Earnings Pressured in 3Q24, Likely to Stabilize in 4Q24
发布时间:2024-11-05 来源:华泰金融(HK)
Shenzhen Gas' revenue/attributable net profit (NP)/recurring NP were RMB6,960/318/306mn (-12.7/-30/-30% yoy, +0.6/-31/-30% qoq) for 3Q24, and RMB20,739/1,056/1,009mn (-10.6/-4.5/-2.6% yoy) for 9M24. The 3Q24 attributable NP fell short of our prior forecast of RMB422-466mn. City gas sales in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) slowed in 3Q24, but we anticipate acceleration in gas volume and margin expansion for 4Q24. Additionally, PV film and smart services profits declined in 3Q24, with further pressure expected in 4Q24, in our view. Maintain BUY.
City gas sales in GBA slowed in 3Q24, but likely to rebound in 4Q24
For 3Q24, natural gas sales volume totaled 1,509mn cbm (+1.4% yoy, slowing by 5.6pp vs 2Q24). By channel, pipeline/wholesale gas amounted to 1,339/170mn cbm (+1.4/1.2% yoy). By region and type, power plant sales reached 586mn cbm (+11.0% yoy), driven by peak electricity demand in summer. Excluding power plant sales, city gas sales volume in GBA recorded 295mn cbm (+2.8% yoy, slowing by 18.8pp vs 2Q24), impacted by a high base from 3Q23. Given a low base in 4Q23 and reduced procurement costs, we expect the yoy gas volume growth to accelerate in 4Q24, with potential expansion in retail price spread yoy.
Pressures on PV film & smart services profits likely to continue
The company adjusted its sales strategy in response to shifts in the PV industry, making Sveck's PV film sales and revenue continue declining in 3Q24, with price reductions further leading to a net loss in this segment on both yoy/qoq basis. PV film prices are heavily impacted by upstream EVA particle costs (accounting for c. 90% of total cost), and EVA prices have dropped 26% yoy entering 2024. Given the low gross profit margin of this segment, we project the losses to persist into 4Q24. Despite a yoy profit decrease in smart services on a high base in 3Q24, we expect the decline to be narrowed in 4Q24, as the company keeps expanding product lines and channels in its extended business layout.
Lowering earnings forecast & target price based on 2025E valuation
We cut our revenue and GPM forecasts for PV film and smart services, estimating 2024/2025/2026 attributable NP at RMB1,525/1,908/2,241mn (previous: RMB1,774/1,974/2,298mn), with yoy growth of 5.9/25/17%, corresponding to EPS of RMB0.53/0.66/0.78. Considering the limited profit contribution from PV film, which we project to be RMB-42/+62/+85mn, we do not adopt the SOTP model this time. We value the stock at 13x 2025E PE, above its peers' average of 10x on Wind consensus, to factor in the higher (16% vs 9%) attributable NP CAGR for its gas segment than its industry peers'. Our target price is RMB8.58 (previous: RMB8.72).
Risks: notable gas price hikes; softer PV film demand than we expect; asset impairment; lower smart services volume than we expect.