Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to the company, Modern Dairy, with a target price of HKD 1.59 per share, corresponding to a 1.09 times P/B ratio for 2025 [7][11][17]. Core Insights - The company is positioned as a leader in the dairy industry, benefiting from a cyclical recovery and demonstrating strong earnings elasticity. The report anticipates a rebound in raw milk prices and a return to supply-demand balance in the second half of 2025 [3][11][53]. - The company has implemented a cost leadership strategy across its entire supply chain, which includes feed production, dairy farming, and processing, aiming to reduce procurement costs and enhance operational efficiency [11][20][45]. Financial Summary - Total revenue projections for 2025-2027 are estimated at RMB 133.50 billion, RMB 145.99 billion, and RMB 163.47 billion, reflecting growth rates of 0.7%, 9.4%, and 12.0% respectively. The net profit for the same period is expected to be -RMB 5.80 billion, RMB 4.38 billion, and RMB 15.84 billion, with EPS of -0.07, 0.06, and 0.20 yuan per share [5][16][19]. - The gross margin is projected to improve from 26.0% in 2024 to 33.6% by 2027, driven by cost reductions and increased milk prices [5][19]. Industry Position - Modern Dairy holds a 7% market share in the dairy industry as of 2024, with a significant portion of its raw milk sales being secured by its major shareholder, Mengniu Dairy, which has consistently purchased over 90% of the company's raw milk [11][32][20]. - The company has expanded its operations through acquisitions and innovative leasing models, allowing for low-cost expansion and increased production capacity [20][32]. Operational Efficiency - The company has focused on optimizing its herd structure, increasing the proportion of productive cows, and enhancing milk yield through digital management systems. The average milk yield per cow is expected to exceed 13 tons in the first half of 2025 [60][11]. - Cost control measures have led to a significant reduction in feed costs, with the cost per kilogram of milk dropping by 16.7% year-on-year to RMB 1.95 in 2024 [45][46].
现代牧业(01117):首次覆盖报告:成本领先,弹性可期