CHINA GAS HOLD(00384) 申万宏源·2024-12-04 01:11Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for China Gas [5] Core Views - China Gas reported a slight decline in revenue and net profit for the fiscal year 2023/24, with revenue at HKD 35.105 billion, down 2.6% year-on-year, and net profit at HKD 1.761 billion, down 3.8% year-on-year, primarily due to delays in government subsidies and increased costs [5][6] - The company's gas sales volume increased by 0.9% year-on-year to 17.13 billion m³, with town gas sales up 1.4% [5] - The retail gas gross margin improved by HKD 0.02/m³ to HKD 0.59/m³, with residential gas prices rising to HKD 2.85/m³, an increase of HKD 0.08/m³ year-on-year [5] - The company experienced a decline in new residential user connections, down 14% year-on-year, but saw significant growth in industrial and commercial connections [5] - Value-added services and comprehensive energy businesses showed rapid growth, contributing positively to the company's performance [5] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For the fiscal year 2023/24, the company reported revenue of HKD 81.41 billion, a decrease of 11.5% year-on-year, and a net profit of HKD 3.185 billion, down 25.8% year-on-year [6][9] - The earnings per share (EPS) for 2024/25 is projected to be HKD 0.73, with subsequent years showing growth [6][9] Business Segments - The gas sales business showed a recovery trend, with a focus on increasing commercial user connections through market development strategies [5] - The connection and engineering business accounted for 22.6% of the company's total pre-tax profit, indicating a stabilization in this segment [5] Future Outlook - The report anticipates a recovery in gas sales volume and profitability in the second half of the fiscal year, driven by improved pricing mechanisms and recovering industrial demand [5] - The company has adjusted its profit forecasts for the fiscal years 2024/25 to 2026/27, reflecting a more conservative outlook due to various operational challenges [5]