YONGHUI SUPERSTORES(SH:601933) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-05 11:21Core Viewpoint - Yonghui Supermarket is undergoing a significant transformation amidst a backdrop of substantial financial losses and cash flow challenges, raising questions about the effectiveness of its strategy to revive the business [1]. Group 1: Transformation Efforts - As of September 2025, 222 out of 450 stores have completed renovations, with some locations achieving profitability [3]. - The new store formats, inspired by the "Fat Donglai" model, have attracted significant customer traffic, particularly in cities like Shanghai and Wuxi [1][3]. - The stock price surged in December, reflecting market optimism, with the market capitalization reaching 47 billion [3]. Group 2: Financial Challenges - Yonghui's operating cash flow for the first three quarters of 2025 was only 1.14 billion, a nearly 70% decline year-on-year, with a negative cash flow of 68 million in Q3 [5]. - The company's debt pressure is increasing, with an asset-liability ratio of 88.96% and a current ratio of only 0.63, indicating high short-term repayment risks [5]. - Cash flow has been on a long-term decline, shrinking by 75% over four years [5]. Group 3: Asset Liquidation and Cost Management - To maintain cash flow, Yonghui has resorted to asset sales, including a significant reduction in shareholdings by major stakeholders, raising over 1 billion through these measures [7]. - The company has closed 227 unprofitable stores, incurring a loss of 612 million in Q3 alone [9]. - The planned investment for store renovations in 2026 is 5.597 billion, with an average investment of over 18.65 million per store, adding to the financial strain [9]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape and Industry Trends - The shift towards a user-centered value creation model, as seen in the "Fat Donglai" approach, requires long-term commitment and cannot be achieved through short-term financial investments [13]. - The retail industry is experiencing a transformation, with 75% of supermarket enterprises attempting renovations, yet less than half achieved year-on-year sales growth in the first half of 2025 [13]. - Yonghui's challenges are compounded by its presence in high-rent, competitive urban areas, making it difficult to replicate the success of models like "Fat Donglai" [11].