Core Viewpoint - Cathay Securities maintains a "Buy" rating for October Rice Field (09676), projecting EPS of 0.55/0.68/0.82 RMB for 2025-2027 and a target price of 18.48 HKD for 2026 based on a 25x PE ratio [1] Group 1: Industry Insights - The rice industry lacks overall growth logic, but there is potential for volume growth in the mid-to-high-end rice segment due to structural upgrades, with increasing packaging rates and premium product shares [2] - The industry is characterized by low entry barriers, weak brand attributes, and a fragmented competitive landscape, leading to slow increases in industry concentration [2] - Brands positioned in the mid-to-high-end segment benefit from brand barriers and profit margins, enabling faster growth through resource mobilization [2] Group 2: Company Strengths - The company has established an efficient supply chain in rare geographical areas, ensuring quality and price advantages through direct sourcing, while D2C sales and order-based production enhance product freshness [3] - The company has achieved a significantly higher repurchase rate than the industry average, establishing itself as the leading brand in the mid-to-high-end rice market [3] Group 3: Operational Efficiency - The company has leveraged online channel advantages to achieve a leading market share, supported by a flat organizational structure and flexible channel strategies tailored to local conditions [4] - Future growth is expected from increased online penetration, emerging channels like Pinduoduo, and expansion into new product categories [4] - Offline channels are also growing rapidly, supported by high brand positioning and an efficient supply chain, with revenue shares continuing to rise [4] Group 4: Product Expansion - The company has a clear path and successful experience in product innovation, with corn proving the effectiveness of brand, channel, and marketing reuse [5] - Despite short-term pressures on corn, long-term potential remains, with new products like corn slurry bags expected to drive growth [5] - The introduction of more new products, such as southern rice, is anticipated to open up larger growth opportunities [5]