智通财经网·2025-11-26 03:07Core Viewpoint - Bank of America Securities has raised the target price for Chow Tai Fook (01929) from HKD 17.5 to HKD 17.6, reflecting a projected price-to-earnings ratio of 20 times for the fiscal year 2027, while maintaining a "Buy" rating due to the continuous improvement in same-store sales that may support a valuation reassessment [1][2] Group 1: Financial Performance - For the first half of the fiscal year ending September 2026, Chow Tai Fook reported a net profit of HKD 2.5 billion, which is roughly flat year-on-year and in line with expectations [1] - Revenue for the same period was HKD 39 billion, a decrease of 1% year-on-year, which was 3% lower than the bank's expectations [1] - The gross margin for the first half was 30.5%, below the expected 31.3%, but partially offset by a reduction in the selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) ratio to 14%, which was lower than the anticipated 15.3% [1] Group 2: Management Guidance - Management has raised the full-year gross margin guidance for the fiscal year ending March 2026 to between 31% and 32%, indicating a year-on-year increase of 1.5 to 2.5 percentage points, compared to the previous expectation of a decline of 0.8 to 1.2 percentage points [1] - The operating profit margin guidance has also been increased to between 18% and 19%, suggesting a year-on-year rise of 1.6 to 2.6 percentage points, whereas the prior expectation was a decline of 0.6 to 1 percentage point [1] Group 3: Future Projections - Following the sales trends from October to mid-November and the better-than-expected profit margin guidance, Bank of America Securities has raised its net profit forecasts for Chow Tai Fook for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 by 6% and 1%, respectively, to HKD 8.7 billion and HKD 8.8 billion [2] - The bank believes that the management's guidance on same-store sales growth is slightly conservative and sees potential for upward adjustments, asserting that the worst period for same-store sales decline has likely passed [2] - Initiatives aimed at business transformation may support a recovery in profitability [2]