Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company, indicating a positive outlook for its stock performance in the near term [6]. Core Insights - The company is recognized as a leading developer of classic IP games, with a new product cycle expected to begin after the second half of 2025, which is anticipated to drive revenue and profit growth [1]. - The company has recently announced a share buyback plan, intending to repurchase HK$300 million worth of shares over the next 12 months, with 1 million shares already repurchased as of May 29 [1]. - A strategic investment in Century Huatong is expected to significantly boost profits by 2025, as the company has acquired 8 million shares, representing 1.1% of Century Huatong's total shares [2]. - The company has established a joint venture with Century Huatong to manage the distribution of certain "Legend" IP games, leveraging Century Huatong's successful titles like "Whiteout Survival" and "Kingshot" [2]. - The company's classic IP games, including "Legend," "Miracle," and "Hot Blood Legend," provide a solid foundation, with new games expected to gradually gain traction starting in 2026 [3]. Financial Projections - The company is projected to achieve revenues of HK$58.4 billion, HK$74.3 billion, and HK$90.2 billion for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, with corresponding net profits of HK$8.15 billion, HK$7.07 billion, and HK$8.92 billion [4]. - The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are estimated to be 10, 11, and 9 for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, indicating a favorable valuation [4]. - The financial summary indicates a revenue growth of 4.71% in 2025, followed by 27.11% in 2026 and 21.40% in 2027, with net profit margins improving over the forecast period [12].

Market Overview - The Hang Seng Index fell by 0.21%, down 49 points, closing at 23,857 points, while the Hang Seng Tech Index decreased by 0.59% [1] - The early trading volume in the Hong Kong stock market reached HKD 102.1 billion [1] Sector Performance - The non-ferrous metal sector showed strong performance, with institutions optimistic about sustained profitability; Luoyang Molybdenum Co. rose by 4% and Jiangxi Copper Co. increased by 3.11% [1] - The three major telecom operators in Hong Kong experienced gains, with China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom all rising over 2% [1] Notable Stock Movements - China Silver Group surged over 23%, with spot silver prices reaching nearly USD 36, marking a 13-year high [1] - Longpan Technology saw a rise of 3.35% after signing a large order for 150,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate, indicating a boost in solid-state battery production [1] - Dongyue Group increased by 1.54% as prices for third-generation refrigerants continued to rise, positioning the company as a leader in R22 and R32 quotas [1] - Youjia Innovation rose by 7% after securing a key model for a new energy brand under Changan Automobile [1] - Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group increased by 4.27% after obtaining production registration for calcium gluconate and sodium chloride injection [1] - Zhongxu Future surged over 11% as the issuance of domestic game licenses reached a new high, with multiple new titles planned for release within the year [1] Company-Specific Challenges - Dongfeng Group's stock fell over 3% amid clarification from its controlling shareholder that there are no current restructuring plans, with a reported 17.1% year-on-year decline in vehicle sales for the first five months [2] - Alibaba Health dropped by 3.46% as its profits for the fiscal year 2025 fell short of expectations, with UBS suggesting the company may struggle to maintain its current valuation [3] - The automotive sector faced renewed declines, with analysts predicting an unavoidable new round of price wars, leading to a trend of increased revenue without profit growth; XPeng Motors fell by 2.9% and Li Auto decreased by 1.46% [3]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - A total of 36 companies conducted share buybacks on June 2, 2025, with Tencent Holdings (00700) leading in both the number of shares repurchased and the total amount spent on buybacks. Group 1: Buyback Details - Tencent Holdings (00700) repurchased 1.013 million shares for a total of 501 million CNY, with a year-to-date cumulative buyback of 10.797 million shares, representing 0.118% of its total share capital [1][2] - AIA Group (01299) repurchased 5.448 million shares for 354 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 29.266 million shares, accounting for 0.274% of its total share capital [2] - Kuaishou-W (01024) repurchased 6 million shares for 312 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 12.3 million shares, representing 2.826% of its total share capital [2] Group 2: Other Notable Buybacks - Times Electric (03898) repurchased 320,700 shares for 10.528 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 53.301 million shares, accounting for 9.823% of its total share capital [2] - Stone Four Pharmaceutical Group (02005) repurchased 7.55 million shares for approximately 20.984 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 7.55 million shares, representing 0.263% of its total share capital [2] - Modern Dental Group (03600) repurchased 100,000 shares for 4.181 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 200,000 shares, accounting for 0.021% of its total share capital [3] Group 3: Additional Companies - China Eastern Airlines (00670) repurchased 2 million shares for 596,650 CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 66.088 million shares, representing 1.277% of its total share capital [2] - Mengniu Dairy (02319) repurchased 300,000 shares for 5.225 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 24.596 million shares, accounting for 0.625% of its total share capital [2] - Huazheng Medical (01931) repurchased 20,000 shares for 4.260 million CNY, with a cumulative buyback of 1.824 million shares, representing 0.135% of its total share capital [3]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - On May 27, 36 Hong Kong-listed companies conducted share buybacks totaling 25.22 million shares, with a total buyback amount of 1.047 billion HKD [1][2]. Group 1: Buyback Details - Tencent Holdings repurchased 979,000 shares for 500 million HKD, with a highest price of 514.000 HKD and a lowest price of 507.000 HKD, bringing its total buyback amount for the year to 24.53 billion HKD [1][2]. - Meituan-W repurchased 3.02 million shares for 392 million HKD, with a highest price of 132.400 HKD and a lowest price of 122.600 HKD, totaling 392 million HKD in buybacks for the year [1][2]. - China COSCO Shipping repurchased 6.17 million shares for 89.84 million HKD, with a highest price of 14.820 HKD and a lowest price of 14.280 HKD, accumulating 4.41 billion HKD in buybacks for the year [1][2]. Group 2: Buyback Rankings - The highest buyback amount on May 27 was from Tencent Holdings at 500 million HKD, followed by Meituan-W at 392 million HKD [1][2]. - In terms of buyback volume, China COSCO Shipping led with 6.17 million shares, followed by NetEase Technology and Meituan-W with 5 million shares and 3.02 million shares, respectively [1][2]. Group 3: First-Time Buybacks - Notably, Meituan-W and Zhongxu Future conducted their first buybacks of the year on this date [2].

Group 1 - Zhongxu Future (09890) saw a stock price increase of over 3%, reaching HKD 10.26 with a trading volume of HKD 19.8976 million [1] - The company announced a collaboration with Kaixin Network (002517.SZ) to jointly invest in Hangzhou Jiyi Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., focusing on AI large model technology in the gaming sector [1] - The total investment amount for the AI company agreement is RMB 10 million, and after the investment is completed, the subsidiary will become a shareholder of Jiyi Artificial Intelligence [1] Group 2 - A three-year product cooperation memorandum was signed with Kaixin Network covering various IP and game products, including new games based on classic IPs such as "Dragon Legend" and "King's Legend 2" [2] - The cooperation will also include games based on "Jin Yong's Wuxia" IP, such as "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" and the "Condor Trilogy" [2]

Group 1 - The company announced a collaboration with Kaiying Network to jointly invest in Hangzhou Jiyi Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., aiming to advance AI large model technology in the gaming sector [1][2] - The total investment amount for the AI company agreement is RMB 10 million, with the investment completed by May 16, 2025, making the company a shareholder in Jiyi Artificial Intelligence [1] - The partnership is seen as a strategic move to enhance resource integration and build a long-term win-win ecosystem, aligning with the company's diversified product matrix strategy and "AI+" core industry layout [2][4] Group 2 - The company has established a three-year game product cooperation memorandum with Kaiying Network, covering various IP and game products, including classic IPs like "Dragon Legend" and "Blood of Heroes" [2][4] - The collaboration has yielded significant results in the development and global distribution of classic IP games, with successful titles like "Original Legend" and "All People Jianghu" topping local mobile game sales charts [3] - The strategic upgrade signifies a shift from single project cooperation to ecosystem co-construction, focusing on the boutique and diversified development of game products for a continuous entertainment experience for global players [4]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Zhongxu Future has entered into an investment agreement with Kaiying Network to jointly invest in Hangzhou Jiyi Artificial Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. for a total amount of 10 million RMB [1] - After the investment is completed, Yuanda Future will become a shareholder of Jiyi Artificial Intelligence [1] - Additionally, Zhongxu Future and Kaiying Network have signed a three-year cooperation memorandum for game product development, which includes popular IPs such as "Legend," "Miracle," and "Hot Blood Jianghu" [1]

Group 1 - The gaming industry is facing intense competition, leading to overall performance pressure and declines, prompting market attention on executive compensation as several listed gaming companies disclose their 2024 annual reports and Q1 2025 results [2] - There is a noticeable difference in executive compensation between Hong Kong-listed and A-share listed companies, with Hong Kong companies generally incorporating stock incentives into their compensation systems, while A-share companies prefer cash [2] - The chairman of Zhongxu Future has seen a salary reduction of over 20 million yuan for 2024, which is primarily attributed to the significant portion of total compensation being related to stock-based compensation, rather than a direct correlation with performance decline [2] Group 2 - Zhongxu Future is transitioning from a "one-stop service for entertainment" strategy to a core focus on gaming business, with a portfolio of well-known IPs such as "Legend," "Miracle," and "Hot Blood Jianghu" [3] - The company has successfully obtained approval for several premium games, including "Free and Easy Jianghu," "Kingdom Crisis," "Laughing Proudly: Heroes' Transmission," and "Hot Blood Jianghu: Awakening" [3] - The primary factors contributing to the revenue decrease in 2024 include several existing games entering the later stages of their lifecycle, new game categories still in the early stages of recouping costs, and a decline in revenue from consumer goods and other non-gaming businesses [3]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese gaming industry in 2024 is characterized by a duality of "stronger becoming stronger" and "innovative disruption," with leading companies leveraging IP and technology while smaller teams utilize AI and differentiated content to break through [1] Group 1: Globalization Strategy - The survival rule in the gaming industry is "if you don't go global, you will be eliminated," which is exemplified by the company's financial report showing overseas revenue reaching 623 million yuan, a 44.9% increase from 430 million yuan in 2023, accounting for 11.2% of total revenue [2] - The company has successfully launched and operated over 30 multilingual games in various international markets, including Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Europe and the United States [2] - The classic IP "Miracle MU: Infinite Golden Egg" gained 800,000 new users in Vietnam within its first month, dominating local app store sales charts [2] Group 2: Product Diversification - The company has addressed previous criticisms of over-reliance on legacy IPs by successfully launching new products in 2024, maintaining stable user engagement for classic IPs like "Legend" and "Miracle" [4] - The upcoming game "Dragon Legend" is set to launch in January 2025, featuring high gameplay freedom and innovative elements, ensuring the longevity of the legacy game genre [4] - The company has expanded its IP portfolio through partnerships, with the game "Douluo Dalu: Shrek Academy" achieving top rankings on app stores upon release [5] Group 3: Financial Stability and AI Strategy - The company has strengthened its financial position, with cash reserves increasing by 5.8% to 515 million yuan and a significant reduction in notes payable by 45.5%, improving liquidity [7] - The establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong focuses on AI technology applications in the gaming industry, enhancing game art production, creative writing, and marketing efficiency [6] - The integration of AI technology aims to optimize user acquisition and improve return on investment in marketing, with plans to explore AI applications in various game functionalities [6] Group 4: Future Outlook - The company's strategies of global expansion, AI integration, and diversified product offerings are expected to drive future growth, with overseas business becoming a new growth engine [8] - The focus on product matrix innovation, technology-driven strategies, and financial stability positions the company well for the next growth cycle [8]

Financial Performance - Total revenue for 2024 was RMB 5,580,112 thousand, a decrease of 14.4% compared to RMB 6,514,585 thousand in 2023[7] - Gross profit for 2024 was RMB 4,024,343 thousand, down 12.0% from RMB 4,573,318 thousand in 2023[7] - The company reported a net profit of RMB 44,019 thousand for 2024, a significant decline from RMB 273,289 thousand in 2023[7] - The company's revenue for the reporting period was RMB 5,580.1 million, a decrease from RMB 6,514.6 million in 2023, with a net profit of RMB 44.0 million compared to RMB 273.3 million in 2023[22] - The revenue from self-operated game products was RMB 4,118.8 million, accounting for 73.9% of total revenue, while revenue from cooperative operations with game developers was RMB 3,844.4 million, representing 69.0%[39] - The revenue related to contract arrangements for the year ending December 31, 2024, is approximately RMB 4,721.6 million, a decrease from RMB 5,698.9 million in 2023[200] - The total assets related to contract arrangements as of December 31, 2024, are approximately RMB 4,538.1 million, down from RMB 6,302.8 million in 2023[200] Overseas Business - Overseas business revenue reached RMB 623.4 million, representing a 44.9% increase year-on-year and accounting for 11.2% of total revenue[13] - The overseas business revenue reached RMB 623.4 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 44.9%, increasing its share of total revenue from 6.6% in 2023 to 11.2%[22] Game Development and Strategy - The company launched its first strategy mobile game "Beast Lord: New World" in June 2024, marking its entry into the SLG game segment[12] - The company plans to launch multiple new games in 2025, expanding its product line and enhancing user engagement[11] - The company is focusing on a strategic transformation towards "AI + gaming" to enhance innovation and market competitiveness[10] - The company is implementing a "diversification + premiumization" strategy for its game product matrix, covering all categories and user groups[23] - The classic IP games, such as "Legend" and "Miracle," continue to maintain stable user activity and are supported by ongoing content updates[24] - The "Legend" IP games, including "Original Legend" and "Ancient Cloud Legend," are expected to capture approximately 6.1% to 9.2% of the total Chinese gaming market in 2024[25][27] - The company has a pipeline of 17 games ready for release, indicating a strong future product lineup[33] Financial Position and Assets - Non-current assets totaled RMB 1,599,422 thousand in 2024, a decrease from RMB 3,204,232 thousand in 2023[8] - Current liabilities amounted to RMB 3,101,143 thousand in 2024, down from RMB 4,836,197 thousand in 2023[8] - The cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024, were RMB 515.0 million, an increase from RMB 486.9 million as of December 31, 2023[60] - The company's trade receivables net amount decreased by 23.7% to RMB 237.2 million as of December 31, 2024, from RMB 310.7 million in 2023[57] - The company's bank borrowings as of December 31, 2024, were RMB 199.6 million, down from RMB 213.7 million in 2023[61] - The debt-to-equity ratio as of December 31, 2024, was 0.10, compared to 0.18 in 2023[62] - Total capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2024, is approximately RMB 50.7 million, an increase of 120% compared to RMB 23.0 million for the same period in 2023[68] Employee and Management - The total employee compensation cost for 2024 is RMB 366.5 million, a decrease of 26.9% from RMB 501.7 million in 2023[71] - The group currently has 912 employees, down from 1,305 employees as of December 31, 2023[71] - The company has enhanced its internal training to improve employee skills and innovation capabilities, optimizing its talent structure to strengthen core competitiveness[16] - The company has established a compensation committee to determine and recommend the compensation policy for directors and senior management[166] Legal and Regulatory Compliance - The company has established mechanisms to manage underage consumer protection in response to new regulations, ensuring a healthy online environment for minors[20] - The company has complied with all relevant laws and regulations that significantly impact its business and operations[100] - The company has not incurred any fines or penalties for violations of health, safety, or environmental regulations during the reporting period[98] - The company is subject to various legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks that could adversely affect its international strategy and market capabilities[101] Corporate Governance - The board consists of two executive directors and three independent non-executive directors[90] - The company appointed a new independent non-executive director, Ms. Zheng Yi, on March 30, 2023[81] - The company has a strong management team, including Ms. Liang Wenhong as the newly appointed CEO[83] Shareholder Information - The interests of directors and major executives in the company's shares included Mr. Wu Xubo holding 49.45% and Ms. Wu Xuan holding 7.20% of the total issued share capital[141] - The company did not issue any debt securities during the reporting period[123] - The board does not recommend the distribution of a final dividend for the year ending December 31, 2024, consistent with 2023[125] Charitable Contributions - The group made charitable donations of RMB 5.2 million for the year ending December 31, 2024, compared to RMB 12.9 million in 2023[122] Contractual Arrangements - The company has established control over its Chinese operations through contractual arrangements, which may face legal uncertainties under the new Foreign Investment Law[188] - The board believes that the contractual arrangements are essential for the company's operational framework and economic benefits from Chinese entities[194] - The independent non-executive directors and auditors have confirmed compliance with contract arrangements and overall performance during the relevant period[196]