Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-11-07 02:32Core Viewpoint - The Chinese liquor industry is experiencing a significant downturn, with a 18% year-on-year decline in quarterly revenue, marking the worst performance since the 2012-2015 adjustment period, leading to a "de-inventory" phase across the sector [1][2]. Industry Performance - In Q3 2025, the liquor industry's revenue, net profit attributable to shareholders, and cash collection were 78.7 billion yuan, 28 billion yuan, and 83.9 billion yuan, respectively, reflecting declines of 18.4%, 22.2%, and 26.7% year-on-year [2][3]. - The high dividend yield of the liquor sector, which has reached 3.85% as of November 4, 2025, is seen as a stabilizing factor during this challenging period [3][5]. Market Sentiment - Market sentiment is fluctuating between "worry" and "expectation," with both corporate valuations and institutional holdings at historical lows [2][7]. - The current market environment is characterized by a significant withdrawal of capital, with public funds reducing their holdings in the liquor sector [1][11]. Dividend Insights - Over the past decade, the total cash dividends in the liquor industry have increased from 15.81 billion yuan in 2015 to 119.03 billion yuan in 2024 [4]. - Eleven liquor companies have a dividend yield exceeding 3%, with Yanghe Co. leading at 6.59% [5][6]. Valuation and Investment Outlook - The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of the liquor index is 19.52, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 31.1, indicating a high safety margin for valuations [8][10]. - Analysts suggest that the liquor sector may no longer be viewed as a cyclical growth stock, with future price appreciation expected to come from stable earnings growth and dividends [7][10]. Fund Holdings and Strategy - As of Q3 2025, active equity funds have shown a trend of "overall reduction and structural differentiation" in their liquor stock holdings, with high-end liquor companies facing sell-offs while mid-tier brands gain traction [11][14]. - Notably, funds have increased their positions in companies like Luzhou Laojiao and Shanxi Fenjiu, while reducing holdings in leading brands like Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye [14][17].