Revenues slipped 4.25 percent to P275.47 million, hit by weaker commission and interest income.
Commission revenues fell 2.35 percent to P91.74 million, largely due to a 6.4 basis point drop in average commission rates for institutional clients.
The decrease was a “direct result of the [Securities and Exchange Commission’s] removal of the 25 basis points minimum commission rate in April 2024, which intensified pricing competition among brokers,” COL Financial said.
Last year, the SEC scrapped the 1.5 percent minimum commission set in the late 1970s, allowing brokers to set their own fees to boost market activity and attract more investors.
Key Q1 indicators
Interest income fell 7.04 percent but was cushioned by increased margin lending.
Customer accounts grew 3.6 percent to 558,375 in the first quarter of 2025.
Client equity rose 5.4 percent to P117.75 billion, signaling strong engagement.
Net income got a boost from a 46.7 percent drop in taxes due to deferred tax reversal and loss carryovers.
