舜宇光学科技：Strategy stays intact with decent FY25E guidance-20250328

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "BUY" rating for Sunny Optical with a target price of HKD 92.60, representing a potential upside of 27.0% from the current price of HKD 72.95 [9]. Core Insights - Sunny Optical's FY24 results exceeded market expectations, with revenue and net income reported at RMB 38,294 million and RMB 2,699 million, reflecting year-on-year growth of 20.9% and 145% respectively [1][2]. - The company continues to uphold its leadership in high-end lens systems (HLS) and high-end camera modules (HCM), with market shares of 30.8% and 12.1% respectively in 2024 [3][4]. - The management's guidance for FY25E indicates a positive outlook, with expectations for HLS and HCM shipments to grow by 5% and 5-10% year-on-year [5][6]. Financial Performance - Sunny's gross margin improved to 18.3% in FY24, up from 14.5% in FY23, driven by a recovery in the premium smartphone market and improved yield rates [4][15]. - The company reported a significant increase in net profit estimates for FY25E and FY26E by 16.1% and 14.1% respectively, supported by higher sales and gross margin forecasts [14][15]. - The automotive segment showed strong growth, with vehicle-related product sales rising 14.3% year-on-year to RMB 6,039 million, accounting for approximately 16.0% of total revenue [11]. Shipment and Market Trends - The high-end handset product shipments, particularly 6P+ lenses and periscopes, have shown steady growth, contributing significantly to overall sales [10][16]. - The report highlights a gradual recovery in global smartphone shipments, primarily driven by flagship models from top-tier clients, which is expected to continue into FY25E [5][6]. - Sunny's automotive business outlook remains positive, with a strong order book of approximately RMB 15 billion, indicating robust future growth potential [11]. Research and Development - Sunny's R&D expenses accounted for 7.6% of total revenue in FY24, with expectations to maintain around 8% in FY25E and FY26E [12]. - The company is focusing on technology upgrades and product diversification, particularly in the automotive and XR segments, to enhance its competitive edge [12][14].