Yanghe(SZ:002304) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-15 03:47Core Viewpoint - The liquor industry is undergoing a deep adjustment, with Yanghe Co. choosing to abandon "low-hanging fruit" and actively focus on high-quality development [1][2] Industry Overview - The liquor industry is still in a deep adjustment phase, with projected revenue for 2024 at 441.94 billion yuan, a growth of 7.7% compared to over 15% in 2023 [2] - In Q1 2025, liquor companies achieved revenue of 153.4 billion yuan, with a mere 1.8% year-on-year growth, indicating stagnation [2] - The production volume for 2024 is expected to be 4.145 million kiloliters, a decrease of 1.8% year-on-year [2] - Challenges include price inversion, high inventory, performance differentiation, and market space compression, necessitating a systematic upgrade for liquor companies [2][6] Company Strategy - Yanghe has established a comprehensive product matrix across various price ranges, including well-known brands like Dream Blue and Sea Blue [2][4] - The company emphasizes product quality, launching the seventh generation of Sea Blue with a blend of 3-year base liquor and 5-year flavored liquor to enhance quality [2] - Yanghe's production capabilities include over 70,000 fermentation pits and a storage capacity of up to 1 million tons of liquor, with 230,000 tons of high-end aged liquor stored in ceramic jars [4] Financial Performance - In 2024, Yanghe reported revenue of 28.876 billion yuan and a net profit of 6.673 billion yuan, with Q1 2025 figures showing revenue of 11.066 billion yuan and net profit of 3.637 billion yuan [5] - Despite a decline in performance, Yanghe is focusing on strategic adjustments to strengthen its market position and prepare for future growth [5][6] Market Positioning - Yanghe is targeting key provincial markets while expanding its national presence, adding 39 new distributors in Jiangsu and 38 in other strategic areas [5] - The company is shifting focus towards group purchases, hotels, and rural markets in response to consumer trends [5] - Yanghe's pricing strategy aligns with consumer preferences, with significant portions of consumers choosing price ranges of 301-500 yuan and 501-1000 yuan [5] Future Outlook - The liquor industry is expected to gradually recover, with potential for a positive turnaround in the second half of 2025 [7] - Yanghe's comprehensive product matrix and high product quality are anticipated to enhance market share and drive innovation [7] - The company has maintained a strong commitment to shareholder returns, proposing a cash dividend of 3.23 yuan per share, totaling 3.49 billion yuan for 2024 [7]