First Shanghai Securities·2025-11-11 08:11Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (388) with a target price raised to HKD 550.0, indicating a potential upside of 28% from the previous closing price [5]. Core Insights - The company reported a significant increase in revenue and net profit for the first nine months of 2025, with revenue reaching HKD 21.9 billion (up 37% year-on-year) and net profit at HKD 13.4 billion (up 45% year-on-year) [3][4]. - The report highlights strong market activity, particularly in the cash market, with average daily trading volume doubling to HKD 256.4 billion (up 126% year-on-year) [3][4]. - The IPO market remains robust, with HKD 188.3 billion raised from 69 new listings, marking a threefold increase compared to the same period in 2024 [4]. Financial Performance Summary - For the first nine months of 2025, the company achieved an EBITDA of HKD 17.2 billion, reflecting a 48% year-on-year increase, with an EBITDA margin of 79% (up 5 percentage points) [3]. - The report projects total revenue of HKD 28.1 billion for 2025, representing a 25.4% increase, and net profit of HKD 16.4 billion, a 26% increase [7]. - The diluted earnings per share are expected to rise to HKD 13.0 in 2025, with a projected dividend of HKD 11.6, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.7% [7]. Market and Strategic Developments - The report notes the successful diversification strategy of the company, with average daily contracts in the derivatives market increasing by 11% to 1.7 million contracts [4]. - The company continues to enhance its market structure, including lowering minimum tick sizes and exploring shorter settlement cycles, which are expected to improve market efficiency and product diversity [5]. - The report emphasizes the strong correlation between the company's performance and market trading volumes, suggesting that the company is well-positioned to benefit from ongoing market trends [5].