Record Profit and Shareholder Returns
HSBC reported a record profit before tax of $32.3 billion, or $34.1 billion excluding notable items, with a 14.6% return on tangible equity. The bank announced $26.9 billion in distributions to shareholders, including $0.87 per share in dividends and $11 billion in share buybacks.
Organizational Simplification and Cost Savings
HSBC implemented changes to create a more agile bank, aiming for $1.5 billion in annualized savings by the end of 2025 through role deduplication, representing an 8% reduction in global staffing costs.
Growth in Wealth and Premier Banking
International Wealth and Premier Banking reported strong performance, with a 27% increase in wealth revenues in Q4 2024. The bank added 234,000 new-to-bank Personal Banking customers in Hong Kong in Q4.
Strong Deposit and Loan Portfolio
HSBC's deposit base grew to $1.7 trillion, reflecting a strong, liquid, and profitable balance sheet. Loan growth is expected to stabilize, supported by strong customer trust and a conservative risk management approach.
Strategic Focus on High-Growth Markets
HSBC plans to focus investments on high-growth areas like Wealth in Asia and the Middle East, UK SME coverage, and wholesale transaction banking, redeploying $1.5 billion from non-strategic activities.