DBS Q4 Profit -10%: More Decline On The Way With Record High?

DBS Group shares slipped 1.9% intraday after Q4 net profit fell ~10% YoY to S$2.36B, missing consensus S$2.52B. Net interest margin compressed sharply to 2.34% (vs 2.77%), offsetting strong +13.5% fee income growth. While full-year profit dipped 3.2%, total dividends jumped 38% to S$3.06, supported by capital return payouts through 2027. After a ~60% rally since last April and a recent record high, investors are reassessing rate headwinds versus capital returns. Is this just post-earnings digestion—or the start of a deeper bank rotation?