GUOTAI HAITONG SECURITIES·2025-05-07 01:05Investment Rating - The report rates the food and beverage sector as "Overweight" for 2024 and Q1 2025 [1] Core Insights - The food and beverage sector is experiencing a slowdown, with 2024 revenue and net profit expected to grow by 2% and 4% year-on-year, respectively. For Q1 2025, revenue and net profit are projected to increase by 1% and 0.2% year-on-year, indicating overall deceleration [2][4] Summary by Sections 1. Food and Beverage Sector Overview - The food and beverage sector's total revenue for 2024 is projected at 1,089.8 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 2%, and net profit at 220.2 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 4%. The growth rate has decreased by 4.9 percentage points for revenue and 12.7 percentage points for net profit compared to the previous year [7][8] 2. Subsector Performance 2.1. Baijiu (Chinese liquor) - The baijiu sector is facing demand pressure, with revenue growth for high-end, mid-range, and regional baijiu expected to be 12%, 3%, and 0% respectively in 2024. Net profit growth is projected at 11%, -1%, and -7% respectively, indicating a clear performance differentiation among brands [12][14] 2.2. Beer - The beer sector is showing signs of recovery, with Q1 2025 revenue increasing by 4% and net profit by 11%. However, the average price per ton is under pressure, with a slight decline in prices observed [47][48] 2.3. Snacks - The snack segment is experiencing structural growth, with revenue growth of 18% in Q4 2024 and 2% in Q1 2025, although the latter is affected by high base effects and the timing of the Spring Festival [4][8] 2.4. Soft Drinks - The soft drink sector maintains a good growth trajectory, with revenue growth of 3% and net profit growth of 1% in Q1 2025, driven by strong performance from leading brands [4][8] 2.5. Dairy Products - The dairy sector faced a decline in 2024, with revenue down 7% and net profit down 27%. However, there are signs of improvement in Q1 2025 [4][8] 2.6. Seasonings - The seasoning sector is showing marginal improvement, with revenue growth of 3% and net profit growth of 7% in Q1 2025 [4][8] 2.7. Food Supply Chain - The food supply chain sector is under pressure due to increased competition, with revenue down 5% and net profit down 13% in Q1 2025 [4][8] 3. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests overweight positions in high-quality growth stocks within the baijiu sector, such as Shanxi Fenjiu and Guizhou Moutai, as well as in snack companies like Three Squirrels and Yanjin. In the beer sector, it recommends stocks like Qingdao Beer and Zhujiang Beer [4][8]