Three Squirrels(SZ:300783) Chang Jiang Shang Bao·2026-02-03 07:11Core Viewpoint - The snack giant Three Squirrels (300783.SZ) has struggled with its "high-end cost-performance" strategy, leading to a significant decline in expected profits for 2025, with net profit projected to drop by approximately 60% year-on-year [1][5]. Financial Performance - For the fiscal year 2025, the company anticipates a net profit attributable to shareholders of between 1.35 billion to 1.75 billion yuan, a decrease of about 2.73 billion to 2.33 billion yuan compared to the previous year, representing a year-on-year decline of 57.08% to 66.89% [5][6]. - The company reported a net profit of 1.61 billion yuan and a non-recurring net profit of 570 million yuan for the first three quarters of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 52.91% and 78.57%, respectively [2][6]. - The fourth quarter of 2025 is expected to be the worst in nearly four years, with projected net profits ranging from a loss of 260 million yuan to a profit of 140 million yuan [7]. Strategic Challenges - The company has faced challenges due to structural misalignment during peak sales seasons, significant increases in nut raw material prices, and strategic adjustments in sales structure, which have collectively contributed to profit declines [4][9]. - Despite the downturn, the company remains committed to its "high-end cost-performance" strategy, aiming for quality and differentiation [9]. Marketing and Sales Expenses - In 2024, the company spent 1.2 billion yuan on customer acquisition, and sales expenses exceeded 1.6 billion yuan in the first three quarters of 2025, marking a 24% increase year-on-year [4][14]. - The high sales expenses are primarily attributed to platform service and promotional costs, which are closely linked to the company's reliance on online sales [15][16]. Comparison with Competitors - Competitors like Wancheng Group and Mingming are implementing "extreme cost-performance" strategies, achieving significant profit increases, while Three Squirrels' strategy has not yielded similar advantages [10].