Group 1 - Goldman Sachs has set a new target price of HKD 7.1 for Xtep International (01368), up from the previous HKD 7, based on a projected price-to-earnings ratio of 13 times for 2025 [1] - The firm maintains a "Buy" rating for Xtep International, citing attractive risk-reward dynamics [1] - Xtep International's net profit for the first half of the year exceeded Goldman Sachs' forecast by 12%, driven by higher-than-expected other income and revenue, while core business revenue met expectations [1] Group 2 - The company reiterated its guidance, expecting a net profit growth of over 10% year-on-year for 2025, supported by positive sales growth and a cautiously optimistic outlook for the consumption environment in the second half of 2025 [1] - Goldman Sachs remains encouraged by the robust growth in the running market for Xtep's core business, despite uncertainties in non-functional products and the macro environment [1] - The firm holds a constructive view on the long-term sales and profitability of the Saucony brand [1] Group 3 - Following the positive earnings report, Goldman Sachs has slightly adjusted its net profit forecasts for Xtep International for 2025 to 2027 by 0% to 1.5%, reflecting minor downward adjustments in brand sales forecasts due to macroeconomic factors and direct sales transformation [1] - Increased sales and management expenses for both brands in the second half of the year are expected, but these are offset by higher-than-expected other income and revenue [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [3][8] Core Views - The company's mid-year performance showed robust revenue growth, with a 21.5% increase in profit, slightly exceeding market expectations due to effective management cost control and increased government subsidies [7] - The overall gross margin saw a slight decline, but long-term prospects for improvement are anticipated as the company continues to expand its children's business and enhance the income share from the Saucony brand [7] - The Saucony brand demonstrated strong growth, with a projected doubling of revenue over the next three years, supported by the opening of new stores and a focus on high-end running products [7] - The company is expected to strengthen its outdoor brand, Merrell, in response to the growing outdoor industry, which could become a potential growth driver in the medium term [7] Financial Forecasts - The company forecasts earnings per share (EPS) of 0.49, 0.56, and 0.63 RMB for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with a target price of 8.54 HKD based on a 16x PE valuation for 2025 [2][8] - Revenue projections for the years 2023 to 2027 are as follows: 14,346 million RMB (2023), 13,577 million RMB (2024), 14,452 million RMB (2025), 15,795 million RMB (2026), and 17,244 million RMB (2027), reflecting a compound annual growth rate [2][12] - The company's net profit attributable to the parent company is expected to grow from 1,030 million RMB in 2023 to 1,745 million RMB in 2027, with corresponding growth rates of 11.8% (2023), 20.2% (2024), 10.6% (2025), 13.7% (2026), and 12.0% (2027) [2][12]

Core Insights - Goldman Sachs reported that Xtep International's net profit for the first half exceeded their forecast by 12%, primarily due to higher-than-expected other income and revenue, while core business revenue met expectations [1] - The company reaffirmed its guidance, expecting net profit to grow by over 10% year-on-year by 2025, based on positive sales growth and a cautiously optimistic outlook for the consumer environment in the second half of 2025 [1] - Goldman Sachs maintained its view after listening to Xtep International's earnings briefing, expressing encouragement regarding the robust growth in the running market and a constructive outlook on the long-term sales and profitability of the Saucony brand [1] - The target price for Xtep was slightly raised from HKD 7 to HKD 7.1, based on a projected price-to-earnings ratio of 13 times for 2025, with an attractive risk-reward profile leading to a "Buy" rating [1]

Group 1 - Hong Kong sportswear stocks experienced an afternoon rally on August 19, with Xtep International (01368.HK) rising over 3% after its earnings report [1] - Li Ning (02331.HK) saw an increase of over 2% [1] - Other stocks such as Anta Sports (02020.HK) and Tmall (06110.HK) also followed the upward trend [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [1] Core Views - The company achieved a revenue of 6.84 billion RMB in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 7.1%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 21.5% to 910 million RMB [5] - The main brand and the subsidiary brand, Saucony, are experiencing synergistic growth, with a continued focus on the running segment [11] - The company has successfully divested its KP business, which had previously incurred losses, leading to a more favorable profit outlook [5] Financial Performance - The company's earnings per share (EPS) for the first half of 2025 was 0.35 RMB, with a proposed cash dividend of 0.18 HKD per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 50% [5] - Gross margin slightly decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 45.0%, while operating profit margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to 19.1% [6] - The retail revenue for the main brand and Saucony grew in the mid-single digits and over 30% respectively [6] Revenue Breakdown - In the first half of 2025, the revenue composition was 60.8% from footwear, 37.3% from apparel, and 1.9% from accessories, with respective year-on-year growth rates of 6.3%, 9.5%, and a decline of 7.8% [7] - The main brand's revenue accounted for 88.5% of total revenue, with a year-on-year growth of 4.5%, while professional sports revenue (Saucony and Maile) accounted for 11.5% with a growth of 32.5% [7] Retail and Market Strategy - The company continues to strengthen its position in the running market, with the main brand maintaining the highest wearing rate in key marathon events [11] - The company has launched new products and expanded its retail presence, with a focus on enhancing consumer experience and increasing the number of retail outlets [11] Future Earnings Forecast - The report maintains earnings forecasts for 2025 to 2027, projecting EPS of 0.49 RMB, 0.55 RMB, and 0.60 RMB respectively, with corresponding price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios of 11, 10, and 9 times [12][13]

Group 1: Market Overview - The Hong Kong stock market showed mixed performance, with the Hang Seng Index opening high but eventually closing down by 93 points or 0.37% at 25,176 points, influenced by A-share movements [2][3] - The market experienced a trading volume exceeding 300 billion, indicating active trading despite the fluctuations [3] Group 2: Macro & Industry Dynamics - The Hong Kong government is enhancing its position as an international risk management center, with the recent authorization of two new captive insurance companies reflecting strong demand [6] - The government has introduced various incentives, including a 50% profit tax concession for captive insurance businesses, making Hong Kong more competitive compared to other Asian markets [6] - The banking sector is experiencing a downward trend in interest rates, with expectations of a decrease in capped mortgage rates by the end of the year due to anticipated U.S. interest rate cuts [7] - The mortgage rate index reported a monthly increase of 39 basis points, reflecting the rising HIBOR rates, which have implications for mortgage applicants [8] Group 3: Company News - Xtep International reported a 21.47% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first half of the year, amounting to 914 million RMB, driven by strong performance in its main brand and professional sports division [10] - The company plans to upgrade its retail strategy by launching a direct-to-consumer model and expanding its product offerings, indicating a proactive approach to market changes [11] - 361 Degrees has entered a strategic partnership with Stand Robot to leverage each other's strengths in the field of wearable robotics and high-performance materials, aiming to enhance innovation and technological capabilities [12]

Group 1: Financing and Market Overview - The report discusses the historical performance of rapid inflows into financing accounts, analyzing the market trends and leading sectors during such periods [3] - A review of the A-share market indicates a bullish investor sentiment, with the Shanghai Composite Index briefly surpassing 3700 points [3] - Global equity markets experienced a comprehensive rise, with Asian markets leading the gains [3] Group 2: Convertible Bonds - The convertible bond market is currently in a high valuation zone, with a pricing deviation indicator of 5.42%, placing it in the 99.9th percentile since 2018 [3] - Historical data shows that when convertible bonds are in the high valuation zone, the average return over the next six months is -2.9%, with a win rate of 0% [3] Group 3: Fixed Income and Economic Indicators - The basic frequency index for the economy stands at 127.2 points, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 5.4 points [5] - The industrial production frequency index is at 126.4, with a year-on-year increase of 5.1 points [5] - The commodity housing sales frequency index is at 43.3, showing a year-on-year decline of 6.4 points [5] Group 4: Company-Specific Insights Xtep International (01368.HK) - Xtep International reported a 7.1% increase in revenue for H1 2025, reaching 6.84 billion yuan, and a 21.5% increase in net profit to 910 million yuan [7][8] - The company maintains a stable dividend payout ratio of 50% [8] - Forecasts suggest a revenue growth of approximately 7% and a net profit growth of over 10% for 2025 [8] Lenovo Group (00992.HK) - Lenovo's Q1 25-26 fiscal year results exceeded expectations, with significant growth in PC and mobile segments [9] - Projected revenues for the next three fiscal years are $759 billion, $819 billion, and $893 billion, with corresponding net profits of $16.5 billion, $19.6 billion, and $24.0 billion [9] Nanwei Medical (688029.SH) - Nanwei Medical achieved a revenue of 1.565 billion yuan in H1 2025, marking a 17.36% year-on-year growth, with a net profit of 363 million yuan, up 17.04% [11][12] - The company is expected to see continued revenue growth of 21.3%, 19.5%, and 19.1% over the next three years [12]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company's revenue for H1 2025 was 6.838 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.1%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 914 million, up 21.5% year-on-year [7] - The main brand, Xtep, experienced steady growth driven by e-commerce, with revenue from this channel achieving double-digit year-on-year growth [7] - The professional sports segment (including Saucony) saw significant revenue growth of 32.5% year-on-year, primarily due to strong performance in offline retail [7] - The company maintains a positive outlook on its multi-brand strategy and professional advantages in the running sector, with projected net profits of 1.37 billion, 1.57 billion, and 1.77 billion for 2025-2027, corresponding to P/E ratios of 11, 10, and 9 respectively [7] Financial Summary - Total revenue forecast for 2023 is 14.346 billion, with a projected decline of 5.36% in 2024, followed by growth of 5.42% in 2025 [1][8] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to reach 1.03 billion in 2023, increasing to 1.238 billion in 2024 and 1.369 billion in 2025 [1][8] - The latest diluted EPS is projected to be 0.37 in 2023, increasing to 0.45 in 2024 and 0.49 in 2025 [1][8] - The company’s cash flow from operating activities for H1 2025 was 774 million, a decrease of 6.3% year-on-year, while cash on hand increased by 8% to 3.22 billion [7]

Core Viewpoint - The company Xtep has achieved an MSCI ESG AA rating, becoming the first Chinese sportswear company to reach this level, reflecting its significant progress in ESG management and alignment with consumer values [1][2]. Group 1: ESG Rating and Progress - Xtep's ESG rating has improved from 2022 to 2025, moving up four levels in four years, showcasing the company's continuous advancement in the ESG field [2]. - In 2024, Xtep published its 2030 ESG strategic framework and carbon neutrality goals, aiming to become a leader in sustainable development with three core pillars and eight specific objectives [2]. Group 2: Carbon Footprint Management - Xtep disclosed its Scope 3 carbon emissions data for the first time in its 2024 ESG report, marking its ninth year of ESG reporting, which highlights its commitment to supply chain carbon emissions management [3]. - The company aims to reduce self-operated emissions by 42% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with new factories utilizing solar power, increasing solar usage by 95% in 2024 compared to 2023 [3]. - Xtep collaborated with the Xiamen Marathon to produce approximately 30,000 race outfits made from 100% recycled fibers, each outfit using 6-7 recycled plastic bottles, reducing carbon emissions by 178 grams per outfit [3]. Group 3: Supply Chain and Chemical Safety - Xtep updated its Supplier Corporate Social Responsibility Management Manual for 2024, adding climate-related criteria and conducting ESG training for suppliers to promote environmental compliance [4]. - The company became a signatory of the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) organization, implementing a restricted substances list and providing training to suppliers on chemical management [4]. Group 4: Corporate Governance - Xtep released its Environmental Policy and Women's Employee Protection Policy, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace [4]. - In 2024, the company provided over 711,240 hours of training across 2,167 courses, with more than 16,000 employees participating [4]. - Xtep conducted a dual materiality analysis to enhance the integration of ESG strategy with business operations and quantified climate risks and opportunities to improve risk management [4]. Group 5: Industry Trends - The domestic sportswear industry is accelerating sustainable technological innovation under China's "3060" dual carbon goals, with brand values increasingly defined by sustainability rather than just price [5]. - Xtep aims to lead in sustainable development by promoting a green lifestyle and transforming the perception of high-performance sports consumption [6].

Core Insights - Xtep International Holdings Limited reported a 7.1% increase in revenue to 6.838 billion yuan for the six months ending June 30, 2025, with a gross margin of 45.0% [1] - Operating profit grew by 9.1% to 1.305 billion yuan, while profit attributable to ordinary shareholders surged by 21.5% to 914 million yuan [1] Group Performance - The professional sports segment showed strong performance with revenue reaching 785 million yuan, marking a robust 32.5% year-on-year growth, accounting for 11.5% of total revenue [1] - The operating profit for this segment increased significantly by 236.8% to 78.6 million yuan, driven primarily by strong growth from Saucony and stable contributions from Merrell [1] Brand Development - Saucony's revenue exceeded 1 billion yuan in 2024 and continued its high growth momentum in the first half of 2025, becoming a popular international brand in major marathon events [2] - The brand is undergoing a comprehensive transformation in brand positioning, store design, and product lines to enhance its high-end sports brand image, with 155 stores in mainland China as of June 30, 2025 [2] - Saucony's running shoes have the highest wearing rate among international brands in key marathon events in China, reinforcing its influence in the professional running sector [2] Strategic Focus - Merrell is focusing on e-commerce and three core product lines: trail running, hiking, and creek walking, enhancing product performance, comfort, and durability through innovative technology [3] - The company is successfully implementing a "dual-engine" model with steady growth from the main brand and the professional sports segment, laying a foundation for continued net profit growth [3] - Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage Saucony's high-end positioning and Merrell's outdoor advantages to expand its influence in professional and niche markets [3]