Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-08-20 06:53Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley reports that China's three major telecom operators achieved an overall net profit growth of approximately 5% year-on-year in the first half of this year, primarily supported by cost optimization measures [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The three telecom operators have increased their dividend payout ratios year-on-year, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing shareholder returns [1] - Morgan Stanley estimates that the H-share dividend yield for the three telecom operators remains attractive at 5% to 6%, with China Mobile having the highest yield at 6% [1] Group 2: Revenue Trends - The year-on-year growth of cloud revenue for the three telecom operators has significantly slowed from an estimated 17% to 35% in 2024 to 5% to 10% in the first half of this year, attributed to increased market share of internet companies and a slowdown in digitalization demand from state-owned enterprises [1] Group 3: Investment Outlook - Morgan Stanley maintains a positive outlook on China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, all rated as "Overweight," due to strong dividend returns, profit growth, and potential upside in cloud revenue [1] - China Telecom is highlighted as the preferred stock due to its highest proportion of cloud business and the resilience of its traditional mobile and broadband services [1]