Chemexpress(SH:688131) Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-09-03 12:16Core Viewpoint - The financial report of Haoyuan Pharmaceutical reveals a contradiction of "increased revenue and profit without increased cash flow," indicating concerns about the company's operational health amid its expansion efforts [2][4]. Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Haoyuan Pharmaceutical reported revenue of 1.311 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 24.20%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 155 million yuan, a significant year-on-year surge of 115.55% [2][4]. - However, the operating cash flow turned negative, reaching -10.43 million yuan, a sharp decline of 113% year-on-year [2][4]. - Inventory impairment provisions stood at 332 million yuan, accounting for 20.24% of the inventory balance, indicating potential issues with unsold products [5][7]. Cash Flow and Inventory Concerns - The company's accounts receivable exceeded 610 million yuan, up 16.89% year-on-year, with over 18.7% of receivables aged over one year [4][7]. - Inventory levels rose to 1.309 billion yuan, a 12.54% increase year-on-year, with over 80% consisting of raw materials and finished goods [4][7]. - The inventory turnover days increased from 186 days in 2022 to 243 days in the first half of 2025, significantly higher than competitors [4][7]. Business Structure and Profitability Risks - The business is divided into high-margin life science reagents and lower-margin raw materials and intermediates, with the former generating 904 million yuan in revenue (up 29.2%) and a gross margin of 63.0%, while the latter generated 399 million yuan (up 13.6%) with a gross margin of 17.8% [7][9]. - The disparity in profitability between the two segments raises concerns about the overall business health [7][9]. Increased Sales Expenses - Sales expenses surged to 130 million yuan, a 33.56% increase year-on-year, with the sales expense ratio rising from 9.25% in 2024 to 9.9% in 2025 [9][10]. Strategic Challenges and Market Position - The company faces challenges in transitioning from traditional markets to high-end sectors, with a lack of clear strategic direction following a board restructuring [11][14]. - The competitive landscape is tightening due to price wars initiated by centralized procurement, impacting the company's ability to secure significant orders [13][15]. - R&D investment remains below industry standards, with a research expense ratio declining from 9.5% in 2022 to 8.9% in the first half of 2025, which is lower than peers [14][15]. Industry Context - The challenges faced by Haoyuan Pharmaceutical reflect broader issues within the Chinese CDMO industry, as companies struggle to transition from "scale dividends" to "innovation dividends" amid evolving market dynamics [15].