3Q24 Earnings Under Pressure, Likely to Gain From Price Upswing
发布时间:2024-10-30 来源:华泰金融(HK)
JDC Molybdenum’s (JDC) 3Q24 revenue/attributable net profit (NP) were RMB3,504/688mn (+4.82/-18.49% yoy, -5.96/-21.26% qoq), with 9M24 revenue/ attributable NP/recurring NP at RMB10,097/2,195/2,176mn (+14.06/-6.07/-6.13% yoy). We believe molybdenum supply remains rigid with robust demand, and as a key player in the molybdenum industry chain, JDC stands to benefit from rising molybdenum prices in the medium term. Maintain OVERWEIGHT.
3Q24 earnings contracted qoq
Strong demand for molybdenum in 2024 has driven price rises, and prices have sustained high levels through 3Q24. According to MySteel, China’s major special steel producers total steel output was 30.14mn tonnes for 9M24, +11% yoy. According to molychina.com, cumulative contracted ferromolybdenum production from steel mills was up 24% yoy in 9M24. On Wind data, the price of 45-50% molybdenum concentrate rose 0.56% qoq in 3Q24 to RMB3,685/tonne. However, JDC’s 3Q24 revenue fell 5.96% qoq, with the gross profit margin down 0.55pp qoq to 38.61%, deviating from the molybdenum price trend, which we believe was likely due to seasonal fluctuations in self-sufficiency of raw molybdenum materials. These, combined with a higher overall expense ratio, led to a 21.26% qoq drop in attributable NP.
Key player in molybdenum industry with extensive resources
JDC is a leading supplier of molybdenum products, primarily engaged in production, sales, R&D, and trading of molybdenum-related products, including furnace-grade molybdenum, molybdenum chemicals, and deep-processed molybdenum metals of high quality. In 2023, JDC produced 15,146/6,213/4,947 tonnes of ferromolybdenum/ammonium molybdate/molybdenum powder. For resources, JDC operates two large open-pit molybdenum mines: 1) Jinduicheng mine, one of the world’s six major primary molybdenum deposits, has reserves of 451mn tonnes at an average grade of 0.083%; 2) Donggou mine in Ruyang has reserves of 462mn tonnes at an average grade of 0.120%. JDC also holds equity in Shapinggou and Jide molybdenum mines.
Target price of RMB13.82
We maintain our earnings forecasts and estimate 2024/2025/2026 attributable NP at RMB3,119/3,135/3,155mn (+0.63/0.52/0.62% yoy), with EPS at RMB0.97/0.97/0.98. Given the molybdenum profit shares of its comparable companies is gradually shrinking as they expand into other product lines, while JDC, as a leader in the molybdenum industry with rich resources, is more likely to fully benefit from price increases, we value its stock at 14.22x 2025E PE, above its peers’ average of 12.37x on Wind consensus. Our target price is RMB13.82.
Risks: molybdenum demand weaker than we expect; molybdenum supply growing faster than we expect.