Core Viewpoint - The Chinese liquor industry is entering a phase of intense competition, with companies experiencing a slowdown in growth and adjusting their strategies for more sustainable development [2][21]. Financial Performance - In 2024, 21 listed liquor companies generated revenue of 443.97 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.63%, and a net profit of 168.08 billion yuan, up 7.01% [2]. - Only five companies achieved double-digit growth in both revenue and net profit in 2024, down from 15 the previous year [3][4]. - Guizhou Moutai led the industry with a revenue increase of 15.71% to 170.90 billion yuan and a net profit growth of 15.38% to 86.23 billion yuan [4][5]. Market Trends - The industry is experiencing a shift towards "volume competition," where stronger brands are consolidating their market positions while weaker brands struggle [2][21]. - Companies are increasing their marketing expenditures to maintain market share, with 12 out of 21 companies raising their sales expenses in 2024 [10][11]. Sales and Profitability - The highest increase in sales expenses was seen in Wuliangye, which spent 10.69 billion yuan, a 37.15% increase [11]. - Several companies, including Yanghe and Jiugui, reported declines in both revenue and net profit, indicating a challenging market environment [7][18]. Inventory and Contract Liabilities - Inventory levels are rising across most companies, with Water Well's inventory increasing by 31.13% to 3.22 billion yuan, highlighting the ongoing challenge of inventory management [15]. - Contract liabilities showed a mixed trend, with some companies like Gujing Gongjiu seeing a significant increase of 150.86% [14]. Future Outlook - For 2025, companies are setting more flexible growth targets, with many aiming for single-digit growth rates [18][20]. - The market is expected to continue evolving, with a focus on high-quality development and sustainable growth strategies [20][21].

Core Viewpoint - Shanxi Fenjiu reported a total revenue of 36.011 billion yuan for 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 12.79%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 12.243 billion yuan, up 17.29% year-on-year [2] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, total revenue was 4.653 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.24% year-on-year, with a net profit of 893 million yuan, down 11.32% year-on-year [2] - For Q1 2025, total revenue reached 16.523 billion yuan, an increase of 7.72% year-on-year, and net profit was 6.648 billion yuan, up 6.15% year-on-year, aligning with market expectations [2][3] - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 36 yuan per 10 shares for 2024, totaling 7.393 billion yuan, with a payout ratio of 60.39% [2] Group 2: Product and Market Performance - In 2024, revenue from high-end and other liquor categories was 26.532 billion yuan and 9.342 billion yuan, respectively, with year-on-year increases of 14.35% and 9.40%, indicating strong performance from mid-tier products [3] - Revenue from domestic and external markets in 2024 was 13.5 billion yuan and 22.37 billion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of 11.72% and 13.81%, respectively, with ongoing national expansion [3] - Q4 2024 saw a proactive adjustment in revenue, leading to a 7.7% increase in Q1 2025 revenue, with overall sales performance relatively strong compared to industry peers [3] Group 3: Profitability and Cost Management - Gross margin for 2024 and Q1 2025 was 76.20% and 78.80%, respectively, showing year-on-year increases of 0.89 and 1.34 percentage points [4] - Tax and additional charges as a percentage of revenue were 16.48% for 2024 and 13.69% for Q1 2025, with year-on-year changes of -1.79 and +0.35 percentage points [4] - The net profit margin for 2024 and Q1 2025 was 34.0% and 40.2%, respectively, with year-on-year changes of +1.31 and -0.60 percentage points [4]

Group 1 - The core index of the China Securities Index for food, beverage, and tobacco has shown a monthly increase of 3.51% and a quarterly increase of 6.05%, while it has decreased by 1.64% year-to-date [1] - The index is categorized into 11 primary industries, 35 secondary industries, over 90 tertiary industries, and more than 200 quaternary industries, providing a comprehensive analysis tool for investors [1] - The top ten weighted stocks in the index include Yili Group (10.62%), Kweichow Moutai (10.59%), and Wuliangye (9.22%), among others [1] Group 2 - The index's holdings show that the liquor sector accounts for 47.83%, followed by condiments and cooking oil at 12.10%, and dairy products at 12.04% [2] - The index samples are adjusted biannually, with changes implemented on the next trading day after the second Friday of June and December [2] - Adjustments to the index samples occur in response to special events affecting the companies, such as mergers or changes in industry classification [2]

白酒：1190亿元分红创新高 所谓冰，是整个白酒板块上市企业2024年净利润增速普遍下滑；而所谓火，则是2024年年度行业分红总金额高达1190亿元，逆势创下历史新高。 在行业竞争不断加剧的背景下，白酒这张高分红的"牌"能否达到想要的效果？从2024年第四季度与2025年一季度基金的持仓态度来看，机构投资者的信心已 然回暖。 随着2024年年报披露完毕，白酒企业2024年派发"红包"金额也随之出炉，由于多家头部酒企增加了分红频次，最终让白酒企业2024年全年分红总金额定格在 1190亿元，分红总金额同比增长近10%，而整个行业股息支付率也达到71.34%，仅次于2022年的74.28%，排在历史第二。 | 年度 | 归母净利润(亿元) | 现金分红总额(亿元) | 股息支付率 | 分红公司数量 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2024 | 1,668.48 | 1.190.26 | 71.34% | 17 | | 2023 | 1.550.59 | 1.094.86 | 70.61% | 16 | | 2022 | 1.304.73 | 969.19 | 74.28% ...

Core Insights - The report indicates that the increase in investment hotspots has weakened the performance of consumer stocks in China [1] - The consumer sector is experiencing slow growth, with a lack of fundamental catalysts in the short term, although long-term asset revaluation logic remains intact [8] Industry Overview - In April 2025, five out of eight tracked industries maintained positive growth, while two experienced negative growth and one remained flat. The industries with single-digit growth included dairy (+3.4%), dining (+3.1%), soft drinks (+2.7%), condiments (+2.3%), and frozen foods (+1.5%). The declining sectors were mass-market and below liquor (-10.7%) and mid-to-high-end liquor (-1.5%), with the beer industry remaining flat [3][10] - The revenue for the high-end liquor sector in April was 26.4 billion yuan, down 1.5% year-on-year, while the cumulative revenue for the first four months was 167 billion yuan, up 0.3% year-on-year [12] - The mass-market liquor sector saw a revenue of 15 billion yuan in April, down 10.7% year-on-year, with a cumulative revenue of 75.2 billion yuan for the first four months, down 13.9% year-on-year [13] - The beer industry reported a revenue of 14 billion yuan in April, remaining flat year-on-year, with a cumulative revenue of 60.6 billion yuan, showing a slight decline of 0.2% [14] Price Trends - In April, the wholesale prices of high-end liquor such as Feitian Moutai continued to decline, with prices for whole boxes and individual bottles down by 70 yuan compared to the previous month [4][22] - The prices of most high-end liquor remained stable, while mid-range and lower-end liquor prices saw more declines than increases [12][13] Cost Analysis - The cost indices for various products in April showed increases for beer (+2.69%), frozen foods (+1.67%), dairy (+1.09%), while condiments (-0.12%), instant noodles (-0.18%), and soft drinks (-1.58%) experienced declines [5] - The prices of packaging materials varied, with aluminum can prices rising by 8.37% year-on-year, while glass, plastic, and pulp prices fell by 23.17%, 20.90%, and 4.59% respectively [5] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests waiting for the right opportunity to increase positions in consumer stocks, particularly in the dairy sector, soft drinks, and liquor, with specific companies highlighted for potential investment [8]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the contrasting employment trends in the beer and liquor industries during the current adjustment period, highlighting that while beer companies have reduced their workforce significantly, liquor companies, particularly leading brands, have increased their employee numbers despite facing revenue declines [2][11]. Employment Trends in Beer Industry - Over the past year, the beer industry has seen a reduction of over 6,000 employees across 10 listed companies, with major players like Budweiser APAC and China Resources Beer each reducing their workforce by over 1,000 [5][8]. - The overall employment in the beer sector has decreased to below 300,000, primarily due to declining sales and revenue in the industry [2][5]. - The reduction in workforce is attributed to decreased demand for production and sales roles, particularly for temporary workers during peak seasons [8][9]. Employment Trends in Liquor Industry - In contrast, the liquor industry has experienced an increase of over 3,900 employees, with only 7 out of 22 listed liquor companies reporting reductions [9][12]. - Leading liquor companies such as Kweichow Moutai and Yanghe Brewery have added over 1,000 employees each, indicating a robust demand for production roles [9][12]. - The increase in employment is partly driven by the need to meet production demands and the social responsibility of state-owned enterprises to maintain employment levels [12][13]. Salary Adjustments - While the overall employment levels in liquor companies have increased, there has been a notable reduction in executive compensation, with many high-ranking officials seeing salary cuts of hundreds of thousands [16][17]. - In contrast, the average salary for non-executive employees has remained stable or even increased in some companies, such as Water Well and Kweichow Moutai, which reported a rise in average non-executive salaries [20][21]. Future Outlook - The article suggests that the current adjustment period for the liquor industry is not yet over, and further developments in cost-cutting measures and employee compensation will need to be monitored [21].

Core Viewpoint - The liquor industry maintains a medium-term optimistic outlook, emphasizing the importance of positioning over rhythm, with a focus on marginal stabilization signals at the cycle bottom [1] Revenue Side: Gradual Bottoming and Increasing Disparity - In FY2024, the liquor sector's revenue grew by 8.2% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 7.2%, with a noticeable deceleration in H2 compared to H1 [2] - Major liquor companies are enhancing dealer management and making appropriate adjustments, emphasizing binding core distributors to drive network penetration and sales performance [2] - In Q4 of 2024 and Q1 of 2025, most liquor companies experienced cash collection growth rates lower than apparent return growth rates, indicating ongoing cash pressure in channels [2] Profit Side: Pressure on Gross Margin and Tax Rate, Decline in Net Profit Margin - The gross margin for the liquor sector in FY2024 was 82.93%, a year-on-year increase of 0.41 percentage points, while Q1 of 2025 saw a gross margin of 82.61%, up by 0.09 percentage points [3] - Sales expense ratios increased in FY2024 and Q1 of 2025, while management expense ratios decreased, indicating a cautious approach to expense management amid a stable pricing environment [3] - Profit growth rates for high-end liquor were 11.31% in FY2024 and 8.47% in Q1 of 2025, while sub-high-end and real estate liquor experienced declines, primarily due to challenges faced by certain brands [3]

Core Viewpoint - Hong Kong Central Clearing Limited has significantly increased its stake in Shanxi Fenjiu, becoming the third-largest shareholder, with a total holding of 46.99 million shares, representing 3.85% of the company as of Q1 2025, reflecting a substantial investment trend since 2024 [2][8]. Group 1: Shareholding Changes - Hong Kong Central Clearing Limited's shareholding increased by 13.41 million shares from the end of 2024 to Q1 2025, with an investment amounting to approximately 2.658 billion yuan [2]. - The company first appeared in Shanxi Fenjiu's top ten shareholders in 2018, holding 7.83 million shares (0.90%), and has consistently increased its holdings over the years [3]. - By the end of 2024, Hong Kong Central Clearing Limited held 33.58 million shares, marking a 92.22% increase from the previous year [8]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Shanxi Fenjiu's stock price surged from 8.44 yuan per share in 2019 to a peak of 368.82 yuan per share, achieving a maximum increase of 42.70 times [5]. - The company reported a revenue of 36.01 billion yuan in 2024, a 281.30% increase from 9.444 billion yuan in 2018, and a net profit of 12.24 billion yuan, up 712.21% from 1.507 billion yuan in 2018 [5]. - The dividend payout for 2024 was 36 yuan per ten shares, totaling 7.393 billion yuan, which accounted for 60.40% of the net profit [8]. Group 3: Market Position and Strategy - Shanxi Fenjiu has become a key player in the Chinese liquor market, with a market share increase from 11% to 20% since 2018, establishing a competitive landscape alongside Moutai and Wuliangye [11]. - The company has expanded its marketing efforts outside of Shanxi, with 3,718 distributors outside the province, an increase of 598 from the previous year [13]. - Shanxi Fenjiu is actively pursuing international markets, with a 20% increase in export volume in 2023, reaching approximately 6 million liters [13].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the liquor industry, indicating a positive outlook for the mid-term [1]. Core Insights - The liquor industry is experiencing continued pressure, with a focus on quality over speed in growth. The recovery in demand is showing signs of being uneven, leading companies to prioritize prudent growth strategies [12][18]. - The high-end liquor segment is seeing stable pricing control, while the mid-range segment is under pressure, indicating a divergence in performance across different price tiers [1][12]. Summary by Sections 1. Demand Recovery and Quality Focus - The liquor sector's revenue for FY 2024 grew by 8.2% year-on-year, with net profit increasing by 7.2%. For Q1 2025, revenue growth slowed to 2.3% and net profit to 2.6% [12][18]. - Consumer confidence remains weak, particularly in the mid to low-end segments, while high-end banquet consumption is showing signs of recovery from a low base [12][18]. 2. Revenue Trends - Revenue growth is gradually bottoming out, with increasing differentiation among companies. The high-end segment remains relatively stable, while the mid-range segment faces significant challenges [18][27]. - The report highlights that many liquor companies are tightening control over distributors and focusing on core products to drive sales [18][27]. 3. Profitability Analysis - The gross profit margin for the liquor sector in FY 2024 was 82.93%, a slight increase from the previous year. However, many companies are facing pressure on their gross margins due to pricing and product mix challenges [2][3]. - Sales and management expense ratios have seen slight increases, indicating a cautious approach to spending amid a challenging market environment [2][3]. 4. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests that leading liquor companies are expected to show resilient growth, supported by effective channel management and digital tracking strategies. Companies like Guizhou Moutai and Shanxi Fenjiu are recommended for their solid performance and valuation safety margins [3][12].

Core Viewpoint - The white liquor industry is experiencing a slowdown in growth, with revenue growth rates declining from double digits to single digits, and cash flow growth lagging behind revenue growth [1][2]. Fundamental Analysis - The white liquor industry achieved a total revenue of 427.218 billion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 8.38%, and a net profit of 166.805 billion yuan, up 7.41% [2]. - In Q1 2025, the industry reported revenues of 148.535 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.43%, and a net profit of 63.097 billion yuan, growing by 2.71% [2]. - Combining Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, the industry generated revenues of 247.491 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 2.11%, and a net profit of 98.491 billion yuan, up 0.86% [2]. - Revenue growth rates are highest for high-end liquor, followed by mid-range and then sub-high-end liquor, while net profit growth rates follow the same order [2]. Cash Flow and Prepayments - By the end of 2024, the industry had prepayments of 60.328 billion yuan, an increase of 18.601 billion yuan from Q3 2024 [3]. - In Q1 2025, prepayments decreased to 49.177 billion yuan, down 11.151 billion yuan from Q4 2024 [3]. - The operating cash flow net amount for the industry in 2024 was 148.331 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.72%, while cash received from sales was 465.847 billion yuan, growing by 6.25% [3]. - In Q1 2025, the operating cash flow net amount was 48.645 billion yuan, up 62.29%, with cash received from sales at 150.192 billion yuan, a 16.65% increase [3]. Valuation Analysis and Dividends - As of April 30, 2025, the absolute PE ratio for the white liquor sector was 19.7x, below the historical average of 30.6x since 2011 [4]. - The relative PE ratio compared to the Shanghai Composite Index was 1.39x, also below the historical average of 2.04x [4]. - Most companies in the sector increased their annual dividend rates in 2024, with dividend yields rising above 3% [4]. - The current valuation reflects market expectations of continued demand pressure, suggesting limited downside for leading brands if demand stabilizes [4]. Recommended Stocks - Key recommendations include Kweichow Moutai (600519), Shanxi Fenjiu (600809), Wuliangye (000858), Jinshiyuan (603369), and Yingjia Gongjiu (603198) [5].