[ET Net News Agency, 15 November 2017] Morgan Stanley raised its target price for
China Resources Gas (CRG)(01193) to HK$33.6 from HK$32.5, and maintained its "overweight"
rating.
The research house said the removal of gas tariff policy overhang in June, and the
government's initiative for rural areas' coal-to-gas conversion through its "2+26 cities"
plan has helped to drive the gas stocks year-to-date. But CRG still looks attractive at
current levels.
Morgan adjusted its 2017-19 earnings estimates by 0.6%-1.7% mainly due to the changes in
gas sales volume growth but partially offset by a decline in the gas sales dollar margin.
As alternative and more prudent plays on the theme of rural areas' coal-to-gas
conversion, Morgan looks to CRG, given its more prudent approaches in pursuing the growth
potential on: (1) it only secures rural areas' coal-to-gas projects close to their
existing projects to enjoy the synergies; and (2) it only use piped gas (no LNG) to
minimize the margin fluctuation risk. (KL)