Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy-A" with a target price of 55 CNY for the next six months [5]. Core Insights - The company's revenue for 2024 showed a slight decline of 0.48% year-on-year, but the net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 1.22%, indicating a stable fundamental performance [1]. - In Q4 2024, the net profit attributable to shareholders grew by 7.64%, driven by asset expansion, growth in non-interest income, and cost reduction, despite some pressure from narrowing net interest margins and increased credit impairment provisions [1][12]. - The bank's strong deposit competitiveness is highlighted by a significant increase in deposits, with a year-on-year growth of 245.5 billion CNY in Q4 2024 [3][11]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - The bank's total revenue for 2024 was 337.49 billion CNY, with a slight decrease from the previous year. The net profit attributable to shareholders was 148.39 billion CNY, reflecting a growth rate of 1.22% [20]. - The bank's cost-to-income ratio improved to 38.77%, down by 3.68 percentage points year-on-year, indicating effective cost management [13][39]. Asset Quality - The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio remained stable at 0.93% as of Q4 2024, with slight fluctuations in various loan categories, showing resilience in asset quality [41]. - The bank's provision coverage ratio was reported at 411.98%, maintaining a strong buffer against potential credit losses [14]. Loan and Deposit Growth - The average daily balance of interest-earning assets increased by 8.76% year-on-year in Q4 2024, with significant contributions from bond investments and a recovery in credit issuance [2][23]. - Retail loans, particularly mortgage loans, saw a notable increase, with a growth of 32.5 billion CNY in Q4 2024, marking the best quarterly performance since Q3 2023 [2][17]. Non-Interest Income - Non-interest income showed signs of recovery, with a 53.6% year-on-year increase in other non-interest income in Q4 2024, driven by rising bond investment values [13]. - The bank's fee and commission income decreased by 4% year-on-year, but the decline was less severe compared to previous quarters, indicating a potential stabilization [12][36]. Market Position and Outlook - The bank's strong deposit base and competitive funding costs position it well for future asset growth, despite ongoing pressure on net interest margins [11][18]. - The outlook for 2025 anticipates a revenue growth of 0.61% and a net profit growth of 1.24%, supported by a recovering capital market and improved economic conditions [18][20].