Core Viewpoint - The duty-free sales in Hainan for October-November 2025 reached 4.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.8%, benefiting from a low base and new policies [1] Group 1: Sales Performance - Hainan's duty-free sales in October-November 2025 were approximately 4.8 billion yuan, up 19.8% year-on-year, driven by a low base in 2024 and new duty-free policies [1] - In the first week following the closure of the Hainan Free Trade Port on December 18, 2025, duty-free shopping amounted to about 1.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 54.9%, supported by government and operator subsidies [1] - The expected year-on-year growth rate for China Duty Free Group's (CDFG) Hainan business in Q4 is projected to be between 20% and 25% [1] Group 2: Airport and Online Sales - In October-November, the number of inbound and outbound passengers at Shanghai Airport reached 6.54 million, a year-on-year increase of 22%, while Beijing Capital Airport saw 3 million passengers, up 18% year-on-year, indicating potential growth in offline duty-free sales [2] - However, online sales for CDFG's Day Sun brand have significantly declined due to compliance issues and a shift in business model from general trade to cross-border e-commerce, leading to higher product pricing [2] - The online business's share is expected to decrease substantially due to these challenges [2] Group 3: Financial Projections - CDFG's Q4 revenue is expected to be 14.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7%, with a net profit attributable to shareholders (excluding non-recurring gains and losses) of 900 million yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 155% [2] - The gross margin for Q4 is anticipated to decline by 2 percentage points, influenced by changes in product mix and the impact of low-margin online sales [2] - For 2025 and 2026, the net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be 3.85 billion yuan and 4.99 billion yuan, respectively, with a strong recommendation for investment [3]

Core Viewpoint - China Duty Free Group (CDFG) is accelerating its international expansion by acquiring DFS Group's travel retail business in Greater China for up to $395 million, which includes assets and equity stakes in DFS Singapore and DFS Hong Kong [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - CDFG's wholly-owned subsidiary, CDF International Co., Ltd., signed a framework agreement to acquire DFS's travel retail business, which includes 100% equity of DFS Cotai Limitada and related assets from DFS Hong Kong [1]. - The acquisition will be financed through cash and is expected to close in approximately two months, pending customary closing conditions [2]. - Following the acquisition, CDFG will issue new H-shares to Delphine SAS and Shoppers Holdings HK at a price of HKD 77.21 per share, totaling up to 7,330,100 shares and 4,637,400 shares, respectively [2]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The transaction aims to enhance CDFG's competitiveness in the overseas travel retail market and is seen as a critical step in its internationalization strategy [2][3]. - CDFG has also signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with LVMH to collaborate in retail areas that align with both parties' strategic interests, focusing on product sales, store openings, brand promotion, cultural exchange, tourism services, and customer experience [2]. Group 3: Market Context - DFS, established in 1960, is a prominent high-end travel retailer with a strong presence in major airports and city centers globally, particularly in Hong Kong and Macau [5]. - In 2024, DFS is projected to achieve revenues of CNY 4.149 billion and a net profit of CNY 128 million, with revenues of CNY 2.754 billion and a net profit of CNY 133 million reported for the first three quarters of 2025 [5]. - The acquisition will enable CDFG to rapidly build a duty-free network in Greater China, complementing its existing channels [5]. Group 4: Market Trends - Since the third quarter of last year, the demand for duty-free shopping in Hainan has rebounded, with a reported shopping amount of CNY 5.02 billion in the first month of the new duty-free policy, marking a 46.8% year-on-year increase [6]. - The number of shoppers in Hainan reached 772,000, reflecting a 29.7% year-on-year growth [6]. - CDFG is exploring new growth avenues as the Hainan market is no longer dominated solely by the company, with city and airport duty-free markets and overseas markets being key areas of focus [6].

Group 1 - Recent net redemptions in A-share broad-based ETFs have drawn market attention, with significant outflows recorded on January 15 and 16, totaling 687 billion and 863 billion respectively, marking the highest single-day outflows in history [1] - As of January 19, four out of six major broad-based ETFs saw their shares decline by over 10% in the last three trading days, with the largest, Huatai-PB CSI 300 ETF, dropping to 778.63 billion shares, a scale of approximately 369.2 billion, the lowest since August 2024 [1] - The ChiNext and STAR Market ETFs also experienced significant declines, with the E Fund STAR 50 ETF and E Fund ChiNext ETF seeing share reductions of 34.55% and 20.22% respectively [3] Group 2 - In contrast to the outflows from broad-based ETFs, certain commodity, cross-border, and narrow-based ETFs attracted significant inflows, with the Southern Nonferrous ETF being the only product to receive over 10 billion in net inflows, totaling 100.87 billion, driven by rising base metal prices [3] - Other ETFs such as Yongying Satellite ETF, Harvest Software ETF, and GF Media ETF also received net inflows exceeding 6 billion [3] - According to CITIC Securities, the impact of ETF redemptions on individual stocks was significant, with main board, ChiNext, and STAR Market stocks experiencing sell-offs of 946 billion, 334 billion, and 265 billion respectively during the peak outflow days [3] Group 3 - Regulatory measures have been implemented to cool down the market following rapid price increases and overheated sentiment, including raising the minimum margin requirement for margin trading from 80% to 100% [5][6] - The China Securities Regulatory Commission emphasized the need for comprehensive market monitoring and timely counter-cyclical adjustments to maintain market stability and prevent excessive volatility [6] - There are differing views on the long-term outlook for A-shares, with some analysts suggesting the potential for a slow bull market due to reforms, while others remain skeptical about escaping historical volatility patterns [7]

Group 1 - The tourism retail sector increased by 2.88% on January 20, with China Duty Free Group leading the gains [1] - The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 4113.65, down 0.01%, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed at 14155.63, down 0.97% [1] - China Duty Free Group's stock closed at 96.09, reflecting a 2.88% increase, with a trading volume of 849,000 shares and a transaction value of 82.39 million yuan [1] Group 2 - The tourism retail sector saw a net inflow of 394 million yuan from institutional investors, while retail investors experienced a net outflow of 130 million yuan [1] - The breakdown of fund flows indicates that institutional investors had a net inflow of 394 million yuan, while speculative funds had a net outflow of 264 million yuan [1]

Group 1 - Goldman Sachs held an investor conference call discussing the latest trends and growth dynamics in Hainan's duty-free sales, with insights from a tourism retail expert [1] - The expert expressed cautious optimism for Hainan's duty-free sales growth by 2026, anticipating sustained healthy growth in inbound tourism and increased consumption of high-priced items like clothing and electronics [1] - The expert noted that competition among existing duty-free operators remains relatively stable, with China Duty Free Group expected to maintain a market share of 70% to 80% [1] Group 2 - The expert indicated that the issuance of consumption vouchers may slow down, as evidenced by a recent deceleration in distribution speed in Sanya [1] - The expert does not expect last year's policy relaxations to significantly boost sales among Hainan residents, as they contributed only 11 million RMB to sales, accounting for less than 1% [1] - China Duty Free Group continues to succeed by focusing on product variety and inventory levels, offering more bundled packages rather than aggressive price discounts [2]

Group 1 - China Duty Free Group (CDFG) announced the acquisition of DFS Group's travel retail business in Greater China for up to $395 million in cash [2] - DFS Group is a leading luxury travel retailer established in 1960, with stores located in major airports and city centers globally [4] - CDFG is a large publicly listed company controlled by China Tourism Group, operating around 200 duty-free stores in over 100 cities in China and abroad [4] Group 2 - LVMH Group and Robert Miller's family will participate in CDFG's capital increase by subscribing to newly issued H-shares in Hong Kong, with the subscription amount being part of the sale consideration [4] - CDFG plans to establish a cooperative relationship with LVMH in retail sectors aligned with their strategies, focusing on product sales, store openings, brand promotion, cultural exchange, tourism services, and customer experience [4]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that there is cautious optimism regarding the growth of Hainan's duty-free sales, driven by healthy inbound tourism and increased consumption of high-priced items [1] - The expert predicts that inbound tourism will continue to grow, with an increase in spending on high-ticket items such as clothing and more 3C products [1] - The expert expresses concern that the distribution of consumption vouchers may slow down, as evidenced by recent trends in Sanya [1] Group 2 - The competitive landscape remains relatively stable, with China Duty Free Group (601888) expected to maintain a market share of 70% to 80% [1] - The expert believes that new entrants to the duty-free market are unlikely in the next 2 to 3 years, and an independent tariff system will help attract more investment over time [1] - China Duty Free Group continues to win through product variety and inventory, offering more bundled packages rather than aggressive price discounts [2] - Goldman Sachs will focus on the profit margin trends in China Duty Free Group's upcoming preliminary results for Q4 2024 to assess their impact on overall profitability [2]

强强联手 LVMH，开启新纪元 中国中免(601888) 中国中免跟踪报告 | [姓名table_Authors] | 电话 | 邮箱 | 登记编号 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 刘越男(分析师) | 021-38677706 | liuyuenan@gtht.com | S0880516030003 | | 许樱之(分析师) | 0755-82900465 | xuyingzhi@gtht.com | S0880525040012 | | 宋小寒(分析师) | 010-83939087 | songxiaohan@gtht.com | S0880524080011 | 本报告导读： 公司通过自有资金收购 DFS 大中华区业务并引入 LVMH 等战略投资者，以此深化 全球零售合作，未来有望实现高质量发展。 投资要点： [Table_Summary] 投资建议。我们认为，本次交易若达成，有望显著提升公司在全球 奢侈品领域的溢价能力和国际话语权。公司有望成为具有全球化竞 争力的旅游零售综合服务商。暂不考虑收购，我们预计公司 2025 年 -2027 年归母利润各 39.47 亿元、5 ...

Group 1 - China Duty Free Group (CDFG) announced the acquisition of DFS Group's travel retail business in Greater China for up to $395 million in cash, which includes 100% equity of DFS Cotai Limitada and related assets from DFS Singapore and DFS Hong Kong [1] - The acquisition encompasses various assets such as personnel, lease contracts, fixed assets, inventory, and intangible assets including brand ownership and membership systems [1] Group 2 - CDFG signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with LVMH to establish a partnership in retail, aligning with LVMH's current business model [2] - The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to deepen cooperation in Greater China, focusing on product sales, store openings, brand promotion, cultural exchange, tourism services, and customer experience [2] - The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in approximately two months, allowing CDFG to expand its service network and enhance its international business platform [2]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [6] Core Views - The acquisition of DFS Cotai Limitada and related assets is expected to enhance the company's position in the high-end tourism retail market in Hong Kong and Macau, integrating a quality retail network and promoting domestic products overseas [1][4] - The transaction is valued at a maximum of USD 3.95 billion, with a total consideration of up to HKD 9.24 billion through the issuance of new H shares [1][4] - The company aims to leverage the acquisition to strengthen its competitive edge and market share in the region [1][4] Summary by Sections Acquisition Details - The company announced its intention to acquire 100% equity of DFS Cotai Limitada and related assets from DFS Singapore and DFS Hong Kong for up to USD 3.95 billion [1] - Post-transaction, the company will issue up to 7.33 million and 4.64 million H shares to LVMH's subsidiary and Miller family trust, respectively, at a subscription price of HKD 77.21 per share [1] Financial Performance - The valuation of nine stores in the Macau region is approximately RMB 31.34 billion (around USD 4.41 billion) [3] - Revenue for DFS in the Macau region reached RMB 41.49 billion and RMB 27.54 billion for the first nine months of 2024 and 2025, respectively, with net profits of RMB 1.28 billion and RMB 1.33 billion [3] Strategic Significance - The acquisition is strategically significant as it consolidates market position and scale, enhances operational efficiency through the integration of DFS's brand and membership system, and optimizes capital structure by introducing strategic shareholders [4] - The company expects to benefit from the operational experience of DFS and build a platform for domestic products to enter international markets [4] Profit Forecast and Valuation - The company's net profit forecasts for 2025-2027 have been adjusted to RMB 39.60 billion, RMB 52.41 billion, and RMB 61.83 billion, respectively, reflecting increases of 8%, 10%, and 10% [5] - The target price for A-shares has been raised to RMB 115.75 and for H-shares to HKD 104.36, corresponding to 46x and 38x PE for 2026 [5]