Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that China Hongqiao's 2025 interim results show strong profit growth, supported by improved aluminum business performance and a commitment to shareholder returns through dividends and stock buybacks [1][2] Group 2 - China Hongqiao reported a net profit of approximately 12.4 billion RMB for the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 35%, which aligns with previous guidance [1] - The increase in profit is attributed to several factors: a rise in aluminum business profits, a decrease in production costs due to lower electricity prices, and an increase in sales volumes of aluminum and alumina, which grew by 2.4% and 15.6% respectively [1] - The gross profit from the alumina business increased by 44% year-on-year, with the gross margin rising by 1.5 percentage points to 25.7% [1] Group 3 - Morgan Stanley noted that China Hongqiao's balance sheet is improving, with the net debt ratio decreasing to 23% in the first half of 2025 from 26% in the first half of 2024 [1] - The total financing cost decreased by 18% year-on-year to 1.3 billion RMB due to optimized debt structure and lower interest rates [1] Group 4 - The company has announced a new stock buyback plan with a total amount of no less than 3 billion HKD, and it guarantees that the dividend payout for the entire year will not be lower than the level of 2024, which was approximately 63% [2] - Despite a slowdown in consumer demand, aluminum prices are expected to remain stable due to low inventory levels, and the combination of high aluminum prices and lower costs for bauxite and electricity will help maintain profit resilience into the second half of 2025 [2]
大摩：全年派息保障及股票回购计划将提升股东回报 维持中国宏桥“增持”评级