CBEST(SH:600729) Huaxin Securities·2025-05-28 00:23Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating for the company, marking the first coverage of the stock [1][7]. Core Insights - The company is experiencing revenue pressure but is enhancing resilience through structural optimization and business transformation [1][4]. - In 2024, the company reported a revenue of 17.139 billion yuan, a decrease of 10% year-on-year, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 1.315 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 0.01% [4]. - The company’s gross margin improved by 1 percentage point in both 2024 and Q1 2025, reaching 26.52% and 29.64% respectively, primarily due to a reduction in the proportion of low-margin automotive trading business [5]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 4.135 billion yuan, down 2% year-on-year, but net profit increased by 110% to 392 million yuan [4]. - For Q1 2025, revenue was 4.276 billion yuan, a decrease of 12%, while net profit rose by 9% to 475 million yuan [4]. Business Structure and Strategy - The company is optimizing its business structure, with a notable contribution from the fast-moving consumer goods sector driving investment income [5]. - The revenue breakdown for 2024 shows department stores, supermarkets, electrical appliances, and automotive trading generating 1.770 billion, 6.164 billion, 3.303 billion, and 4.288 billion yuan respectively, with varying year-on-year growth rates [6]. Regional Performance - Revenue from the Chongqing, Sichuan, and Hubei regions in 2024 was 15.469 billion, 250 million, and 3 million yuan respectively, reflecting a decline due to weak consumer demand [6]. Earnings Forecast - The company is expected to maintain steady growth, with projected EPS for 2025, 2026, and 2027 at 3.23, 3.52, and 3.78 yuan respectively, corresponding to PE ratios of 9, 9, and 8 times [7][10].