NQN

Nước sạch Quảng Ninh ·UPCOM ·2026Q1

▲ Showing improvement

Earnings conversion is confirmed CFO/NPAT 3.83x
Price
11,800
Latest close
03 Jun 2026
P/E 8.78x
P/B 0.86x
EPS 1,343
BVPS 13,726
ROE 10.0%
ROA 5.7%
Profit Margin 7.5%
Asset Turnover 0.76x
Equity Mult. 1.77x

TTM · Applied to: EPS, ROE, ROA, Net Margin, Asset Turnover, Debt/Equity

What Is Changing

On a TTM 2026Q1 basis, NQN is improving on both revenue and margins, though the magnitude is still moderate — profit is at an all-time high. This signal only becomes convincing if the improvement continues through the next few periods.

TTM REVENUE
VND 914bn
+11.3%YoY
NET MARGIN
7.45%
+0.6ppYoY
TTM NET PROFIT
VND 68bn
+20.2%YoY
Metric Q1'26 Q4'25 Q3'25 Q2'25 Q1'25 Q4'24 Q3'24 Q2'24 Q1'24 Q4'23 Q3'23 Q2'23
Revenue 232.5 221.5 236.0 223.8 187.3 212.1 213.6 208.2 176.8 198.3 209.5 200.7
Growth +5% -6% +5% +19% -12% -1% +3% +18% -11% -5% +4%
Net Income 16.1 19.3 14.7 18.0 14.2 11.8 12.7 17.9 13.5 12.5 9.6 17.9
Net Margin 6.95% 8.71% 6.23% 8.02% 7.57% 5.58% 5.97% 8.60% 7.63% 6.30% 4.60% 8.91%

Drivers of NQN's profit

TTM

Net profit attributable to parent increased vs last year, mainly helped by higher gross profit. Supporting and offsetting drivers:

Gross profit ↑ 11.6bn
Other profit ↑ 8.6bn
Administrative expenses ↑ 5.9bn
Tax ↑ 2.3bn
TTM

Net profit attributable to parent increased vs prior quarter, mainly helped by higher gross profit. Supporting and offsetting drivers:

Gross profit ↑ 8.2bn
Administrative expenses ↑ 5.4bn
Tax ↑ 0.5bn
Selling expenses ↑ 0.2bn

Financial Highlights

Detailed analysis of each financial dimension

ROE = Profit Margin × Asset Turnover × Equity Multiplier

2025Q1 8.6% = 6.9% × 0.75 × 1.65
2026Q1 10.0% = 7.5% × 0.76 × 1.77

ROE rose from 8.6% to 10.0% — all three components improved, with leverage contributing the most.

Net margin: 7.5% +0.6pp Asset turnover: 0.76x +0.01x Leverage: 1.77x +0.12x

Is the profit sustainable?

Margins are improving and earnings quality is solid — a durable foundation for ROE.

very positive positive stable watch under pressure

What is driving the margin?

Net margin edged up to 7.45%, rising 0.6pp. Core operating signals are improving as SG&A / Revenue fell 0.3pp are enough to offset pressure from Gross margin fell 0.8pp (with additional support from Other profit / Revenue rose 0.9pp and Net financial result / Revenue rose 0.2pp).

Margin improves from both core operations and non-core items — the core foundation is positive, but the sustainability of non-core contributions needs monitoring.

Profitability trend

Net Margin 7.45% +0.6pp
Gross Margin 19.90% −0.8pp
SG&A / Revenue 9.52% −0.3pp

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Is capital being used efficiently?

Capital efficiency for utilities should be read alongside regulated tariffs and long-cycle depreciation — ROIC of 6.3% reflects a large fixed-asset base.

Is capital being deployed efficiently?

ROIC stands at 6.25%, broadly flat versus the same period. That translates to 6.25 in after-tax operating profit for every 100 units of operating capital. NOPAT margin narrowed 0.2pp, but capital turnover broadly stable, while invested capital rose by 91bn — the two factors are offsetting each other, keeping overall ROIC nearly unchanged.

For utilities, ROIC reflects returns on a large fixed-asset base — this is a reference signal and should be read alongside regulated tariffs.

CAPITAL EFFICIENCY TREND

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

ROIC 6.25% −0.1pp
NOPAT Margin 6.74% −0.2pp
Capital Turnover 0.93x +0.01x
Average Invested Capital 984.5bn +91.3bn

Balance Sheet

ROIC for utilities reflects a large fixed-asset base and regulated tariffs — the balance sheet below adds perspective. Capital structure is balanced — liabilities at 0.83x equity, net debt at 0.54x equity.

Over the last 12 months, working capital released 0.0bn of cash.

Working Capital Drivers

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Receivables were broadly stable → neutral CFO:
Inventories were broadly stable → neutral CFO:
Payables were broadly stable → neutral CFO:

Working Capital Efficiency

Working capital is being managed more efficiently, supporting overall capital efficiency. Cash conversion cycle improved by 10.4 days versus the same period last year. The main moves came from DIO fell 0.4 days, DSO rose 0.7 days, and DPO rose 10.7 days.

Extended payment timing is the main driver — consider whether this trades off supplier relationships.

For utilities, working capital cycle reflects regulated pricing mechanics and long-term settlement contracts — DSO/DIO/DPO should be treated as contextual signals rather than pure efficiency indicators.

Watchpoints

Receivables collection is slowing

DSO increased by +0.7 days, pointing to slower receivables turnover.

Working Capital Efficiency

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Receivables 1.6 days +0.7 days
Inventory 16.1 days −0.4 days
Payables 38.6 days +10.7 days
Cash Conversion Cycle -21.0 days −10.4 days

Is financial risk significant?

Leverage is safe but FCF is negative at 121.7bn due to capex of 382.4bn — an investment choice, not an urgent risk.

Leverage & Liquidity

Leverage is balanced for now, with net debt / equity at 0.54x and interest coverage at 3.80x.

At present, short-term debt accounts for 24.1% of total debt, cash equals 7.1% of debt, and total debt stands at 399.2bn.

Leverage for utilities reflects long-term capital needs for fixed assets and recovery through regulated pricing — elevated leverage is structural to the industry.

Watchpoints

Cash buffer is thin relative to debt

Cash / debt stands at 7.1%, leaving limited liquidity buffer to monitor.

Leverage and liquidity trend

Net Debt / Equity 0.54x +0.19x
Interest Coverage 3.80x +0.20x
Cash / Debt 7.1% −19.3pp
Short-term Debt / Total Debt 24.1% +4.7pp
CFO / NI 3.83x −1.10x

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Cash Flow

With safe leverage noted above, cash flow below shows the self-funding capacity. Operating cash flow reached 258.7bn in 2025, against investing cash flow of -348.0bn.

Post-investment cash flow was negative +89.2bn. Financing cash flow was positive +31.6bn.

CFO / net income was 3.83x.

After spending +382.4bn on fixed-asset investment, the business generated trailing free cash flow of −121.7bn.

For utilities, high capex and long investment cycles are structural — short-term FCF volatility does not reflect long-term cash generation through regulated pricing.

Cash Conversion

TTM Cash Conversion · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

CFO TTM 260.7bn −18.8bn
Cash Capex 382.4bn +124.9bn
FCF TTM −121.7bn −143.7bn

Investment Takeaway

The business is showing brightening signals, but the improvement is still early and not yet thick enough to read as a confirmed trend. The brighter spot is earnings conversion is confirmed, with CFO/NI at 3.83x. The next item to monitor is capital efficiency, with ROIC at 6.3%. The main risk still sits in leverage and liquidity, with interest coverage at 3.80x.

Improvement: earnings conversion looks more confirmed, with CFO / net income at 3.83x.

Watchpoint: Capital efficiency needs cycle context.

Key risk: leverage and liquidity remain a pressure point, with net debt / equity at 0.54x and a thin cash buffer.

Statement Data

Item 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
Net Revenue
868.6 810.8 780.7 654.0 612.3
Cost of Goods Sold
696.2 648.1 622.4 513.2 0.0
Gross Profit
172.4 162.7 158.3 140.8 128.5
Financial Expenses
20.0 20.2 27.5 28.2 -25.6
Selling Expenses
0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 -0.2
General and Administrative Expenses
81.1 74.0 65.3 57.0 -50.5
Operating Profit
72.5 69.6 65.7 55.7 52.2
Profit Before Tax
80.6 71.1 65.6 55.6 52.3
Net Income
65.0 56.8 52.8 44.5 41.4
Profit Attributable to Parent
65.0 56.8 52.8 44.5 41.4
Earnings per Share
1,279.00 1,118.00 1,083.00 875.00 814.12

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