Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [5] Core Views - The report highlights that China Ping An's new business CSM performed well, with a focus on OCI stock allocation in the first half of the year [5] - The company's revenue and net profit attributable to shareholders for the first half of 2025 were 500.1 billion and 68 billion respectively, showing a year-on-year growth of 1.0% and a decline of 8.8% [6] - The operating profit after tax (OPAT) attributable to shareholders increased by 3.7% to 77.7 billion, while the net assets attributable to shareholders rose by 1.7% to 944 billion [6] - The report indicates a significant growth in the new business value (NBV) of the life insurance segment, which increased by 39.8% [6] - The combined ratio (COR) for property and casualty insurance improved by 2.6 percentage points to 95.2% [6] - The non-annualized comprehensive investment return rate improved by 0.3 percentage points to 3.1% year-on-year [6] - The mid-year dividend per share increased by 2.2% to 0.95 yuan [6] Financial Performance Summary - In Q2, the net profit attributable to shareholders and OPAT increased by 8.2% and 4.9% year-on-year respectively, indicating a positive trend compared to Q1 [7] - The life insurance segment's OPAT growth rate was 2.5%, while the property and casualty insurance segment saw a 1.0% increase [10] - The asset management business's net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 14.3 billion, primarily due to a reduction in financial expenses [10] - The technology segment reported a net loss of 2.6 billion, mainly due to a one-time loss from the consolidation of Good Doctor [10] Earnings Forecast and Valuation - The projected revenue for 2025 is 1,072.2 billion, with a year-on-year growth rate of 4.21% [12] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to be 130.6 billion in 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 3.17% [12] - The earnings per share (EPS) is forecasted to be 7.21 yuan in 2025, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.0 [12] - The intrinsic value per share is estimated at 85.12 yuan, with a price-to-intrinsic value (P/EV) ratio of 0.68 [12] Investment Strategy - The report suggests that the company's mid-year results align with market expectations, particularly with the stabilization of the life insurance business's CSM [13] - The investment performance in the first half of 2025 was primarily driven by OCI equity contributions, while TPL investments were considered average [13] - The forecast for net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025-2027 is 130.6 billion, 148.0 billion, and 173.2 billion respectively, with corresponding growth rates of 3.2%, 13.3%, and 17.0% [13]

Core Viewpoint - Insurance companies are shifting their investment strategy from relying on interest income to focusing on high-dividend stocks to enhance cash flow stability amid declining interest rates [1][2][9]. Group 1: OCI Stock Allocation - Insurance firms are increasing their allocation to OCI (Other Comprehensive Income) stocks, with a notable rise in investment scale and proportion in their portfolios [1][3]. - As of mid-2023, China Life's OCI stock scale reached 140.26 billion yuan, accounting for 22.6% of its total stock assets, while New China Life's high-dividend OCI equity tools increased from 30.64 billion yuan to 37.47 billion yuan [3]. - The new accounting standards allow insurance companies to classify certain stocks under OCI, which helps mitigate the impact of stock price fluctuations on profit statements [4][5]. Group 2: New Accounting Standards - The new accounting standards, including IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, introduce significant changes in asset and liability measurement, affecting how insurance companies classify their financial assets [4][6]. - The standards provide insurance companies with the option to allocate certain stocks to OCI, which can enhance the stability of their profit and loss statements [5][6]. - The transition to the new accounting standards is complex and varies among companies, with full implementation expected by January 1, 2026 [4][5]. Group 3: Investment Strategy and Market Conditions - The persistent decline in traditional fixed-income asset yields has prompted insurance companies to seek solutions through equity investments, focusing on high-quality stocks to build OCI portfolios [8][9]. - High-dividend stocks are seen as a crucial component for constructing OCI portfolios, providing stable cash flow and reducing reliance on trading profits [8][9]. - Analysts suggest that increasing the allocation of high-dividend stocks through OCI accounts can help stabilize net investment returns amid falling interest rates [9].

Core Insights - The performance of listed life insurance companies in the first half of the year is under scrutiny as they prepare to disclose their results, with a focus on premium growth and channel performance [1] - Both China Pacific Insurance and New China Life Insurance reported strong premium growth, primarily driven by the bancassurance channel [1][2] Premium Performance - New China Life Insurance achieved a total premium income of 121.26 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23% [2] - China Pacific Insurance reported a total premium income of 168.01 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 9.7% [2][4] - The bancassurance channel for China Pacific Insurance saw a significant increase in premium income, rising by 74.6% to 37.05 billion yuan, while the agent channel experienced a decline of 2.5% [2][4] Channel Analysis - The agent channel for China Pacific Insurance generated 118.83 billion yuan in premium income, with new business premiums down by 20% [4] - The bancassurance channel's new business premiums surged by 90.2%, indicating a strong recovery and growth potential [2][4] - The decline in individual insurance channel performance is attributed to restrictions on previous "New Year" promotions and ongoing adjustments in the agent workforce [4][5] Investment Trends - Life insurance companies are actively increasing their investment activities, with major players like New China Life, Ping An Life, and China Life making approximately 10 significant investments in various sectors [6] - The total investment balance of insurance funds has grown from 7.7 trillion yuan in 2013 to 33.3 trillion yuan in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2% [6] - The life insurance sector accounts for nearly 90% of the total investment scale in the industry, with a significant portion of investments expected to shift towards equities in the coming years [6]