UBS posts better-than-expected profit, as wealth-management unit brings in $23.3 billion in new client money

Revenue was $8.03 billion compared with $8.71 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021.

It meant the Zurich-based bank beat 4Q estimates of net profit of $1.28 billion and revenue at $7.98 billion, according to analysts’ consensus provided by the company.

UBS said it took on $23.3 billion in net new fee-generating assets at its key wealth-management business in the quarter, at a time when its local rival Credit Suisse Group AG had struggled with client withdrawals.

Profit before tax at wealth management jumped 88% to $1.06 billion, it added.

It also attracted $25 billion in net new money at its asset-management business, UBS said.

But at its investment bank, profit before tax tumbled to around $100 million, down 84%, as dealmaking slumped.

The bank cited persistent inflation, rapid central bank tightening, the Ukraine war, and geopolitical tensions that affected asset-pricing levels and investor sentiment in the year.

“While the macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain, our operational resilience, capital strength and capital generation put us in a great position to serve our clients, fund growth and deliver strong capital returns to shareholders,” Chief Executive Ralph Hamers said.

Its common equity tier 1 ratio, a measure of financial strength, at the end of December was 14.2%, down from 14.4% at the third quarter.

The company said it would propose a dividend of $0.55 for 2022, a 10% year-on-year increase.

The lender added that it would remain committed to a progressive dividend and expects to repurchase more than $5 billion of shares in 2023, after $5.6 billion in 2022.

Write to Ed Frankl at [email protected]