 countries (~$5 billion total).
Efficiency and Controlled Operating Leverage
Full-year efficiency ratio was 26.7%, broadly in line with 2024 (26.5%) despite investments in transformation. Management expects efficiency around 28% as investments normalize.
Prudent Capital Actions and Shareholder Returns
Completed first AT1 issuance in September 2025 to strengthen capital; Basel III Tier 1 ratio moved from 18.1% to 17.4% after deployment but remains with ample headroom. Board increased quarterly cash dividend to $0.6875 from $0.625.
Very Strong Asset Quality and Coverage
Stage 1 exposures were 98.2% of total credit portfolio (up from 97.2% prior quarter). Stage 2 fell to 1.5% and Stage 3 was 0.3%. Allowance for credit losses was $107 million, representing ~276% coverage of impaired credits; Q4 recoveries of $0.6 million recorded.
Robust Liquidity and Conservative Investment Portfolio
Investment portfolio totaled $1.4 billion (+19% YoY) with ~91% investment-grade exposure; total liquidity was $1.9 billion (~15% of assets), ~91% placed with the Federal Reserve, and securities eligible as collateral at FRBNY.
Clear 2026 Guidance and Growth Targets
Guidance for 2026: commercial portfolio growth 13–15%, average deposit growth similar, NIM around 2.3%, efficiency ~28%, ROE 14–15%, and Tier 1 capital 15–16% — demonstrating a disciplined plan for profitable growth.
Negative Updates
ROE Moderation Due to Rate Cuts and Capital Increase
Adjusted ROE declined to 15.8% in 2025 from 16.2% in 2024; Q4 adjusted ROE was 14.2% vs 15.1% in Q3. Management attributes moderation to ~175 basis points of Fed rate cuts since late 2024 and a higher capital base after the AT1 issuance.
Spread and Margin Pressure
Net interest spread declined from 1.75% to 1.67% YoY. Management cited an inverted yield curve, additional rate cuts, and rollover of lower-rate funding replaced at higher cost as headwinds to spread generation.
Rising Operating Expenses and Seasonal Q4 Increase
Operating expenses rose 13% YoY to $90.6 million as management invested in technology and talent. Q4 operating expenses were $27.4 million, up 20% YoY and 28% QoQ (year-end accruals and variable compensation), temporarily elevating the quarterly efficiency ratio.
One-Off Items Make 2026 Fee Comparisons Tougher
2025 noninterest income benefited from one-off fees (e.g., Staatsolie transaction), creating a tougher comp for 2026 despite management expecting fee income to remain broadly similar in relative terms (~18–20% of revenues).
Isolated Credit Watch Items
Provisions increased modestly due to a single petrochemical-sector client added in Q3 (under 1% of portfolio) and a small Stage 3 upstream gas exposure (~0.2% of portfolio). These were monitored and well provisioned but required additional oversight.
Macro and Country Risks in LatAm
Management flagged risks: Colombia's fiscal situation (possible sovereign downgrade) and increased corporate defaults/bankruptcies in Brazil that could elevate refinancing risk. Elections in several countries could cause regional volatility.
Competitive and Highly Liquid Market Environment
Expectations of a highly liquid, competitive 2026 with ongoing spread compression and two additional rate cuts could pressure margins and pricing power across business lines.
Normalization of Deposit Growth and Funding Cost Dynamics
While deposits grew strongly in 2025 (+22% YoY), management expects deposit growth to normalize in 2026; prior rollovers of fixed-rate funding from very low-rate periods also pressured funding costs this year.
Short-Term Book Requires Constant Repricing
Approximately 67–70% of exposures mature within 12 months (portfolio duration ~15 months), meaning the bank must continuously reprice and manage short-tenor risk in a challenging rate/spread environment.
Company Guidance
Bladex framed 2026 as a transition year and gave numeric guidance: commercial portfolio growth of 13–15% (with average deposit growth at a similar 13–15% pace), net interest margin around 2.3%, an efficiency ratio near 28%, adjusted ROE of 14–15% (adjusted basis), and Basel III Tier‑1 capital of 15–16%; management also expects fee income to remain broadly in line with 2025 (roughly 18–20% of revenues) while navigating a highly liquid, competitive environment with two anticipated Fed rate cuts as it scales new IT and treasury platforms.

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability is solid in the latest TTM with ~27% net and EBIT margins, and leverage is improving (debt-to-equity ~2.16) with ROE around ~15%. Offsetting this, TTM revenue is down (-7.4% YoY) and cash flow has been highly volatile across years (large negative in 2024 followed by a sharp rebound), reducing consistency and predictability.
Income Statement
74
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is slightly down (-7.4%) versus the prior year, but profitability remains solid with net margin around 27% and EBIT margin also near 27%. Over the last few annual periods, revenue expanded meaningfully into 2024, and margins generally improved versus 2023–2024 levels. A key weakness is the historical volatility in reported profitability (notably 2022 showing an unusual negative net margin), which reduces confidence in consistency despite the strong recent run-rate.
Balance Sheet
63
Positive
Leverage is elevated but improving: debt-to-equity is ~2.16 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), down from ~3.43 in 2024 and higher levels earlier, supported by rising equity. Returns on equity are healthy and stable around ~15% in both 2024 and TTM, indicating good profitability relative to capital. The main risk remains a still-high absolute leverage profile for a regional bank, which can amplify earnings sensitivity in stressed periods even though the trend is moving in the right direction.
Cash Flow
56
Neutral
Cash generation is a mixed picture: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow and free cash flow are strongly positive (~$0.83B) and roughly match net income, signaling good cash conversion in the latest period. However, recent history shows significant volatility with deeply negative operating/free cash flow in 2024 (and other earlier years), followed by a sharp rebound, which raises questions about durability. The very large TTM free cash flow growth rate reflects this swing rather than steady compounding.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue339.60M810.60M683.41M330.75M155.74M
Gross Profit317.50M284.78M209.87M126.61M101.64M
EBITDA226.90M209.44M169.25M94.75M66.19M
Net Income226.90M205.87M166.16M92.04M62.70M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.79B11.86B10.74B9.28B8.04B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments0.002.06B2.06B1.24B1.25B
Total Debt4.03B4.58B4.68B4.73B3.75B
Total Liabilities11.11B10.52B9.54B8.21B7.05B
Stockholders Equity1.68B1.34B1.20B1.07B991.79M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.00-1.13B1.06B-772.37M-872.52M
Operating Cash Flow0.00-1.13B1.06B-769.65M-871.71M
Investing Cash Flow0.00-180.02M-12.77M-166.66M-446.08M
Financing Cash Flow0.001.14B-253.22M916.25M1.68B

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price45.13
Price Trends
50DMA
46.27
Positive
100DMA
45.29
Positive
200DMA
43.61
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.09
Positive
RSI
59.65
Neutral
STOCH
30.93
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BLX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 45.13 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.12, below the 50-day MA of 46.27, and above the 200-day MA of 43.61, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.09 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 59.65 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.93 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BLX.

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Risk Analysis

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$1.85B9.1914.82%2.73%3.98%6.75%
71
Outperform
$2.33B17.905.33%4.11%41.45%-41.16%
70
Outperform
$1.74B8.1115.05%5.67%1.35%9.65%
68
Neutral
$3.38B13.9610.18%0.80%-39.57%-49.55%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
65
Neutral
$5.58B19.697.66%2.37%-55.81%-78.94%
63
Neutral
$868.17M37.002.90%1.34%6.45%8.32%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BLX
Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio
49.88
13.80
38.24%
BMA
Banco Macro SA
92.26
7.53
8.88%
BBAR
Banco BBVA Argentina
17.14
-1.47
-7.92%
BUSE
First Busey
26.43
3.46
15.07%
OFG
OFG Bancorp
42.66
1.93
4.73%
EQBK
Equity Bancshares
46.46
4.42
10.52%

Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio Corporate Events

Banco Latinoamericano Reports Financial Growth in Q3 2025
Oct 31, 2025

On October 31, 2025, Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior, S.A. released its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ending September 30, 2025. The report highlights a growth in total assets from $11.86 billion at the end of 2024 to $12.50 billion by September 2025, driven by increases in loans and investment securities. This financial performance indicates a strengthening position in the market, potentially benefiting stakeholders through improved financial stability and expanded lending capacity.

The most recent analyst rating on (BLX) stock is a Hold with a $48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio stock, see the BLX Stock Forecast page.

Bladex Reports Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results with $55 Million Net Profit
Oct 30, 2025

Bladex reported solid financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2025, with net profits of $55 million and $170.9 million, respectively. The bank’s performance was driven by diversified earnings, strong fee income, and a growing credit portfolio, despite challenges like margin compression and higher provisions for credit losses. The successful issuance of $200 million in Additional Tier 1 capital further strengthened its capital position, enhancing its regulatory capital adequacy ratios.

The most recent analyst rating on (BLX) stock is a Hold with a $48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio stock, see the BLX Stock Forecast page.

Bladex Declares Third Quarter 2025 Dividend
Oct 29, 2025

On October 28, 2025, Bladex announced the approval of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.625 per share for the third quarter of 2025, payable on November 25, 2025, to stockholders recorded by November 10, 2025. This announcement reflects Bladex’s ongoing commitment to providing returns to its shareholders and underscores its stable financial performance. With 37,231,065.88 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2025, the dividend demonstrates the bank’s robust position in the financial sector, supporting its regional expansion and servicing of a diverse customer base.

The most recent analyst rating on (BLX) stock is a Buy with a $50.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Banco Latinoamericano De Comercio stock, see the BLX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 17, 2026