BOCI: Maintains China Telecom (00728.HK) "Buy" Rating, Target Price HK$6.96, Expects Q3 Net Profit to Fall 13.5% YoY

Zhitong Finance APP has learned that BOCI has issued a research report maintaining a "Buy" rating on China Telecom (00728.HK) H-shares with a target price of HK$6.96, and keeping its FY2026 revenue and earnings forecasts unchanged. The bank expects the company's net profit for the third quarter of 2026 to be RMB 6.6 billion, a year-on-year decline of 13.5%, and in the fourth quarter, benefiting from a low base, net profit to resume year-on-year growth of 33.3%. The bank expects service revenue trends to be broadly in line with the industry, with VAT pressure persisting.