HTSC·2026-01-20 06:42Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 26.00 [7][5]. Core Insights - The company expects a significant increase in net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, projecting a year-on-year growth of 215%-225% compared to 2024, with a remarkable increase of 723.1%-758.2% in the second half of 2025 [1][2]. - The substantial profit growth is attributed to improved investment performance and a one-time impact from new tax policies affecting corporate income tax for the insurance industry [3][1]. - The investment performance in the second half of 2025, particularly in the fourth quarter, is expected to be strong, compensating for the negative investment results in the first half of the year [2][1]. Summary by Sections Earnings Forecast - The company anticipates total premium income to reach HKD 117,046 million in 2025, reflecting a growth of 5.19% from 2024 [11]. - Total investment income is projected to increase significantly to HKD 75,816 million in 2025, marking an 83.87% increase from 2024 [11]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to rise to HKD 27,096 million in 2025, representing a 221.36% increase compared to 2024 [11]. Tax Rate Impact - The effective tax rate is expected to decrease significantly to approximately 10.4% in the first half of 2025, contributing positively to the net profit growth [3][1]. - The clarity in tax policy is anticipated to support a low effective tax rate throughout 2025, potentially leading to an 80%-90% growth in pre-tax profit [3][1]. Liability Growth Outlook - The company is expected to see resilient growth in its liability side, particularly with the shift towards participating insurance products, which are projected to attract strong demand due to their higher actual yield compared to traditional insurance [4][1]. - The sales of participating insurance are expected to show good growth in 2026, supported by a favorable market environment and improved distribution channels [4][1]. Valuation Adjustments - The earnings per share (EPS) estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been raised to HKD 7.40, HKD 3.48, and HKD 3.88 respectively, reflecting adjustments of 216%, 24%, and 25% [5][13]. - The target price has been revised upwards to HKD 26 based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation method, indicating a positive outlook for the company's performance [5][12].