Huachuang Securities·2026-01-05 08:44Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Recommended," indicating an expected increase in the industry index by more than 5% over the next 3-6 months compared to the benchmark index [19]. Core Insights - The insurance sector has significantly outperformed the market over the past 25 years, with insurance capital's stake acquisitions reaching a ten-year high [1]. - In 2025, there were a total of 31 stake acquisitions by insurance capital, marking a resurgence in activity, second only to 2015, and surpassing the 28 acquisitions in 2020 [3]. - The preference for H-shares among insurance capital is evident, with 26 out of 31 acquisitions targeting H-shares, likely due to favorable dividend yields [3]. - The main sectors attracting insurance capital include banking (7 acquisitions) and public utilities (6 acquisitions), reflecting a preference for dividend-yielding assets [3]. - The report anticipates that the trend of stake acquisitions will continue into 2026, driven by two main motivations: seeking stable dividend cash flows and targeting mature, monopolistic enterprises with solid ROE [3]. Summary by Sections Weekly Updates - China Pacific Insurance appointed Liu Long as the Chief Investment Officer [2]. - Great Wall Life successfully issued its first perpetual bond with a scale of 1 billion yuan and a rating of AAA [2]. - Great Wall Life increased its holdings in New Tian Green Energy and Datang New Energy, raising its shareholding percentages to 11.04% and 17.39%, respectively [2]. Stake Acquisition Overview - In 2025, insurance capital's stake acquisitions totaled 31 times, with a minimum of 38 times when accounting for repeated acquisitions [3]. - The report highlights a shift in acquisition activity towards larger insurance companies, with Ping An leading with 7 acquisitions, followed by Great Wall Life (5) and others [3]. Investment Recommendations - The insurance sector saw a general increase in December, driven by expectations of rising long-term interest rates and favorable sales performance [3]. - Despite anticipated pressure from high investment baselines, the report suggests that the sector's valuation may continue to recover due to stabilizing interest rates and declining liability costs [3]. - Companies recommended for investment include China Ping An and China Pacific Insurance, which are expected to manage liability costs effectively [3]. Valuation Metrics - The report provides PEV valuations for major life insurance companies, with China Life at 0.87x, Ping An at 0.82x, and China Pacific at 0.68x for A-shares [4]. - For H-shares, Ping An is valued at 0.75x, while China Life is at 0.51x [4]. - The report recommends a ranking of investment opportunities: China Ping An, China Pacific Insurance, China Life H, and China Property Insurance [4].