Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-12-29 03:38Core Viewpoint - The report from Northeast Securities indicates that Chow Tai Fook (01929), as an industry leader, is well-positioned to mitigate cost pressures through its established procurement channels and strong brand pricing power. The company is accelerating its international expansion into new markets such as Oceania, Canada, and the Middle East, aiming to create a second growth curve for brand transformation. The projected net profits for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028 are expected to be 75.7 billion, 86.1 billion, and 97.3 billion yuan, respectively, with corresponding P/E ratios of 15.1, 13.3, and 11.8. The initial coverage gives a "Buy" rating [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - For the first half of FY26, the company demonstrated a steady recovery with revenue reaching 38.986 billion HKD, remaining stable compared to the same period last year. Operating profit increased by 0.7% year-on-year to 6.823 billion HKD, achieving an operating profit margin of 17.5%, the highest in nearly five years. After accounting for a loss of 3.143 billion HKD from gold loan contracts, the net profit attributable to shareholders was 2.534 billion HKD, essentially flat year-on-year [1]. Group 2: Product Structure and Growth Drivers - In FY26 H1, revenue from priced jewelry grew by 9.3% year-on-year to 11.39 billion HKD, accounting for 29% of total revenue, which is a 3% increase year-on-year, effectively supporting overall gross margin levels. Same-store sales for priced jewelry and gold jewelry in Q1/Q2 were +0.4%/+16.6% and -2.7%/+7.3%, respectively. Notable product series such as "Chuanfu," "Chuanxi," and "Forbidden City" achieved total sales of 3.4 billion HKD, marking a significant increase of 47.8%. The introduction of high-value new products like "Hemei Dongfang" has also been successful [2]. Group 3: Store Network and Channel Optimization - As of the end of FY26 H1, there were 5,663 retail points in mainland China. Benefiting from product structure optimization and rising gold prices, same-store sales grew by 2.6% during the period. Direct stores generated approximately 10.24 billion HKD in revenue, an increase of 8.4% year-on-year, accounting for 31.8% of total revenue in mainland China, up 4.5% year-on-year. The number of direct stores decreased by 16, with same-store sales in Q1/Q2 at -3.3%/+7.6%. Franchise stores generated about 21.96 billion HKD, a decrease of 5.5% year-on-year, accounting for 68.2% of total revenue, down 4.5% year-on-year. The number of franchise stores decreased by 595, with same-store sales in Q1/Q2 at 0%/+8.6%. Online channels maintained strong growth, with e-commerce retail value in mainland China increasing by 27.6% year-on-year [3].