中远海控-2025瑞银大中华研讨会快评

Investment Rating - The report maintains a Sell rating for the company with a 12-month target price of RMB 11.70 [4][5] Core Views - The company's management is optimistic about the 2025 outlook, expecting strong demand before the Spring Festival and a seasonal rebound in freight rates by mid-to-late March [1] - The company anticipates higher long-term contract rates for European routes in 2025, with rates expected to be around USD 1,000 per FEU higher than 2024 levels [2] - The company plans to maintain a dividend payout ratio of around 50% and has sufficient cash to cover capital expenditures for new vessel orders [1][3] Volume and Freight Rate Guidance - The company expects global cargo demand to grow by 2-3% in 2025, with long-term demand remaining robust despite potential risks from US tariffs [2] - The company aims to secure long-term contracts for over 50% of its European route capacity, with rates significantly higher than 2024 levels [2] Future Capital Expenditure - The company plans to invest approximately USD 7 billion in new vessel deliveries between 2025 and 2029, with a focus on green and digital transformation [3] - A total of 43 new vessels with a capacity of nearly 750,000 TEU are expected to be delivered, peaking in 2027 [3] - The company will transition to zero-carbon emissions using a dual-fuel model (traditional fuel and methanol) and implement AI-driven cost-saving measures [3] Financial Performance and Valuation - The company's market capitalization is RMB 226 billion (USD 30.9 billion), with a price-to-book ratio of 1.0x for 2024E [5] - UBS estimates diluted EPS for 2024E at RMB 2.97, declining to RMB 1.05 in 2025E [5] - The company's net debt to EBITDA ratio is not meaningful (NM) for 2024E, indicating a strong balance sheet [7] Company Background - The company is the largest container shipping enterprise in China and ranks fourth globally in container shipping capacity, operating over 230 international routes and serving 290 ports in more than 90 countries [10]