增长逐季放缓，中宠还能否圆上“品牌梦”？

Core Insights - The pet economy is a significant growth area in the new consumption sector, carrying high market growth expectations [1] - Zhongchong Co., as a leading player in pet food, has not fully met these expectations in its latest quarterly report [2] - The company's stock price fell nearly 6% the day after the financial report was released [3] Financial Performance - In the first three quarters of 2025, Zhongchong Co. achieved a total revenue of 3.86 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 21% [2] - For the third quarter alone, revenue was 1.43 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 15.9%, a significant drop from nearly 25% growth in the previous two quarters [2] - The gross profit margin for Zhongchong Co. increased by nearly 3 percentage points year-on-year to 30.54% [11] - Net profit for the first three quarters was 330 million yuan, with a slight decrease in net profit margin by 0.16 percentage points to 9.32% [12] Market Trends - The pet food industry is experiencing a clear trend of domestic substitution, driven by increasing pet ownership penetration [4] - The pet staple food market is considered to have the potential for high concentration due to its high consumption frequency, broad penetration, and strong user loyalty [10] Strategic Initiatives - Zhongchong Co. has established a multi-brand matrix centered around "Wanpy," "Zeal," and "Toptrees," aiming for a compound annual growth rate of 27% in domestic sales over the next three years [5] - The company invested 380 million yuan in business promotion and sales services in 2024, with a significant increase in marketing expenses due to the signing of celebrity endorsements [7] - Despite challenges in marketing return efficiency due to diminishing traffic dividends, the current period is crucial for Zhongchong Co. to capture market share and consumer mindshare [8][9] Competitive Advantage - Analysts believe that Zhongchong Co.'s proprietary production capacity allows for higher gross profit retention compared to brands reliant on contract manufacturers, providing more financial flexibility in a competitive landscape [11]