XUEDA(000526) 天风证券·2025-04-27 14:12Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, with an expected relative return of over 20% within the next six months [8][19]. Core Views - The company has shown significant growth in Q1 2025, with a year-over-year increase in net profit attributable to shareholders of 47% and a 28% increase in net profit excluding non-recurring items [1][2]. - The company is expected to benefit from operational leverage as it continues to expand its network of learning centers, which increased from over 240 to over 300 in 2024, covering more than 100 cities [4][5]. - The education sector remains in a growth phase, particularly for high school education, with a projected growth period of about ten years due to the stable population of high school-age students [5][6]. Financial Performance Summary - For the full year 2024, the company anticipates revenue of 2.8 billion yuan, a 26% year-over-year increase, and a net profit of 180 million yuan, a 17% increase [1]. - The gross margin for 2024 is projected to be 35%, slightly down by 1.9 percentage points year-over-year, primarily due to the costs associated with network expansion and an increase in teaching staff [1]. - The company has a target net profit of 261.35 million yuan for 2025, reflecting a 45.45% increase compared to 2024 [7][14]. Shareholder Returns - The company announced a share buyback plan of 110 to 150 million yuan, with a maximum price of 66.8 yuan per share, aimed at equity incentives and potential cancellation of shares [3][6]. Industry Context - The company is focusing its resources on educational training and vocational education, having terminated a project related to higher vocational education to enhance operational efficiency [6]. - The competitive landscape favors leading national brands in the education sector, which are expected to benefit from their established brand strength during the recovery phase of the industry [5][6].