研报掘金丨华源证券：华友钴业业绩有望实现大增，上调至“买入”评级

Core Viewpoint - Huayou Cobalt achieved a net profit attributable to shareholders of 4.216 billion yuan in Q1-Q3 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 39.59% [1] - The company is expected to benefit from rising cobalt prices due to a shift from oversupply to shortage as inventory is consumed [1] Financial Performance - In Q3 alone, the net profit attributable to shareholders was 1.505 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year growth of 11.53% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 3.18%, aligning with expectations [1] Industry Outlook - Cobalt prices are anticipated to continue rising as supply-demand dynamics improve [1] - The company, as a leading player in the cobalt industry, has abundant cobalt raw material sources from Indonesia, positioning it to benefit significantly from price increases [1] Nickel Business Expansion - The company is expanding its nickel business counter-cyclically, with a planned capacity of 405,000 tons in Indonesia (both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes) [1] - A potential reversal in nickel prices could lead to substantial increases in the company's performance [1] Competitive Positioning - The signing of large contracts is expected to enhance the company's core competitiveness in the lithium battery supply chain, effectively improving long-term profitability [1] - Current cobalt prices are on the rise, while nickel and lithium are at historical low prices, indicating potential for significant performance growth once prices recover [1]