Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector [4] Core Views - Electricity consumption growth remains high, but there are signs of pressure on long-term contract electricity prices due to falling coal prices and high inventory levels [7] - The utility sector is viewed as a defensive asset, with low-priced utility assets worth attention [7] - The report suggests that the electricity market will gradually allow for better pricing of electricity attributes to support the complex new power system [7] Summary by Sections Electricity Consumption - In November 2025, total electricity consumption increased by 6.2% year-on-year, a recovery from October's 4.2 percentage point decline, with a cumulative growth of 1.0% for January to November 2025 [10] - The growth rates for different sectors in November 2025 were: primary industry +7.9%, secondary industry +4.4%, tertiary industry +10.3%, and residential consumption +9.8% [10] - The report anticipates that December 2025 will see electricity consumption growth maintain around 5-6% due to ongoing growth in sectors like charging services and information technology [10] Electricity Prices - From December 19 to December 26, 2025, the average clearing price in Guangdong's electricity market was 308 RMB/MWh, up by 3.9% year-on-year [21] - In contrast, Shanxi's average market price dropped to 179 RMB/MWh, down 54.9% year-on-year [21] Coal Prices - Port coal prices continue to decline, with the Qinhuangdao Q5500 coal price at 672 RMB/ton, down 4.4% week-on-week [24] - The report notes a divergence in pit coal prices, with Shanxi's Q5500 coal price stable at 550 RMB/ton, while Inner Mongolia's price fell by 1.7% [24] Hydrology - The Three Gorges Reservoir's water level was 171 meters, with a year-on-year increase of 3.1 meters, while inflow rates decreased by 13.7% year-on-year [31] Market Performance - The utility sector index rose by 0.8% but underperformed compared to the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 index, which increased by 1.9% [40] - Among sub-sectors, gas showed the highest weekly increase at +2.6%, while hydropower decreased by 0.8% [42] Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on utility stocks, particularly in thermal power, hydropower, and nuclear power, citing improved business models and growth potential [7]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector [4]. Core Insights - Coal prices are rapidly declining, and the enthusiasm for wind power development is higher than that for photovoltaic (PV) projects [2][7]. - The utility sector is expected to continue to be a valuable dividend asset, with low-priced utility assets worth attention [7]. - The report suggests that the profitability of the thermal power industry is expected to continue to grow, with improved commercial models [7]. Summary by Sections Coal Market - Coal prices have decreased across the board, with the Qinhuangdao port Shanxi Q5500 thermal coal price at 785 RMB/ton as of December 5, 2025, down 31 RMB/ton (3.8%) week-on-week [7][13]. - Coal inventories at ports and power plants are rising, leading to increased pressure on coal traders to lower prices [7][23]. Renewable Energy - The report anticipates a slowdown in new PV installations in 2026, while wind power investment enthusiasm is expected to be stronger due to higher project profitability [7]. - The report highlights that the current stage of wind power projects has higher returns compared to PV, leading to greater investment interest in wind energy [7]. Utility Sector Performance - The utility sector index rose by 0.1% but underperformed compared to the CSI 300 index, which increased by 1.3% [38]. - The report indicates that the utility sector is still a favorable long-term investment option, particularly in a low-interest-rate environment [7]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends several stocks within the thermal power sector, including Huadian International, Guodian Power, and Huaneng International, among others [7]. - For hydropower, it suggests focusing on high-quality river basin projects, with specific stocks mentioned [7]. - The report also notes the long-term growth certainty in nuclear power and suggests companies like China General Nuclear Power [7].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook on the utility sector, indicating a favorable investment environment for utility assets [7]. Core Insights - The high growth in electricity consumption is expected to continue, with a significant increase in electricity generation from thermal power, which has turned from negative to positive growth [10][19]. - The report highlights the need for further market reforms to support the integration of renewable energy into the power system, emphasizing the importance of pricing mechanisms for various electricity attributes [7]. - The report suggests that utility assets at low valuations are worth considering for investment, given their defensive characteristics in the current market environment [7]. Summary by Sections Electricity Consumption and Generation - In October 2025, total electricity consumption increased by 10.4% year-on-year, significantly higher than the previous month's growth of 5.9% [10]. - The growth in electricity consumption was driven by temperature factors and a low base from the previous year, with notable increases across various sectors [10]. - In October 2025, the generation from thermal power increased by 7.3% year-on-year, marking a recovery from previous declines, while hydropower generation saw a substantial increase of 28.2% [19]. Market Dynamics - The report notes that the coal prices at ports remained stable, while prices at production sites saw slight increases, indicating a stable supply environment [31]. - The average electricity market clearing price in Guangdong decreased by 31.8% year-on-year, reflecting market pressures [27]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on utility stocks, particularly in thermal and hydropower sectors, due to their strong dividend potential and improving business models [7]. - Specific stocks mentioned for thermal power include Guodian Power (600795), Huadian International (600027), and Huaneng International (600011) [7]. - For hydropower, recommended stocks include Yangtze Power (600900) and Sichuan Investment Energy (600674) [7]. Performance Overview - The utility sector underperformed the broader market indices, with the Shenwan Utility Index declining by 4.3% during the week, slightly lagging behind the CSI 300 Index [56]. - Among sub-sectors, hydropower showed the least decline, while solar power experienced the most significant drop [58].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector [4] Core Views - The expectation for long-term electricity prices has been revised upwards, alleviating pessimistic forecasts for the coal price [7] - The construction of the spot market is accelerating, with the National Grid's spot electricity market achieving full coverage ahead of schedule [7] - The utility sector is showing defensive attributes, with low-priced utility assets becoming increasingly attractive [7] - The report suggests that the utility sector remains a quality dividend asset worth allocating to in the long term [7] Summary by Sections Investment Recommendations and Targets - The report expresses optimism for the utility sector, highlighting the comparative advantages of dividend assets in the current low-interest-rate environment [7] - It emphasizes the need for further market-oriented price reforms to support the complex new power system, which will allow for better pricing of electricity attributes [7] - Specific recommendations include: - Thermal Power: Continued high growth in Q3 2025 profits, with improved commercial models [7] - Hydropower: Suggests investing in quality large hydropower projects due to low costs [7] - Nuclear Power: Strong long-term growth potential with reduced risks from market price declines [7] - Wind and Solar: Anticipated growth under carbon neutrality expectations, with a focus on companies with high wind power ratios [7] Industry Dynamics Tracking - The report notes significant increases in spot electricity prices, with Guangdong's average price up 6.3% year-on-year and Shanxi's up 55.0% [10] - Coal prices have risen significantly, with Qinhuangdao port's Q5500 coal price at 817 RMB/ton, a 6.1% increase week-on-week [13] - The report highlights a high inflow into the Three Gorges Reservoir, with inflow rates up 66.7% year-on-year [31]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector [4] Core Views - The thermal power sector continues to show high growth in performance, with significant improvements in profitability and cash flow [7][10] - The report indicates that the current coal price increase is nearing its end, and the pessimistic expectations for electricity prices are easing [7] - The utility sector is currently undervalued, with a notable decrease in fund holdings, suggesting potential investment opportunities [7][14] Summary by Sections Thermal Power Performance - In Q3 2025, the thermal power sector's gross margin reached 18.9%, above the historical average of 17.8%, with a year-on-year increase of 3.6 percentage points [7][10] - Total revenue for sample companies in Q3 2025 was 314.4 billion yuan, a decrease of 2.1% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders was 24.7 billion yuan, an increase of 38.3% [10][12] - The average price of Q5500 thermal coal at Qinhuangdao Port was 715 yuan/ton, reflecting a 10.6% increase compared to the previous quarter [7][10] Fund Holdings and Market Performance - As of Q3 2025, the utility sector's fund holdings dropped to 1.15% of total fund equity investments, a decrease of 0.55 percentage points [14] - The utility sector index rose by 0.6% during the week, outperforming the CSI 300 index by 1.0 percentage points [47] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on high-quality dividend assets within the utility sector, particularly thermal power, hydropower, and nuclear power [7] - Specific stocks recommended include Guodian Power (600795), Huadian International (600027), and Huaneng International (600011) for thermal power [7] - For hydropower, recommended stocks include Yangtze Power (600900) and Sichuan Investment Energy (600674) [7]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the utility sector in China [5] Core Views - The report indicates that the risk of rising coal prices is limited, and pessimistic expectations regarding electricity prices are easing [2] - The utility sector is showing defensive attributes, with low-priced utility assets worth attention [8] - The report suggests that the electricity market will gradually allow for better pricing of electricity commodities as the market becomes more complex [8] Summary by Sections Investment Recommendations and Targets - The report expresses optimism for the utility sector, highlighting that low interest rates and policy encouragement for long-term capital investment make dividend assets a worthwhile long-term allocation [8] - It identifies specific investment targets within thermal power, hydropower, nuclear power, and wind/solar energy sectors, suggesting companies like Guodian Power (国电电力), China Yangtze Power (长江电力), and China General Nuclear Power (中国广核) as potential investments [8] Industry Dynamics - The report notes significant increases in spot electricity prices in Shandong, Guangdong, and Shanxi, with year-on-year increases of 27.1%, 34.2%, and 55.1% respectively [11] - It highlights that coal prices have risen sharply due to abnormal weather conditions, but the upward price potential is expected to be limited in the future [8] - The report also mentions that the average outflow from the Three Gorges Reservoir has increased significantly, indicating improved hydropower generation conditions [39] Market Performance - The utility sector index has outperformed the broader market indices, with a decline of only 0.7% compared to a 2.2% drop in the CSI 300 index [46] - Within the utility sub-sectors, hydropower showed the highest weekly increase of 1.7%, while wind and solar sectors experienced declines [48]

Core Viewpoint - The report from Dongfang Securities indicates that electricity consumption in August 2025 increased by 5.0% year-on-year, with expectations for sustained high growth in electricity demand driven by high-tech manufacturing as the base effect diminishes in the following months [1][2]. Electricity Consumption Analysis - In August 2025, electricity consumption by different sectors showed year-on-year growth rates of +9.7% for primary industry, +5.0% for secondary industry, +7.2% for tertiary industry, and +2.4% for residential use, reflecting a decline compared to July 2025 [2]. - The manufacturing sector's electricity consumption rose by 5.5% year-on-year, marking the highest monthly growth rate for 2025, with high-tech and equipment manufacturing growing by 9.1% [2]. Power Generation Insights - In August 2025, the electricity generation from large-scale power plants increased by 1.6% year-on-year, with a decline in growth rates for thermal, nuclear, and solar power, while wind power saw an acceleration in growth [3]. - Hydropower generation decreased by 10.1% year-on-year, attributed to weaker water inflow, but is expected to improve marginally in the last quarter of 2025 due to a low base effect [3]. Investment Recommendations - The public utility sector is viewed positively, with expectations for continued growth in the thermal power industry due to improved commercial models and rising capacity price compensation [4]. - Recommended stocks in the thermal power sector include Guodian Power (600795.SH), Huadian International (600027.SH), and Huaneng International (600011.SH) [4]. - For hydropower, companies with strong basin advantages such as Yangtze Power (600900.SH) and Sichuan Investment Energy (600674.SH) are suggested for investment [4]. - In the nuclear power sector, China General Nuclear Power (003816.SZ) is highlighted for its strong long-term growth potential [5]. - Wind and solar sectors are expected to have significant growth opportunities under carbon neutrality expectations, with a focus on companies with high wind power ratios like Longyuan Power (001289.SZ) [5].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook for the utility sector [7] Core Insights - The report indicates that the decline in electricity consumption growth in August 2025 is primarily due to a high base effect from August 2024, rather than a weakening demand [7] - It is expected that electricity consumption will maintain rapid growth from September to December 2025 as the base effect dissipates [7] - The report highlights that the electricity consumption growth rate for August 2025 was +5.0%, a decrease of 3.6 percentage points from July 2025, with a two-year CAGR of +6.9% [7] - The report notes that the electricity consumption growth rates for different sectors in August 2025 were +9.7% for primary industry, +5.0% for secondary industry, +7.2% for tertiary industry, and +2.4% for residential use [7] - The report anticipates that the growth rate of hydropower generation will improve marginally in the future, despite a decline in August 2025 [7] Summary by Sections Electricity Consumption - Cumulative electricity consumption from January to August 2025 increased by +4.6% year-on-year [10] - The cumulative electricity consumption for the primary industry was +10.6%, secondary industry +3.1%, tertiary industry +7.7%, and residential use +6.6% [13][17] Power Generation - Cumulative power generation from January to August 2025 increased by +1.5% year-on-year [18] - Cumulative thermal power generation decreased by -0.8%, while hydropower generation decreased by -5.5% [20] - Cumulative nuclear power generation increased by +10.1%, wind power by +11.6%, and photovoltaic power by +23.4% [22] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests a positive outlook for the utility sector, emphasizing the attractiveness of dividend assets in the current low-interest-rate environment [7] - Specific recommendations include focusing on thermal power, hydropower, nuclear power, and wind/solar power sectors, with identified stocks for potential investment [7]