LI AUTO(02015) 交银国际·2025-03-17 08:23Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is downgraded to Neutral with a target price of HKD 93.62, reflecting a potential downside of 17.3% from the current closing price of HKD 113.20 [1][7][8]. Core Insights - The report indicates that the automotive gross margin for the fourth quarter was below expectations, with a gross margin of 19.7%, which is lower than the market expectation of approximately 20%. This decline is attributed to a decrease in average selling price (ASP) and an increase in per-vehicle costs, including provisions for purchase commitment losses and promotional activities [2][8]. - The company has guided first-quarter sales to be between 88,000 and 93,000 units, with March sales estimated at 32,000 to 37,000 units, indicating that price reductions have effectively stimulated sales recovery. However, the ASP is expected to continue declining to around RMB 250,000 in the first quarter, which is below expectations [2][8]. Financial Overview - The company's revenue for 2023 is projected at RMB 123.851 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 173.5%. For 2024, revenue is expected to reach RMB 144.460 billion, reflecting a growth of 16.6% [3][16]. - The net profit for 2023 is estimated at RMB 11.704 billion, with a significant decline of 673.8% year-on-year. The forecast for 2024 shows a net profit of RMB 8.032 billion, a further decrease of 32.2% [3][16]. - The earnings per share (EPS) for 2023 is projected at RMB 5.95, dropping to RMB 4.03 in 2024, with a forecasted EPS of RMB 4.29 for 2025 [3][16]. Market Competition and Challenges - The report highlights that the competition in the automotive market is shifting from incremental to stock competition, with more competitors entering the range-extended vehicle segment in 2025. This includes the launch of new models from competitors that may impact the company's sales base [8]. - The report expresses concerns regarding the company's ability to maintain its gross margin, particularly with the introduction of new electric models expected to have lower margins, which could further pressure overall profitability [8].