第一财经·2025-09-04 14:18Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant rise of Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) in the A-share market, surpassing Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in total market capitalization, marking a shift in the banking sector dynamics amid a broader market downturn [2][4][6]. Market Performance - On September 4, the A-share market experienced a downturn, with the Shanghai Composite Index falling by 1.25% to 3765.88 points, and the ChiNext Index dropping by 4.25% to 2776.25 points [2]. - In contrast, ABC's stock price increased by 5.17%, reaching a total market capitalization of 2.55 trillion yuan, exceeding ICBC's 2.49 trillion yuan by approximately 667 billion yuan [2][6]. - Year-to-date, ABC's stock has surged by 47%, leading the gains among listed banks, with a total market value increase of over 720 billion yuan [2][6]. Sector Analysis - The banking sector showed resilience, with 24 bank stocks closing in the green, and the overall banking sector market capitalization reaching approximately 14.64 trillion yuan [5][6]. - Other major banks also saw positive movements, with Postal Savings Bank rising by 2.9% and ICBC and China Bank increasing by 1.34% and 1.26%, respectively [5]. Valuation and Investment Trends - As of September 4, ABC's price-to-book (PB) ratio stood at 0.98, indicating it is among the most attractively valued banks in the A-share market [12]. - The article notes that insurance capital has been a significant force in the recent bank stock rally, with major players like Ping An Life frequently increasing their stakes in banks [11][12]. - The median dividend yield for A-share listed banks remains above 4%, with major state-owned banks announcing cash dividends exceeding 200 billion yuan based on their mid-year profits [12]. Future Outlook - Analysts predict continued improvement in banking performance indicators in the second half of the year, driven by fiscal tools and a recovering economy, although asset quality will depend on the real economy's recovery [13]. - The article suggests that while there has been a market style shift away from high-dividend assets, the resilience shown in bank earnings could stabilize performance and dividend expectations [13].