Tianfeng Securities·2025-05-23 10:23Industry Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained at "Outperform" [1] Core Viewpoints - Short-term focus on the new order cycle and accelerated delivery leading to improved capacity utilization and reduced variable costs, indicating a potential turnaround for companies in the sector [2] - Long-term attention on the reform dividends from equipment procurement and supply system changes, emphasizing the strategic importance of the types of equipment produced and the innovative leadership in processes, materials, and components [2] Summary by Sections 2024A & 2025Q1 Financial Analysis - The defense and military industry reported total revenue of 680.77 billion yuan in 2024, a year-over-year decline of 2.09%, with a net profit of 24.22 billion yuan, down 38.69% year-over-year [5][9] - The first quarter of 2025 showed total revenue of 130.11 billion yuan, a decline of 2.84% year-over-year, with a net profit of 6.22 billion yuan, down 18.37% year-over-year [5][9] - The industry is expected to enter a new procurement cycle in 2025, following the resolution of negative factors affecting performance [5][9] Structural Differentiation - The recovery of the sector is accompanied by increasing structural differentiation among various sub-sectors and companies, with significant growth in missile-related operations and fixed assets maintaining over 10% growth [5][9] - The industry is characterized by a co-existence of downward cycles in performance and upward cycles in supply-side capabilities, indicating a solid long-term fundamental outlook [5][9] Key Companies to Watch - Companies to focus on include: - Aviation mainframe manufacturers: AVIC Shenyang Aircraft, AVIC Harbin Aircraft, AVIC Engine, and AVIC Xi'an Aircraft [16][17] - New materials: Fushun Special Steel, Steel Research Institute, and others [19][20] - Military electronics: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and others [21][22] - Missile manufacturers: North Navigation, and others [30][31] Financial Metrics - The overall gross margin for the defense and military sector was 19.77% in 2024, with a net profit margin of 3.56% [9][10] - The sector's fixed assets and construction in progress grew by 6.86% in 2024, indicating ongoing investment despite short-term challenges [14][26] Market Trends - The industry is witnessing a shift towards informationization and smart technologies, with new models expected to drive demand in the coming years [23] - The focus on military-civilian integration is expected to enhance the growth of new materials, with increasing penetration of military applications in civilian products [20]