Hanoi (VNS/VNA) 🌳- As Vietnam’s economy strides confidently into 2025, the outlook for listed companies appears increasingly robust, with the banking sector positioned as a key driver of stock market growth.

Recent financial disclosures from over 900 listed enterprises reveal a 20.9% year-over-year growth in profits after tax for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter of stable gain, reinforcing optimism for 2025. Several industries have played a pivotal role in this upward trajectory, particularly real estate, retail, aviation, consumer goods, telecommunications and information technology. The non-financial sector continues to be a primary growth engine, boasting a 25.7% profit expansion in Q4 2024, but slightly below the 29% recorded in the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the financial sector has also seen improved momentum, registering a 16.7% profit increase year-on-year, up from 14.9% in Q3 2024. Notably, the real estate sector saw a significant surge in profit after tax (101.3%), primarily driven by Vinhomes’s exceptional growth (1,482.3%). This remarkable increase was fuelled by the company’s accelerated handover of homes at the Royal Island mega-project in Hai Phong City, along with contributions from other key players such as Khang Dien House, Phat Dieu Real Estate, Dat Xanh Group, NLG Corp and Van Phu - Invest. These figures indicate a broad-based recovery across multiple sectors, creating a favourable environment for sustained market expansion. In 2024, the total profit after tax of the market grew by 22.3% year-on-year, primarily driven by the non-financial sector, which saw a strong increase of 28.7%. While the financial sector posted more modest growth at 17.5%, several industries experienced exceptional surges, including retail (479.3%), tourism and entertainment (319.6%) and telecommunications (144.1%).

Market’s driving force

Among the key contributors to the market’s rallies, the banking industry stands out as the front runner. By the end of 2024, the total market capitalisation of banks stood at over 578.1 trillion VND (22.6 million USD), accounting for 8.1% of the combined capitalisation across Vietnam’s three stock exchanges. Preliminary financial reports indicate that banks achieved a profit after tax of 67.1 trillion VND in Q4 2024, reflecting a significant 27.3% rise over the previous year. This growth rate substantially surpasses the average profit increase of 9.1% among 33 major stocks in other sectors. The banking sector’s impressive performance can be attributed to several key factors. First, credit expansion has been a crucial driver, with lending activities picking up as the economy regains momentum. Meanwhile, digital transformation efforts by banks have yielded positive results, improving operational efficiency and boosting revenue streams. Additionally, favourable interest rate policies and proactive monetary measures by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) have provided an enabling environment for banks to thrive. Market analysts are increasingly optimistic about the role of banking stocks in shaping Vietnam’s stock market performance in 2025. Dao Hong Duong from VPBank Securities said that the VN-Index would likely be propelled by sectors demonstrating high-profit growth and attractive valuations, with banks leading the charge. Looking ahead, projections suggest a 17.7% profit growth for banks this year. Given expectations of double-digit GDP growth, credit expansion in the banking sector could reach 16-18% in 2025. This optimistic outlook is further bolstered by proactive public investment and infrastructure development initiatives, which will drive demand for banking services. Given that the banking sector comprises about 25-30% of the total capitalisation on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), its performance will have a ripple effect on the broader market. Bank stocks, characterised by their liquidity, market capitalisation and favourable valuations, are attracting significant attention from both domestic and foreign investors. In particular, the prospect of increased foreign ownership levels in the country’s banking sector could further enhance investor sentiment and capital inflows. Despite the positive outlook, certain risks could impact the market’s performance. Global economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and potential fluctuations in interest rates could pose challenges for Vietnam’s financial markets. Additionally, the real estate sector, while showing signs of recovery, remains an area of concern due to lingering structural issues./.