Investment Rating - The investment rating for Agricultural Bank of China is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The report highlights that Agricultural Bank of China has outperformed its peers in terms of revenue and profit growth, with revenue and net profit for the first three quarters of 2024 increasing by 1.29% and 3.38% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The bank's net interest income has shown a year-on-year increase of 0.96%, with a stable net interest margin of 1.45% in Q3 2024 [1][4] - The bank's asset quality remains robust, with a non-performing loan ratio of 1.32% and a provision coverage ratio of 302.96% [4] - The report anticipates continued growth in revenue and profit, with projected revenue growth of 1.4% in 2024 and net profit growth of 1.53% [5] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2024, Agricultural Bank's revenue and net profit increased by 1.29% and 3.38% year-on-year, respectively, with net interest income rising by 0.96% [1] - The bank's total assets, loans, and financial investments grew by 12.55%, 10.68%, and 26.61% year-on-year in Q3 2024 [1] - The bank's net interest margin remained stable at 1.45% in Q3 2024, with effective cost control measures contributing to this stability [1][4] Asset Quality - The non-performing loan ratio stood at 1.32%, maintaining stability over three consecutive quarters, while the provision coverage ratio was 302.96% [4] - The bank's focus on rural finance has resulted in better asset quality in county-level loans, with a non-performing loan ratio of 1.12% in this segment [4] Growth Prospects - The report suggests that Agricultural Bank is well-positioned to benefit from urban-rural integration and the growth of financial demand in central and western regions of China [5] - The bank's retail loan growth is strong, with personal loans accounting for 35% of the national net increase in personal loans [1][5] Financial Projections - The projected operating revenue for 2024 is 704.57 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 1.4% [7] - The forecasted net profit for 2024 is 273.47 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 1.53% year-on-year [7]
农业银行:业绩领跑大行,息差环比企稳