LI NING(02331) 国证国际证券·2024-10-24 02:41Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Li Ning with a target price of HKD 22.8, based on a 2024 PE of 18 times [1][4]. Core Insights - Li Ning's Q3 retail revenue saw a year-on-year decline in the mid-single digits across all platforms, with offline channels experiencing a high single-digit drop, while e-commerce recorded a mid-single-digit growth. The company anticipates a recovery in Q4 due to a low base effect [2][3]. - The introduction of a joint venture with Sequoia Capital aims to expand Li Ning's overseas market presence, with Li Ning investing HKD 58 million for a 29% stake, maintaining control over the joint venture [2][3]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For 2024, the expected EPS is projected at HKD 1.17, with forecasts of HKD 1.29 and HKD 1.43 for 2025 and 2026 respectively. Revenue is expected to grow from HKD 28.276 billion in 2024 to HKD 32.6 billion by 2026 [2][3][8]. - The gross margin is expected to improve slightly from 48.4% in 2023 to 49.1% by 2026, while the net profit margin is projected to stabilize around 11.3% by 2026 [3][11]. Product Performance - The lifestyle and running categories have shown strong performance, with the Soft series achieving cumulative sales of approximately 2 million pairs by Q3. The running category saw high double-digit revenue growth in Q3 [2][3]. - The company has launched new outdoor products to cater to diverse consumer needs, including the "万龙甲 BREATH" series jackets and "行" family outdoor shoes [2]. Inventory and Discounts - Inventory turnover for offline channels was around 5 months in Q3, with 80% of new products having a shelf life of less than 6 months. Discounts in offline channels have deepened slightly, while e-commerce discounts have improved [2][3][11]. - The company expects discount pressures in Q4 due to traditional e-commerce shopping festivals, but overall discounts for the year are anticipated to improve compared to the previous year [2].