资负两端全面开花，估值低位攻守兼备 - 保险行业2026年度投资策略

Summary of Insurance Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The insurance industry is experiencing significant profit growth, with overall profit growth exceeding 30% in the first three quarters of 2025, and quarterly growth approaching 70% [1][5] - The industry is shifting focus from premium income to investment returns, emphasizing the importance of positive returns from premiums rather than just the total premium volume [1][10] Key Financial Metrics - Insurance companies' return on equity (ROE) has surpassed 30% for some A-share listed companies, significantly higher than the approximately 10% ROE of leading brokerage firms [5] - The non-annualized comprehensive investment return rate for the first three quarters of 2025 is approximately 5.4%, a year-on-year increase of 1 percentage point [4][14] Premium Income and Growth - Premium income is expected to continue double-digit growth, projected to reach between 4.45 trillion to 4.6 trillion yuan in 2025, up from around 4 trillion yuan the previous year [1][7] - New business value (NBV) is also showing high growth, with some companies like China Life and Ping An seeing significant increases in new single premium income [7] Investment Strategies - As of mid-2025, the insurance industry's investment asset scale is approximately 36 trillion yuan, reflecting a growth of about 9% since the beginning of the year [11] - The proportion of bond investments has risen to over 50%, while equity assets remain stable at around 12% to 13% [12] Dividend Policies - Companies are expected to announce significant increases in dividends for the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting strong profit performance despite previous volatility in profit due to new accounting standards [6][21] Channel Development - The bank insurance channel is gaining prominence, with its new business value share increasing significantly, while the number of individual insurance agents is declining [9][20] - The bank insurance channel's premium share is expected to surpass that of individual insurance channels soon [20] Future Outlook - The outlook for the insurance industry in 2026 is optimistic, with expectations of continued growth in premium income, particularly from the bank insurance channel [22] - The market is advised to focus on profit growth rather than just valuation levels when selecting investment targets [22][27] Regulatory Changes - The transition to new accounting standards from 2023 to 2025 is a significant factor, with full implementation expected in 2026, which poses challenges for companies, especially smaller ones [13] Investment Opportunities - The insurance sector remains an attractive investment option, with a recommendation to focus on companies with strong profit growth and stable dividend policies [27] Miscellaneous Insights - The demand for savings-type products remains strong despite declining household incomes, as these products are more closely related to household wealth rather than income levels [8] - The insurance industry is increasingly viewed as a potential asset management company, focusing on improving asset management capabilities in a low-interest-rate environment [19]