CNGR(SZ:300919) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-28 02:00Core Viewpoint - Zhongwei New Materials Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Zhongwei") is focusing on the IPO process in Hong Kong, having submitted updated application materials after the initial submission expired. The company is a leader in the production of new energy battery materials, particularly in the precursor materials for lithium-ion batteries, and is experiencing a shift in its revenue structure and profitability trends [2][3][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Zhongwei was established in September 2014 and went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in December 2020, with a current market capitalization of approximately 41.2 billion RMB as of October 27, 2023 [3]. - The company specializes in the research, development, production, and sales of new energy battery materials, including nickel-based, cobalt-based, phosphorus-based, sodium-based, and other innovative materials [3]. - Zhongwei claims to be the global leader in the supply of nickel and cobalt precursor materials for lithium-ion batteries, holding market shares of 20.3% and 28.0% respectively for 2024 [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Revenue for Zhongwei from 2022 to 2024 was reported as 30.34 billion RMB, 34.27 billion RMB, and 40.22 billion RMB respectively, while profits were 1.54 billion RMB, 2.10 billion RMB, and 1.79 billion RMB [4][5]. - In the first half of 2025, Zhongwei reported revenue of 21.32 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 6.16%, but profits fell by 38.95% to 706.5 million RMB, indicating significant pressure on profitability [4][5]. - The company's EBITDA for the same periods was 2.68 billion RMB, 3.90 billion RMB, and 4.28 billion RMB, with a margin of 11.4% in 2023, declining to 10.7% in the first half of 2025 [4][5]. Group 3: Revenue Structure Changes - The revenue contribution from nickel-based materials has been declining, from 81.2% in 2022 to 35.1% in the first half of 2025, while the share of new energy metal products has surged from 0% to 43.5% in the same period [5][6]. - The gross margin for nickel-based materials is significantly higher than that of new energy metal products, which may impact the overall profitability of Zhongwei as the latter's revenue share increases [7][8]. Group 4: Geographic Revenue Distribution - Revenue from mainland China accounted for 66.3% in 2022, decreasing to 49.4% in the first half of 2025, while overseas revenue increased from 33.7% to 50.6%, indicating a successful globalization strategy [9]. - The gross margin for overseas markets was higher than that for mainland China during the 2022-2024 period, suggesting that the global expansion has positively influenced performance [9][10]. Group 5: Customer Concentration and Inventory Concerns - A significant portion of Zhongwei's revenue comes from a small number of major customers, with the top five customers contributing 58.0% of revenue in 2022, decreasing to 34.0% in the first half of 2025 [12][13]. - The company has high inventory levels, which may negatively impact performance, with inventory values reported at 9.62 billion RMB, 7.93 billion RMB, 9.83 billion RMB, and 10.23 billion RMB over the same periods [13]. Group 6: Future Plans and IPO Progress - Zhongwei plans to use the funds raised from the IPO for expanding production and supply chain capabilities, R&D for new energy battery materials, and general corporate purposes [14]. - The company has progressed to the latter stages of its IPO process in Hong Kong, which is significant for its future growth and market positioning [14].