2Q26 Profit Stabilized from Further Decline
发布时间:2026-09-02 来源:华泰证券
Lantian Gas has reported its 1H26 results:revenue was RMB2,175mn(-3.5%YoY),attributable NP was RMB159mn(-22%YoY),and recurring NP was RMB154mn(-23%YoY).The attributable NP came in slightly above the upper end of our estimate of RMB158mn.In 2Q26,revenue was RMB951mn(+11%YoY,-22%QoQ),and attributable NP was RMB73.09mn(+0.7%YoY,-15%QoQ).The company's 2Q26 earnings stabilized(1Q26:-35%YoY),as improved city gas gross margins and higher installation volumes offset the decline in piped gas.The company did not declare an interim dividend for 1H26(1H25 interim DPS:RMB0.40),shifting the full-year dividend payout schedule later.Maintain OVERWEIGHT.
Pipeline gas:GPM down 4.1pp YoY to 5%
In 1H26,piped natural gas sales revenue was RMB872mn(-16.7%YoY),with gross profit of RMB44mn(-54.1%YoY)and aGPM of 5.0%(-4.1pp YoY).In 1H26,national apparent natural gas consumption fell by 2.4%YoY,and industrial direct-supply demand within the company's operating areas remained tepid,with both sales volume and unit prices of piped gas(direct-supply+wholesale)declining.Under the"one plant,one policy"pricing mechanism,concessions were expanded,further narrowing per-unit dollar margins(FY2025 piped gas per-unit gross profit had already narrowed to c.RMB0.18/cbm,and the 1H26 piped gas GPM continued to decline from FY2025's 6.7%).We expect piped gas volume and price to remain under pressure for the full year,with dollar margin recovery awaiting demand improvement and the rationalization of pricing mechanisms.
City gas:GPM rebounded on retail sales ramp-up
In 1H26,city natural gas sales revenue was RMB997mn(+9.0%YoY),with gross profit of RMB104mn(+16.7%YoY)and aGPM of 10.5%(+0.7pp YoY).City gas revenue as ashare of total revenue rose from 40.6%in 1H25 to 45.8%,with ahigher retail mix driving structural improvement.Residential cost pass-through is still pending(FY2025 residential gas per-unit gross profit was c.RMB-0.27),but lower procurement costs(mainly in 1Q26)and an improved mix drove the city gas GPM higher.In 1H26,installation business revenue was RMB243mn(+9.9%YoY),as the"village-to-village"program in townships ramped up,offsetting the decline from the urban property chain.However,per-unit gross profit in townships is low,and the installation GPM was 65.2%(-8.2pp YoY),with gross profit of RMB159mn(-2.3%YoY).
Cash flow notably improved,but interim dividend not paid
In 1H26,net operating cash flow was RMB197mn(+75.5%YoY),due to lower taxes,restricted funds,and supplier payments.Investing cash flow was+RMB142mn,including capex of RMB113mn(-36.1%YoY).At end-June,monetary funds stood at RMB817mn(+45.9%vs the beginning of the period).The company did not declare an interim dividend(1H25 interim DPS:RMB0.40,payout ratio c.140%),and combined with zero year-end dividend for FY2025,the overall dividend schedule has been pushed back.At end-June,undistributed profit on the parent company's balance sheet was RMB460mn.We expect the company to maintain ahigh payout ratio for the full year,but the timing of distribution needs to be monitored against the annual plan.From 29 July,the conversion price of the"Lantian Convertible Bond"was revised down by 15.8%to RMB6.72/share,signaling aclear intention to promote conversion.If the remaining balance of RMB672mn is fully converted,it would add c.100mn new shares(dilution of c.14%),while also eliminating part of the debt and interest expenses.
Earnings forecasts and valuation
We maintain our 2026/2027/2028 attributable NP forecast at RMB294/304/318mn(3Y CAGR of 4%),with EPS of RMB0.41/0.43/0.44.We value the stock at 18x 2026E PE,implying apremium over its peers'average of 12x on Wind consensus,as the company's 2026E dividend yield of 5.83%is above its peers'average of 4.29%.We cut our target price to RMB7.38(previous:RMB9.00,based on 22x 2026E PE).
Risks:a sharp rise in gas source prices;price spreads narrowing significantly;domestic policy uncertainties.