联合光电遭监管警示，2024 年业绩承压凸显经营隐忧

Core Viewpoint - The Shenzhen Stock Exchange issued a regulatory letter to Zhongshan United Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. for inaccurate and untimely information disclosure regarding its "heavy-duty quadruped robot" business, raising concerns about the company's governance and financial health [2] Financial Performance - In the first half of 2024, the company's revenue reached 848 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.75%, but net profit declined by 27.67% to 28.25 million yuan, with a non-recurring net profit drop of 33.32% [3] - The decline in profitability is attributed to a significant increase in R&D expenses, which rose by 34.28% to 104 million yuan, and intensified competition in the consumer electronics market affecting gross margins [3] - The company's operating cash flow turned negative, with a net outflow of 53.81 million yuan, a decrease of 61 million yuan year-on-year, and free cash flow worsened to -37.30 million yuan, indicating increased pressure on the cash flow [3] Financial Health - As of the end of Q3 2024, the company's debt-to-asset ratio rose to 42.43%, an increase of 6.67 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023, with long-term borrowings increasing by 48.84% [4] - Interest-bearing debt ratio increased to 17.64%, while inventory value reached 441 million yuan, accounting for 27.23% of net assets, a 20.29% increase from the end of the previous year [4] - If market demand does not meet expectations, liquidity risks may further escalate [4] Business Performance - The company maintains strong competitiveness in traditional sectors such as security monitoring and intelligent driving, with high-end lens products dominating the security market and improving production capacity in vehicle-mounted lenses [5] - However, the failure of the robot project highlights deficiencies in the company's technological reserves and commercialization capabilities in emerging fields, with high R&D investments not translating into actual revenue [5] Future Outlook - The Shenzhen Stock Exchange has mandated the company’s board to immediately rectify and enhance compliance in information disclosure [5] - The company plans to release its 2024 annual report on April 21, 2025, with market focus on debt structure optimization, cash flow improvement, and adjustments in emerging businesses [5] - In the short term, the company needs to restore investor confidence, while long-term sustainability will depend on balancing innovation investments with profitability in its optical core business [5]