EBSCN·2026-01-04 12:55Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the insurance sector [1]. Core Views - The insurance sector is expected to benefit from strong premium growth, particularly in the context of the "opening red" performance, which may exceed expectations [2][3]. - The competitive advantage of savings-type insurance products remains strong against other wealth management products, especially as traditional and participating insurance rates decline [3]. - The agency channel is anticipated to see a rebound in new business growth, while the bancassurance channel is expected to become a significant growth driver [4]. - The stable performance of the capital market is likely to continue driving profit releases for insurance companies [5]. - The report recommends specific insurance stocks that are expected to benefit from asset-driven growth, including China Life Insurance and New China Life Insurance [6]. Summary by Sections Premium Growth - The Hong Kong insurance index rose by 3.0%, outperforming the Hang Seng Index by 0.2 percentage points, with major insurers like China Life and PICC showing significant gains [2]. Product Competitiveness - Savings-type insurance products are positioned favorably due to lower bank deposit rates and a high willingness to save among residents, with a projected internal rate of return (IRR) of "1.75% guaranteed + floating" making them competitive in the wealth management market [3]. Distribution Channels - The agency channel is expected to recover in new business growth, while the bancassurance channel is set to expand due to the easing of restrictions on cooperation between banks and insurance companies [4]. Investment Performance - The investment asset scale of listed insurance companies is steadily growing, with a high stock allocation expected to enhance investment returns and profit releases [5]. Stock Recommendations - The report recommends stocks such as China Life (A+H), New China Life (A+H), and China Pacific Insurance (A+H) for their strong performance and stable operations [6].