华润燃气：盈利结构优化，龙头红利渐近

Investment Rating and Target Price - The report initiates coverage on Huarong Gas with a "Buy" rating and a target price of HKD 37.05, based on a 15x PE multiple for 2024 [2] - The target price is derived from a combination of relative and absolute valuation methods, including PE, PB, and DDM models [11][14][16] Core Investment Thesis - Huarong Gas is expected to see steady profit growth driven by optimized business structure, improved operating cash flow, and reduced capital expenditures [1][7] - The company's free cash flow is improving, and its dividend per share (DPS) is entering an upward trajectory, enhancing its dividend value [1][2][7] - Key catalysts include margin improvement, dividend increases, and declining market interest rates [2][7] Business Segments and Growth Drivers Retail Gas Sales - Retail gas sales volume is expected to grow steadily, supported by policies like "coal-to-gas" and "bottle-to-pipeline" conversions [2][7][36] - The company's gas margin is expected to recover due to price adjustments and cost reductions, with a projected margin of RMB 0.53/0.55/0.56 per cubic meter for 2024-2026 [8][9] - Huarong Gas benefits from a higher proportion of residential gas sales, which allows it to capture more price adjustment benefits [7][42] Connection Business - Despite a slowdown in new connections due to the real estate downturn, the company still has room for growth, with an estimated 298/268/241 thousand new residential connections for 2024-2026 [8][54] - The company's contract liabilities remain high, providing a buffer for future connection business [7][55] Comprehensive Services and Energy Business - The comprehensive services business, including gas appliances and insurance, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.0%/22.0%/20.0% from 2024-2026 [8][58] - The comprehensive energy business, including distributed energy and EV charging, is projected to grow rapidly, with a target revenue of HKD 5 billion by 2025 [60][61] Financial Projections - Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0%/4.9%/3.9% from 2024-2026, reaching HKD 106.4/111.6/116.0 billion [9][10] - Net profit is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5%/11.3%/8.9% over the same period, with EPS of HKD 2.47/2.75/3.00 [9][10] Valuation - Relative valuation using PE and PB multiples suggests a fair value of HKD 37.05, based on a 15x PE and 2.0x PB for 2024 [11][12][13] - The DDM model estimates an intrinsic value of HKD 42.95 per share, based on a two-stage growth model and a cost of equity of 6.6% [14][15][16] Industry and Market Position - Huarong Gas is one of the largest city gas operators in China, with a strong presence in economically developed regions like the Yangtze River Delta and the Greater Bay Area [17][54] - The company benefits from its stable gas supply, with 87.7% of its gas sourced from pipelines, and long-term contracts with major suppliers like CNPC and Sinopec [42][43] Operational Efficiency and Cash Flow - The company has improved its working capital management, with positive cash flow contributions from prepayments and receivables in 2023 [7][51] - The gap between accounts receivable turnover days and prepayment turnover days has narrowed, indicating better cash flow efficiency [51][52]