Citigroup has issued a research report stating that, considering strong end-user demand and intermittent supply disruptions, lithium prices are expected to face continued upside risks. The firm maintains a "Buy" rating on Tianqi Lithium (09696) with a target price of HK$61, equivalent to a forecasted price-to-book ratio of 1.82 times for this year.
Tianqi Lithium has projected its first-quarter net profit to range between 1.7 billion and 2 billion yuan, benefiting from soaring lithium prices since the beginning of the year and a significant increase in investment income from SQM. Citigroup attributes the better-than-expected performance primarily to inventory gains. As of the end of last year, the company held approximately 206,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate inventory and 7,400 tonnes of lithium compound inventory.
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