HTSC·2026-03-31 10:56Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is maintained as "Buy" [1][10]. Core Views - The report highlights that the company's net interest income growth is improving, with a stable recovery in interest margins, which supports the resilience of its performance. The company is expected to maintain a high growth rate in non-interest income [6][7]. - The report projects a target price of HKD 52.79, reflecting a price-to-book (PB) ratio of 1.47 for 2026, indicating a valuation premium due to the stabilization of interest margins and the strengthening of its Southeast Asian business [10]. Financial Performance Summary - For the fiscal year 2025, the company is expected to achieve a revenue of HKD 77,019 million, representing an 8.09% year-on-year growth. The net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be HKD 40,121 million, with a growth rate of 4.94% [5][17]. - The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio is expected to stabilize at 1.14% for 2025, with a provision coverage ratio of 96% by the end of the year [9][17]. - The report anticipates a dividend payout ratio of 56% for 2025, with a dividend yield of 5.24% [6][10]. Asset Quality and Cost Control - The total assets, loans, and deposits are projected to grow by 7.0%, 2.3%, and 8.1% respectively by the end of 2025, indicating a steady expansion of the asset-liability scale [7]. - The report notes that the company has effectively managed its cost of liabilities, with a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities and deposit costs, which supports the stability of interest margins [7][9]. Earnings Forecast - The earnings per share (EPS) for 2026 is projected to be HKD 4.13, with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 9.82. The forecast for EPS shows a growth trajectory, with estimates of HKD 4.61 for 2027 and HKD 5.19 for 2028 [5][10][17]. - The report indicates that the company’s return on equity (ROE) is expected to improve from 11.51% in 2025 to 13.19% by 2028 [5][17].