紫金矿业：金铜价格持续走高，新项目推动产量持续提升

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Zijin Mining (2899) with a target price of HKD 22.34, representing a potential upside of 32% from the current price of HKD 16.92 [2]. Core Views - The report highlights that rising gold and copper prices, driven by economic uncertainties and demand for safe-haven assets, are expected to support the company's profitability [1]. - The company has shown significant growth in production volumes, particularly in gold and silver, while maintaining stable cost levels [1]. - New projects, such as the acquisition of the Akyem gold mine in Ghana, are anticipated to enhance gold production in the future [1]. Financial Performance Summary - For the first three quarters of 2024, Zijin Mining reported revenue of CNY 230.396 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.39%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of CNY 24.357 billion, up 50.68% [1]. - In Q3 alone, the company achieved revenue of CNY 79.98 billion, a 7.11% increase year-on-year, and a net profit of CNY 9.273 billion, reflecting a 63.64% increase [1]. - The average price of gold reached USD 2,648.8 per ounce, a 13.64% increase since the end of June, while copper prices also remained at historical highs [1]. Production and Cost Analysis - The production volumes for key products in the first three quarters were as follows: gold at 54.3 tons (up 8.33%), silver at 331.1 tons (up 6.69%), and copper at 789,459 tons (up 4.67%) [1]. - The unit sales costs for copper concentrate, electrolytic copper, and refined copper were CNY 18,800, CNY 32,700, and CNY 35,700 per ton, with year-on-year changes of -4.16%, +5.49%, and -13.05% respectively [1]. - The report anticipates further cost reductions as production continues to ramp up in Q4 [1]. Future Projections - Revenue forecasts for 2024-2026 have been adjusted to CNY 325.8 billion, CNY 362.5 billion, and CNY 379.2 billion respectively, with net profit projections of CNY 30 billion, CNY 38.6 billion, and CNY 41.9 billion [1][3]. - The report indicates that the company is expected to maintain a high level of profitability, with a projected PE ratio of 18 times for 2024 [1].