STAR LAKE SCIENCE(SH:600866) Minsheng Securities·2025-04-22 08:39Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the company, indicating a potential upside of over 15% relative to the benchmark index [4]. Core Views - The company has demonstrated strong profit growth, with a 39.12% year-on-year increase in net profit for 2024, driven by effective cost control and increased sales volume despite a slight decline in revenue [1][2]. - The market for feed amino acids is experiencing significant growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%, which is expected to benefit the company as it focuses on small variety amino acids [3]. - The company is investing 37.12 billion yuan in a corn deep processing project, which is anticipated to enhance its competitive edge in the amino acid market [3]. Financial Performance Summary - In 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 173.34 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 0.23% year-on-year, while net profit reached 9.43 billion yuan, an increase of 39.12% [1]. - For Q1 2025, the company reported a revenue of 40.39 billion yuan, down 3.82% year-on-year, but net profit surged by 88.55% to 4.74 billion yuan [1][2]. - The gross profit margin improved significantly, reaching 22.46% in Q1 2025, compared to 17.19% in 2024, reflecting better cost management [2]. Business Segment Overview - In 2024, the company generated revenue from various segments: food additives (4.25 billion yuan), feed additives (11.73 billion yuan), and others, with respective gross margins of 12.24% and 16.97% [2]. - The company’s overall profit margins improved, with net profit margin reaching 5.48% in 2024, up from previous levels [2]. Future Earnings Forecast - The company is projected to achieve net profits of 13.05 billion yuan, 14.48 billion yuan, and 16.16 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with corresponding earnings per share (EPS) of 0.79 yuan, 0.87 yuan, and 0.97 yuan [3][5].