SINOLINK SECURITIES·2025-05-05 07:22Investment Rating - The report suggests a positive outlook for the wind power equipment sector, indicating an industry turning point in Q1 2025 with expected revenue and profit growth [3]. Core Insights - The wind power sector faced revenue and profit pressure in 2024 due to a deflationary cycle, with total revenue of 192 billion yuan, down 3.5% year-on-year, and net profit of 5.75 billion yuan, down 26.6% [2][20][23]. - Q1 2025 marked a recovery with a revenue of 37.2 billion yuan, up 15.4% year-on-year, and net profit of 1.25 billion yuan, up 2.8%, indicating the first positive year-on-year growth in net profit for Q1 in three years [2][26][30]. - The report highlights the importance of manufacturing profitability as the transfer of power stations slows down, with a focus on the manufacturing segment's increasing significance [2][3]. - The report identifies three key investment themes: 1) Equipment manufacturers benefiting from price stabilization and increased revenue from offshore projects, recommending companies like Goldwind Technology and Mingyang Smart Energy; 2) Companies in the submarine cable and foundation segments benefiting from high demand and overseas orders, recommending Dongfang Cable and Haile Wind Power; 3) Companies in the casting and blade segments with significant profit elasticity due to supply-demand tightness, recommending Jinlei Co. and Riyue Co. [3]. Summary by Sections Demand Review - The report notes a robust demand foundation with a 10% year-on-year increase in new wind power installations in 2024, totaling 87 GW, despite a decline in offshore wind installations [2][8]. - Q1 2025 saw accelerated offshore wind project starts, with 14.6 GW of new wind power connected to the grid, indicating a positive trend [8][9]. Financial Review - The financial performance in 2024 was under pressure, with a revenue of 192 billion yuan and a net profit of 57.5 billion yuan, reflecting a challenging market environment [20][23]. - In Q1 2025, the sector's revenue and profit showed signs of recovery, with a revenue of 372 billion yuan and a net profit of 12.5 billion yuan, marking a significant improvement [26][30]. Segment Analysis - The report highlights that the profitability of the complete machine manufacturing segment is stabilizing, while the tower and foundation segments face profitability challenges due to price declines and demand fluctuations [2][3]. - The casting and forging segments showed significant recovery in Q1 2025, benefiting from improved demand and pricing adjustments [39][44]. Price Trends - Wind turbine prices stabilized in Q4 2024, with a slight recovery in Q1 2025, indicating a potential end to the downward price trend [16][44]. - The report anticipates that as the market stabilizes, companies will see improved profitability from price adjustments in key components like casting and blades [44].