
Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the public utilities and environmental sectors [4][18]. Core Views - The report highlights the introduction of detailed rules in Guangdong and Shandong provinces regarding the sustainable development pricing settlement mechanism for new energy projects, marking a significant step towards market-driven reforms in the new energy sector [2][15]. - It emphasizes that coal and electricity prices are declining simultaneously, which is expected to maintain reasonable profitability for thermal power companies [18]. - The report suggests that the continuous support from national policies for new energy development will lead to gradually stable profitability for new energy generation [18]. - It notes that the growth in installed capacity and generation will help offset the downward pressure on electricity prices, predicting stable profitability for nuclear power companies [18]. Summary by Sections Market Review - The Shanghai Composite Index rose by 1.12%, while the public utilities index increased by 0.08%. The environmental index remained unchanged, with relative weekly returns of -1.04% and -1.12% respectively [1][21]. - Among the sub-sectors, thermal power decreased by 0.89%, hydropower increased by 0.87%, and new energy generation rose by 0.08% [1][21]. Important Policies and Events - Guangdong's electricity trading center issued draft rules for the sustainable development pricing settlement mechanism for new energy projects, with the first competitive trading scheduled for mid-2025 [2][14]. - The rules stipulate that projects must be approved and operational by December 31, 2025, to participate in the first auction [2][14]. Investment Strategy - Recommendations include major thermal power companies like Huadian International and Shanghai Electric, as well as leading new energy firms such as Longyuan Power and Three Gorges Energy [18]. - The report also suggests investing in nuclear power operators like China Nuclear Power and China General Nuclear Power, and highlights the defensive attributes of hydropower stocks amid a global interest rate decline [18][19]. Key Company Earnings Forecasts and Investment Ratings - The report provides a detailed table of investment ratings for various companies, all rated as "Outperform," including Huadian International, Longyuan Power, and China Nuclear Power, with projected earnings per share (EPS) growth for 2024 and 2025 [7][18].