智通财经网·2025-12-07 10:01Core Viewpoint - The price movement of U.S. banks is driven more by valuation than by performance, indicating that valuation has a greater direct elasticity on stock prices compared to fundamentals. Valuation determines whether prices rise and the absolute returns, while fundamentals dictate how much prices rise and the relative returns [1][5]. Summary by Stages Stage 1: Dual Decline of Valuation and Fundamentals - This stage occurs during systemic crises, such as the subprime mortgage crisis and global pandemic, where stability is key. Banks with stronger fundamentals experience smaller price declines, while those with similar fundamentals but lower valuations also see less decline [2][9]. Stage 2: Dual Rise of Valuation and Fundamentals - This stage typically follows systemic crises, characterized by significant recovery in both valuation and fundamentals. Banks with substantial positive improvements in fundamentals and lower valuations see greater price increases. Smaller banks perform better when either fundamentals or valuations dominate [3][17]. Stage 3: Improvement in Fundamentals without Valuation Increase - This stage occurs when supportive policies are in place, but market expectations about the economy remain divided. While fundamentals improve across the board, valuations do not rise, making the ability to increase valuation crucial for individual stocks. The two main sources for valuation increases are positive fundamental trends and event-driven catalysts [4][24]. Stage 4: Valuation Increase without Improvement in Fundamentals - This stage generally happens when economic expectations are clear, but monetary policy and operating environments do not favor banks. In this phase, strong fundamentals are the primary driver of excess returns, while low valuations serve as a secondary factor. The best-performing banks are those that achieve a combination of good fundamentals and low valuations [28][30]. Future Outlook - Currently, the U.S. banking sector is in a phase of valuation increase with stable fundamentals. The macroeconomic environment shows no signs of significant recession, with inflation gradually decreasing and expectations for a controlled interest rate environment. The banking sector's return on tangible equity (ROTE) is stabilizing at high levels, supported by a favorable capital market and low credit costs [35][39].