


Core Viewpoint - China Water Affairs (00855) is currently valued at a significant discount compared to its peers, with a target price of HKD 7.80 and a "Buy" rating from CITIC Securities, reflecting a 20% valuation discount based on a target PE of 10x for FY2025 [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company's overall gross margin improved by 0.7 percentage points to 37.8% in FY2025, with notable increases in profitability across all business segments, including urban water supply, pipeline drinking water, and environmental protection [2] - The company’s sales, management, and financial expense ratios showed mixed changes, with financial expenses increasing due to a high proportion of US dollar debt, but there is potential for reduction through debt restructuring and a declining interest rate environment [2] Group 2: Growth Drivers - In FY2025, the company commissioned 81.7 million tons per day of new water production capacity, leading to a 7.0% increase in water sales volume to 1.5 billion tons, with further growth expected as additional capacity comes online in FY2026 [3] - The company has implemented water price adjustments in several projects, with expectations that total adjustments could exceed 1 million tons per day, benefiting from ongoing reforms in water pricing across major cities [3] Group 3: Cash Flow and Dividends - For the first time since 2020, the company achieved positive free cash flow of HKD 1.58 billion in FY2025, supported by a reduction in capital expenditures [4] - The company maintained its dividend at HKD 0.28 per share, with a 12 percentage point increase in the payout ratio to 42%, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [4]