Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the education sector [2] Core Insights - The education industry has two core functions: academic advancement and employment, leading to various sub-sectors. K12 education is characterized as a long-term growth sector with strong underlying demand and a long user lifecycle [3] - The K12 education market has previously reached valuations exceeding 1 trillion RMB, with leading companies like TAL Education, New Oriental, and Gaotu achieving peak market caps of 349.3 billion, 235 billion, and 217.8 billion RMB respectively [3] - The report highlights that the education sector is currently in a recovery phase post "Double Reduction" policy and pandemic, with structural investment opportunities still present [3] Summary by Sections Industry Trends - Favorable policies such as birth subsidies are expected to improve education consumption expectations, while K12 education is undergoing normalized regulation [6] - The population trend indicates a decline in the number of elementary school students starting in 2024 due to decreasing birth rates, although the demand for high school education remains strong [11][13] - There is a persistent strong desire for higher education, with the expansion of ordinary undergraduate degrees continuing [17][18] Market Performance - From January 1 to June 12, 2025, the education sector index rose by 5.04%, outperforming the broader market by 5.50 percentage points [24] - The report notes significant stock performance differentiation within the sector, with companies like China Oriental Education leading in vocational training due to a reassessment of blue-collar skill training value [30] Sub-sector Analysis - K12 Education: The report emphasizes the ongoing demand for K12 education despite regulatory challenges, with a focus on high-quality educational institutions benefiting from favorable demographic trends [30] - Vocational Education: The demand for vocational skills training is expected to grow, particularly as the labor market evolves [30] - AI in Education: The report highlights the rapid development and integration of AI in educational products, with traditional education companies accelerating their AI product offerings [22][24]