PAB(000001) 华福证券·2025-03-16 07:42Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Ping An Bank, indicating an expected relative price increase of over 20% within the next six months [12][56]. Core Insights - The report highlights that the pressure on asset quality and provisioning has been released in Q4 2024, suggesting that market concerns regarding the bank's annual performance and dividends have been alleviated [12]. - It is anticipated that the bank's performance will marginally recover in 2025, with loan growth expected to return to normal levels due to the recovery of consumer demand and the increase in mid-risk product offerings [6][11]. Summary by Sections Q4 2024 Performance Review - In Q4 2024, revenue growth rate was -5.3%, a narrowing decline compared to Q3, primarily due to a rapid decline in interest rates and a 123% year-on-year increase in non-interest income from bond investments [2][3]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 29.9% in Q4 2024, with a significant increase in provisioning of approximately 17.4 billion yuan compared to Q4 2023 [3][4]. - Asset quality remained stable, with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 1.06% at the end of 2024, unchanged from Q3 [4]. Full Year 2024 Performance Review - Throughout 2024, Ping An Bank focused on optimizing its asset structure and reducing high-risk retail assets, leading to a contraction in loan scale and a significant decline in net interest margin [5][11]. - The dividend payout ratio for 2024 was set at 27%, reflecting the bank's consideration of capital adequacy and reasonable dividend levels [5]. 2025 Operational Outlook - The bank's loan scale at the end of 2024 was 3,374.1 billion yuan, a decrease of 33.4 billion yuan from the end of 2023, but a recovery in loan growth is expected in 2025 [6][11]. - The net interest margin decline is projected to narrow significantly, with the bank's credit cost improving by 29 basis points year-on-year to 1.56% in 2024 [11][12]. - Revenue growth rates for 2025-2027 are forecasted at -5.5%, 3.7%, and 7.0%, respectively, with net profit growth rates of 2.1%, 4.6%, and 7.8% [11][49].