MENGNIU DAIRY(02319) 长江证券·2025-05-20 06:28Investment Rating - The report gives a "Buy" rating for the company, marking its first coverage [9]. Core Views - The company is expected to benefit from a recovery in profitability as raw milk supply and demand approach balance, leading to a slowdown in price competition. The ongoing product upgrades, particularly in high-end segments like fresh milk and cheese, are anticipated to positively contribute to overall profitability [3][9]. Company Overview - The company is a leading player in the domestic dairy industry, backed by COFCO Group, and is diversifying its product categories. In 2024, the revenue breakdown is projected to be 82.40% from liquid milk, 5.84% from ice cream, 3.74% from milk powder, 4.87% from cheese, and 3.15% from other dairy products [6][14]. - The liquid milk segment remains the core business, with stable growth, while ice cream and cheese segments are expected to see further revenue increases, with cheese showing a year-on-year growth of 0.45 percentage points [6][26]. Industry Analysis - The raw milk supply and demand are expected to rebalance, with a potential price turning point on the horizon. Since 2018, milk production has increased for six consecutive years, but recent demand pressures have led to a 24.53% decline in average raw milk prices from late 2021 to July 2023. The stabilization of milk prices is anticipated to improve the profitability of dairy companies [7][9]. - The trend towards high-quality and health-oriented products is expected to drive long-term demand growth in the dairy sector. Innovations in product offerings, such as low-temperature short-shelf-life milk and sugar-free yogurt, align with the health-conscious consumer trend [7]. Business Strategy - The company is enhancing its upstream milk source through investments in farms and strategic partnerships. It currently collaborates with over a thousand farms, ensuring that 100% of its fresh milk comes from large-scale, intensive farms [8]. - The company is also focusing on digital transformation to improve operational efficiency and expand its distribution channels, particularly in rural areas [8][30]. Financial Performance - The company’s revenue is projected to reach 886.75 million in 2024, with a year-on-year decline of 10.09%, while the net profit is expected to be 1.05 billion, down 97.83% year-on-year. The revenue drop is attributed to weak industry demand, but ongoing product innovation and channel expansion are expected to enhance market presence [23][26].