CATL(300750) 高盛·2025-03-16 16:00Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for CATL (300750.SZ) with a target price of Rmb367.00, indicating an upside potential of 40.1% from the current price of Rmb262.00 [1][16]. Core Insights - CATL's 2024 earnings were in line with expectations, reporting a revenue of Rmb362.0 billion, down 10% year-on-year, and a net profit of Rmb50.7 billion, up 15% year-on-year [1]. - The weakness in unit gross profit (GP) in 4Q24 is attributed to product mix volatility, with expectations for recovery in subsequent quarters as the product mix improves [2][20]. - The company announced a cash dividend of Rmb25.4 billion for 2024, implying a payout ratio of approximately 50%, which is expected to be sustainable, providing dividend yields of around 3% to 6% from 2025 to 2027 [3]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - CATL's implied 4Q24 revenue decreased by 3% year-on-year, while net profit increased by 14% year-on-year [1]. - The company revised down its net profit forecasts by 4% to 5% for 2025-2027, primarily due to US tariffs and increased R&D expenses, but still remains 19% to 42% above consensus estimates [5][17]. Market Position and Outlook - CATL has underperformed its peers year-to-date, but potential stock drivers include strong monthly battery shipments, unit GP expansion, and stronger-than-expected demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the EU [4]. - The report highlights that CATL's unit GP is expected to recover in 2025, supported by a sustainable product mix improvement and cost savings from higher utilization rates [20]. Key Data and Valuation - The market capitalization of CATL is Rmb1.1 trillion (approximately 123.0 billion) [6]. - The report provides forecasts for revenue growth, estimating a total revenue of Rmb477.9 billion in 2025, with a projected EBITDA of Rmb107.9 billion [6][15]. - The expected P/E ratios for 2025-2027 are 15x, 10.9x, and 8.7x, compared to a historical average of 33x, indicating that CATL is currently trading at cyclical lows [17].