LB Group(002601) 中原证券·2025-04-25 12:16Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" investment rating for the company, indicating a projected relative increase of 5% to 15% compared to the CSI 300 index over the next six months [17]. Core Views - The company faced performance pressure due to a downturn in the chemical raw materials industry, particularly in titanium dioxide and related products, leading to a 32.79% decline in net profit year-on-year [4][5]. - Despite the challenges, the company is focusing on integrated and globalized operations to ensure long-term competitiveness [4][5]. - The company reported a revenue of 27.513 billion yuan in 2024, a 2.80% increase year-on-year, while the net profit was 2.169 billion yuan, down 32.79% [4][5]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 275.13 billion yuan, with a net profit of 21.69 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 32.79% [4]. - The fourth quarter saw a revenue of 66.47 billion yuan, with a net loss of 3.95 billion yuan [4]. - The company produced 1.2955 million tons of titanium dioxide in 2024, an increase of 8.74% year-on-year, with sales of 1.2545 million tons, up 8.25% [4][5]. Product Segmentation - Titanium dioxide business revenue reached 189.80 billion yuan, a 6.82% increase year-on-year, while sponge titanium production rose to 69,700 tons, a 34.56% increase [5]. - Other segments, including iron and zirconium products, saw revenue declines of 24.54% and 15.13%, respectively [5]. Profitability Metrics - The overall gross margin for the company in 2024 was 25.01%, down 1.69 percentage points year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 8.14%, a decrease of 3.99 percentage points [5]. - The gross margin for the titanium dioxide segment improved to 31.25%, up 2.83 percentage points year-on-year [5]. Future Outlook - The company is expected to see earnings per share (EPS) of 1.21 yuan and 1.49 yuan for 2025 and 2026, respectively, with price-to-earnings (PE) ratios of 13.56 and 11.00 based on the closing price of 16.39 yuan on April 24, 2025 [8]. - The company is actively pursuing vertical integration and global expansion to enhance its competitive edge and mitigate risks associated with domestic market fluctuations [4][5].