

Core Viewpoint - The report from Credit Lyonnais indicates that Nongfu Spring (09633) is expected to see accelerated revenue growth in the second half of the year, driven by a low base effect across all product categories and a recovery in market share within the bottled water segment [1] Group 1: Revenue Growth - Nongfu Spring's revenue is projected to grow by 25% year-on-year in the second half of the year, leading to an overall annual revenue increase of 20% to 51.6 billion RMB [1] - The bottled water market share recovery is expected to support a 22% year-on-year increase in bottled water revenue in the second half, improving from a low base in the second half of 2023 [1] Group 2: Profitability and Margins - The gross margin is anticipated to continue expanding in the second half, supported by lower raw material prices and reduced logistics costs, with a year-on-year improvement of 1.6 percentage points expected [1] - The net profit for the second half is forecasted to grow by 31%, with an annual net profit increase of 26% to 15.3 billion RMB [1] Group 3: Product and Market Expansion - The tea beverage segment is expected to accelerate with a 30% year-on-year growth in the second half, driven by sugar-free tea and new products like iced tea [1] - Strong momentum is also anticipated for juice and functional beverages, which are expected to maintain robust performance into the first half of 2025 [1] Group 4: Analyst Adjustments - Credit Lyonnais has raised its net profit forecasts for Nongfu Spring for 2025 to 2027 by 7% to 12% and increased the target price from 45 HKD to 55 HKD, reaffirming a strong buy rating [1]