Freedom Holding's Net Income Plunges 66% Amid FX Headwinds

Ticker: FRHC · Form: 10-Q · Filed: 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z

Sentiment: bearish

Topics: Financial Services, Brokerage, Banking, Insurance, International Operations, Foreign Exchange Risk, Earnings Decline

TL;DR

**FRHC's net income cratered, signaling deep operational issues or severe FX exposure; I'm bearish until they show a clear path to profitability.**

AI Summary

Freedom Holding Corp. (FRHC) reported a significant decline in net income for the three and six months ended September 30, 2025, despite an increase in total revenue for the six-month period. Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, plummeted to $38.721 million, a 66.27% decrease from $114.488 million in the prior year. For the six months ended September 30, 2025, net income was $69.117 million, down 53.55% from $148.747 million in the same period last year. Total revenue for the six months increased slightly to $1.059 billion from $1.041 billion, driven by higher fee and commission income and net gain on trading securities, but offset by a decrease in interest income and insurance premiums earned. Key business changes include a substantial increase in customer liabilities to $5.759 billion from $4.304 billion, and a significant rise in loans issued to $1.750 billion from $1.595 billion. The company also saw a substantial foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $107.332 million for the six months. Risks include increased allowance for expected credit losses, which rose to $16.766 million for the six months from $8.657 million, and a notable increase in payroll and bonuses expense to $186.244 million. The strategic outlook appears to involve continued expansion in financial services and ancillary businesses across multiple jurisdictions, as evidenced by its diverse subsidiary portfolio.

Why It Matters

This significant drop in net income, particularly the 66.27% decline in the last quarter, signals potential operational challenges or market shifts that could impact investor confidence. The substantial foreign currency translation loss of $107.332 million highlights the company's exposure to currency fluctuations, a critical factor for investors given its broad international presence. For employees, the increased payroll and bonuses expense suggests continued investment in human capital, but the overall profitability decline could raise future concerns. Customers might see the expansion of services as beneficial, but the increased allowance for credit losses could indicate a more cautious lending environment. In a competitive landscape, FRHC's diversified business model across brokerage, banking, and insurance, alongside its ancillary businesses, positions it uniquely, but the recent financial performance could put pressure on its market standing against more focused financial institutions.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: high — The risk level is high due to the dramatic 66.27% decrease in net income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and a 53.55% decrease for the six months ended September 30, 2025. Additionally, the company experienced a substantial foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $107.332 million for the six months, indicating significant exposure to currency volatility. The allowance for expected credit losses also nearly doubled to $16.766 million for the six months, up from $8.657 million, suggesting increased credit risk.

Analyst Insight

Investors should exercise extreme caution and consider reducing exposure to FRHC given the sharp decline in net income and significant foreign exchange losses. A deeper dive into the drivers of the increased allowance for expected credit losses and the sustainability of revenue growth is warranted before making any new investments.

Financial Highlights

debt To Equity
N/A
revenue
$1.059B
operating Margin
N/A
total Assets
N/A
total Debt
N/A
net Income
$69.117M
eps
N/A
gross Margin
N/A
cash Position
$635.975M
revenue Growth
+1.73%

Revenue Breakdown

SegmentRevenueGrowth
Fee and commission incomeN/A+N/A%
Net gain on trading securitiesN/A+N/A%
Interest incomeN/A-N/A%
Insurance premiums earnedN/A-N/A%

Key Numbers

Key Players & Entities

FAQ

Why did Freedom Holding Corp.'s net income decrease so significantly in Q2 2025?

Freedom Holding Corp.'s net income decreased significantly due to a substantial foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $65.528 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, and a decrease in net gain on trading securities from $68.317 million to $37.104 million compared to the prior year.

What were the key revenue drivers for Freedom Holding Corp. in the first six months of fiscal year 2025?

For the six months ended September 30, 2025, key revenue drivers included fee and commission income of $239.880 million and net gain on trading securities of $82.706 million. However, interest income decreased to $410.233 million from $436.328 million, and insurance premiums earned decreased to $278.485 million from $289.752 million.

How has Freedom Holding Corp.'s exposure to foreign exchange risk changed?

Freedom Holding Corp.'s exposure to foreign exchange risk appears to have increased, as evidenced by a foreign currency translation adjustment loss of $107.332 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a loss of $85.778 million in the prior year, indicating a larger negative impact from currency fluctuations.

What is the status of Freedom Holding Corp.'s cash and restricted cash balances?

As of September 30, 2025, Freedom Holding Corp. had cash and cash equivalents of $635.975 million and restricted cash of $1.312 billion, totaling $1.948 billion. This represents an increase from $1.644 billion at the beginning of the period.

What are the major changes in Freedom Holding Corp.'s liabilities?

Major changes in liabilities include a significant increase in customer liabilities to $5.759 billion as of September 30, 2025, from $4.304 billion as of March 31, 2025. Conversely, securities repurchase agreement obligations decreased to $806.344 million from $1.418 billion.

How has Freedom Holding Corp.'s allowance for expected credit losses evolved?

The allowance for expected credit losses for Freedom Holding Corp. increased to $16.766 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from $8.657 million in the same period last year, indicating a near doubling of provisions for potential loan defaults.

What impact did stock compensation expense have on Freedom Holding Corp.'s financials?

Stock compensation expense for Freedom Holding Corp. increased to $38.550 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, up from $22.671 million in the prior year, contributing to the overall increase in expenses.

What acquisitions did Freedom Holding Corp. make during the period?

During the six months ended September 30, 2025, Freedom Holding Corp. paid $10.346 million in consideration for the acquisition of Astel Group Ltd, and received $7.678 million in cash and cash equivalents from this acquisition.

What is Freedom Holding Corp.'s strategy regarding its diverse business segments?

Freedom Holding Corp. continues to operate and expand its diverse business segments, including securities brokerage, banking, insurance, and ancillary businesses like telecommunications and online retail, across multiple international jurisdictions such as Kazakhstan, Cyprus, and the UAE, as detailed in its subsidiary list.

What are the earnings per common share for Freedom Holding Corp. for the latest quarter?

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, Freedom Holding Corp.'s basic earnings per common share were $0.65, a significant decrease from $1.93 in the same period last year. Diluted earnings per common share were $0.63, down from $1.89.

Risk Factors

Industry Context

Freedom Holding Corp. operates within the financial services sector, which is characterized by intense competition, evolving regulatory landscapes, and sensitivity to macroeconomic conditions. The industry is seeing a trend towards digitalization and increased demand for diverse financial products, from brokerage services to insurance and lending.

Regulatory Implications

As a financial services provider, FRHC is subject to stringent regulations across multiple jurisdictions. Changes in capital requirements, consumer protection laws, and international financial reporting standards can significantly impact operations and profitability. The substantial foreign currency translation loss may also draw attention from regulators regarding risk management practices.

What Investors Should Do

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Glossary

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
Gains or losses that arise when a company's financial statements are translated from a foreign currency into the reporting currency. These occur due to changes in exchange rates. (A significant loss of $107.332 million impacted FRHC's comprehensive income, highlighting exposure to international operations.)
Allowance for Expected Credit Losses
An estimate of the amount of uncollectible loans and receivables that a company expects to incur over the life of its loans. It's a contra-asset account that reduces the carrying value of loans. (The substantial increase to $16.766 million indicates management's concern about potential loan defaults, impacting profitability.)
Customer Liabilities
Represents obligations owed by the company to its customers, often related to deposits, margin accounts, or other financial services where the company holds customer assets or funds. (The increase to $5.759 billion suggests growth in client activity and assets under management, but also increased responsibility.)
Net Gain on Trading Securities
Profits realized from the sale of securities held for trading purposes. These are typically short-term investments. (An increase in this category contributed positively to revenue, but can be volatile.)
Comprehensive Income
A measure of the total change in a company's equity over a period from non-owner sources. It includes net income plus other comprehensive income (OCI) items like foreign currency translation adjustments. (The large foreign currency loss significantly reduced FRHC's comprehensive income.)

Year-Over-Year Comparison

Freedom Holding Corp. reported a mixed financial performance compared to the prior year. While total revenue for the six months ended September 30, 2025, saw a modest increase to $1.059 billion from $1.041 billion, net income experienced a sharp decline. Net income for the six-month period fell by 53.55% to $69.117 million. This divergence is attributed to significant increases in expenses, including payroll and bonuses, and a substantial foreign currency translation loss of $107.332 million, which overshadowed revenue gains and negatively impacted margins.

Filing Stats: 4,442 words · 18 min read · ~15 pages · Grade level 20 · Accepted 2025-11-07 16:07:21

Key Financial Figures

Filing Documents

— FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 3 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025, and March 31, 2025 3 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Statements of Other Comprehensive Income for the Three Months and Six Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months and Six Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 6 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Three Months and Six Months Ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 9 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 11 Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 68 Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk 104 Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Controls and Procedures 108

— OTHER INFORMATION

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION 109 Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

Legal Proceedings 109 Item 1A.

Risk Factors

Risk Factors 109 Item 5. Other Information 109 Item 6. Exhibits 109

Signatures

Signatures 111 2 Table of Contents FREEDOM HOLDING CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (All amounts in thousands of United States dollars, unless otherwise stated) September 30, 2025 March 31, 2025 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 635,975 $ 837,302 Restricted cash 1,312,229 807,468 Investment securities 2,511,419 2,814,733 Margin lending, brokerage and other receivables, net 3,528,382 3,319,145 Loans issued (including $ 225,217 and $ 188,445 to related parties) 1,750,575 1,595,435 Fixed assets, net 263,830 191,103 Intangible assets, net 55,931 54,186 Goodwill 46,247 49,093 Right-of-use asset 37,103 39,828 Insurance contract assets 19,475 37,183 Other assets, net (including $ 20,568 and $ 18,994 with related parties) 188,603 168,541 TOTAL ASSETS $ 10,349,769 $ 9,914,017 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Securities repurchase agreement obligations $ 806,344 $ 1,418,443 Customer liabilities 5,759,636 4,304,999 Margin lending and trade payables 507,734 1,322,241 Liabilities from insurance activity 520,220 481,539 Current income tax liability 51,153 28,919 Debt securities issued 742,774 469,551 Lease liability 38,804 40,525 Liability arising from continuing involvement 476,030 503,705 Other liabilities 225,852 129,737 TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 9,128,547 $ 8,699,659 Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 23) — — SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock - $ 0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding — — Common stock - $ 0.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 61,159,931 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2025, and 60,993,949 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025, respectively 61 61 Additional paid in capital 285,160 246,610 Retained earnings 1,154,682 1,085,565 Accumulated other comprehensive loss ( 218,681 ) ( 117,995 ) TOTAL FRHC SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,221,222 $ 1,214,241 Non-controlling interest — 117 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS

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