HTSC·2026-01-20 07:25Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" 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, driven by improved investment performance and a one-time impact from tax policy changes [1][5]. - The strong investment performance in the second half of 2025, particularly in the fourth quarter, is expected to offset the negative impact from the first half of the year, where investment losses were recorded [2][5]. - A decrease in the effective tax rate is anticipated to further boost net profit, with the effective tax rate dropping to approximately 10.4% in the first half of 2025, compared to 42% in 2024 [3][5]. - The company is expected to achieve resilient growth in its liability side, particularly through the promotion of participating insurance products, which are projected to attract strong demand in 2026 [4][5]. - 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 a significant upward adjustment due to favorable investment returns and tax rate reductions [5][13]. Summary by Sections Earnings Forecast - The company forecasts gross premium income to increase from HKD 111.27 billion in 2024 to HKD 117.05 billion in 2025, representing a growth of 5.19% [11]. - Total investment income is expected to rise significantly from HKD 65.21 billion in 2024 to HKD 75.82 billion in 2025, marking an increase of 16.26% [11]. - Net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to reach HKD 27.10 billion in 2025, a substantial increase of 221.36% from 2024 [11]. Valuation and Estimates - The target price of HKD 26 is derived from a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation method, reflecting a combination of intrinsic value and book value approaches [12][5]. - The company’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is expected to decrease significantly from 11.03 in 2024 to 3.08 in 2025, indicating a favorable valuation outlook [11]. Investment Strategy - The company is actively increasing its equity allocation, with the combined proportion of stocks and funds expected to rise from 12.2% as of mid-2025, indicating a strategic shift towards higher-risk, higher-return investments [2][5].