What's Driving Lufax Holding Ltd's Surprising 37% Stock Rally?

Lufax Holding Ltd (LU, Financial) has experienced a notable fluctuation in its stock price over recent periods. With a current market capitalization of $2.56 billion and a stock price of $4.47, the company has seen a 5.80% loss over the past week. However, looking at a broader timeframe, Lufax has gained an impressive 37.46% over the past three months. According to GuruFocus's valuation metrics, the stock is currently significantly undervalued, with a GF Value of $12.81, down slightly from the past GF Value of $13.07. This suggests that despite recent losses, the stock's overall trajectory has been positive and may present a buying opportunity for value investors.

Understanding Lufax Holding Ltd

Lufax Holding Ltd operates within the credit services industry, providing a technology-empowered platform for personal financial services in China. The company caters to the unmet personal lending needs of small business owners and salaried workers, while also offering wealth management solutions to the middle class and affluent individuals. Lufax's business model is built around two main hubs: the Retail Credit Facilitation Hub and the Wealth Management Hub. 1774801673626218496.png

Profitability Insights

When it comes to profitability, Lufax holds a Profitability Rank of 4 out of 10. The company's Return on Equity (ROE) stands at 0.97%, which is better than 29.24% of the industry, and its Return on Assets (ROA) is at 0.29%, surpassing 31.23% of its industry peers. Over the past decade, Lufax has maintained profitability for six years, outperforming 33.85% of the industry. These figures indicate that while Lufax's profitability is not leading the industry, it is stable and competitive within its sector. 1774801693914066944.png

Growth Trajectory and Potential

The company's Growth Rank is also positioned at 4 out of 10. Lufax has demonstrated a 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate per Share of 5.20%, which is better than 52.67% of the industry. Its 5-Year Revenue Growth Rate per Share is even more impressive at 12.90%, surpassing 71.76% of its competitors. However, the 3-Year EPS without NRI Growth Rate shows a decline of 13.60%, which is still better than 20.57% of the industry. The 5-Year EPS without NRI Growth Rate shows a modest increase of 4.70%, outperforming 44.83% of the industry. These mixed growth indicators suggest that while Lufax has areas to improve, it also has solid growth prospects. 1774801711152656384.png

Notable Shareholders

Several prominent investors have taken notice of Lufax's potential. Baillie Gifford (Trades, Portfolio) holds 6,077,224 shares, representing a 1.06% share percentage. Ron Baron (Trades, Portfolio) follows with 4,606,220 shares, accounting for 0.8% of the shares, and Jim Simons (Trades, Portfolio) holds 2,445,994 shares, or 0.43%. These holdings by well-known investors may provide additional confidence in the stock's future performance.

Competitive Landscape

In comparison to its competitors, Lufax stands in the middle of the pack with a market cap of $2.56 billion. Upstart Holdings Inc (UPST, Financial) has a slightly lower market cap of $2.27 billion, while Qifu Technology Inc (QFIN, Financial) surpasses Lufax with a market cap of $3.05 billion. Navient Corp (NAVI, Financial), another competitor, has a market cap of $1.95 billion. This positioning within the industry suggests that Lufax is a significant player but still has room to grow and capture more market share.

Conclusive Analysis

In conclusion, Lufax Holding Ltd's stock performance has been a mixed bag with short-term losses but significant gains over the past three months. The company's valuation indicates that it is significantly undervalued, which could attract value investors looking for potential growth opportunities. Lufax's stable profitability and promising growth rates, combined with the confidence shown by notable shareholders, position it as an intriguing option in the credit services industry. When considering the competitive landscape, Lufax's market cap suggests it has the potential to increase its market share and further solidify its presence in the sector. Investors should keep an eye on Lufax as it continues to navigate the dynamic financial services market in China.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

Disclosures

I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.