新希望服务：Robust expansion pace + anti-cyclical VAS; Maintain BUY

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "BUY" rating for New Hope Services with a target price of HK$2.79, indicating a potential upside of 60.1$1.74 [1][2]. Core Insights - The company's 1H24 earnings met expectations, with revenue and net profit increasing by 18% and 8% year-over-year, respectively. The gross profit margin (GPM) contracted to 32.8%, still above the industry average of over 20% [1]. - New contract value surged by 227% year-over-year in 1H24, driven by strategic resource leverage, with expectations for full-year new contract value to exceed RMB600 million [1]. - Catering services demonstrated cyclical resilience, contributing significantly to the profit of the owner value-added services (VAS) segment, which is expected to expand further [1]. Financial Performance - Revenue for 1H24 reached RMB709 million, driven by a 22% increase in managed gross floor area (GFA). Basic property management and owner VAS rose by 28% and 26% year-over-year, respectively [1][4]. - The GPM for the four segments declined due to intensified competition, but the net profit margin only declined by 1.6 percentage points to 16.7%, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase in net profit [1][4]. - The company expects managed GFA to grow by 20% in FY24E, supported by the strong new contract value [1]. Segment Analysis - Catering services revenue grew by 45% year-over-year to RMB74 million, significantly boosting overall VAS revenue by 26% year-over-year [1][4]. - The number of catering projects increased to 25, contributing a record-high of 43% to owner-VAS revenue [1]. - Accounts receivable increased to RMB496 million, primarily due to seasonal factors and new contracts, but management indicated a return to normal levels [1][4]. Valuation Metrics - The company is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 5.5x for 2024E, compared to a target P/E of 8x, indicating potential for valuation expansion [1][5]. - The projected net profit for FY24E is RMB235.3 million, with an EPS of RMB0.29, reflecting a 9.4% year-over-year growth [3][9].