Western Mining(SH:601168) Huachuang Securities·2025-04-29 03:47Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Strong Buy" rating for the company, expecting it to outperform the benchmark index by over 20% in the next six months [2][3][15]. Core Views - The company's performance is driven by rising copper prices and increased production, despite some asset impairment affecting results [2][6]. - The target price is set at 17.4 CNY, with the current price at 15.44 CNY, indicating potential upside [3][6]. - The company reported a revenue of 500.26 billion CNY in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 17.02%, and a net profit of 29.32 billion CNY, up 5.1% year-on-year [6][7]. Financial Performance Summary - In Q4 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 133 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 26.49%, but the net profit dropped significantly by 66.33% year-on-year to 1.99 billion CNY due to asset impairment losses [6][7]. - For Q1 2025, the company reported a revenue of 165.42 billion CNY, a 50.74% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of 8.08 billion CNY, up 9.61% year-on-year [6][7]. - The average prices for copper, lead, and zinc increased by 9.7%, 10.0%, and 7.8% respectively in 2024, contributing to revenue growth [6][7]. Production and Operational Highlights - The company produced 177,543 tons of copper in 2024, a 35% increase year-on-year, with significant contributions from Yulong Copper [6][7]. - The Yulong Copper Mine's expansion project is underway, which is expected to enhance profitability in the future [6][7]. Dividend Policy - The company has a strong dividend policy, distributing 10 CNY per 10 shares in 2024, totaling 23.83 billion CNY, which represents 81% of the distributable profit for the year [6][7]. Future Outlook - The company is projected to achieve net profits of 34.6 billion CNY, 39.1 billion CNY, and 41.7 billion CNY for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with expected growth rates of 17.8%, 13.2%, and 6.6% [6][7].