Orient Securities·2026-03-01 09:14Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector [4] Core Viewpoints - The utility sector is expected to experience steady growth in electricity demand, with macroeconomic trading catalyzing the revaluation of low-asset physical utilities [7] - The anticipated recovery of pessimistic earnings expectations supports the current upward trend in the sector, with expectations for better-than-expected performance in Q1 2026 for thermal power companies [7] - The report emphasizes the need for further reforms in electricity pricing to support the increasingly complex new energy system in China [7] Summary by Sections Industry Performance - The utility sector outperformed the broader market indices, with the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 Index rising by 1.1% and the Wind All A Index by 2.7%, while the Shenwan Utility Index increased by 5.7% [41] - The report highlights that the thermal power sector has shown the largest weekly increase of 8.9% [43] Electricity Prices - In Guangdong, the average spot electricity price decreased by 23.6% year-on-year to 295 yuan/MWh [10] - Shanxi's average spot electricity price saw a significant drop of 62.3% year-on-year, averaging 156 yuan/MWh [13] Coal Prices - The price of Qinhuangdao Q5500 thermal coal rose to 751 yuan/ton, a week-on-week increase of 4.0% [16] - The report notes that the price of imported coal from Indonesia has also increased, with the Guangzhou port price reaching 852 yuan/ton, up 5.7% week-on-week [18] Inventory Levels - As of March 1, 2026, coal inventory at Qinhuangdao port was 5.25 million tons, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 5.6% [26] - The report indicates that the daily coal consumption of power plants in 25 provinces rose by 30.5% week-on-week [29] Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on the utility sector as a long-term investment, particularly in thermal power companies such as Jiantou Energy, Huadian International, and Guodian Power [7] - For hydropower, it suggests investing in high-quality large hydropower projects [7] - The report also highlights the growth potential in nuclear power and wind energy sectors, recommending companies like China General Nuclear Power and Longyuan Power [7]