Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that the dairy price has stabilized at the bottom, with an inflection point expected soon, as indicated by the recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showing the raw milk price at 3.07 CNY/kg, which has been fluctuating slightly for about 11 weeks [1] - Modern Dairy's data supports this, with a projected raw milk price of 3.61 CNY/kg in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 10.4%, but the decline is narrowing, with a forecasted price of approximately 3.56 CNY/kg in the second half of 2024, indicating a low single-digit decline [1] - The industry is showing signs of a cyclical bottom, with a continuous reduction in the cattle supply, as evidenced by the monthly decrease of about 40,000 heads, leading to an expected cattle population of 5.8 to 5.9 million by the end of the year [1] Group 2 - Modern Dairy has demonstrated significant cost control effectiveness, with the cost of milk per kilogram dropping to 2.53 CNY, a year-on-year decrease of 13.4%, particularly in feed costs which fell by 16.7% to 1.95 CNY/kg [2] - The company is expected to see further reductions in feed costs, with a projected decrease of about 6.9% to 1.88 CNY/kg in the second half of 2024, while other costs remain stable at 0.58 CNY/kg [2] - This comprehensive cost optimization has resulted in an increase in the gross profit margin for raw milk business to 31.2%, up 2.8 percentage points year-on-year, showcasing the management's ability to control costs and maintain operational resilience [2] Group 3 - The industry is experiencing a significant Matthew effect, with the top 20 dairy companies increasing their milk production by 14.9% despite a 2.8% decline in national milk production in 2024 [3] - Modern Dairy's market share is increasing, with raw milk sales reaching 2.893 million tons in 2024, a year-on-year growth of 13.6%, and an expansion in the breeding scale to 491,000 heads, up 9% [3] - The company is expected to enter a dual growth cycle of volume and price increase once milk prices begin to rise [3] Group 4 - Revenue forecasts for Modern Dairy are projected at 14.44 billion CNY, 15.28 billion CNY, and 16.06 billion CNY for 2025-2027, with net profits of 310 million CNY, 750 million CNY, and 1.1 billion CNY respectively [3] - The estimated EPS for 2025-2027 is 0.04 CNY, 0.10 CNY, and 0.14 CNY, with a target price set at 1.3 HKD based on an increased valuation due to the anticipated industry reversal [3]
现代牧业(01117.HK)：奶价拐点将至 量价齐升可期