Changjiang Securities·2025-04-28 09:13Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" and maintained [12] Core Insights - The Longjiang Bank Index increased by 0.6% this week, outperforming the CSI 300 Index by 0.2% and underperforming the ChiNext Index by 1.4%. The banking sector's defensive attributes have gained traction due to a decline in market risk appetite [2][6] - The performance of listed banks remains stable, with city commercial banks exceeding expectations in their Q1 reports, supporting upward valuation adjustments. Notably, Chongqing Bank and Nanjing Bank reported significant year-on-year growth in net interest income of 28% and 18%, respectively, driven by a low base from last year and improved interest margins [2][7][29] Summary by Sections Market Performance - The Longjiang Bank Index's performance reflects a shift towards defensive investments in the banking sector amid rising risk aversion. The index's performance is supported by the positive earnings reports from major banks [2][6] Earnings Reports - As of April 25, 2025, 15 A-share listed banks have disclosed their Q1 earnings. Most banks reported positive revenue growth, with only two banks experiencing declines. The net profit for all but one bank also showed positive growth. The asset quality remains stable, with non-performing loan ratios generally declining or stable [7][29] - The rebound in net interest income growth is a key highlight, with nine banks reporting year-on-year increases. The overall improvement in net interest margins is attributed to a significant reduction in funding costs [29][30] Dividend Yields - As of April 25, 2025, the average dividend yield for the five major state-owned banks in A-shares is 4.5%, with a spread of 280 basis points over the 10-year government bond yield. The H-shares have an average yield of 6.0%, with a spread of 435 basis points, indicating a more attractive yield in the H-share market [6][23] Monetary Policy Insights - The Central Political Bureau meeting on April 25, 2025, reiterated the need for timely interest rate cuts and reserve requirement ratio reductions. The meeting emphasized the creation of new structural monetary policy tools to support technological innovation and consumption expansion [35][37]