Changjiang Securities·2026-01-12 04:41Investment Rating - The investment rating for the banking sector is "Positive" and is maintained [12]. Core Insights - In the first week of 2026, the banking sector continued to adjust, with a cumulative decline of 1.9% in the banking index, significantly underperforming the CSI 300 and ChiNext indices by -4.7% and -5.8% respectively. Despite this, the fundamental expectations for the sector remain unchanged, and the market's risk appetite has notably increased [2][6][19]. - The main banks are expected to maintain stable growth in performance throughout 2026. Following recent adjustments, the PB-ROE valuation attractiveness of bank stocks has further increased, suggesting a favorable timing for allocation [2][6][19]. Summary by Sections Market Performance - The banking sector's performance in the first week of 2026 showed a cumulative decline of 1.9%, with significant negative excess returns compared to the CSI 300 and ChiNext indices [6][19]. - Individual stocks such as Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank saw price recovery after management uncertainties were resolved, while stable performers like Hangzhou Bank led the city commercial bank sector [2][6][19]. Fundamental Analysis - The banking sector's performance has been influenced by structural concerns, particularly regarding real estate and retail asset quality. Despite these concerns, overall performance remains stable with steady growth [8][37]. - The LTV (Loan-to-Value) ratios for major banks are stable at 40%-50%, providing a safety margin despite rising asset quality pressures in mortgage loans [8][37]. Trading Dynamics - The increase in market risk appetite has continued to suppress bank stock valuations. Historically, January has seen excess returns for bank stocks, but this year, the rapid recovery in market sentiment has led to underperformance [9][38]. - The report recommends focusing on high-quality city commercial banks such as Hangzhou Bank, Nanjing Bank, and Jiangsu Bank, as well as dividend-oriented assets like Bank of Communications and China Merchants Bank [9][38]. Convertible Bonds - The prices of convertible bonds linked to bank stocks have generally followed the sector's adjustment, with the distance to mandatory conversion prices widening. The report highlights potential trading opportunities in convertible bonds for banks like Changshu Bank and Shanghai Bank, which have stable fundamental performance expectations [7][32].