Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-11-12 13:36Core Viewpoint - Agricultural Bank's stock price surged over 4% on November 12, reaching a market capitalization of over 3 trillion yuan for the first time, marking a historical high. The stock has increased by 68% year-to-date and surpassed Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to become the new "universe bank" in early September [1][4]. Financial Performance - Agricultural Bank's price-to-book (PB) ratio has surpassed 1 for the first time among the four major state-owned banks, currently at 1.10, while its peers are below 0.8 [4]. - The bank's operating income grew by 2.0% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025, with its non-interest income growth leading among the four major banks at 31.7% [5][8]. - The bank achieved a floating profit of 8.5 billion yuan in the first three quarters, outperforming its peers, and was the only major bank to report a floating profit during the first quarter's bond market downturn [8][10]. Market Position and Strategy - Analysts suggest that Agricultural Bank's strong performance is attributed to its unique financial market operations and effective county-level financial strategies. The bank's credit expansion potential and resilient interest margins are highlighted as key strengths [4][16]. - The bank's strategy of maintaining a low proportion of TPL accounts (below 4%) has minimized its exposure to bond market fluctuations, allowing it to navigate market adjustments more effectively [10][11]. Seasonal Trends - The bank's performance aligns with historical seasonal trends, as the banking sector typically experiences a favorable period from November to January, with absolute return probabilities reaching 70%-80% [21][23]. - The bank's strong performance in the fourth quarter is expected to benefit from the traditional "opening red" phenomenon in January, where financial data is released, providing clearer insights for investors [23]. Future Outlook - Market analysts believe that Agricultural Bank's achievement of a PB ratio above 1 is indicative of a broader trend of valuation recovery among state-owned banks, supported by government policies aimed at strengthening these institutions [18][20]. - The bank's robust fundamentals, including strict non-performing loan recognition and strong provisioning, provide a solid foundation for future growth and risk management [16][17].