Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 35.22 [1][5] Core Views - The company is expected to benefit from the ongoing rise in aluminum prices, which will enhance its performance as the leading player in the global electrolytic aluminum industry [1][3] - The company has implemented a share buyback plan and maintains a high dividend payout ratio, reflecting confidence in future growth and commitment to shareholder returns [4] Financial Performance - The core subsidiary, Shandong Hongqiao New Materials Co., Ltd., reported a revenue of RMB 116.93 billion for the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 6.2%, and a net profit of RMB 19.37 billion, up 23.1% year-on-year [2] - In Q3, the company achieved a revenue of RMB 38.72 billion, with a year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter growth of 1.8% [2] - The gross margin for Q3 was 26.6%, an increase of 1.3 percentage points year-on-year and 2.6 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, driven by rising prices of electrolytic aluminum and alumina [2] Market Outlook - The supply of domestic electrolytic aluminum is expected to face constraints, while demand from sectors like automotive and power grids remains strong, indicating a tightening supply-demand balance in 2026 [3] - The alumina market is expected to remain relatively loose, with prices likely to fluctuate downward, but the company’s electrolytic aluminum segment is anticipated to offset the pressure from alumina price declines [3] Shareholder Returns - The company plans to initiate a new share buyback program with a total amount not less than HKD 3 billion, following a previous buyback of HKD 2.6 billion [4] - The dividend payout ratios over the past three years have been 46.8%, 47.0%, and 63.4%, consistently above 45% since 2020, demonstrating a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [4] Profit Forecast and Valuation - The company’s net profit forecasts for 2025-2027 have been raised to RMB 25.63 billion, RMB 25.43 billion, and RMB 25.76 billion, reflecting increases of 18.31%, 21.72%, and 17.56% respectively [5] - The report assigns a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12x for 2025, up from a previous estimate of 10x, based on the company's high dividend yield and its unique position in the Hong Kong electrolytic aluminum market [5]
中国宏桥（01378）：回购+高分红，公司强化投资者回报