Singapore banking sector Q3 earnings: DBS, OCBC and UOB compared

The three results. DBS reported Q3 net profit of S$2.81 billion, down 5% on a year ago and 9% on Q2. OCBC reported S$2.04 billion, up 3% on a year ago and down 8% on Q2. UOB reported S$1.25 billion against S$443 million in Q3 2025, and down 15% on Q2. Here S$ means Singapore dollars. For nine months, DBS earned S$8.82 billion (up 2%), OCBC a record S$6.24 billion (up 10%) and UOB S$4.17 billion (up 27%).

Why they look so different. UOB's Q3 2025 was weighed down by S$1.36 billion of provisions, money set aside for bad loans. This year it set aside S$258 million, so profit jumped. Its fall from Q2 came mainly because Q2 had gains from asset sales. At DBS, net interest income rose 4% to S$3.71 billion and fees rose 6%, but income from market trading fell 65% to S$152 million. At OCBC, profit from banking operations hit a record S$1.9 billion, up 16%, while its insurance arm Great Eastern had a weaker quarter.

What is the same. Net interest margin, the gap between lending income and funding cost, narrowed at all three. DBS: 1.87% against 1.96%. UOB: 1.68% against 1.82%. OCBC: down 18 basis points on a year ago. Fees were a bright spot. UOB had a record S$733 million, up 19%. OCBC fees rose 8%.

The share moves. In the week of November 2 to 6, DBS closed on November 6 at S$69.72, down 3.78% from its November 2 open of S$72.46. UOB fell 10.27% over the week, closing at S$36.88 from a high of S$41.10 on November 2. OCBC fell 4.28%, closing at S$27.73 from a high of S$28.97. On November 4 UOB shares closed 5% lower after profit missed the S$1.38 billion forecast of six analysts polled by Bloomberg.

Why they fell. The Business Times notes that the shares had already taken a beating in early October, after some analysts warned that results might fall short of high expectations. DBS and UOB then reported lower-than-expected earnings, per The Straits Times. OCBC was the only one to meet expectations, but its shares fell too. Our reading: when expectations are high, even a decent quarter can disappoint. The Business Times also notes that the three banks remain the best performers on the Singapore index so far this year.

Keep in mind: we do not know how much of the drop comes from the results and how much from a wider market move. This is an overview, not advice.

Fatos confirmados

• DBS reported Q3 2026 net profit of S$2.81 billion, down 5% on a year ago and 9% on Q2; nine-month net profit rose 2% to a record S$8.82 billion.^[1]
• At DBS, Q3 net interest income rose 4% to S$3.71 billion and net fee income rose 6% to S$1.43 billion, while markets trading income fell 65% to S$152 million due to unfavourable market conditions.^[1]
• DBS group net interest margin was 1.87% in Q3 2026, down nine basis points from a year ago; the NPL ratio was 0.9%.^[1]
• DBS declared a Q3 total dividend of 81 cents per share: a 66 cent ordinary dividend and a 15 cent capital return dividend.^[1]
• OCBC reported Q3 2026 net profit of S$2.04 billion, up 3% on a year ago and down 8% on Q2; nine-month net profit was a record S$6.24 billion, up 10%.^[2]
• OCBC Q3 net interest income was S$2.31 billion, up 4% on a year ago; fee income rose 8%; Q3 net interest margin contracted 18 basis points on a year ago.^[2]
• OCBC's banking operations profit rose 16% to a record S$1.9 billion in Q3, while insurance arm Great Eastern reported a 72% fall in Q3 net profit.^[6]
• OCBC's Q3 profit came in slightly above the S$2 billion consensus of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, and it was the only Singapore bank to meet Q3 earnings expectations.^[6]
• UOB reported Q3 2026 net profit of S$1.25 billion against S$443 million in Q3 2025, and down 15% from S$1.48 billion in Q2.^[3]
• UOB's allowance for credit and other losses was S$258 million in Q3 2026 against S$1.36 billion in Q3 2025; the Q2 to Q3 fall in profit was mainly due to asset divestment gains in Q2.^[3]
• UOB net fee income reached a record S$733 million, up 19% on a year ago; its Q3 net interest margin was 1.68% against 1.82% a year earlier.^[3]
• UOB's Q3 profit missed the S$1.38 billion forecast of six analysts polled by Bloomberg; its shares closed 5% lower at S$38.44 on November 4.^[5]
• In the week of November 2 to 6, DBS closed at S$69.72 on November 6, down 3.78% from its November 2 open of S$72.46.^[4]
• UOB shares fell 10.27% over the week to S$36.88 from a high of S$41.10 on November 2; OCBC fell 4.28% to S$27.73 from a high of S$28.97.^[4]
• DBS and UOB reported lower-than-expected earnings for Q3, according to The Straits Times.^[4]
• The three banks' shares had already taken a beating in early October after some analysts flagged the risk of results falling short of elevated expectations; they were among the worst performers on the Singapore index in the week but remain its best performers so far this year.^[7]

Implicações

• ConfirmadoThe three headline profit changes are not like for like: UOB's jump comes from a year-ago base depressed by large provisions.
• ConfirmadoMargins narrowed at all three banks, while fee income held up.
• Nossa leituraHigh expectations, more than weak business, probably explain much of the share drop. This is our inference.

Ainda não se sabe

• How much of the share drop is due to the results and how much to a wider market de-rating; the Business Times piece asks this question, and we saw only part of it
• How the shares moved after November 6
• Whether the margin squeeze will ease; OCBC says higher US rates should help net interest income in coming quarters, which is a company view
• We did not use analysts' ratings or target prices

Quem é afetado

Singapore, Asia, World. People who follow global banks, Asian markets or Singapore's stock market

Fontes

1. DBS: DBS third-quarter net profit at SGD 2.81 billion 5 de novembro de 2026 · oficial
2. OCBC: OCBC Group third quarter 2026 results 6 de novembro de 2026 · oficial
3. UOB: Third Quarter 2026 Performance Highlights 4 de novembro de 2026 · oficial
4. The Straits Times: DBS, OCBC, UOB shares drop after Q3 results; SATS hit by work pass concerns: Markets this week 8 de novembro de 2026 · mídia
5. The Straits Times: UOB's Q3 net profit jumps 182% to $1.25b as bank sets aside less for bad loans 10 de novembro de 2026 · mídia
6. The Straits Times: OCBC's Q3 net profit up 3% at $2.04b, lifted by record banking operations profit 11 de novembro de 2026 · mídia
7. The Business Times: DBS, OCBC, UOB's big sell-off: Was it their Q3 numbers or a broader market de-rating? 8 de novembro de 2026 · mídia