Ge Long Hui·2025-08-30 04:10Core Viewpoint - The company's 1H25 performance met expectations, with a revenue of HKD 49.8 billion, down 4% YoY, and a net profit of HKD 2.403 billion, down 30% YoY, primarily due to a decline in connection numbers and comprehensive service revenue, leading to a decrease in gross profit margin [1] Financial Performance - 1H25 natural gas retail volume was 20.8 billion cubic meters, down 0.7% YoY, with commercial and industrial gas volumes affected by a warm winter, decreasing by 3% and 2% respectively [1] - Retail gas gross margin was HKD 0.55 per cubic meter, up HKD 0.01 YoY, with 831,000 new residential connections, down 19% YoY, and comprehensive service revenue of HKD 1.45 billion, down 18% YoY [1] Development Trends - The company adjusted multiple growth indicators for 2025, including gas volume growth (low single-digit growth vs. previous guidance of +4-5% YoY), connection numbers (2.1-2.2 million vs. previous 2.3-2.5 million), and comprehensive service revenue (mid-low single-digit growth vs. previous +20-30% YoY) [1] - Capital expenditure for acquisitions was adjusted to HKD 300 million for the year, down from HKD 500 million previously, while maintaining a gross margin growth guidance of HKD 0.01 per cubic meter to HKD 0.54 per cubic meter [1] Shareholder Returns - The company plans to enhance shareholder returns, with a guidance for total dividends in 2025 not to be lower than HKD 0.95 per share, implying a dividend yield of approximately 5% based on current stock price [2] - A stock buyback plan was announced for the end of 2024, with a scale of no less than 1.98% of total share capital, which is expected to further improve shareholder returns [2] Profit Forecast and Valuation - Due to ongoing pressure on connection numbers, the company has lowered its net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 8.2% and 10.2% to HKD 3.767 billion and HKD 4.110 billion respectively [2] - The current stock price corresponds to a P/E ratio of 11.7x for 2025 and 10.7x for 2026, with a target price adjustment down by 7.4% to HKD 25, reflecting a potential upside of 31.2% [2]