QIANHE(603027) 西南证券·2024-11-07 08:28Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Hold" rating for Qianhe Flavor Industry (603027) [1] Core Views - Qianhe Flavor Industry's Q3 performance continues to be under pressure, with expectations for operational improvement in the future [1][3] - The company reported a revenue of 2.29 billion yuan for the first three quarters of 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 1.9%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 350 million yuan, down 9.2% year-on-year [1][2] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In Q3 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 700 million yuan, a decline of 12.6% year-on-year, and a net profit of 101 million yuan, down 22.6% year-on-year [1][2] - For the first three quarters, the revenue breakdown by product shows soy sauce, vinegar, and other businesses generating 1.43 billion, 290 million, and 360 million yuan respectively, with year-on-year changes of -2.4%, -10.4%, and +12.9% [2] - The gross margin for the first three quarters was 36.2%, a decrease of 1.6 percentage points year-on-year, while Q3 gross margin improved to 37.5%, an increase of 0.7 percentage points year-on-year [3] Market Dynamics - The zero-additive market is facing intensified competition, particularly affecting the core soy sauce business due to high base effects from the previous year and increased competition from leading brands [2][3] - The company is adjusting its channel strategy by reducing the pace of expansion and focusing on improving the quality of existing operations [3] Future Outlook - The company plans to continue enriching its zero-additive product line and expand into categories like vinegar and cooking wine while controlling the proportion of low-margin products [3] - The report anticipates that the trend towards healthier products in the seasoning industry will continue, benefiting the company as a leading player in the zero-additive soy sauce market [3] Earnings Forecast - The earnings per share (EPS) for 2024-2026 are projected to be 0.51 yuan, 0.60 yuan, and 0.68 yuan respectively, with corresponding dynamic price-to-earnings (PE) ratios of 25, 22, and 19 [4]