百胜中国（09987）：2024Q4核心经营利润超预期，保持高股东回报

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [1][4]. Core Insights - The company's same-store sales decline has narrowed, and store costs continue to optimize. The core operating profit for Q4 2024 exceeded expectations, with guidance for 2025 indicating that the core operating profit margin will remain at least flat or show positive year-on-year growth. The company maintains a robust shareholder return budget, providing a safety net for dividends [4]. - The company plans to open 1,600 to 1,800 new stores in 2025, with a total of 16,395 stores by the end of 2024, including 11,648 KFC and 3,724 Pizza Hut locations [5][4]. Financial Performance Summary - For Q4 2024, the company achieved revenue of $2.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4$115 million, up 18% year-on-year, and core operating profit was $150 million, up 35$11.84 billion, $12.71 billion, and$13.63 billion for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, representing year-on-year growth of 4.7%, 7.4%, and 7.2%. The net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be $976 million,$1.06 billion, and $1.14 billion for the same years, with growth rates of 7.1$2.58, $2.87, and$3.18 for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively [6]. Shareholder Returns - The company has maintained strong dividend and buyback efforts, with a total shareholder return of $1.5 billion for the year and a 50$0.24 per share for Q4 2024, which will continue into 2025 [4]. - The total shareholder return plan for 2025 and 2026 remains at $3 billion, representing 8.3% of the market capitalization of HKD 1,404 billion [4]. Store Performance - The operating profit margins for KFC and Pizza Hut in Q4 2024 were 13.3% and 9.3%, respectively, showing year-on-year increases of 1.3 and 2.0 percentage points [4]. - Same-store sales for KFC declined by 1% in Q4 2024, while Pizza Hut's same-store sales declined by 2%. However, transaction volumes increased by 3% and 9% for KFC and Pizza Hut, respectively [4].