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Ratch Group Public Company Limited (RATCH.BK)

Q3 2026
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RATCH pivots to data centers as weak Q2 profit weighs

  • Weak Q2 earnings and downgrades Q2 core profit fell 41% year-on-year on poor Hongsa, Paiton and renewable contributions. Krungsri cut 2026–2028 forecasts by 16% and downgraded to Neutral, expecting Q3 to decline too.

    This is the main negative force that weighed on the stock during the period.

  • Data-center pivot at Ratchaburi RATCH signaled a data-center shift at Ratchaburi, with demand up to 1,400 MW. This drove upgrades, including KGI Outperform with a 43 baht target, and supported the stock.

    This is the key positive new development that drove the stock higher.

  • Growth funding and policy support RATCH set a 20-billion-baht five-year budget and cut its interim dividend to 0.70 baht to fund growth. Thailand's PDP2026, tighter data-center rules favoring the EEC, the Ratchaburi contract renewal to 2034, HKP consolidation, and a potential 500–700 MW Indonesia plant further supported the stock.

    These strategic and regulatory moves reinforced the positive growth narrative.

August 2026
▲2▼1

RATCH pivots to data centers as weak Q2 profit weighs

  • Weak Q2 earnings and downgrades Q2 core profit fell 41% year-on-year on poor Hongsa, Paiton and renewable contributions. Krungsri cut 2026–2028 forecasts by 16% and downgraded to Neutral, expecting Q3 to decline too.

    This is the main negative force that weighed on the stock during the period.

  • Data-center pivot at Ratchaburi RATCH signaled a data-center shift at Ratchaburi, with demand up to 1,400 MW. This drove upgrades, including KGI Outperform with a 43 baht target, and supported the stock.

    This is the key positive new development that drove the stock higher.

  • Growth funding and policy support RATCH set a 20-billion-baht five-year budget and cut its interim dividend to 0.70 baht to fund growth. Thailand's PDP2026, tighter data-center rules favoring the EEC, the Ratchaburi contract renewal to 2034, HKP consolidation, and a potential 500–700 MW Indonesia plant further supported the stock.

    These strategic and regulatory moves reinforced the positive growth narrative.

Latest
▲4

RATCH's data-center pivot and new power plan drive upgrades

  • PDP2026 opens new power investment cycle Thailand's new power plan (PDP2026) may extend gas-fired IPP plants and add solar, wind and direct power deals. Brokers say this creates a fresh investment cycle for power producers, with RATCH named as a beneficiary. New capacity is not yet in profit estimates, so it offers upside.

    A national energy plan that expands power capacity directly supports RATCH's future revenue and growth outlook.

  • Data-center rules push demand to RATCH's sites Thailand suspended 166 data-center projects and is tightening rules, pushing operators to industrial estates like the EEC. Analysts say this favors firms with land, power and utilities ready. RATCH is cited as a likely winner, with its Ratchaburi site and plans to supply power and water to data centers.

    Stricter data-center rules redirect demand toward RATCH's prepared sites, creating a new customer base for its power.

  • Broker upgrades on dividends and growth KGI upgraded RATCH to Buy and raised its target price to 43 baht from 29 baht, expecting a 1.50 baht dividend. CGS International also upgraded to Buy after the Ratchaburi plant contract was renewed to 2034 and HKP is fully consolidated from late 2025. These upgrades support the share price.

    Analyst upgrades and higher target prices directly influence investor sentiment and buying interest in RATCH.

  • RATCH eyes 500–700 MW Indonesia plant and 10bn baht yearly budget RATCH is in talks to bid for a 500–700 MW gas-fired IPP plant in Indonesia and has set an average investment budget of about 10 billion baht per year for pipeline projects, Indonesian expansion and SMR nuclear studies. It also plans to refurbish old IPP plants to supply power and water to data centers.

    New overseas projects and a clear investment budget show RATCH is actively growing, which can lift long-term earnings expectations.

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RATCH pivots to data centers and growth, outweighing weak Q2 profit

  • Q2 profit miss and broker downgrade RATCH fell 4.46% after Krungsri Securities cut 2026-2028 profit forecasts by 16% and downgraded to Neutral. Weak Q2 core profit, down 41% year-on-year, came from poor Hongsa, Paiton and renewable plant contributions, with Q3 also expected to decline.

    This is the main negative force that started the period and explains why the stock was under pressure.

  • Data center pivot with 1,400 MW demand RATCH rose 3% after signaling a shift to data centers at its Ratchaburi site, with customers expressing demand for up to 1,400 megawatts. KGI upgraded to Outperform and raised its target price to 43 baht, seeing higher returns than PPA renewals.

    This is the key new growth story that changed the stock's direction upward.

  • 20 billion baht investment budget and dividend cut for growth RATCH set a 20 billion baht five-year investment budget for renewable expansion and announced a lower interim dividend of 0.70 baht per share to retain cash. Brokers upgraded to Buy, viewing the stock as transitioning from a dividend stock to a growth stock.

    This shows the company is prioritizing growth investments, which supports a higher valuation.

  • Bangkok data center permit review redirects investment to EEC Bangkok plans to temporarily suspend new data center permits for regulatory review, pushing operators to the Eastern Economic Corridor. Analysts say power plant stocks like RATCH will benefit long-term as data centers relocate to areas with better infrastructure.

    This regulatory shift reinforces RATCH's data center opportunity by directing demand to its preferred locations.

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