Core Viewpoint - Daiwa has made slight adjustments to the 2025 earnings forecast for Xtep International (01368), while lowering the 2026 earnings per share forecast by 2% to reflect a potential slowdown in revenue growth for the core Xtep brand. The firm maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, with a target price raised from HKD 6.6 to HKD 7, based on a consistent 12x price-to-earnings ratio applied to the average earnings per share for 2025-2026 [1][2]. Group 1 - Xtep International's net profit for the first half of this year increased by 6.4% year-on-year on a comparable basis, exceeding both Daiwa's and market consensus expectations by 19% and 17%, respectively. This growth was primarily driven by strong operational cost control and an increase in operating profit margin for the professional sports segment (Saucony and Merrell brands), which rose by 6.1 percentage points to 10% [1]. - Despite the better-than-expected performance, Daiwa only made minor adjustments to the 2025 forecast due to anticipated seasonal weakening of operating profit margins in the second half of the year, along with potential increases in marketing activities and related costs for Saucony [1]. - The most notable aspect of Xtep International's performance is the resilience of operating profit margins in both the mass market and professional sports segments, despite a slowdown in revenue growth in the first half of 2025. However, the firm believes that profit margins may not be sustainable in the second half of 2025 due to upcoming product launches and store openings [1]. Group 2 - Daiwa believes that Xtep International's children's clothing business will provide further upside potential, with management expecting growth in this segment to surpass that of the adult market. On a comparable basis, the firm forecasts approximately 5% earnings growth for the company in 2025 [2].
大和：料特步国际下半年营运利润减弱 目标价微升至7港元