Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" (maintained) [1] Core Insights - The report indicates that banks are likely to continue the strategy of early loan disbursement for early returns in 2026, with Q1 new loans expected to account for 62%-65% of the annual total [3][15] - In January, new RMB loans are projected to be between 5.2-5.3 trillion yuan, showing a slight year-on-year increase, with potential acceleration in loan issuance towards the end of the month [4][37] - The overall loan volume for the year is expected to be around 15.5 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year decrease, but with a stabilization in loan pricing [4][37] Summary by Sections Loans - The loan issuance rhythm for 2026 is anticipated to be front-loaded, although the pace in early January may be slower than expected due to various factors including lower discount rates and a cautious approach from banks [3][24] - The trend of front-loading loan issuance is expected to continue, with Q1 new loans projected to represent a significant portion of the annual total [15][17] Deposits - Large banks are expected to have a strong start in deposit growth, potentially exceeding expectations due to proactive marketing and better retention rates of maturing deposits [5][38] - The liquidity situation for large banks is relatively stable, with a high average daily lending balance of 4.5 trillion yuan in January 2026, indicating manageable funding pressures [38][40] - The competition for deposits among smaller banks is diminishing, as larger banks enhance their marketing efforts and pricing strategies [44][45] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on state-owned banks and wealth management-oriented joint-stock banks, as they are likely to benefit from the early loan and deposit growth dynamics [7]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" (maintained) [2] Core Insights - The report highlights a slowdown in non-bank deposit growth, indicating a reduced diversion of deposits to the stock market, with large banks experiencing a net inflow of deposits while smaller banks see a decline [5][6] - The report suggests that the upcoming quarter (Q1 2026) will present challenges for banks in terms of asset-liability matching due to the maturity of high-interest deposits and fluctuating deposit growth [7] - The investment strategy emphasizes balancing asset quality and pricing power, with a focus on large state-owned banks and leading comprehensive banks as key investment targets [8] Summary by Sections Deposit Trends - In November, large banks saw a decrease of 83.3 billion yuan in non-bank deposits, reflecting a weakening effect of the stock market on deposit diversion [5] - Non-bank deposit growth remains higher than that of resident fixed deposits, indicating a shift of funds into wealth management products [6] - Smaller banks experienced a year-on-year decrease of 478.9 billion yuan in fixed deposits, while large banks saw an increase of 419.4 billion yuan, suggesting a trend of deposit migration back to larger institutions [6] Credit and Investment Dynamics - Credit demand, particularly in consumer sectors, remains weak, leading to a continued slowdown in lending growth [7] - The report anticipates that banks may increase bond investments to fill year-end balance sheet requirements, especially as high-interest fixed deposits mature [7] Investment Recommendations - The report recommends a focus on large state-owned banks as foundational investments, with specific mentions of Agricultural Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as beneficiaries [8] - Core investments should target leading comprehensive banks like China Merchants Bank and Industrial Bank, with a recommendation for CITIC Bank as a key stock [8] - For more flexible investments, banks such as Jiangsu Bank and Chongqing Bank are highlighted as potential beneficiaries [8]