As the trading year enters its ninth month, financial institutions have begun rolling out their recommended stock portfolios. Based on data collected up to September 1st, a total of 19 brokerages have disclosed their September selections, encompassing 112 individual stocks.

An analysis of these recommendations reveals a clear focus on four primary sectors: electronics, biomedicine, non-ferrous metals, and machinery. Within these sectors, there is particular enthusiasm for AI computing power, innovative drugs, and copper and gold resource companies.

Looking back at August, the performance of broker-recommended portfolios was generally strong. Data shows that 20 brokerages achieved positive returns, with Soochow Securities leading the pack with a monthly return of 15.25%. Kaiyuan Securities and AVIC Securities secured the second and third positions, respectively.

Among individual stocks, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has emerged as the most popular choice, receiving recommendations from five institutions including Shanxi Securities, Everbright Securities, and Ping An Securities. Analysts view the company as a global leader in lithium batteries with strong earnings resilience, particularly benefiting from rising oil prices due to geopolitical factors and the increasing strategic importance of new energy sources. The company's growth prospects are further supported by the anticipated rise in electric vehicle penetration rates both domestically and internationally, along with robust demand for energy storage solutions driven by energy security transitions.

WuXi AppTec has garnered recommendations from four brokerages. Western Securities highlights the company's strong second-quarter earnings growth and upward revisions to its full-year guidance, while Everbright Securities points to robust order books in its TIDES (peptide/oligonucleotide) business, which offers high growth certainty.

Other stocks receiving recommendations from multiple brokerages include Zijin Mining Group, Western Mining, Huaibei Mining, Midea Group, Roborock, Huatai Securities, and T&F Communications.

In terms of August performance rankings, Soochow Securities' recommended portfolio topped the charts with a 15.25% return, followed by Kaiyuan Securities at 14.74% and AVIC Securities at 13.67%. China Merchants Securities, Guohai Securities, and Changjiang Securities rounded out the top six positions.

The standout stock pick of August was Seagull Co , recommended by Huayuan Securities, which surged an impressive 118.83%. The company, primarily engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and installation of various cooling towers with clients in petrochemical and thermal power sectors, saw its shares soar amid the heating up of liquid-cooled server concept stocks.

Jiuzhou Yigui, recommended by AVIC Securities, posted gains exceeding 70% in August. The company, recognized as a leader in rail transit vibration reduction, is expanding into silicon photonics and semiconductor upstream sectors through acquisitions, opening up new growth avenues. Wote Advanced Materials, selected by China Galaxy Securities, rose more than 60% during the month, including three consecutive limit-up days in late August.

Looking ahead to September, Huaan Securities anticipates that while external factors remain the core market concern, the market should transition smoothly, with domestic resilience providing downside support. The overall expectation is for a consolidating market pattern. Caixin Securities projects a primarily upward oscillation trend for the broader market in September, with opportunities potentially emerging across multiple sectors.

Several institutions advocate for a balanced approach to asset allocation, maintaining both offensive and defensive positions. Some suggest there is room for market rebounds, with particular attention to domestic supply chains in the AI sector. During this period of rapid style rotation, opportunities may increasingly manifest in valuation recovery for stocks with solid earnings support.

Zhongtai Securities believes the long-term industrial trend in AI continues to evolve. As US Treasury yield risks ease, technology stocks led by AI could see rebounds; however, in the short term, overseas markets may lack new commercialization narratives, making domestic supply chains more favorable. Beyond AI, the firm recommends focusing on export sectors such as power equipment and chemicals, as well as beneficiaries of El Ni帽o weather patterns in agriculture and home appliances.

Zhongyuan Securities notes that September will mark a period of intensive industrial policy implementation, suggesting investors position around semiconductor domestic substitution and computing infrastructure. Additionally, opportunities exist in cyclical resources like chemicals and non-ferrous metals, driven by a weakening US dollar and supply constraints, alongside structural opportunities in industrial machinery sub-sectors.

Regarding core portfolio positioning, dividend-yielding assets continue to offer value. With the asset shortage landscape remaining unchanged, the cost-effectiveness of dividend strategies remains prominent.