SWSC(SH:600369) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-15 01:20Core Viewpoint - Southwest Securities appears to have a promising outlook for 2024, but underlying issues in its investment banking segment raise concerns about its future performance [2][3]. Investment Banking Performance - The investment banking revenue for Southwest Securities in 2024 was 110 million yuan, a decrease of over 28 million yuan, representing a year-on-year decline of 20.43% [5]. - Specific segments within investment banking also saw significant declines: - Securities underwriting revenue fell to less than 68 million yuan, down approximately 12 million yuan or 15% from 2023 [5]. - Financial advisory revenue decreased to over 43 million yuan, down about 9 million yuan or 18% [6]. - Sponsorship revenue plummeted to around 950,000 yuan, a staggering drop of over 740,000 yuan or nearly 89% compared to 2023 [6]. - The investment banking business is currently stagnant, with no IPO, additional issuance, or convertible bond projects under review since August 2023, highlighting a lack of market trust and declining operational quality [6][7]. Regulatory Issues - Southwest Securities has faced multiple regulatory penalties, receiving five in 2024 alone, primarily related to due diligence failures and compliance issues [7][8]. - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) mandated corrective actions due to several violations in bond projects, indicating serious deficiencies in internal management and risk control [8][9]. Subsidiary Sale Attempt - The attempt to sell the loss-making subsidiary, Xizheng International Securities, failed due to the buyer's inability to secure financing, resulting in only a 27 million HKD deposit being recovered [10][11]. - Xizheng International Securities has incurred cumulative losses exceeding 2 billion HKD since 2016, and its financial instability has raised concerns about future operations [12]. Industry Context - The brokerage industry is experiencing significant consolidation, with larger firms like CITIC and Huatai capturing a majority of the market share, leaving smaller firms like Southwest Securities under considerable pressure [13][15]. - The competitive landscape is further complicated by declining commission rates and the rise of internet brokers, which are eroding traditional brokerage revenues [16]. Future Outlook - The challenges faced by Southwest Securities in its investment banking and overall business strategy will require significant adjustments to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market [17].