Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" with a target price of HKD 20.00 [1][2][10] Core Insights - The company reported a stable growth in New Business Value (NBV) of 22.8% year-on-year, driven by improvements in pricing and distribution channels [6][7] - The overall investment performance faced pressure, with a significant decline in total investment income, leading to a negative investment performance [9] - The underwriting performance in property insurance showed improvement, with a combined ratio (COR) decrease to 95.5% [8] Financial Performance Summary - The company achieved a net profit of HKD 6.764 billion in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.2% [6] - Gross premium income is projected to grow from HKD 111.268 billion in 2024 to HKD 129.498 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.79% [5] - The expected earnings per share (EPS) for 2025 is HKD 2.34, reflecting a growth of 13.25% from the previous year [10][22] Business Segment Analysis - In the life insurance segment, the NBV growth was robust, with a 4.2% increase in new single premiums, indicating an improvement in value rates [7] - The property insurance segment saw a 3.1% increase in domestic premium income, with a notable 55.6% rise in insurance service performance due to cost efficiency measures [8] - The investment segment faced challenges, with a year-on-year decline in annualized total investment return to 2.68% [9] Valuation and Forecast - The target price was adjusted to HKD 20 based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation method, reflecting resilient NBV growth and improved COR [10] - The company’s return on equity (ROE) is expected to be 12% in 2025, indicating a solid profitability outlook [9]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [8][5]. Core Views - The company's earnings per share (EPS) for Q1 2025 is RMB 1.02, a year-on-year increase of 39.5%, primarily driven by rapid growth in insurance service performance [1]. - The new business value (NBV) increased by 4.8% year-on-year, indicating stable growth, despite a 4.5% decline in new single premiums [2]. - The insurance service performance saw a significant year-on-year growth of 129%, reaching RMB 25.5 billion, attributed to improved health insurance claims and interest rate increases affecting the release of profit from participating insurance [2]. - The company expects NBV to continue growing, with a projected increase of 9.8% in 2025 [2]. Summary by Sections Earnings Performance - The company reported a total investment income of RMB 273.1 billion for 2025, with a year-on-year decrease of 8.19% [7]. - The annualized total investment return and net investment return for Q1 2025 were 2.75% and 2.60%, respectively, both showing a decline compared to the previous year [4]. Sales and Distribution - The total sales force decreased by 3% to 646,000, with individual insurance sales personnel at 596,000 [3]. - The majority of the NBV is contributed by the agent channel, which accounted for 93% of the NBV in 2024 [3]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - The EPS forecast for 2025 is adjusted to RMB 3.30, reflecting a decrease of 0.8% from previous estimates [5]. - The target price based on DCF valuation is set at RMB 48 for A-shares and HKD 20 for H-shares [5].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [8] Core Views - The company's net profit for Q1 2025 reached RMB 12.849 billion, a year-on-year increase of 43%, aligning with the company's previous profit forecast of a 30% to 50% increase [1] - The new business value (NBV) for life insurance increased by 31.5% year-on-year, indicating strong growth resilience [3] - The combined ratio (COR) for property insurance decreased by 3.4 percentage points to 94.5%, primarily due to a reduction in natural disasters [2] - The company's investment performance improved significantly, with investment income rising by 111% year-on-year [4] Summary by Sections Q1 2025 Performance - The company reported a net profit of RMB 12.849 billion for Q1 2025, a 43% increase year-on-year, driven by substantial growth in both insurance services and investment performance [1] - The NBV for life insurance showed a robust increase of 31.5% year-on-year, despite a 12% decline in new single premium [3] Property Insurance - The COR for property insurance decreased to 94.5%, a reduction of 3.4 percentage points year-on-year, attributed to fewer natural disasters [2] - Property insurance premium income grew steadily, with a year-on-year increase of 3.7% [2] Life Insurance - The life insurance segment's NBV growth was resilient, with a projected growth rate of 22% for 2025 [3] - Life insurance profits increased by 13.9% year-on-year, contributing 35% to the company's net profit [3] Investment Performance - The company's investment income saw a significant increase of 111% year-on-year, reflecting strong returns from equity assets [4] - The estimated return on equity (ROE) for 2025 is projected to be 16% [4] Earnings Forecast and Valuation - The EPS forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been adjusted to RMB 1.01, RMB 1.01, and RMB 1.09 respectively [5] - The target price based on DCF valuation has been raised to RMB 8.3 for A-shares and HKD 5.3 for H-shares [5]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is upgraded to "Buy" for A-shares and maintained as "Buy" for H-shares [1][8]. Core Views - The company reported a strong growth in life insurance with a 127% year-on-year increase in NBV (New Business Value), driven by improved profit margins despite a slight decline in new premium income [2][16]. - The overall profitability is supported by significant investment performance, with a projected ROE (Return on Equity) of approximately 16.5% for 2024, the highest in nearly a decade [4]. - The property insurance segment experienced a slight increase in the combined ratio, primarily due to natural disaster impacts, but is expected to normalize in 2025 [3][16]. Summary by Sections Life Insurance - The NBV for life insurance increased by 127% year-on-year, with agent and bancassurance channels growing by 86% and 223% respectively [2]. - The profit margin for NBV improved significantly to 18% from 8% due to a reduction in channel costs and adjustments in assumptions [2]. - The company anticipates a 17% growth in NBV for 2025, supported by ongoing improvements in profit margins [2]. Property Insurance - The combined ratio for property insurance rose by 1 percentage point to 98.8%, influenced by natural disasters [3]. - The auto insurance segment maintained a stable combined ratio of 96.8%, while non-auto insurance saw an increase to 101.9% due to rising claims [3]. - A return to normal disaster frequency is expected in 2025, with a projected combined ratio of approximately 98% [3]. Investment Performance - The total investment return rate improved significantly to 5.6% in 2024 from 3.3% in 2023, leading to over 100% growth in investment income [4]. - The company’s net assets increased by 11% year-on-year, indicating good asset-liability matching [4]. - The dividend per share (DPS) for 2024 is set at RMB0.18, up from RMB0.16 in 2023, reflecting a dividend payout ratio of about 19% [4]. Earnings Forecast and Valuation - The EPS (Earnings Per Share) forecast for 2025 is adjusted to RMB0.93, with target prices for A/H shares raised to RMB7.90 and HKD4.70 respectively [5][8]. - The company’s projected gross premium income for 2024 is RMB537.7 billion, with a growth rate of 6.71% compared to 2023 [7][23]. - The forecasted net profit for 2024 is RMB42.15 billion, representing an 88.83% increase year-on-year [7][23].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [8] Core Views - The company reported a significant increase in EPS to RMB 3.78, up 132% year-on-year, driven by improved investment performance, although slightly below the expected RMB 3.86 [1] - The total investment return rate reached 5.5%, significantly higher than 2.57% in 2023 [1] - The company maintained a resilient new business value (NBV) growth of 24.3% year-on-year, indicating strong operational performance [2] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - The company’s total investment income for 2024 was RMB 297.42 billion, a 161.77% increase from 2023 [7] - The return on equity (ROE) for 2024 was 21.7%, the highest in nearly a decade, reflecting an 11.6 percentage point increase year-on-year [4] - The company’s DPS increased to RMB 0.65 from RMB 0.43 in 2023, marking a 51% year-on-year growth [4] New Business Value (NBV) - The NBV profit margin improved by 3.9 percentage points to 21.4% in 2024, despite new business volume showing a slight increase of 1.6% [2] - The company adjusted its investment return assumptions down to 4.0% for 2024, impacting the NBV by approximately 26% [2] - The forecast for NBV growth in 2025 is set at 9.6% [2] Distribution Channels - The NBV from the agent channel grew by 18% year-on-year, with a stable agent workforce [3] - Other channels, including bancassurance, saw a remarkable 116% increase in NBV, although their contribution to total NBV remains low at 7% [3] - The bancassurance channel's profitability improved due to reduced channel costs [3] Profit Forecast and Valuation - The EPS forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been raised to RMB 3.33, RMB 2.41, and RMB 2.73 respectively, reflecting adjustments of 64.5% and 10.8% for 2025 and 2026 [5] - The target prices based on DCF valuation are set at RMB 48 for A-shares and HKD 20 for H-shares [5]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [6][30]. Core Views - The company reported a 2024 EPS of RMB 0.47, a 47% year-on-year increase, driven by strong performance in equity investments, exceeding the expected RMB 0.40 [1][6]. - The total investment return rate for 2024 improved by 0.9 percentage points to 4.3%, contributing to the better-than-expected performance [1]. - The new business value (NBV) for life insurance increased by 88% year-on-year on a comparable basis, indicating robust growth [2][6]. - The comprehensive cost ratio (COR) for property insurance was 99.7%, up 1 percentage point, reflecting a deterioration in underwriting performance [3][6]. - The company's net assets increased by 3% year-on-year, showing stability despite some impact from asset-liability mismatches [4][6]. - The report projects a 16% year-on-year increase in NBV for 2025, supported by expectations of continued improvement in NBV margins [2]. Summary by Sections Earnings Performance - The company achieved a total investment income of RMB 22.676 billion in 2024, a 48.77% increase from the previous year [5][19]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders for 2024 was RMB 5.449 billion, a 45.77% increase year-on-year [5][19]. Insurance Business - The life insurance new business value (NBV) margin improved by 11 percentage points to 22% on a comparable basis, driven by pricing adjustments [2]. - The property insurance premium income grew by 8% year-on-year, with non-auto insurance driving the growth at 17% [3]. Financial Metrics - The company’s return on equity (ROE) for 2024 was 8.9%, an increase of 2.7 percentage points from the previous year, with expectations of reaching 9% in 2025 [4][5]. - The dividend per share (DPS) for 2024 was RMB 0.19, a slight increase from RMB 0.18 in 2023, with a dividend payout ratio reduced to 40% [4][5]. Valuation - The target price is set at HKD 4.60 based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) method, reflecting adjustments in the risk-free rate assumptions [5][6]. - The report anticipates EPS for 2025 to be RMB 0.47, maintaining a stable outlook for the company's earnings [5].