2Q26: High Oil Prices Led to Losses
发布时间:2026-09-04 来源:华泰证券
For 1H26, revenue/attributable net profit (NP) were RMB3,729/44mn (+3.3/-82.6% YoY). For 2Q26, revenue was RMB1,905mn (+3.8% YoY), while the attributable net loss was RMB91mn, vs an attributable NP of RMB169mn in 2Q25. The company’s 1H26 NP was dented by oil price hikes but aligned with its profit alert of RMB35-50mn. Earnings climbed in early 1H26 and weakened later. Looking ahead, the company needs to wait for a decline in international oil prices in the short term. In the medium to long term, as a top regional airline, the company could deliver profit upside through fleet expansion and aircraft utilization improvement. Maintain BUY.
2Q26 yield rose sharply YoY
For 2Q26, high oil prices constrained the company’s capacity scheduling. However, demand for new regional destinations may need time to grow. The company had 101 regional destinations at end-1H26, up by five from end-1H25. ASK/RPK fell by 8.6/12.2% YoY, while the PLF fell by 3.3pp YoY to 80.0%, although it remained high. The company tried to pass on rising fuel costs to passengers by raising fuel surcharges and taking other measures. We estimate that the passenger yield per RPK increased by about 16% YoY, driving 2Q26 revenue up by 3.8% YoY to RMB1,905mn.
High oil prices: hard to pass through in full
For 2Q26, operating costs increased by 25.3% YoY to RMB2,188mn. The average ex-factory jet fuel price increased by 90% YoY. Along with constrained aircraft utilization, this drove the unit ASK cost up by 37.1% YoY, dragging the gross profit down by RMB373mn YoY to a gross loss of RMB283mn. However, the RMB appreciated by 1.6% against the USD in 2Q26, and FX gains drove financial expenses down by 37.2% YoY to RMB79mn. As a result, the 2Q26 attributable NP declined by RMB259mn YoY, recording a loss of RMB91mn.
Regional airline leadership solid in the medium to long term
Earnings were stronger in early 1H26 but weakened later. Supply/demand fell by 3.8/3.5% YoY, while the PLF increased by 0.3pp YoY to 81.8%. Although the passenger yield per RPK increased by 5% YoY, high oil prices in 2Q26 drove the unit ASK cost up by 19.0% YoY in 1H26. As a result, the company recorded a gross loss of RMB286mn, down by RMB390mn YoY. Although other income increased by RMB84mn YoY to RMB829mn, and FX gains improved by RMB97mn YoY, the attributable NP declined by 82.6% YoY to RMB44mn. Looking ahead, if international oil prices stay high, 2H26 earnings could remain under pressure. However, in the medium to long term, we expect the company’s operating barriers in the regional market to sustain profit upside.
Earnings forecast and valuation
Based on high oil prices and weak yields during the summer travel season, we cut our 2026/2027/2028 attributable NP forecasts by 69/6/3% to RMB84/801/1,266mn, with EPS of RMB0.07/0.63/0.99. Its peers (China Eastern Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines) trade at an average 2027E PE of 13x on Wind consensus. Given the oil price hikes in 2026 and sharp earnings fluctuations among peers, we base our valuation on 2027E. Considering the company’s position as a regional airline leader and above-average growth, we value the stock at 15x 2027E PE. Our target price is RMB9.45 (previous: RMB11.90, based on 18x 2027E PE vs its peers’ average of 16x). Maintain BUY.
Risks: lower-than-expected government subsidies, weaker-than-expected willingness of institutions to purchase capacity, oil price and FX fluctuations, slower-than-expected fleet expansion, and aviation accidents.