Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-11-13 05:56Core Viewpoint - The banking sector in the A-share market has experienced a dramatic reversal in the fourth quarter, with the Shenwan Bank Index rising nearly 9% since the beginning of the quarter, significantly outperforming the broader market [2][3]. Market Performance - The banking sector's strong performance is not a one-day event but shows a trend of upward movement, with the Shenwan Bank Index increasing by 8.86% in the fourth quarter, compared to a 3.02% rise in the Shanghai Composite Index [3][4]. - Individual stocks have shown even greater gains, with Agricultural Bank of China and Chongqing Bank rising over 27%, and Shanghai Bank and Xiamen Bank increasing by more than 17% [3]. Fund Flow and Investor Sentiment - In the third quarter, the banking sector was the only one to decline, with a cumulative drop of 10.19%, and public funds significantly reduced their holdings, selling 535.9 million shares [4]. - In contrast, over 6 billion yuan has flowed into bank-related ETFs in the fourth quarter, indicating a shift in investor sentiment towards the banking sector [4][6]. Institutional Interest - There has been an increase in institutional interest in the banking sector, with 11 banks receiving attention from 62 institutions since the beginning of the fourth quarter [4][5]. - Some banks that were previously heavily sold off in the third quarter are now being researched by institutions, indicating a potential turnaround in investor perception [5]. Valuation and Dividend Appeal - Analysts attribute the renewed interest in bank stocks to their low valuation and high dividend yield, making them attractive in a risk-averse environment as the year ends [6][7]. - The banking sector's valuation remains at historical lows, and the high dividend characteristics are expected to attract long-term capital, including insurance funds and public funds [6][7]. Divergent Views on Investment Value - There is a divergence in institutional views regarding the investment value of the banking sector, with some analysts believing that the sector's valuation does not fully reflect its true value, particularly for quality regional banks [8][9]. - Other analysts express caution, suggesting that the recent gains in bank stocks may be driven by short-term factors and that the sector's appeal may be more tactical than fundamental [9].