HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We now expect the privatisation of <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> to be completed by mid-2026, given that the pre-conditions are yet to be satisfied.</li>
<li>For 3Q25, the gas sales volume of ENN Energy has picked up. Meanwhile, net profit for ENN Natural Gas has also recovered. Both results are positive.</li>
<li>Incorporating our latest timetable estimate, EPS forecasts, and adjusted undisturbed PERs, ENN Energy is valued at HK$67.40-72.16, meaning the share price is at 0.4% to 7% discount.</li>
</ul>


We now expect the privatisation of ENN Energy (2688 HK) to be completed by mid-2026, given that the pre-conditions are yet to be satisfied.
For 3Q25, the gas sales volume of ENN Energy has picked up. Meanwhile, net profit for ENN Natural Gas has also recovered. Both results are positive.
Incorporating our latest timetable estimate, EPS forecasts, and adjusted undisturbed PERs, ENN Energy is valued at HK$67.40-72.16, meaning the share price is at 0.4% to 7% discount.


ENN Energy (2688 HK): Our Latest Assessment Remains Positive

<ul>
<li>Core earnings of <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> rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.</li>
<li>Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.</li>
<li>Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.</li>
</ul>


Core earnings of Kunlun Energy (135 HK) rose 25.2% in FY22, providing solid evidence for its strength against peers. We are delighted to see dollar margin even expanded 4.1%.
Pace of new project addition has not weakened as it secured 25 new projects in FY22. Collectively, they will increase sales volume by 3.2bn cu.m., 7% of FY22 volume.
Net cash of Rmb13.6bn equals 28% of share price, making 8.9% ROE look decent. Market earnings forecast is too low; and even so, it trades on just 7.2x FY23 PER.


Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Rock Solid as Usual

<ul>
<li>
<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 required to submit a merger control filing to the SAMR, suggesting it is making a step ahead in meeting the pre-conditions. </li>
<li>The use of onshore bank loans and cash balance as a refinancing source and consideration payment will lower financing costs, boosting the value of ENN Natural Gas H-share.</li>
<li>The current share price is 9.3 and 17.7% below the low-bound and high-bound of our estimated value range. It is also less vulnerable to the current tariff war.</li>
</ul>



ENN Energy (2688 HK) is not required to submit a merger control filing to the SAMR, suggesting it is making a step ahead in meeting the pre-conditions. 
The use of onshore bank loans and cash balance as a refinancing source and consideration payment will lower financing costs, boosting the value of ENN Natural Gas H-share.
The current share price is 9.3 and 17.7% below the low-bound and high-bound of our estimated value range. It is also less vulnerable to the current tariff war.


ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation Progressing Well Ahead

<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.


Hong Kong

China Resources Gas Group Ltd distributes natural gas and petroleum gas in the cities of Chengdu, Fuyang, Huaibei, Linhai, Suzhou and Wuxi in the PRC. The Company also operates compressed natural gas filling stations in Chengdu, Nanjing and Wuxi. The group also is involved in bottled liquefied petroleum gas distribution in cities of Fuyang, Suzhou and Wuxi.

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CR Gas (1193 HK)

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Our Latest Assessment Remains Positive

ENN Energy announced that the filing by ENN Natural Gas to the Ministry of Commerce has been completed, marking another step towards the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Rock Solid as Usual

Kunlun's core profit growth is decent and, more importantly, demonstrated the resilience of dollar margin. New project flow is encouraging and we...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation Progressing Well Ahead

ENN Energy is progressing on meeting pre-conditions, with no merger control filing needed. Refinancing with onshore bank loans and using cash...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Our Latest Assessment Remains Positive

ENN Energy announced that the filing by ENN Natural Gas to the Ministry of Commerce has been completed, marking another step towards the...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Kunlun Energy (135 HK): Rock Solid as Usual

Kunlun's core profit growth is decent and, more importantly, demonstrated the resilience of dollar margin. New project flow is encouraging and we...

Osbert Tang, CFA

ENN Energy (2688 HK): Privatisation Progressing Well Ahead

​ENN Energy is progressing on meeting pre-conditions, with no merger control filing needed. Refinancing with onshore bank loans and using cash...

Osbert Tang, CFA

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

ENN Energy is progressing on meeting pre-conditions, with no merger control filing needed. Refinancing with onshore bank loans and using cash...

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...