Gulf Energy Development Public Company LimitedGULF is a clear near-term beneficiary of the PDP2026 plan, with a buy rating and target price of 82 baht, and strong core profit growth.
Bualuang Securities maintains an overweight stance on power plant stocks relative to the market, expecting the draft PDP2026 plan to be announced at the end of September. The plan still targets 60% renewable energy and an average electricity tariff of around 4 to more than 4 baht per unit. Data center power demand has a base case of 8,811 megawatts through 2050, and the first batch of 2,000 megawatts under direct power purchase agreements remains a near-term catalyst. The research team sees GULF, GUNKUL and WHAUP as clear near-term beneficiaries, while GPSC and BGRIM should see pressure ease as fuel cost pass-through and plant restarts improve in 2027. The brokerage currently recommends buying GULF with a target price of 82 baht, GUNKUL at 5.50 baht, and BGRIM at 20 baht, while target prices for GPSC and WHAUP are under review. Second-quarter 2026 operating results for the five power plant companies under coverage totaled 13.7 billion baht, up 36% from a year earlier and 15% from the previous quarter, on combined revenue of 85 billion baht, up 8% from a year earlier and 20% from the previous quarter. Combined net profit fell 76% from a year earlier to 16 billion baht because the second quarter of 2025 included a special item for GULF from the GULF-INTUCH merger of 56.1 billion baht. Excluding that item, the group's underlying profit picture remains strong. GULF posted core profit of 10.4 billion baht, up 46% from a year earlier and 11% from the previous quarter, driven by renewable and independent power producer businesses. GUNKUL reported 567 million baht, up 9% from a year earlier and 31% from the previous quarter, helped by EPC backlog recognition. WHAUP reported 502 million baht, up 116% from a year earlier and 150% from the previous quarter, as Gheco-One returned to full operation. GPSC and BGRIM remain pressured by gas and coal costs with delayed pass-through to the fuel tariff.
Gulf Energy Development Public Company LimitedGULF is a clear near-term beneficiary of the PDP2026 plan, with a buy rating and target price of 82 baht, and strong core profit growth.
Gunkul Engineering Public Company LimitedGUNKUL is a clear near-term beneficiary of the PDP2026 plan, with a buy rating and target price of 5.50 baht, and core profit up 9% YoY.
WHA Utilities and Power Public Company LimitedWHAUP is a clear near-term beneficiary of the PDP2026 plan, with core profit up 116% YoY, though target price is under review.
B.Grimm Power Public Company LimitedBualuang Securities expects PDP2026 plan to benefit power plant stocks, with BGRIM seeing pressure ease as fuel cost pass-through and plant restarts improve in 2027.
Global Power Synergy PCLGPSC should see pressure ease as fuel cost pass-through and plant restarts improve in 2027, according to Bualuang Securities.