WENZHOU HONGFENG(SZ:300283) Zheng Quan Zhi Xing·2025-06-30 16:12Core Viewpoint - The credit rating of Wenzhou Hongfeng Electric Alloy Co., Ltd. has been downgraded to BBB+ due to ongoing losses in its lithium battery copper foil business, high costs, and increasing debt levels, despite stable performance in its core products [3][6][11]. Financial Performance - The company's total assets increased from 24.66 billion in 2022 to 34.17 billion in 2025, while total debt rose from 11.41 billion to 19.50 billion during the same period [3][6]. - The net profit for 2024 is projected to be a loss of 1.15 billion, continuing a trend of negative net profits into 2025 [6][11]. - Operating cash flow has been negative for three consecutive years, indicating ongoing liquidity issues [6][11]. Business Segments - The electric contact and functional composite materials segment is expected to generate revenues of 23.77 billion in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 17.04% and a gross profit of 2.97 billion, reflecting a 35.03% increase [4][12]. - The lithium battery copper foil business remains in the trial production and expansion phase, with significant losses impacting overall profitability [6][11]. - The hard alloy segment is experiencing a slight recovery, with revenues expected to grow due to increased sales volume, although profit margins are under pressure from rising raw material costs [12][14]. Market Environment - The electric contact materials industry is heavily influenced by macroeconomic conditions and is characterized by high competition and reliance on raw material prices [8][10]. - The lithium battery copper foil market is facing structural imbalances, with total domestic production capacity estimated at 200-210 thousand tons per year, of which approximately 70% is for lithium batteries [11][12]. - The hard alloy industry is expected to see continued growth in sales volume, driven by high demand and a tight supply of tungsten, a key raw material [10][11]. Corporate Governance - The company's major shareholders remain unchanged, with a slight increase in their ownership to 43.09% as of March 2025 [6][7]. - Recent changes in the board include the appointment of new independent directors, indicating ongoing governance adjustments [7][8].