Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-11-17 09:17Core Viewpoint - The three leading companies in the optical module sector, namely NewEase (300502.SZ), Zhongji Xuchuang (300308.SZ), and Tianfu Communication (300394.SZ), reported significant revenue and net profit growth for the first three quarters of 2025, driven by the surge in AI computing demand. However, concerns regarding performance differentiation, high inventory levels, and valuation pressures have emerged following their quarterly reports [1][2][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Zhongji Xuchuang led the revenue with 25.005 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 44.43%, maintaining its industry leadership [2] - NewEase exhibited explosive growth with a revenue of 16.505 billion yuan, marking a staggering year-on-year increase of 221.70%, the highest among the three [2] - Tianfu Communication reported a revenue of 3.918 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 63.63%, which is moderate compared to its peers [2] - In terms of net profit, Zhongji Xuchuang achieved 7.132 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 90.05%, while NewEase's net profit surged to 6.327 billion yuan, up 284.37% [4] - Tianfu Communication's net profit reached 1.465 billion yuan, growing by 50.07% [4] - In Q3, Zhongji Xuchuang was the only company to report both revenue and net profit growth, with Q3 revenue of 10.216 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 56.83% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 25.89% [4] Group 2: Profitability and R&D Investment - NewEase maintained a high gross margin of 47.25% for the first three quarters, with a net profit margin reaching a record high of 39.3% in Q3 [5] - Tianfu Communication had the highest gross margin at 51.87%, although it decreased from 57.22% in 2024, indicating pressure on profitability [5] - Zhongji Xuchuang's gross margin was 40.74%, showing a gradual improvement [5] - R&D investments for Zhongji Xuchuang reached 949.5 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 27.41%, focusing on CPO technology and silicon photonics [7] - NewEase's R&D expenses were 501 million yuan, up 149.57%, significantly outpacing revenue growth [7] - Tianfu Communication had the highest R&D expense ratio at 5.11%, with 200 million yuan invested, a 15.82% increase [7] Group 3: Inventory and Asset Impairment - All three companies faced significant inventory increases, raising concerns about potential asset impairment losses [8] - As of Q3 2025, Zhongji Xuchuang's inventory reached 11.216 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 52.64%, while NewEase's inventory was 6.603 billion yuan, up 59.79% [8] - Tianfu Communication's inventory decreased slightly to 337 million yuan, but it remained at a historically high level [8] - NewEase reported asset impairment losses of 203 million yuan, a staggering year-on-year increase of 883.08% [11] - Zhongji Xuchuang's asset impairment losses were 66.3623 million yuan, while Tianfu Communication's losses were 33.1005 million yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 238.76% [11] Group 4: Market Reaction and Future Outlook - Following the quarterly reports, the stock prices of the three companies fell sharply, with a combined market value loss exceeding 140 billion yuan [1][13] - The market correction was attributed to performance not meeting expectations and a return to valuation levels after previous highs [13] - Despite the short-term market reaction, many institutions remain optimistic about the long-term prospects of the optical module industry, citing sustained demand and supply shortages [14]