Higher Lithium Prices Drove Strong1Q26Earnings
发布时间:2026-05-01 来源:华泰证券
Tianqi Lithium (Tianqi) reported 1Q26 results. Revenue reached RMB5.1bn (+98.44% YoY, +73.89% QoQ). Attributable NP was RMB1.9bn (+1,699.12% YoY, +563.54% QoQ). Ex-nonrecurring NP was RMB1.8bn (+3,987.18% YoY). Given the company's strong YoY earnings growth in 1Q26 and its leading position in the lithium resource sector, maintain OVERWEIGHT.
Li2CO3 & spodumene price rallies drove a surge in earnings
According to Wind, the average domestic lithium carbonate price in 1Q26 was RMB154,000/t (+74.8% QoQ). According to IGO, the average price of Greenbushes spodumene concentrate in 1Q26 was USD1,668/t (+96.0% QoQ). On expenses, the period expense ratio was -0.07% (-8.41pp YoY). Net investment income was RMB475mn, up by RMB264mn QoQ.
Smelting capacity continues to expand
According to IGO, spodumene concentrate output in 1Q26 was 351kt (-0.3% QoQ). The decline was mainly due to lower feed grade, reduced recovery rates, and longer maintenance downtime. CGP3 contributed about 33kt of output. On refining, the company has built total lithium chemical product capacity of 121.6ktpa. As construction progresses at Tongliang, Chongqing’s expansion project for 1,000 tpa of lithium metal and supporting raw materials, the company's global integrated lithium chemical product capacity will rise to 122.6ktpa. Specifically, the 30ktpa flexible lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate project in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, and Phase I of the 24ktpa lithium hydroxide project in Kwinana, Australia, are still in the ramp-up and efficiency improvement stage.
Early positioning in SSB materials, commercialization in focus
For anode materials, lithium metal is one of the key solutions for solid-state battery (SSB) anodes. The company can currently produce wide-format, 300mm roll-to-roll, and ultra-thin lithium metal strips. Through surface treatment and alloy treatment, it has developed anode metal material products that can be directly supplied to SSB makers. For electrolytes, lithium sulfide is the core raw material for sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes. Leveraging its self-developed processes and equipment, the company has launched a 50 tpa lithium sulfide project and is also conducting R&D on sulfide electrolytes.
Earnings forecast and valuation
We raise our 2026-2028 attributable NP forecasts to RMB7.4bn / RMB9.1bn / RMB11.2bn, representing upward revisions of 21.2% /17.7%/16.2%. Corresponding EPS is RMB4.3/RMB5.3/RMB6.6. The upward revision mainly reflects the view that lithium prices and spodumene prices are entering an upcycle. Based on 21.7x 2026E PE, which is in line with the average 2026 Wind consensus PE for comparable companies, our target price for Tianqi-A arrives at RMB93.96 (previous RMB84.25, on 23.6x PE). Based on the average A/H premium of 34.1% over the past three months (previously 28.9%), and an HKD/RMB exchange rate of 0.88 on April 28, our target price for Tianqi-H arrives at HKD80.05 (previously HKD73.99). Maintain OVERWEIGHT.
Risks: A sharper-than-expected decline in lithium prices, slower-than-expected progress in projects under construction, and overseas geopolitical disruptions.