HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> posted a healthy 2.6% earnings growth for 1H24. If not for the expiry of two oilfields last year, its earnings growth would have reached 6.8%. </li>
<li>Natural gas sales pre-tax margin contracted 0.5pp YoY, but has recovered significantly HoH. Other businesses have all seen good margin expansion. </li>
<li>The company has further accumulated net cash which increased 8.3% in the last six months. At HK$2.76/share, this equals 35% of the share price.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK) posted a healthy 2.6% earnings growth for 1H24. If not for the expiry of two oilfields last year, its earnings growth would have reached 6.8%. 
Natural gas sales pre-tax margin contracted 0.5pp YoY, but has recovered significantly HoH. Other businesses have all seen good margin expansion. 
The company has further accumulated net cash which increased 8.3% in the last six months. At HK$2.76/share, this equals 35% of the share price.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): The Most Solid Play

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Except <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a>, many stocks in the China gas utilities sector are still underperforming the HSI and HSCEI YTD. Yet, industry fundamentals are improving. </li>
<li>More cities and counties will implement a gas price pass-through mechanism, with 90% of cities and counties to be completed by late 2024, benefiting sector profitability.  </li>
<li>Consensus forecasts are still conservative which places room for pick-up in share prices. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-gas-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20525:1" rel="noopener">CR Gas (1193 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-gas-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14315:1" rel="noopener">China Gas Holdings (384 HK)</a> are opportunities.</li>
</ul>


Except ENN Energy (2688 HK), many stocks in the China gas utilities sector are still underperforming the HSI and HSCEI YTD. Yet, industry fundamentals are improving. 
More cities and counties will implement a gas price pass-through mechanism, with 90% of cities and counties to be completed by late 2024, benefiting sector profitability.  
Consensus forecasts are still conservative which places room for pick-up in share prices. CR Gas (1193 HK) and China Gas Holdings (384 HK) are opportunities.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a>'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  </li>
<li>FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.</li>
</ul>



Kunlun Energy (135 HK)'s 2.2% drop in core earnings in FY23 is distorted by the expiry of exploration rights of oilfield projects. All other segments have done well.  
FY24 outlook is positive - reduction in E&amp;P distortion, addition of more city gas projects, higher utilisation of LNG plants and terminals, and optimisation of gas pricing mechanism.
Net cash of Rmb20.4bn equals 29% of market capitalisation, providing room for a higher dividend payout. A re-inclusion into the HSI is not totally out of the cards.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Delivering Resilience

<ul>
<li>With an 18.6% growth in 1H22 profit from continuing operations, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a> has not disappointed us. Natural gas sales segment is a bright spot with solid growth.</li>
<li>Net cash swelled to Rmb10.2bn at end-Jun, about 2x more than the level at end-FY21. We estimate this roughly equals to 19% of the current share price. </li>
<li>New project momentum looks healthy and the market seems to have underestimated FY22 earnings. Its 8x and 7.5x PERs for FY22 and FY23 are clearly attractive. </li>
</ul>


With an 18.6% growth in 1H22 profit from continuing operations, Kunlun Energy (135 HK) has not disappointed us. Natural gas sales segment is a bright spot with solid growth.
Net cash swelled to Rmb10.2bn at end-Jun, about 2x more than the level at end-FY21. We estimate this roughly equals to 19% of the current share price. 
New project momentum looks healthy and the market seems to have underestimated FY22 earnings. Its 8x and 7.5x PERs for FY22 and FY23 are clearly attractive. 


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): An Excellent Show

<ul>
<li>Core earnings growth of 14.6% YoY at <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/enn-energy-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:316:1" rel="noopener">ENN Energy (2688 HK)</a> is not very exciting. Gas sales gross profit was down 5% while integrated energy looks better with 51.2% growth.</li>
<li>Management guidance of 12-15% growth in FY22 seems to be optimistic, especially in a period of time where high input cost is likely to eat into margin still.</li>
<li>Valuations are not too stretched, yet not very appealing. Its net debt position also does not compare well with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-resources-gas-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20525:1" rel="noopener">CR Gas (1193 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kunlun-energy-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10054:1" rel="noopener">Kunlun Energy (135 HK)</a>. </li>
</ul>


Core earnings growth of 14.6% YoY at ENN Energy (2688 HK) is not very exciting. Gas sales gross profit was down 5% while integrated energy looks better with 51.2% growth.
Management guidance of 12-15% growth in FY22 seems to be optimistic, especially in a period of time where high input cost is likely to eat into margin still.
Valuations are not too stretched, yet not very appealing. Its net debt position also does not compare well with CR Gas (1193 HK) and Kunlun Energy (135 HK). 


ENN Energy (2688 HK): Mediocre FY21, Management Update Not Exciting

Hong Kong

China Gas Holdings Ltd. invests in, operates and manages natural gas distribution pipelines.  The Company distributes and sells natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial users, and bottles and sells compressed natural gas.  China Gas also constructs and operates gas stations.

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China Gas Holdings (384 HK)

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): The Most Solid Play

Kunlun Energy reports 2.6% profit growth in 1H24. Natural gas sales margin contracted YoY but recovered HoH, while other businesses saw margin...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Gas Utilities: Dark Horses?

China's gas utilities sector's industry fundamentals are improving. Gas price pass-through mechanism to benefit profitability. Room for share...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Delivering Resilience

Kunlun's FY23 core earnings drop is distorted by oilfield project expiry, but other segments perform well. FY24 outlook is positive with more city...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): An Excellent Show

Impressive 1H22 result is a clear demonstration of Kunlun's operational strengths and cash generating ability. The market should ease concerns on...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Mediocre FY21, Management Update Not Exciting

ENN Energy's FY21 result is not particularly encouraging and we also found management's update on the post-result call not very exciting....

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): The Most Solid Play

​Kunlun Energy reports 2.6% profit growth in 1H24. Natural gas sales margin contracted YoY but recovered HoH, while other businesses saw margin...

Osbert Tang, CFA

China Gas Utilities: Dark Horses?

​China's gas utilities sector's industry fundamentals are improving. Gas price pass-through mechanism to benefit profitability. Room for share...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Delivering Resilience

​Kunlun's FY23 core earnings drop is distorted by oilfield project expiry, but other segments perform well. FY24 outlook is positive with more city...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): An Excellent Show

Impressive 1H22 result is a clear demonstration of Kunlun's operational strengths and cash generating ability. The market should ease concerns on...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Mediocre FY21, Management Update Not Exciting

ENN Energy's FY21 result is not particularly encouraging and we also found management's update on the post-result call not very exciting....

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy reports 2.6% profit growth in 1H24. Natural gas sales margin contracted YoY but recovered HoH, while other businesses saw margin...

China's gas utilities sector's industry fundamentals are improving. Gas price pass-through mechanism to benefit profitability. Room for share...

Kunlun's FY23 core earnings drop is distorted by oilfield project expiry, but other segments perform well. FY24 outlook is positive with more city...