友邦保险：在中国以外市场实现适度的VONB增长；回购将比预期更快完成。-20250502

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for AIA Group Ltd. with a target price of HK$89, indicating a potential upside of 53.2$58.10 [4][29]. Core Insights - AIA Group reported a strong growth in Value of New Business (VONB) of 13% year-on-year (YoY) in Q1 2025, driven by a 3 percentage point increase in profit margin and a 7% growth in Annualized New Premium (ANP) [1][2]. - The VONB margin reached a record high of 57.5%, attributed to a gradual shift in product mix towards participating long-term savings [1][2]. - The company initiated a US$1.6 billion share buyback program, expected to be completed faster than initially planned, reflecting AIA's commitment to shareholder returns [1][2]. Summary by Sections VONB Growth - Group VONB increased by 13$1.5 billion in Q1 2025, with agency VONB growing by 21% to US$1.22 billion, accounting for 75$400 million due to increased competition in Hong Kong and regulatory tightening in China [2][3]. - Excluding China, bank insurance VONB grew by 21% YoY [2]. Financial Performance - The report projects a total shareholder return of 6.2% for FY2025, with a dividend yield of 3.3% and a buyback yield of 2.9% [1][3]. - The operating profit after tax (OPAT) is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% from 2023 to 2026 [1][3]. Valuation Metrics - The stock is valued at a price-to-embedded value (P/EV) of 1.05 times and a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 1.65 times for FY2025 [3][4]. - The report estimates a forward operating return on equity (ROE) of 15% over the next three years [3].