NQB

Cấp nước Quảng Bình ·UPCOM ·2026Q1

▼ Slightly negative

Capital efficiency needs cycle context ROE 6.73%
Price
Latest close
P/E
P/B
EPS 539
BVPS 11,503
ROE 7.1%
ROA 5.7%
Profit Margin 9.3%
Asset Turnover 0.61x
Equity Mult. 1.25x

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

What Is Changing

On a TTM 2026Q1 basis, NQB is showing a few mildly negative signals versus the same period, though nothing alarming at current levels — profit momentum has been slowing across consecutive periods. The point still to be proven is whether this is a short adjustment or the beginning of a weaker trend.

TTM REVENUE
VND 150bn
+11.9%YoY
NET MARGIN
9.30%
−1.0ppYoY
TTM NET PROFIT
VND 14bn
+0.8%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 38.3 38.1 37.6 35.8 29.9 31.4 36.9 35.7 29.6 32.7 35.9 33.9
Growth +1% +1% +5% +20% -5% -15% +3% +20% -9% -9% +6%
Net Income 3.3 3.1 3.9 3.7 2.3 1.4 4.8 5.3 3.2 2.3 5.1 4.4
Net Margin 8.60% 8.06% 10.30% 10.30% 7.74% 4.59% 12.89% 14.90% 10.75% 7.02% 14.20% 12.88%

Drivers of NQB's profit

TTM

Net profit attributable to parent increased vs last year, mainly helped by lower administrative expenses. Supporting and offsetting drivers:

Administrative expenses ↓ 2.3bn
Finance costs ↓ 0.1bn
Tax ↓ 0.0bn
Gross profit ↓ 1.4bn
Selling expenses ↑ 0.8bn
Other profit ↓ 0.2bn
TTM

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

Gross profit ↑ 1.6bn
Administrative expenses ↓ 0.1bn
Selling expenses ↑ 0.6bn
Tax ↑ 0.2bn

Financial Highlights

Detailed analysis of each financial dimension

ROE = Profit Margin × Asset Turnover × Equity Multiplier

2025Q1 7.1% = 10.3% × 0.55 × 1.26
2026Q1 7.1% = 9.3% × 0.61 × 1.25

ROE is broadly flat at 7.1% — the components are offsetting one another.

Net margin: 9.3% -1.0pp Asset turnover: 0.61x +0.06x Leverage: 1.25x -0.01x

Is the profit sustainable?

Margins narrowed but earnings quality remains clean — pressure is mainly operational.

very positive positive stable watch under pressure

What is driving the margin?

Net margin narrowed to 9.30%, falling 1.0pp. The main pressure is Gross margin fell 3.4pp, outweighing the improvement in SG&A / Revenue fell 2.1pp (in addition, Net financial result / Revenue rose 0.2pp added support while Other profit / Revenue fell 0.1pp remained a drag).

The pressure comes from core operations — this is a concerning type of decline, not a one-off movement.

Profitability trend

Net Margin 9.30% −1.0pp
Gross Margin 20.19% −3.4pp
SG&A / Revenue 7.60% −2.1pp

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 6.7% reflects a large fixed-asset base.

Is capital being deployed efficiently?

ROIC stands at 6.73%, broadly flat versus the same period. That translates to 6.73 in after-tax operating profit for every 100 units of operating capital. NOPAT margin narrowed 0.9pp, but capital turnover rose 0.09x, with invested capital holding roughly steady — 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 6.73% +0.2pp
NOPAT Margin 9.25% −0.9pp
Capital Turnover 0.73x +0.09x
Average Invested Capital 205.9bn −2.6bn

Balance Sheet

ROIC for utilities reflects a large fixed-asset base and regulated tariffs — the balance sheet below adds perspective. Capital structure is conservative with low leverage — liabilities at 0.27x equity, net debt at 0.02x 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 17.3 days versus the same period last year. The main moves came from DIO fell 5.6 days, DSO fell 8.5 days, and DPO rose 3.2 days.

All 3 drivers (collection, inventory, payables) are improving — working capital turnover is strengthening across the board.

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.

Working Capital Efficiency

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Receivables 14.0 days −8.5 days
Inventory 43.0 days −5.6 days
Payables 38.3 days +3.2 days
Cash Conversion Cycle 18.8 days −17.3 days

Is financial risk significant?

Financial risk is low — leverage is safe, both CFO and FCF are positive.

Leverage & Liquidity

Leverage looks fairly comfortable, with net debt / equity at 0.02x and interest coverage at 11.37x.

At present, short-term debt accounts for 56.4% of total debt, cash equals 78.4% of debt, and total debt stands at 21.7bn.

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

Leverage and liquidity trend

Net Debt / Equity 0.02x −0.04x
Interest Coverage 11.37x +0.65x
Cash / Debt 78.4% +25.8pp
Short-term Debt / Total Debt 56.4% +11.8pp
CFO / NI 2.42x +1.99x

TTM YoY · 2025Q1 -> 2026Q1

Cash Flow

With safe leverage noted above, cash flow below shows the self-funding capacity. Operating cash flow reached 29.1bn in 2025, against investing cash flow of -23.2bn.

Post-investment cash flow was positive +5.9bn. Financing cash flow was negative +12.5bn.

CFO / net income was 2.42x.

After spending +23.2bn on fixed-asset investment, the business generated trailing free cash flow of +10.6bn.

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 33.7bn +27.7bn
Cash Capex 23.2bn +22.7bn
FCF TTM +10.6bn +5.1bn

Investment Takeaway

The business is under real pressure, but the current picture has not turned broadly adverse. A notable area has clearly weakened, making the near-term outlook hard to call bright; even so, other parts of the business are still holding up, with some core pressures remaining the main constraint. The next watchpoint is capital efficiency, with ROIC at 6.7%. The main offsetting support comes from earnings conversion is confirmed, with CFO/NI at 2.42x.

Improvement: earnings conversion looks more confirmed, with CFO / net income at 2.42x.

Watchpoint: Capital efficiency needs cycle context.

Statement Data

Item 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
Net Revenue
141.3 133.6 129.1 117.8 106.9
Cost of Goods Sold
112.8 100.9 98.1 88.9 0.0
Gross Profit
28.6 32.7 31.0 29.0 22.1
Financial Expenses
1.5 1.8 2.3 2.7 -3.1
Selling Expenses
4.3 3.6 2.9 3.3 -2.5
General and Administrative Expenses
6.6 9.2 9.2 8.7 -7.5
Operating Profit
16.2 18.2 16.6 14.3 9.0
Profit Before Tax
16.3 18.4 16.6 14.2 9.1
Net Income
12.9 14.7 13.3 11.3 7.3
Profit Attributable to Parent
12.9 14.7 13.3 11.3 7.3
Earnings per Share
458.00 562.00 481.00 311.00 204.00

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