GUOTAI HAITONG SECURITIES·2026-02-11 11:35Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Overweight" rating for the coal industry [2] Core Insights - The report anticipates a significant resurgence in U.S. coal demand, driven by the abandonment of decarbonization policies under the Trump administration, which is expected to lead to a 12.4% increase in coal consumption over the next decade [10][11] - The U.S. coal industry is at a historical turning point, with a projected increase in coal demand of 12-15 million tons by 2025 due to rising electricity needs driven by AI and extreme climate impacts [11][39] - The report emphasizes the importance of coal and natural gas as reliable baseload energy sources to address the electricity shortages exacerbated by AI-driven demand [10][31] Summary by Sections Investment Overview - The report highlights the critical role of clean coal resources in meeting rising electricity demand due to domestic manufacturing and AI data processing centers [9] U.S. Electricity Shortage and Energy Cycle - The U.S. is facing a dual challenge of both electricity load and quantity shortages, with coal and natural gas identified as key solutions [31] - The report predicts that by 2030, U.S. electricity demand will exceed 5.1 trillion kWh, with AI data centers contributing significantly to this increase [16][18] U.S. Coal Market Outlook - The report forecasts that 2025 will mark a turning point for the U.S. coal industry, with a projected increase in coal consumption and a shift towards coal-fired power generation [39][40] - It is expected that coal demand will peak around 2028, with an increase of 12-15 million short tons compared to 2024 [46] Supply Solutions for U.S. Coal - The report suggests that domestic production capacity is limited, and the most direct solution to meet rising demand is to convert approximately 50 million tons of coal exports to domestic sales [12] - The report anticipates that the U.S. may need to increase coal imports by 20-50 million tons to balance the global coal supply-demand equation [12][25] Beneficiary Companies - Recommended companies benefiting from this trend include Peabody Energy, Core Natural Resources, and Alliance Resource Partners, along with several leading Chinese coal companies [13][14]