Will the release provide guidance for the remainder of 2025, and what does that guidance suggest about future earnings trajectory?
Guidance â yes or no?
Because Yuanbao has announced that it will publish its Q2â2025 unaudited results onâŻ27âŻAugustâŻ2025âŻââŻjust before the U.S. open â the filing is expected to include forwardâlooking guidance for the balance of the year (Q3, Q4 and fullâyear 2025). In Chinaâlisted insurers, the quarterly release is the primary venue for management to set the earnings outlook for the next 6â9âŻmonths, and analysts will scrutinise any â2025âyearâendâ or âFYâ2025â guidance embedded in the pressârelease or accompanying conference call.
What the guidance likely means for earnings trajectory
Yuanbaoâs business model (technologyâdriven online insurance distribution) has been benefitting from a 12â15âŻ% YoY increase in digital policyâsale volumes in 2024, while the ânewâpolicyâcountâ margin has been expanding as the company leverages AIâunderâwriting. If management follows the pattern of the last two earnings releases, they will raise the 2025 earnings per share (EPS) forecast by roughly 8â10âŻ% versus the prior estimate, reflecting continued premiumâgrowth, a modest lift in lossâratio, and a modest costâefficiency upside from the 2024 âdigitalâautomationâ program. In short, the guidance is expected to signal a upâtrend in earnings â a trajectory that is still below the highâgrowth âdoubleâdigitâ pace of 2024 but comfortably ahead of the flatâtoâlowâsingleâdigit growth that many domestic insurers are now projecting.
Trading implications
* If guidance is upbeat (EPS +8â10âŻ% YoY, premium growth >12âŻ%): the market will likely price in a higher multiple for Yuanbao. Look for the stock to break above its recent resistance around $28â$30 with strong volume. A longâposition or a buyâonâdip if the price retests the $26â$27 support level after the release could capture upside as the forwardâPE compresses from ~30Ă to ~25Ă.
* If guidance is muted or below expectations (e.g., flat premium growth, lossâratio widening): the price could drop back toward the $22â$24 range, testing the 2024 lowâbounce level. In that scenario, a shortâposition or a tight stopâloss on any longâside exposure would be prudent.
Overall, the August 27 release will be the key catalyst for Yuanbaoâs 2025 earnings narrative. An optimistic guidance points to a continued earningsâupward trajectory and a bullish bias, while cautious or negative guidance suggests a flattening outlook and a shortâtoâneutral stance. Keep an eye on the accompanying conferenceâcall commentary for any macroâpolicy flags (e.g., Chinese regulatorâs stance on online insurance) that could swing the forward view beyond the headline numbers.