知名连锁药店，越开店越亏？

Core Viewpoint - The well-known retail pharmacy chain, Lao Bai Xing, is experiencing increasing losses despite expanding its store network, raising concerns about its profitability and future strategies [2][3]. Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Lao Bai Xing reported a revenue of 10.774 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 1.51%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 398 million yuan, down 20.86% year-on-year [2]. - The gross profit margin for the first half of 2025 was 33.08%, a decline of 1.24% compared to the previous year [3]. - The company added 108 new stores, with a net increase of 305 franchise stores and a net decrease of 197 self-operated stores [3]. Market Competition - The decline in net profit is attributed to a drop in single-store revenue and intensified competition among pharmacies, leading to frequent promotions and price wars that compress profit margins [3]. - In the first quarter of 2025, the number of retail pharmacies in China continued to decrease, with a net reduction of approximately 3,000 stores, bringing the total below 700,000 [3]. Industry Trends - Major retail pharmacy companies, including Lao Bai Xing, have reported significant declines in net profit for 2024, with year-on-year decreases of 44.13% for Lao Bai Xing and 59.83% for Guoyao Yizhi [4]. - The trend of declining profits has persisted into the first quarter of 2025, with Lao Bai Xing's net profit down 21.98% [4]. Financial Risks - Lao Bai Xing's financial pressure is increasing, with short-term non-current liabilities amounting to 1.093 billion yuan and long-term borrowings of 1.321 billion yuan as of the first half of 2025 [6]. - The company's goodwill has surged to 5.763 billion yuan, while its net assets stand at only 6.733 billion yuan, raising concerns about potential goodwill impairment risks [6]. Management Insights - The decline in net profit is primarily due to the increase in new store numbers, the performance of new stores still in the growth phase, and the company's recognition of goodwill impairment losses [7]. Shareholder Actions - Following the release of poor financial results, Lao Bai Xing's controlling shareholder, Yao Yi Group, announced a plan to reduce its stake by up to 22.8029 million shares, approximately 3% of the total share capital, aiming to adjust its asset and financing structure [9]. - The group has engaged in multiple rounds of share pledging, with 62.04% of its shares pledged as of June 30, 2025, indicating a reliance on this financing method to alleviate short-term financial pressures [10].