Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-08-28 14:24Core Viewpoint - The market performance of WuXi AppTec, a leading player in the CXO industry, contrasts with its impressive interim financial results, leading to investor concerns about the company's true operational capabilities [1][2][5]. Financial Performance - WuXi AppTec reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of 8.66 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, which included a one-time gain of 1.89 billion yuan from the disposal of non-current assets. Excluding this, the adjusted net profit was approximately 5.58 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of only 26.44%, significantly lower than the reported net profit growth of 102.3% [6][10]. - The company's adjusted net profit growth has shown a declining trend over the past five years, dropping from a peak of 103.27% in 2020 to just 2.47% in 2024, indicating a concerning long-term performance trajectory [6][19]. Business Segments - The chemical business generated revenue of 16.30 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 33.5%, accounting for 78.4% of total revenue. The TIDES business (oligonucleotides and peptides) alone contributed 5.03 billion yuan, with a remarkable growth of 141.6%, driving 82% of the chemical business's growth [10][11]. - However, the TIDES business's growth is heavily reliant on the global demand for weight-loss drug development, which is subject to market fluctuations. As of June, the order growth rate had already slowed to 48.8%, down from 105.5% in the previous quarter [12][13]. Customer Dependency and Risks - WuXi AppTec's revenue is significantly dependent on U.S. clients, with 14.03 billion yuan from U.S. customers, representing 69% of total revenue and a year-on-year growth of 38.4%. This dependency poses risks, especially in light of geopolitical tensions and potential regulatory changes in the U.S. market [13][14]. - The company has been advised to diversify its customer base to mitigate risks associated with its heavy reliance on the U.S. market, with potential growth opportunities identified in Europe and Southeast Asia, albeit with challenges [14]. Capacity Expansion and Profitability - Over the past five years, WuXi AppTec has engaged in aggressive capacity expansion, with fixed assets increasing from 5.71 billion yuan in 2020 to an estimated 18.78 billion yuan by 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 36.2% [17][20]. - Despite this expansion, the company experienced a revenue decline of 2.73% in 2024, marking its first negative growth, contrasting sharply with the high growth rate of 71.84% in 2022. This indicates a disconnect between capacity expansion and sustainable revenue growth [18][19]. Future Outlook - The rebound in the 2025 interim report is primarily attributed to the short-term surge in the TIDES business rather than an overall improvement in capacity utilization. The company's ability to convert its substantial capacity into real operational efficiency remains a critical area of focus [21][22].