中国银行（601988）：息差降幅趋缓，业绩平稳提速

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [1] Core Views - The company achieved a revenue of 630.1 billion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 1.2%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 237.8 billion yuan, up 2.6% year-on-year [4][9] - The report highlights a stable performance with a gradual improvement in asset quality, as evidenced by a decrease in the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio to 1.25% and an increase in the provision coverage ratio to 201% [4][12] - The company’s non-interest income grew by 15.9% year-on-year, although investment-related non-interest income saw a slowdown to 35% [6][9] Financial Data and Earnings Forecast - The total revenue and net profit forecasts for the upcoming years are as follows: - 2025E Revenue: 641.1 billion yuan, growth of 1.75% - 2025E Net Profit: 245.8 billion yuan, growth of 3.34% [5] - The company’s cost-to-income ratio is projected to improve, contributing positively to profit growth [6][9] - The report anticipates a stable net interest margin (NIM) of 1.40% for 2024, supported by a decrease in deposit costs [6][10] Loan and Credit Quality - The company’s loan growth was 8.2% year-on-year, with significant contributions from corporate loans, particularly in manufacturing and infrastructure sectors [6][8] - The report notes a balanced contribution from various sectors, with corporate loans accounting for approximately 86% of new loans in the second half of 2024 [8][9] - Retail loan quality showed some volatility, with an increase in the NPL ratio for retail loans, particularly in mortgages and credit cards [9][12] Dividend and Shareholder Returns - The company maintained a stable dividend payout ratio of approximately 32%, supporting a high dividend yield of 6.52% [1][4] - The current share price corresponds to a price-to-book (PB) ratio of 0.63 for 2025, indicating potential value for investors [9]