Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for China Feihe (6186.HK) with a target price of HKD 6.65, indicating a potential upside of 13.3% from the current price of HKD 5.87 [3][6]. Core Insights - China Feihe's net profit for 2H24 fell short of market expectations due to short-term inventory clearance in functional nutrition products, including adult milk powder, which affected overall gross margin performance. However, the infant formula business showed revenue growth in line with expectations, and profit margins remained robust. Management is confident that revenue growth in 2025 will exceed that of 2024, with a slight increase in gross margin expected year-on-year [1][6]. - The company is positioned as a leader in the infant formula market, driving industry consolidation trends. The report suggests that Feihe will continue to capture market share through increased brand investment and product innovation [1][6]. Financial Performance and Projections - Revenue for 2023 was reported at RMB 19,532 million, with a projected increase to RMB 20,749 million in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 6.2%. The forecast for 2025 anticipates revenue of RMB 21,817 million, representing a growth of 5.1% [8][11]. - The net profit for 2023 was RMB 3,390 million, with expectations of growth to RMB 3,570 million in 2024 and RMB 3,944 million in 2025, indicating a year-on-year increase of 5.3% and 10.5%, respectively [8][11]. - The gross margin is expected to improve from 64.8% in 2023 to 66.3% in 2024, with further stability projected for 2025 [8][11]. Market Position and Strategy - China Feihe is focusing on high-end product offerings, with ultra-high-end products expected to see a revenue increase of 17% in 2024, contributing to 69% of total revenue. The company plans to launch even higher-end products in 2H25 [6][11]. - The management has announced a RMB 12 billion maternity subsidy plan, which is expected to have a limited negative impact on profit margins, as the actual costs will be lower than the total subsidy amount [6][11]. Dividend Policy - The company has increased its dividend payout, with a projected dividend of HKD 0.3264 per share for 2024, raising the payout ratio to 76.1%. Management aims for a 10% annual increase in absolute dividend amounts over the next two years [6][11].
中国飞鹤（06186）：持续加大品牌投入，引领行业整合