PETROCHINA(00857) 第一上海证券·2024-09-10 05:09Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to the company with a target price of HKD 8.07, indicating a potential upside of 36.1% from the current price of HKD 5.93 [1]. Core Insights - The company achieved a record high in interim dividends, with a cash dividend payout ratio of 45% [1]. - The natural gas business is experiencing rapid growth, contributing to revenue and profit increases [1]. - The oil and gas segment reported revenue of RMB 4,497 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%, while the chemical segment turned a profit of RMB 3.126 billion, recovering from a loss in the previous year [1]. - The company is focusing on green transformation through acquisitions, such as the 100% stake in CNOOC Power [1]. Financial Performance Summary - For the first half of 2024, the company reported revenue of RMB 1,553.9 billion, a decrease of 5% year-on-year, and a net profit of RMB 88.6 billion, an increase of 3.9% [1]. - The average oil price increased, and domestic natural gas business volume and prices rose, leading to revenue and profit growth [1]. - The company processed 693 million barrels of crude oil, a 3% increase year-on-year, while total oil equivalent production reached 906 million barrels, up 1.3% [1]. - Natural gas sales reached 147.2 billion cubic meters, a 5.8% increase, with revenue from this segment growing by 7.9% [1]. Business Segment Analysis - The refining business faced challenges, with operating profit declining by 43% to RMB 10.5 billion, while the chemical segment saw a turnaround with a profit of RMB 3.126 billion [1]. - The sales of refined oil products decreased by 2% to 79.05 million tons due to the growth of domestic electric vehicles and extreme weather conditions [1]. - The company is actively reducing international procurement costs in the natural gas sector, anticipating continued growth in the second half of the year [1].