China Life(SH:601628) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-20 08:15Core Viewpoint - Citi believes that the Chinese life insurance industry is facing a significant turning point in 2026, with historical growth opportunities expected due to the maturation of over 70 trillion RMB in bank deposits and a shift in retail investor preferences towards higher-yielding insurance products [1][2]. Life Insurance Industry - The life insurance sector is projected to experience historic growth opportunities as retail investors seek higher returns in a low-interest environment, particularly through insurance products linked to the stock market [2]. - The proportion of insurance in Chinese household financial asset allocation is significantly lower than in mature markets like Japan, Singapore, and the UK, indicating substantial growth potential [2]. - Major life insurance companies, including China Life, Pacific Insurance, and Ping An Life, have reported strong new business value (NBV) growth in 2024 and the first half of 2025, with double-digit growth on a comparable basis [2]. - The shift towards participating insurance products is evident, with Pacific Life's participating insurance accounting for 42.5% of first-year premiums, Ping An Life at 40%, and China Life exceeding 50% in its agency channel [2][3]. - Life insurance profit margins are expected to remain stable, with the pricing rate adjustment in September 2025 offsetting potential margin erosion from the shift towards participating insurance [3]. Property and Casualty Insurance Industry - The property and casualty (P&C) insurance sector is anticipated to achieve a steady 4% growth in premiums in 2026, driven primarily by auto and personal insurance businesses [4]. - There is significant room for improvement in the combined ratio (CoR), especially after excluding natural disaster losses, supported by regulatory benefits [4]. - Regulatory measures, such as extending compliance management to non-auto insurance and enhancing auto insurance fee management, are expected to support CoR improvements [4][5]. - The relaxation of the pricing coefficient cap for new energy vehicle insurance from 1.35 to 1.5 will provide insurers with greater pricing flexibility [4]. - The top three P&C insurers have shown CoR improvements, with PICC, holding approximately 32% market share, expected to benefit the most from regulatory support [4]. Regulatory Environment - Since 2025, Chinese insurance regulators have introduced a series of supportive policies aimed at enhancing industry growth and profit margins [5][6]. - New regulations emphasize compliance and profitability over mere premium growth, requiring insurers to optimize key performance indicators and manage expenses effectively [6]. - Policies encouraging the development of commercial health insurance and long-term care insurance are also in place, promoting the growth of participating long-term health insurance products [6]. - A directive mandates that large state-owned insurers invest 30% of new premiums in the A-share market starting in 2025, which is expected to enhance investment returns, particularly during bullish market conditions [6].