BANK OF SUZHOU(SZ:002966) Changjiang Securities·2025-11-06 14:43Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Suzhou Bank [9]. Core Insights - Suzhou Bank's revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 increased by 2.0% year-on-year, with a net profit growth of 7.1%. The interest income in Q3 showed significant growth, driving the revenue increase [2][6]. - The bank's loan growth compared to the beginning of the year was 10.6%, contributing to the overall asset growth. By the end of Q3, the net interest margin improved by 1 basis point to 1.34%, although it decreased by 4 basis points compared to the beginning of the year [2][6]. - The non-performing loan ratio remained stable at 0.83% at the end of Q3, with a net non-performing loan generation rate decreasing to 0.66% [2][6]. - The bank's total assets are approaching 1 trillion yuan, with a stable recovery in interest margins and a continued decline in non-performing loan generation [2][6]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - Revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 grew by 2.0% year-on-year, with Q3 showing a 2.5% increase. Net profit increased by 7.1%, with Q3 net profit growth at 9.4% [2][6]. - Q3 interest income rose by 8.9% year-on-year, with a quarterly increase of 23% driven by corporate lending [2][6]. - Non-interest income fell by 10.4% year-on-year, primarily due to declines in settlement, card, and wealth management income [2][6]. Asset Quality - The non-performing loan ratio was stable at 0.83% at the end of Q3, with a provision coverage ratio of 421%, down 17 percentage points from the previous quarter [6]. - The bank's proactive risk management has led to a decrease in the non-performing loan generation rate, which fell to 0.66% [2][6]. Growth and Strategy - The bank's total assets grew by 11.9% compared to the beginning of the year, with loans increasing by 10.6% [2][6]. - Corporate loans saw a significant increase of 16.7%, particularly in government-related sectors, while retail loans decreased by 5.6% [2][6]. - The bank's conservative risk appetite has led to a tightening of retail lending standards, contributing to improved asset quality [2][6]. Valuation and Dividends - The expected dividend payout ratio for mid-2025 is 32.4%, an increase of 5 percentage points from the previous year, with an expected dividend yield of 4.7% [2][6]. - The current price-to-book (PB) ratio is 0.74x, indicating potential value for investors [2][6].