Haitong Securities International·2025-08-07 06:12Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for the securities industry, emphasizing the importance of continuous IT investment for improving customer experience and operational efficiency [30][31]. Core Insights - In 2024, the top ten securities companies in IT investment are all leading domestic firms, each investing over RMB 1 billion, with Huatai Securities and Guotai Junan exceeding RMB 2 billion. The total IT investment by these companies is RMB 15.58 billion, reflecting a 1.4% year-on-year increase. Seven companies increased their investment, while three decreased [37]. - The report highlights that the IT investment of the top ten securities companies exceeds 10% of their net profit, with the highest ratios observed in Guotai Securities (42%), China International Capital Corporation (32%), and Huatai Securities (28%) [15][22]. - The report notes that the growth in IT investment is particularly strong among small to medium-sized securities firms, with First Capital Securities, Caida Securities, and Everbright Securities leading in growth rates, each exceeding 20% [12][30]. Summary by Sections IT Investment Overview - The top ten securities companies' IT investment amounts to RMB 15.58 billion in 2024, a slight increase from RMB 15.36 billion in 2023. The highest investments are from Huatai Securities (RMB 2.448 billion) and Guotai Junan (RMB 2.200 billion) [6][7]. - Seven of the top ten companies increased their IT investment compared to 2023, with notable growth from Guosen Securities (13.8%), Shenwan Hongyuan (9.2%), and Galaxy Securities (7.1%) [7][12]. IT Personnel and Standards - The report states that four of the top ten securities companies have IT personnel constituting over 7% of their total workforce, with China Merchants Securities leading at 16.3% [25][29]. - The Securities Association of China encourages firms to increase IT staff to 7% of total employees, and several companies have made progress in this area [13][25]. Investment Recommendations - Continuous IT investment is deemed crucial for enhancing customer experience, driving business growth, and improving operational efficiency. The report suggests that the rise of AI technologies will further accelerate IT investments in the securities sector [30][31]. - Recommended companies for investment in the IT services sector include Hundsun Technologies, Kingdom Sci-Tech, and Fujian Apex Software [31].