3 6 Ke·2025-07-02 01:16Core Viewpoint - The banking sector in A-shares has seen significant growth, with various banks experiencing substantial increases in stock prices despite a declining fundamental performance [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Since early 2025, shares of joint-stock banks, rural commercial banks, and city commercial banks have surged nearly 20%, leading the markets in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing [1]. - From 2024 onwards, specific banks like Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Shanghai Bank have seen stock price increases exceeding 100%, while others like Jiangsu Bank and Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank have risen over 90% [1][2]. - Even the "Big Four" banks have shown over 50% growth, continuously reaching new historical highs [1]. Group 2: Fundamental Analysis - As of Q1 2025, the 42 listed banks in A-shares reported a year-on-year decline in revenue and net profit attributable to shareholders by 1.7% and 1.2%, respectively [3][5]. - The net interest margin for commercial banks hit a record low of 1.43% in Q1 2025, below the acceptable level of 1.8% as indicated by the central bank [5][3]. - The non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.51%, indicating ongoing challenges in the banking sector [5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The rally in bank stocks began around the end of 2023, driven by state-owned entities ("national team") actively stabilizing the market and encouraging other funds to invest in banks [9][12]. - By the end of 2024, the "national team" held over 1 trillion yuan in A-share ETFs, significantly increasing their market presence [9][12]. - The influx of funds into ETFs, particularly those weighted heavily in banking stocks, has contributed to the sector's performance [10][11]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Despite the current bullish trend, the fundamental decline in bank performance suggests that the upward trajectory may not be sustainable, leading to potential valuation corrections [15][16]. - The banking sector's price-to-book ratio (PB) is currently at 0.71, with some banks exceeding a PB of 1, indicating a potential for overvaluation [15][16]. - Future investment strategies may focus on selecting city commercial banks with growth potential and lower bad debt ratios, while avoiding poorly performing smaller banks [16][17].