Ge Long Hui·2025-08-21 19:56Core Insights - ZhongAn reported a strong performance in 1H25 with a net profit of RMB 668 million, a significant increase of 1103.5% compared to RMB 55 million in the same period last year [1] - The insurance business saw a substantial growth in underwriting profit, which rose by 123% to RMB 630 million, driven by health, auto, and consumer finance ecosystems [1] - The company maintained a "buy" rating due to the positive trends across its insurance, investment, technology, and banking sectors [1] Insurance Business Performance - Health insurance remains the primary profit source, contributing nearly 60% of underwriting profit in 1H25, with premiums reaching RMB 6.275 billion, a year-on-year increase of 38.3% [1] - The flagship product, "Zunxiang e Sheng," generated RMB 4.25 billion in premiums, showing growth from a low base last year [1] - The combined operating ratio (COR) for health insurance improved by 2.8 percentage points to 92.9%, with a decrease in expense ratio by 7.2 percentage points to 50.4% [1] Auto and Consumer Finance Ecosystems - The auto insurance segment experienced a premium growth of 34% to RMB 1.48 billion, with COR improving by 3.0 percentage points to 91.2% [2] - The consumer finance ecosystem saw a 24% increase in premiums, with COR decreasing by 5.1 percentage points to 94.0%, reflecting improved asset quality [2] - The digital life ecosystem reported a 16% decline in total premiums, although innovative products like pet insurance grew by 40% [2] Banking and Technology Developments - ZhongAn Bank turned profitable in 1H25, reporting a profit of HKD 49 million, with customer deposits increasing by 8.8% to HKD 21.1 billion [3] - The bank's net interest margin improved to 2.38% from 2.28% in the previous year [3] - The technology segment's losses narrowed significantly from HKD 165 million in 1H24 to HKD 56 million in 1H25, indicating better performance [3] Earnings Forecast and Valuation - The earnings per share (EPS) estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been raised to RMB 0.85, RMB 0.79, and RMB 0.90 respectively, reflecting adjustments of 36%, 34%, and 36% [4] - The target price based on discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation has been increased to HKD 28 from HKD 25, maintaining a "buy" rating [4]