华润啤酒：业绩筑底完成，静待消费复苏弹性释放-20250320

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 34.19, representing a potential upside of 20% from the current price of HKD 28.5 [4][5]. Core Insights - The company has demonstrated strong operational resilience during the industry adjustment period, achieving a total revenue of RMB 38.635 billion in 2024, a slight decline of 0.8% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 8.0% to RMB 4.739 billion [5][6]. - The company is focusing on premiumization in its beer segment, with high-end product sales growing over 9%, and the overall sales volume of beer reaching 10.87 billion liters, a decline of only 2.5%, which is significantly better than major competitors [5][6]. - The company plans to leverage the recovery in the dining scene and expand into overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, to drive future growth [5][6]. Financial Performance Summary - Revenue and Profitability: - Revenue for 2023 was RMB 38.932 billion, with a projected increase to RMB 39.751 billion in 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 2.9% [3][6]. - Net profit for 2023 was RMB 5.153 billion, expected to rise to RMB 5.374 billion in 2025, indicating a growth of 13.4% [3][6]. - The adjusted EBITDA for 2024 was RMB 6.34 billion, showing a year-on-year increase of 2.9% [5][6]. - Earnings Per Share and Dividends: - Basic earnings per share for 2023 was RMB 1.59, projected to increase to RMB 1.66 in 2025 [3][6]. - The dividend per share for 2024 is expected to be RMB 0.76, with a payout ratio of 52%, and the company aims to increase this to over 60% in the next three years [5][6]. - Cash Flow and Efficiency: - The net cash flow from operating activities surged by 67% year-on-year to RMB 6.93 billion, marking a five-year high [5][6]. - The company has improved its overall gross margin to 42.6%, up by 1.2 percentage points year-on-year [5][6]. Strategic Focus - The company is committed to a "three precision strategy" aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and competitiveness, which includes streamlining organization, optimizing costs, and refining operations [5][6]. - The focus on premiumization and product innovation is expected to solidify the company's leading position in the high-end market segment [5][6].