CATL(300750) 华兴证券·2025-03-19 09:30Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of RMB 302.30, indicating an upside potential of 18% from the current price of RMB 256.00 [1][8][16]. Core Insights - The report highlights that the demand for energy storage is expected to continue growing in 2025, supported by a strong performance in Q4 2024, where lithium battery sales reached 145 GWh, reflecting a 16% quarter-on-quarter increase [6][11]. - The company is projected to achieve revenue of RMB 457.1 billion in 2025, with a net profit of RMB 63.3 billion, and an EPS of RMB 13.97 [10][14]. - The report notes a significant increase in production capacity utilization, which reached 76.3% for the year, with expectations of further growth in the second half of 2024 [7][11]. Summary by Sections Investment Rating - The investment rating remains "Buy" with a target price adjustment to RMB 302.30 from RMB 301.00 [2]. Financial Performance - The company reported a revenue of RMB 362.0 billion for 2024, a decrease of 9.7% year-on-year, primarily due to falling battery prices influenced by lower lithium carbonate costs [6][10]. - The average selling prices for power and energy storage batteries were RMB 0.75/Wh and RMB 0.70/Wh, respectively [6]. Earnings Forecast - The report projects 2025E EPS at RMB 13.97, with a subsequent increase to RMB 17.28 in 2026E and RMB 18.89 in 2027E [2][10]. - The adjusted revenue forecasts for 2025 and 2026 are RMB 457.1 billion and RMB 508.1 billion, respectively, reflecting a 12.6% and 14.2% increase from previous estimates [15]. Market Position - The company is expected to maintain a strong market position with a projected net profit margin of approximately 14.7% in 2025, supported by a robust cash flow and dividend policy [7][10]. - The report emphasizes the company's leading position in the lithium battery market, with a focus on expanding its market share in Europe through new production facilities [7][8].