零跑汽车：Competitive pricing for B10 with strong 4Q24 margins-20250311

Investment Rating - Maintain BUY rating for Leapmotor, indicating potential return of over 15% over the next 12 months [1][16]. Core Views - Leapmotor's competitive pricing for the new B10 EV and strong margins in 4Q24 enhance confidence in sales performance. The FY25E sales volume is revised up by 7% to 0.48 million units, with expectations of a minimal net loss in FY25E and a net profit of RMB1.26 billion in FY26E [1][6]. - The company's in-house autonomous driving and chassis capabilities are seen as undervalued, potentially leading to better-than-expected gross profit margins for the B series [1][6]. - The investor day on March 11 is anticipated to showcase technologies that could positively impact share price [1]. Financial Summary - Revenue projections show significant growth, with FY24E at RMB32.16 billion, FY25E at RMB51.02 billion, and FY26E at RMB57.54 billion, reflecting year-on-year growth rates of 92.1%, 58.6%, and 12.8% respectively [2][11]. - Gross margin is expected to improve from 8.4% in FY24E to 11.2% in FY25E and 12.3% in FY26E, indicating a positive trend in profitability [2][11]. - Net profit is projected to transition from a loss of RMB98 million in FY25E to a profit of RMB1.26 billion in FY26E, showcasing a significant turnaround [2][11]. Sales and Market Performance - Leapmotor's B10 EV was launched with a competitive pre-sale price range of RMB109,800-139,800, with the model featuring LiDAR priced as low as RMB129,800 [1][6]. - The company reported a 37% quarter-on-quarter revenue increase in 4Q24, reaching RMB13.5 billion, with a net profit of RMB81 million, exceeding previous forecasts [1][6]. - The gross margin for 4Q24 rose to 13.3%, up 5.2 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, indicating improved operational efficiency [1][6]. Valuation - The target price for Leapmotor has been raised from HK$40.00 to HK$50.00, based on a price-to-sales ratio of 1.2x for FY25E, aligning with the average for Chinese new energy vehicle start-ups [3][6]. - Current market capitalization stands at HK$55.48 billion, with a current share price of HK$41.50, indicating a potential upside of 20.5% [3][6].