GOLDEN SUN SECURITIES·2025-05-11 10:23Investment Rating - The industry maintains a rating of "Buy" for key companies such as Anta Sports, Tabo, and Bosideng, with a recommendation to focus on high-quality brands and companies with strong fundamentals [5][10][28]. Core Insights - Puma's Q1 2025 performance met expectations, with revenue growth of 0.1% year-on-year to €2.076 billion, while net profit saw a significant decline of 99.5% to €500,000 due to global economic fluctuations, particularly in the US and China [1][15]. - The report emphasizes the resilience of the sportswear sector, projecting a revenue growth of 4.4% and a net profit decline of only 0.6% for key apparel companies in 2024, with a stronger recovery anticipated in 2025 [4][26]. - The DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) business showed robust growth, with a 12% increase in revenue to €550 million, while wholesale revenue declined by 3.6% [3][20]. Summary by Sections Puma's Q1 2025 Performance - Revenue increased by 0.1% to €2.076 billion, with a slight decline in gross margin by 0.6 percentage points to 47% [1][15]. - Operating profit fell by 63.7% to €6 million, and net profit dropped by 99.5% to €500,000, attributed to economic volatility [1][15]. - Inventory rose by 16.3% to €2.08 billion, mainly due to increased in-transit stock [1][15]. Regional and Business Model Analysis - EMEA region revenue grew by 5.1% to €890 million, while the Americas saw a decline of 2.7% to €750 million, primarily due to a 11.1% drop in North America [2][20]. - The Asia-Pacific region experienced a 4.7% decline to €430 million, with a notable 17.7% drop in Greater China [2][20]. - The company is adapting to US tariff issues by optimizing product sourcing and reallocating production [2][20]. DTC and Wholesale Business Performance - DTC revenue increased by 12% to €550 million, with e-commerce growing by 17.3% and self-operated retail stores by 8.9% [3][20]. - Wholesale revenue decreased by 3.6% to €1.53 billion, driven by weak demand in the US and China [3][20]. Industry Outlook - The report suggests focusing on brands with solid fundamentals and anticipating a recovery in 2025, with the sportswear sector expected to benefit from government policies and increased consumer participation in sports [4][26]. - Recommendations include companies like Anta Sports, Tabo, and Bosideng, which are projected to have strong earnings growth and attractive valuations [28][29].