HONGLU(002541) 甬兴证券·2024-11-13 10:07Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, indicating that the stock price is expected to outperform the benchmark index by over 20% [2][12]. Core Views - The company has faced continuous pressure on performance, with a year-on-year decline in revenue and net profit for the first three quarters of 2024. Revenue reached 15.887 billion yuan, down 6.37%, and net profit was 655 million yuan, down 26.29% [1]. - Weak demand has led to revenue pressure, with new contracts signed in the first three quarters of 2024 amounting to 21.926 billion yuan, a decrease of 4.34% year-on-year. The production model of "customized production based on demand" has also impacted output [1]. - The report anticipates a potential stabilization in steel prices and ongoing improvements from smart transformation initiatives, which could enhance unit profitability [1]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2024, the company reported a revenue of 15.887 billion yuan, a decrease of 6.37% year-on-year, and a net profit of 655 million yuan, down 26.29%. The adjusted net profit after excluding non-recurring items was 357 million yuan, down 48.98% [1]. - In Q3 2024, revenue was 5.562 billion yuan, a decline of 5.69% year-on-year, with a net profit of 228 million yuan, down 32.37% [1]. Market Conditions - The overall weak downstream demand has been a significant factor affecting the company's performance. The average price of hot-rolled coils fell by 8.4% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2024, contributing to revenue decline [1]. - The company’s steel structure output for the first three quarters of 2024 was approximately 3.2507 million tons, showing a slowdown in growth compared to 28.4% year-on-year in 2023 [1]. Future Outlook - The report projects a decline in net profit for 2024-2026, with estimates of 883 million yuan, 1.070 billion yuan, and 1.174 billion yuan respectively. The expected earnings per share (EPS) for these years are 1.28 yuan, 1.55 yuan, and 1.70 yuan, with corresponding price-to-earnings ratios (PE) of 13.04, 10.76, and 9.81 [2][3]. - The company is expected to benefit from smart transformation initiatives that will enhance efficiency and profitability in the future [2].