Optical Fiber/Cable Price Rises Boosted 1H26 Earnings
发布时间:2026-09-03 来源:华泰证券
Zhongtian Technology reported 1H26 revenue of RMB30,939mn (+31.10% YoY), attributable NP of RMB2,387mn (+52.29% YoY), and recurring net profit of RMB2,212mn (+50.72% YoY), in line with the company's prior profit alert. 2Q26 revenue reached RMB17,797mn (+28.55% YoY, +35.42% QoQ), attributable NP reached RMB1,469mn (+56.21% YoY, +59.81% QoQ), and recurring net profit was RMB1,387mn (+59.31% YoY, +68.19% QoQ). Profit growth significantly outpaced revenue, benefiting from rising optical fiber prices and the delivery of high-value-added products such as 500kV high-voltage submarine cables, which improved the product mix and profitability. Looking into 2H26, the optical communications business may continue benefiting from strong industry conditions, while concentrated deliveries of overseas high-voltage submarine cable projects are likely to accelerate offshore segment revenue while the power grid business maintains steady growth. Maintain BUY.
Continue acquiring downstream digital communication clients
In 1H26, improvement in the optical communications business was driven by tightening supply-demand in optical fiber and cable and rising product prices. The company's integrated preform-fiber-cable advantage released profit upside. 1H26 shipments of AI compute optical fiber G.657.A2 grew more than 2x YoY. The company won a project to supply MPO fiber jumpers and accessories for an internet company's data center, with a contract value exceeding RMB1.5bn. Overseas optical communications sales grew over 80% YoY, with AI compute optical fiber and cable now being supplied in volume to large overseas data centers. We believe near-term optical fiber price increases remain the driver of optical communications profit growth, while in the medium-to-long term, volume growth of high-value AI products and capacity expansion may contribute to sales growth.
Delivery of high-end marine cable improved profit mix
Offshore segment revenue recognition remains affected by the pace of industry construction and project deliveries, while high-end project deliveries improved the earnings mix. In 1H26, 500kV ultra-high-voltage submarine cable revenue accounted for more than 40% of offshore segment revenue. The company delivered the Yangjiang Sanshan Island ±500kV DC submarine cable and 500kV AC submarine cable projects. As of end-July 2026, the company's order backlog in the energy network segment was c. RMB33.0bn, of which offshore products accounted for c. RMB11.3bn. European high-voltage submarine cable projects in Germany and Poland could be delivered in 2H26. As backlog projects progress, offshore segment revenue may accelerate in 2H26.
Earnings forecasts and valuation
Considering the optical communications segment's margin improvement exceeded our previous expectations while offshore segment revenue came in below expectations, we raise our optical communications revenue and gross margin forecasts and lower our offshore segment revenue and gross margin forecasts. We forecast attributable NP of RMB7,355/11,089/13,387mn for 2026/2027/2028 (previous: RMB7,354/9,193/10,787mn, up 0.01/20.62/24.10%). Referencing comparable companies' average 2026E PE, we apply a 21x 2026E PE (previous: 22.75x 2026E PE), deriving a target price of RMB45.25 (previous: RMB49.05). Maintain BUY.
Risks: Weaker-than-expected offshore wind installations, intensifying competition in the fiber and cable industry.