Profit Margins and Cash Flow Improved YoY
发布时间:2026-05-13 来源:华泰证券
CSCEC reported 1Q26 results, with revenue of RMB511.8bn (-7.85% YoY, -2.30% QoQ), attributable NP of RMB13.9bn (-7.53% YoY, +1465.68% QoQ), and ex-nonrecurring NP of RMB13.8bn (-7.18% YoY). With RMB1,261.3bn in new contracts in 1Q26, -0.7% YoY, the company has maintained stable performance. We believe it may benefit from simultaneous improvement on the demand side and asset side based on the property market recovery, infrastructure-related pro-growth policies, and the continued resolution of its debt issues. Dividend policy also remains stable. Based on the April 30 closing price, CSCEC’s dividend yield was 5.54%, indicating solid high dividend yield value. Maintain BUY.
Improved engineering profitability, solid overseas revenue
By segment, in 1Q26 the company recorded revenue of RMB332.1bn, RMB118.6bn,RMB52.4bn, and RMB2.2bn from housing construction, infrastructure, real estate, and survey and design, respectively, -9.0%/-7.6%/-2.4%/-4.7% YoY. Gross margin for these businesses was 6.4%/8.8%/13.5%/8.2%, +0.29/+0.65/-3.36/-0.51pp YoY.
Thanks to improved profitability in the engineering business, blended gross margin in 1Q26 came in at 7.93%, +0.08pp YoY. By region, domestic revenue was RMB485.5bn, -8.64% YoY, with gross margin of 8.04%, +0.06pp YoY. Overseas revenue was RMB26.3bn, +10.1% YoY, with gross margin of 5.78%, +0.85pp YoY.
NPM edged up YoY; operating cash outflow narrowed
In 1Q26, the period expense ratio was 3.73%, +0.08pp YoY. The sales, G&A, R&D, and financial expense ratios were 0.30%/1.53%/1.10%/0.80%, -0.05/+0.06/ +0.04/+0.03pp YoY. Selling expenses were -21.75% YoY, which we believe mainly reflected lower spending on property sales. Other expense ratios rose largely mechanically due to the decline in revenue. In 1Q26, attributable NP margin (NPM) was 2.71%, +0.01pp YoY. Net operating cash flow was -RMB77.0bn, with outflows narrowing by RMB18.9bn YoY. The cash collection/cash payment ratios were 101%/115%, +0.32/-2.78pp YoY.
Global expansion delivered strong results
New contract value in 1Q26 was -0.7% YoY. Of that total, new construction contracts declined by 0.7% YoY. By business line, new contracts in housing construction/infrastructure/survey & design reached RMB830.0bn/RMB362.9bn/RMB2.8bn, +6.4%/-13.7%/-14.2% YoY. Within housing construction, industrial plant projects continued to grow, rising 22.5% YoY. Within infrastructure, new water conservancy and water transport contracts were +41.2% YoY. By region, new overseas contracts reached RMB73.9bn, +9.5% YoY. The company accelerated expansion in industrial plants, data centers, and rail transit. Orders grew quickly in Southeast Asia, North Africa, and West Asia. New domestic contracts added up to RMB1,187.4bn, -1.3% YoY.
Earnings forecast and valuation
We maintain our 2026/2027/2028 attributable NP forecast of RMB36.4/34.9/ 35.3bn. Comparable construction and property companies are trading at 5x/20x 2026E PE. Using SOTP valuation, we apply 5x 26E PE to RMB25.9bn of construction business net profit and 20x 26E PE to RMB10.5bn of property business net profit. We raise the target price to RMB8.23 (previously RMB6.45, based on 5x/13x 26E PE for RMB25.9bn of construction net profit and RMB10.5bn of property net profit, respectively). Maintain BUY.
Risks: Pro-growth policies below our expectation, and property or engineering growth that falls short of our expectations.