Group 1 - Goldman Sachs reported that the A-shares and H-shares of Chinese banks have recorded absolute returns of 12% and 21% year-to-date, respectively, driven by improvements in the banks' fundamentals rather than a shift in investor preference for dividend returns [1] - The outlook for the third quarter remains cautiously optimistic, with a focus on banks that can reduce the impact of bond investments on earnings and capital volatility while maintaining credit growth and adequate provisioning [1] - Goldman Sachs has slightly adjusted its forecasts for the banks' pre-provision operating profit and net profit for 2025 to 2027, reflecting improved prospects for fee income growth, weakened credit demand, declining investment income contributions, and increased provisions [1] Group 2 - Target prices for covered H-shares of Chinese banks have been lowered by 1% to 9%, with a preference for China Merchants Bank, which has been given a "Buy" rating, along with Postal Savings Bank, Bank of China, and China Construction Bank H-shares also receiving "Buy" ratings [1]

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley has adjusted its model for North American large banks' Q3 2025 performance forecasts, indicating a mild impact on EPS growth of 0-1% and a median EPS estimate 3% higher than market consensus [1][2] Group 1: Earnings Forecasts - The median EPS forecast for North American banks in Q3 2025 is 3% above market consensus, with the largest increases expected for money center banks and State Street Bank (STT.US) [1] - Citigroup (C.US) is projected to have an EPS of $1.99, exceeding the market consensus of $1.83 by 9% [1] - Bank of America (BAC.US) is expected to report an EPS of $1.01, which is 7% higher than the consensus of $0.94 [1] - State Street Bank's EPS is forecasted to be 6% above consensus, while Northern Trust (NTRS.US) is expected to be 3% higher [1] - Most super-regional banks are projected to be 1-3% above consensus, with Truist Financial (TFC.US) and Wells Fargo (WFC.US) both expected to be 3% higher [1] Group 2: Key Financial Metrics - The model incorporates a macro assumption of an additional 125 basis points rate cut by the end of 2026, with a focus on Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase (JPM.US) due to expected outperformance in investment banking fees and trading income [2] - Money center banks are expected to lead in asset growth, with JPMorgan Chase's average total assets projected to reach $4.43 trillion, an 8.4% year-over-year increase, and Bank of America expected to reach $3.47 trillion, a 5.5% increase [2] - The deposit structure shows a gradual decline in non-interest-bearing deposits, with Bank of America projected to have 26.0% in 2025, down from 26.7% in 2024 [2] - The net interest margin (NIM) is expected to remain stable, with a median estimate of 2.50% for 2025, while super-regional banks are projected to have higher NIMs [2] Group 3: Revenue Growth Drivers - Fee income is a core growth driver, with M&A fees expected to grow 30% year-over-year, significantly above the consensus growth of 11% [3] - Equity Capital Markets (ECM) fees are projected to increase by 41%, compared to a consensus of 30%, while Debt Capital Markets (DCM) fees are expected to grow by 4% against a consensus of 3% [3] - Money center banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are expected to see over 9% year-over-year growth in fee income for 2025 [3] Group 4: Capital Returns - The median dividend payout ratio for banks in 2025 is expected to be around 30%, with money center banks showing a slight decrease from 27% to 29% [3] - JPMorgan is projected to pay $5.80 per share in dividends, while Citigroup is expected to pay $2.32 per share [3] - Stock buybacks are anticipated to increase significantly, with JPMorgan expected to repurchase $38.01 billion in 2025, up from $18.84 billion in 2024, and Citigroup expected to repurchase $13.47 billion, a substantial increase from $2.5 billion in 2024 [3] Group 5: Overall Outlook - The report maintains a cautiously optimistic view on North American large banks, suggesting that money center banks will outperform due to investment banking and trading income, while super-regional banks show stable asset quality [4] - Trust banks are expected to face pressure on net interest margins but still demonstrate resilience supported by fee income [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the complexity of understanding bank profitability, highlighting that traditional metrics like interest margin, cost of expenses, and asset impairment losses do not provide a complete picture of a bank's true earning capacity [4][20][22]. Group 1: Understanding Bank Profitability - The profitability of banks cannot be solely determined by analyzing interest margins and impairment losses, as these metrics do not allow for effective peer comparison [4][22]. - For example, Bank A with a 2.5% interest margin and Bank B with a 2% interest margin can both achieve the same net profit of 1%, indicating that higher interest margins do not necessarily equate to better profitability [5][6][7]. - The article discusses the importance of understanding the underlying business model and risk management strategies of banks, particularly in the context of small and micro loans [14][18][19]. Group 2: Risk and Business Models - The article presents a case where high-interest loans can be associated with low risk, particularly in regions with strong micro-enterprise demand, suggesting that local knowledge can mitigate risks [11][13]. - It argues that small banks are better positioned to manage small and micro loans due to their flexibility and closer ties to local businesses [18][19]. - The discussion includes the notion that a bank's risk profile cannot be judged solely on its loan portfolio size or interest margins; rather, it requires a deeper analysis of the specific business practices and regional economic conditions [60][66]. Group 3: Financial Metrics and Valuation - The article introduces the concept of Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) as critical metrics for evaluating bank performance, with ROA being influenced by interest margin, cost of expenses, and impairment losses [25][31][48]. - A comparison of two banks, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Hangzhou Bank, reveals that despite ICBC having a larger asset base, Hangzhou Bank demonstrates a higher ROA and ROE due to its effective use of leverage [34][48][55]. - The article concludes that Hangzhou Bank's higher valuation should be reflected in its price-to-book (PB) ratio compared to ICBC, suggesting that current market valuations may not accurately represent the banks' underlying performance [76][78].