Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 8.90 [6][9]. Core Insights - The company demonstrated resilience in Q3 with a net profit of RMB 1.64 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 11.5%, and a Q3 net profit of RMB 670 million, up 13.5% year-on-year. The company’s non-GAAP net profit increased by 35% year-on-year [6][9]. - The overall revenue for Q3 showed mid-single-digit growth, with the beverage segment achieving low double-digit growth, particularly in products like red and green tea, and ice sugar pear. The food segment also recorded mid-to-low single-digit growth, with instant noodles seeing mid-high single-digit growth [6][7]. - The gross margin for Q3 was 34%, an increase of over 2 percentage points year-on-year, driven by lower raw material prices in the beverage segment, while the food segment faced pressure from rising palm oil prices [8][9]. Financial Metrics - The company’s market capitalization is HKD 31,186 million, with a closing price of HKD 7.22 as of November 12 [4]. - The projected earnings per share (EPS) for 2024-2026 are RMB 0.43, RMB 0.46, and RMB 0.50 respectively, with a return on equity (ROE) expected to rise from 12.56% in 2023 to 16.17% in 2026 [10][16]. - The company’s revenue is forecasted to grow from RMB 28,591 million in 2023 to RMB 34,049 million in 2026, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 6.5% [10][19]. Business Segments - The beverage business continues to show strong growth, with Q3 revenue growth in the low double digits, while the food business also recorded positive growth, particularly in instant noodles, which benefited from market share gains following price increases by competitors [7][9]. - The company has invested in expanding its product visibility, including the deployment of 120,000 refrigerators to enhance consumer exposure [7]. Valuation - The report suggests a slight adjustment in profit forecasts due to raw material cost fluctuations and improved operational efficiency, with a target price based on a 25-year average PE of 18x [9][11].
统一企业中国：Q3收入具备韧性，利润率持续提振