Hua Yuan Zheng Quan·2026-02-25 15:10Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (00388.HK) as a first coverage [4]. Core Insights - The report highlights that Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited experienced a significant increase in revenue and net profit for the first three quarters of 2025, with revenue and net profit growing by 37% and 45% year-on-year, reaching HKD 21.9 billion and HKD 13.4 billion respectively [4]. - The EBITDA margin improved by 5 percentage points to 79% due to scale effects, with Q3 alone showing an 8% and 10% quarter-on-quarter growth in revenue and net profit [4]. - The report emphasizes the strong performance in spot trading and stock options, with average daily trading amounts (ADT) for stock securities products increasing by 150% year-on-year to HKD 267.9 billion in Q3 [5]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, the revenue from spot trading increased by 75% year-on-year to HKD 111 billion, accounting for 51% of total revenue [5]. - The average daily trading amount for southbound and northbound trading increased by 285% and 144% respectively, contributing to the overall growth in trading volume [5]. - The financial derivatives segment saw a decline in average daily contract volume by 7% year-on-year, while stock options trading increased by 30% [5]. Strategic Initiatives - Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has implemented several strategic measures, including the launch of LME-approved warehousing facilities and adjustments to minimum price fluctuations in the securities market [6][7]. - The company is also focusing on enhancing market vitality and technological empowerment, with plans to shorten the settlement cycle for the cash market [6][7]. IPO Contributions - In the first three quarters of 2025, there were 69 successful IPOs on the Hong Kong Exchange, raising a total of HKD 188.3 billion, marking the highest level since 2022 [8]. - The report notes that internet and technology stocks were the main contributors to trading volume, with the top ten stocks accounting for 30% of the total market ADT [8]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - The report projects that the net profit for Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited will reach HKD 17.9 billion, HKD 20.3 billion, and HKD 22.1 billion for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 37.5%, 13.1%, and 9.0% [9]. - The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are forecasted to be 29.1, 25.7, and 23.6 for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 [9].