Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-09-04 05:49Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley has raised the target price for CNOOC (00883) to HKD 23 and RMB 30 for A-shares, primarily due to improved medium to long-term earnings per share and free cash flow outlook [1] Group 1: Target Price and Ratings - The H-share rating for CNOOC has been upgraded from "Underweight" to "Overweight," while the A-share rating remains "Overweight," reflecting a projected increase in oil prices by USD 5 per barrel [1] - CNOOC's A/H shares have underperformed compared to China Petroleum (00857) A/H shares by 13-22% year-to-date [1] Group 2: Market Signals and Dividend Strategy - The increase in OPEC production is viewed as a signal of demand recovery and healthy global inventory levels, rather than a sign of OPEC disarray or a price war [1] - CNOOC's unexpected willingness to align its dividend yield with that of China Petroleum, which has successfully decoupled from oil prices, may help limit its stock price downside, even if oil prices could drop to USD 55 per barrel by Q1 2026 [1]