21世纪经济报道·2026-01-06 10:10Core Viewpoint - The banking sector in A-shares is expected to perform well in 2026, driven by stable fundamentals and increased dividend attractiveness, despite a less impressive performance in 2025 compared to previous years [4][9][10]. Group 1: Annual Report Disclosure - Ping An Bank will be the first to disclose its annual report on March 21, followed by CITIC Bank on the same day [1]. - A total of 10 banks will disclose their 2025 annual reports on March 31, marking the highest number of disclosures on a single day [3]. - The total market capitalization of 42 A-share banks exceeded 15 trillion yuan, increasing by approximately 2.1 trillion yuan from the end of 2024 [2][3]. Group 2: Market Performance - The banking sector index rose by 12.05% in 2025, underperforming the CSI 300 index, which increased by 17.66% [3]. - Among the 42 banks, 35 experienced stock price increases, with Agricultural Bank of China leading at a 52.66% rise [3]. - The overall market sentiment towards bank annual reports is positive, with expectations of continued growth in 2026 [4][9]. Group 3: Investment Drivers - The strong performance of the banking sector in 2025 was supported by both funding and fundamental factors, including inflows from passive index funds and insurance [4]. - Significant shareholder buybacks have also contributed to the rise in bank stocks, with 523 companies increasing their holdings, totaling 939.6 billion yuan [6]. - Analysts predict that the demand for high-dividend stocks will remain strong, particularly for state-owned banks known for stable returns [10]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Analysts expect the banking sector to maintain stable performance in 2026, supported by a recovering real economy and high dividend yields [9]. - The issuance of ETFs linked to broad indices and dividend indices is expected to continue, attracting more passive fund inflows into the banking sector [9]. - The differentiation in performance among various banks is anticipated to become a key theme, with larger banks likely to see more consistent revenue growth compared to smaller banks [10]. Group 5: Seasonal Trends - Historical data shows that the banking sector has a high success rate for absolute and excess returns before the Spring Festival, with an average absolute return of 4.4% [11]. - The upcoming Spring Festival in 2026 is expected to see continued strong performance in bank stocks, driven by balanced market styles and robust demand for high-dividend stocks [12]. - Recommendations for stock allocation include a stable base in state-owned banks and a more aggressive approach with quality joint-stock and city commercial banks [12].