Focus on Industry Rationalization and AIDC Business Progress
发布时间:2026-08-26 来源:华泰证券
Daqo New Energy has reported 1H26 results: revenue of RMB620mn, -57.6% YoY; an attributable net loss of RMB1.6bn, widening from a loss of RMB1.15bn in 1H25. For 2Q26, revenue was RMB430mn, -22.8% YoY/+130.3% QoQ; the attributable net loss was RMB790mn, widening from a loss of RMB590mn in 2Q25. Earnings remain under pressure, dragged by lower average selling prices amid falling market prices. We expect energy consumption constraints and industry leader discipline to accelerate the exit of high-cost polysilicon capacity and support a recovery in pricing. Daqo’s low-energy-consumption capacity should benefit. Meanwhile, its planned AIDC smart energy system manufacturing base could open a second earnings growth curve.
Lower polysilicon ASPs dragged 2Q26 earnings
For 2Q26, polysilicon production/sales volume reached 44kt/15kt, +0.6%/+238.9% QoQ. The ASP was RMB27.5/kg, -33.4% QoQ. Amid weak demand and price negotiations across the value chain, Daqo proactively managed its shipment pace. While sales volume recovered QoQ, the low ASP continued to weigh on profitability. On the cost side, unit cost/unit cash cost fell to RMB52.4/32.7 per kg, -41.1%/-21.4% QoQ, driven by better fixed cost absorption on higher volume and Daqo's cost reduction efforts through process optimization and lean management. The company has guided for 3Q26 production of 40kt-45kt and full-year production of 160kt-180kt (raised from the 140kt-170kt tonnes guided in 1Q26 results).
Earnings forecasts and valuation
Given near-term demand weakness and uncertainty around value chain price recovery, we lower our polysilicon volume, price, and gross margin assumptions. We project 2026/2027/2028 attributable net profit at RMB-1,067/+1,596/+2,820mn (vs. prior RMB9/2,598/3,211mn). Daqo’s leading polysilicon position remains solid, it continues to cut costs and improve operating efficiency, and its financial position is stronger than those of its peers’. As of end-1H26, cash reserves exceeded RMB10bn, the debt-to-asset ratio stood at a low 7.87%, and it carries no interest-bearing debt, positioning it well to navigate the cycle. Meanwhile, its expansion into AIDC builds a second earnings growth curve. Hence, we assign a 2027E PE of 28x, a premium over the 2027E average of 25.45x for peers on Wind consensus. We lower our target price to RMB21 (prior: RMB30.25, based on 25x 2027E PE; the higher target multiple mainly reflects higher peer valuations).
Risks: polysilicon supply-side reform falling short of our expectations, weaker PV demand than we expect, and slower AIDC business expansion than we expect.