
Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to the company with a target price of HKD 7.03, indicating a potential upside of 26.6% from the current price of HKD 5.55 [2][4]. Core Insights - The company's performance met expectations, with significant growth in the natural gas business, despite a decline in oil sales revenue due to fluctuating oil prices [2][4]. - The oil and new energy segments showed a year-on-year production increase of 2.1%, with total oil equivalent production reaching 1443 million barrels [2][4]. - The refining segment experienced a profit decrease, while the chemical segment showed profit growth, indicating a mixed performance across different business units [2][4]. Financial Performance Summary - For the first three quarters of 2024, the company reported revenue of RMB 702.41 billion, a decrease of 5.3% year-on-year, and a net profit of RMB 132.52 billion, an increase of 0.7% year-on-year [2][4]. - The average crude oil price for the first three quarters was USD 76.88 per barrel, with natural gas sales volume reaching 1629.6 billion cubic meters, reflecting a 30% increase in operating profit for the natural gas segment [2][4]. - The company’s refining throughput was 1036.2 million barrels, with gasoline production decreasing by 2.7% to 8990 million tons, while kerosene production saw a significant increase [2][4]. Revenue and Profitability Forecast - The forecasted revenues for 2024-2026 are RMB 3.10 trillion, RMB 3.11 trillion, and RMB 3.16 trillion respectively, with net profits projected at RMB 180.1 billion and RMB 186.0 billion for the same period [2][4]. - The report anticipates a net profit growth rate of 7 times PE for the years 2024-2026, supporting the bullish outlook on the company's stock [2][4].