Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-11-06 16:26Core Viewpoint - The A-share chain pharmacy industry is experiencing a significant adjustment period, characterized by high goodwill levels due to previous aggressive expansion strategies through mergers and acquisitions. Companies are now facing challenges in balancing scale effects with operational quality [1][2]. Goodwill Accumulation - As of the end of Q3, the total goodwill of six A-share chain pharmacy companies reached 20.778 billion yuan, with an average of 3.463 billion yuan per company. The highest goodwill was recorded by Lao Bai Xing at 5.763 billion yuan, followed by Yi Feng Pharmacy at 4.772 billion yuan and Da San Lin at 3.522 billion yuan [2]. - Goodwill as a percentage of current assets is notably high, with Lao Bai Xing at 65.28% and Jian Zhi Jia exceeding 50% at 58.7%. This trend of high goodwill has persisted for several years, with Lao Bai Xing's goodwill exceeding 5 billion yuan in 2022 [2]. Performance Trends - The performance of A-share chain pharmacies has shown divergence in the first three quarters of this year. While Shuyu Pingmin has reported a revenue increase of 5.19% to 7.446 billion yuan and turned a profit of 109 million yuan, other companies like Lao Bai Xing have seen declines in net profit by 16.11% to 529 million yuan [4]. - Despite the overall decline in net profit for some companies, Lao Bai Xing showed signs of recovery in Q3 with a slight revenue increase of 0.07% [4]. Store Count Decline - Many chain pharmacy companies are experiencing a decline in the number of stores. Lao Bai Xing reported a net decrease of 240 direct stores this year, while Yi Feng Pharmacy closed 440 stores and opened only 137 [7]. - Jian Zhi Jia also closed more stores than it opened, with a net decrease of 38 stores. In contrast, Shuyu Pingmin increased its direct store count due to acquisitions, reflecting a shift in focus from quantity to quality in store management [7]. Industry Direction - As market saturation increases, the strategy of merely expanding store numbers is becoming less effective. The future direction for chain pharmacies should focus on high-quality service and enhancing customer experience to improve competitiveness [8].