电力及公用事业行业年度策略：关注稳定性和股东回报

Core Insights - The report maintains a "stronger than market" rating for the electricity and public utilities sector, emphasizing a shift in investment logic from growth to quality, stability, and shareholder returns [4][5][6] - The electricity and public utilities index has underperformed the CSI 300 index, with a year-to-date increase of 7.43% compared to 14.12% for the CSI 300, indicating a potential for catch-up in the sector [5][12] Industry Overview - In 2025, the market-oriented trading electricity price has declined, leading to a decrease in revenue growth for power generation companies. However, effective cost control has allowed for an increase in net profit [10][16] - The electricity and public utilities sector achieved a total revenue of CNY 18,748.53 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, a slight decrease of 0.07% year-on-year, while net profit grew by 6.07% to CNY 2,065.15 billion [10][12] - The profitability of hydropower remains the strongest in the sector, with hydropower's gross margin at approximately 59% and net margin at around 44% [17][19] Hydropower Sector - Large hydropower companies possess unique business models and long operational cycles, making them attractive for long-term investment. Companies like Yangtze Power and Huaneng Hydropower are highlighted as key players [4][47] - Hydropower generation is subject to seasonal fluctuations, but large hydropower enterprises can mitigate these through their reservoir capabilities, leading to more stable performance [51][53] - As of the end of Q3 2025, the top three hydropower companies by installed capacity are Yangtze Power, Huaneng Hydropower, and Guotou Power, collectively holding about 27.4% of the national installed capacity [60][62] Thermal Power Sector - The thermal power sector is expected to transition from a cyclical asset to a stable income asset, with improvements in coal price linkage mechanisms and auxiliary service revenues [6][47] - The gross margin for thermal power has increased by 2.51 percentage points compared to the previous year, indicating a positive trend in profitability [19][17] Other Power Generation - The performance of other power generation sectors, including nuclear and renewable energy, is mixed, with nuclear power showing growth in generation but facing challenges from declining market prices [4][18] - The renewable energy sector is experiencing high growth in installed capacity but is also under pressure regarding profitability due to falling green electricity prices [4][18] Investment Rating and Focus - The report maintains a "stronger than market" investment rating for the electricity and public utilities sector, suggesting a focus on companies with stable fundamentals and reasonable valuations [5][6] - Key investment targets include companies with high dividend yields and strong operational performance, particularly in the hydropower segment [6][47]