KUALA LUMPUR – The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has significantly increased its holdings in YTL Power International Bhd, reinforcing its position as a major investor alongside parent company YTL Corp Bhd – a move analysts interpret as strong institutional endorsement of the utility firm's growth prospects.
Recent Share Acquisitions
Bursa Malaysia filings show:
✔ August 6: EPF purchased 45 million shares, raising its stake to 9.24%
✔ August 7-8: Bought another 9.16 million shares, lifting ownership to 9.31%
✔ YTL Corp holdings: EPF rebuilt its position to 8.09% (924.96 million shares) after re-entering as a substantial shareholder in January 2024
Strategic Rationale
Market observers highlight EPF's pattern of investing in companies with:
- Stable cash flows
- Defensive earnings
- Consistent dividends
YTL Power fits this profile with its diversified operations in:
✔ Power generation
✔ Water services
✔ Expanding data center ventures (Malaysia & internationally)
Growth Catalysts
The company benefits from:
- Global energy transition trends
- Regional infrastructure demand
- Digital infrastructure opportunities
- Technical & Market Performance
- YTL Power's stock: Up 17.76% YTD, closing at RM4.22 (Aug 15)
- Rakuten Trade's outlook: Identifies bullish signals with potential resistance at RM4.47-RM4.74
- Major shareholders: YTL Corp (49.1%), Yeoh Tiong Lay family (9.9%), Cornerstone Crest (6.5%)
AI Venture Adds Momentum
YTL Power's subsidiary YTL AI Labs recently launched ILMU – Malaysia's first locally developed large language model, marking progress in the group's RM20 billion AI investment program.
Analyst Takeaway:
EPF's growing stake underscores YTL Power's appeal as a hybrid investment – combining stable utility earnings with high-growth tech exposure.