Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley maintains an "Overweight" rating on China Hongqiao (01378) and significantly raises the target price from HKD 17 to HKD 26.5, indicating substantial upside potential based on record earnings performance, industry-leading valuation advantages, and long-term value enhancement from strategic transformation [1] Financial Performance - In the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, China Hongqiao achieved revenue of RMB 81.039 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10%; net profit reached RMB 12.361 billion, surging 35% year-on-year, with a gross margin improvement to 25.7% [1] - The growth in profit was primarily driven by a slight increase of 3% in aluminum product sales, a 6% rise in gross profit per ton to RMB 4,540, and a significant 16% increase in alumina sales, with gross profit per ton rising to RMB 934 [1] Price Guidance and Market Outlook - Management provided an optimistic price guidance for the second half, expecting aluminum prices to range between RMB 20,600 and RMB 21,300 per ton, and alumina prices between RMB 3,200 and RMB 3,300 per ton, which aligns closely with current spot prices [1] - Despite a forecasted slowdown in revenue growth to 3.9%, -0.3%, and 1.2% for the fiscal years 2025-2027, net profit is expected to maintain single-digit growth, with EBITDA margin projected to continue rising to 29.7% [1] Financial Structure and Shareholder Returns - The company has a net debt ratio of only 23.8%, with financing costs down 18% year-on-year; annual capital expenditure is expected to stabilize between RMB 12 billion and RMB 13 billion, with a free cash flow yield of 15% [2] - Although the interim dividend for 2025 has been canceled, the annual payout ratio is expected to remain at 63%, alongside a share buyback plan of no less than HKD 3 billion, representing about 1.36% of market capitalization [2] Competitive Position and Strategic Initiatives - As the world's largest primary aluminum producer with a production volume of 6.3 million tons in 2023, China Hongqiao benefits from significant cost advantages through a vertical integration model (self-sufficient power plants and 70%-80% self-sufficiency in bauxite) [2] - The company's green transformation strategy aims for 24-25% of aluminum production to be powered by hydropower by 2024, with a long-term goal of achieving 50% green energy consumption, highlighting its long-term value in the context of ESG investment trends [2] Valuation and Market Comparison - Morgan Stanley's valuation model predicts a price-to-earnings ratio of 9 times and a price-to-book ratio of 1.8 times for 2026, with the target price of HKD 26.5 corresponding to a dividend yield of 7.7%-8.2% [2] - The current dynamic P/E ratio of 8 times for China Hongqiao remains below the global industry average of 11 times, indicating ample room for valuation recovery [2]
小摩上调中国宏桥目标价至26.5港元 绿色转型+回购计划支撑估值修复