中国联通：利润连续八年保持双位数增长，派息比例提高到55%

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for China Unicom with a target price of HKD 7.6, representing a potential upside of 17% from the current stock price of HKD 6.5 [1][3]. Core Insights - China Unicom has achieved double-digit profit growth for eight consecutive years, with a dividend payout ratio increased to 55% [1]. - The company's revenue for the first half of 2024 reached RMB 197.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%, while service revenue was RMB 175.7 billion, up 2.7% year-on-year [1]. - The EBITDA for the same period was RMB 55 billion, reflecting a 2.7% year-on-year growth, and the net profit attributable to shareholders was RMB 13.8 billion, marking an 11.3% increase year-on-year [1]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In the first half of 2024, China Unicom's operating income was RMB 197.3 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 2.9%. The service revenue was RMB 175.7 billion, growing by 2.7% year-on-year. EBITDA reached RMB 55 billion, also up by 2.7% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders was RMB 13.8 billion, reflecting an 11.3% increase year-on-year [1][6]. - The company reported a return on equity of 3.7%, an increase of 0.26% year-on-year, and a debt-to-asset ratio of 45.5%, down by 1% year-on-year [1]. Business Segments - The internet communication service revenue for the first half of 2024 was RMB 125.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%, accounting for three-quarters of the main business. The mobile user base reached 340 million, with a net addition of 6 million users, and the penetration rate of 5G packages exceeded 80% [1]. - The smart network business saw rapid growth, with revenue of RMB 43.5 billion, up 6.6% year-on-year, contributing over 60% of the new service revenue. Cloud revenue was RMB 31.7 billion, growing by 24.3% year-on-year [1]. Future Outlook - The report anticipates a gradual increase in the dividend payout ratio to 70% in the future, despite a downward adjustment in revenue growth expectations for 2024-2026 to 3.8%, 3.7%, and 3.6% respectively [1][4]. - The target price of HKD 7.6 is based on a 10x earnings multiple for 2024 profits, reflecting the company's solid fundamentals and potential for increased dividends [1].