Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for CATL A/H shares, with a 12-month price target of Rmb323.00 for CATL A shares and HK$343.00 for CATL H shares, indicating an upside potential of 27.8% and 5.7% respectively [1][4][20]. Core Insights - The launch of Xiaomi's YU7, equipped with CATL batteries, is expected to bolster CATL's product mix improvement and drive growth in Qilin battery penetration starting in the second half of 2025 [2][26]. - Xiaomi has become CATL's largest high-end battery customer, contributing approximately 50% of Qilin and Shenxing installations in Q1 2025, with projections indicating significant growth in battery supply to Xiaomi in the coming years [3][31]. - The report emphasizes that product mix improvement is crucial for CATL's unit profit expansion, which has been undervalued by the market [4][38]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - CATL's market capitalization is Rmb1.2 trillion (approximately $160.7 billion), with an enterprise value of Rmb881.8 billion (approximately $123.0 billion) [5]. Financial Projections - Revenue is projected to grow from Rmb362 billion in 2024 to Rmb588 billion by 2027, with EBITDA increasing from Rmb77.5 billion to Rmb143 billion over the same period [5][18]. - EPS is expected to rise from Rmb11.58 in 2024 to Rmb22.49 in 2027, reflecting a strong growth trajectory [5][18]. Growth and Margins - Total revenue growth is forecasted at -9.7% in 2024, followed by a recovery with 20.4% growth in 2025 and 22.1% in 2026 [13]. - EBITDA margin is expected to improve from 21.4% in 2024 to 24.3% by 2027, indicating enhanced profitability [13]. Competitive Position - CATL is projected to maintain a significant market share in the EV battery sector, with Xiaomi closing the gap with top competitors like Tesla and Geely [28][30]. - The report highlights that CATL's high-end NCM battery, Qilin, is expected to see a resurgence in penetration, alleviating pressures from lower-priced LFP battery competition [2][24].
高盛：宁德时代_从小米 YU7 发布看关联影响，助力宁德时代产品组合优化；买入评级