11 Most Profitable Chinese Stocks

Published on February 24, 2023 at 5:58 am by Aima Zaheer in Lists, News

In this article, we will discuss the 11 most profitable Chinese stocks. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, go to the 5 Most Profitable Chinese Stocks.

According to the World Bank, China has the second-biggest economy in the world as of 2021, with a GDP of $17.73 trillion. The size of the global GDP stood at $96.51 trillion at the end of 2021. The US and China, as the two leading economies of the world, make up more than 42% of the global economy. It must be noted that the Chinese economy shrunk by 2.2% during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as it adopted a zero-COVID policy. However, the economy bounced back and grew by 8.1% in 2021 following the relaxation of lockdowns and restrictions, reflecting the fastest GDP growth for the Chinese economy since 2012. The stellar GDP growth was due to pent-up demand as a mass movement was restricted during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. However, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, the economy experienced weak GDP growth of only 3% during 2022 due to supply chain disruptions, lockdowns due to the zero-COVID policy, and global economic uncertainty following the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a report to the Communist Party, Chinese President Xi Jinping shared that he wants the country to become a “medium developed country” in the next 10 years. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, in order for China to achieve its objective of becoming a moderately developed country, its per capita GDP would need to increase from $12,500 in 2021 to $20,000. Furthermore, an average annual GDP growth rate of approximately 4.7% would be necessary during the next decade. Xi Jinping’s goals highlight that economic growth remains a key priority for the country. A positive outlook on the future of the Chinese economy warrants a keen interest in Chinese corporations. If you want to read about some of the stocks gaining attention in the market, you can also go to the 10 Most Promising Chinese Stocks According to Analysts.

Evolving Dynamics of China-US Relations

In addition to growth, China is now placing an increased emphasis on achieving economic self-sufficiency and technological independence, which reflects strained relations with the US. On February 23, Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary of the United States, stated that talks on economic matters with China would continue “at an appropriate time.” This comes as Beijing is selling its significant holdings of Treasuries and as Washington cautions against possible violations of sanctions related to Russia. During a news conference in Bengaluru, India, ahead of a G-20 financial leaders meeting, Yellen told CNBC’s Tanvir Gill that she did not have a specific timeline for the resumption of economic talks with China, but she believed it was important to have those discussions. The Treasury Secretary also highlighted several areas where the US. and China need to collaborate to address global challenges, such as climate change and food security. According to Yellen, maintaining effective communication between the two nations is crucial for the macroeconomic and financial situations domestically and globally.

A Bullish Outlook Amid Global Uncertainty

Due to optimistic economic predictions for China’s post-pandemic recovery, foreign funds are increasingly investing in Chinese stocks. This surge in investment represents the highest rate of foreign investment in Chinese stocks in at least five years. In the first two weeks of 2023, global funds purchased over $9 billion worth of A shares through the Stock Connect, representing the highest amount invested since at least 2018. KraneShares, an asset management firm based in New York, highlighted in a report on Wednesday that China’s mainland stock market is among its top recommendations for investment in 2023. The report suggested that due to the significant sell-off in 2022, the market is still relatively under-invested and could experience a “coiled spring” effect, resulting in an upsurge in earnings growth. Some of the most profitable Chinese stocks in the market include Bank of China Limited (601988.SS), Tencent Holdings Limited (0700.HK), and China Construction Bank Corporation (601939.SS).

Photo by Edward He on Unsplash

Our Methodology

We have shortlisted the 11 most profitable Chinese stocks on the basis of their trailing 12 months’ net income. We further narrowed down our research to only include companies that reported over $10 billion in net income over the last 12 months. Most of the companies included in the list are a part of the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 list, which ranks the world’s largest companies based on revenue, assets, profits, and market capitalization. The companies have been ranked in ascending order of their net income.

Most Profitable Chinese Stocks

11. Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (601328.SS)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $13.34 billion (¥91.04 billion)

Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (601328.SS) (BOCOM) is a Shanghai-based bank that was established in 1908. The bank had the distinction of being one of the earliest note-issuing entities in China.

Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (601328.SS) has a headcount of 90,238 employees and holds the 62^nd position on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 list. The bank has an asset base of $1.8 trillion, with a top line of $76 billion as of 2022. Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (601328.SS) anticipates net income growth of 7.21% in 2023 as opposed to 4.75% in 2022. Experts believe that the banking sector’s net interest margin (NIM) is expected to receive a boost in the last two quarters of 2023 as the Chinese economy expands.

10. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (601318.SS)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $14.12 billion (¥96.44 billion)

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (601318.SS) is a Shenzhen-based diversified financial services company founded in 1988. The company has 225 million retail customers and 668 million online users using its asset management, banking, financial technology, insurance, and healthcare services as of 2022.

The company occupies the 17^th position on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 list with an asset base of $1.59 trillion and an annual top line of $181.4 billion. Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (601318.SS) brought on leading global financial entities like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as its shareholders way back in 1994 and achieved the feat of becoming the first Chinese financial services entity to have foreign investors.

9. CNOOC Limited (600938.SS)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $15.94 billion (¥108.88 billion)

CNOOC Limited (600938.SS) is a Beijing-based producer of crude oil and natural gas through offshore operations. The company is continuing to expand its operations through 22 commercial discoveries in 2021.

In 2021, CNOOC Limited (600938.SS) reported net production of 573 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), which was higher than the initial target set by the corporation. Although the company was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) in 2021, it listed its shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) in April 2022. On the first day of trading, the shares of CNOOC Limited (600938.SS) jumped as much as 44%, which resulted in a 30-minute trading halt. CNOOC Limited (600938.SS) offers an attractive dividend yield of 7.63% as of February 23.

8. China Mobile Limited (0941.HK)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $18.71 billion (¥127.50 billion)

China Mobile Limited (0941.HK) is a Beijing, China-based provider of information communication technology (ICT) founded in 1997.

The company has a headcount of 446,068 employees, a total mobile customer base of 970 million, and a wireline broadband customer base of 256 million as of June 2022. China Mobile Limited (0941.HK) also had 614 million 5G users as of December 2022. The company is the biggest mobile telecommunications entity in the world based on the number of subscribers. China Mobile Limited (0941.HK) conducted the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in over a decade on the SSE in December 2021. Meanwhile, it was the second-biggest IPO globally for that respective year.

7. China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. (600036.SS)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $19.5 billion (¥133.23 billion)

China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. (600036.SS) is a Shenzhen-based bank established in 1987 that provides a diverse range of financial products and services through its 143 branches and 1,711 sub-branches spread across 130 mainland Chinese cities. The bank has a headcount of over 100,000 employees.

China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. (600036.SS) holds the 24^th position on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 list. Furthermore, the bank has been selected as the “Best Bank in China” by Euromoney for four consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. The bank has the seventh-highest asset base and the fifth-highest net income in the Chinese banking industry, reflecting strong operational efficiency. The bank is known as the “King of Retailing,” with 182 million retail banking customers as of 2022.

6. PetroChina Company Limited (601857.SS)

Trailing 12 months Net Income: $20.10 billion (¥137.32 billion)

PetroChina Company Limited (601857.SS) is a Beijing-based integrated energy company established in 1999 as part of the restructuring of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The company holds the 21^st position on the 2022 Forbes Global 2000 list and is the fourth-biggest integrated energy company on the list. The increase in crude oil prices played a significant role in aiding energy companies to climb the Forbes Global 2000 list. PetroChina Company Limited (601857.SS) is the biggest crude oil and natural gas producer in Asia and the second biggest refiner of crude oil in China as well.

In addition to PetroChina Company Limited (601857.SS), Bank of China Limited (601988.SS), Tencent Holdings Limited (0700.HK), and China Construction Bank Corporation (601939.SS) are also some of the most profitable Chinese stocks.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Profitable Chinese Stocks.