KSTAR(SZ:002518) CMS·2025-09-11 08:56Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Strong Buy" rating for the company with a target price corresponding to a PE of 34.7X and 26.6X for 2025 and 2026 respectively [2][4]. Core Views - The company has entered an operational turning point, driven by the dual engines of data centers and household energy storage, with an upward trend expected. As a leading player in the domestic data center market, the company is set to benefit directly from the global expansion of intelligent computing capital expenditures. Although the solar storage business faces revenue pressure due to reliance on major clients and an industry downturn in 2024, a gradual recovery is anticipated as the market rebounds [1][6]. Financial Data and Valuation - Total revenue for 2023 is projected at 5,440 million, with a year-on-year growth of 24%. However, a decline of 24% is expected in 2024, followed by a recovery with growth rates of 16%, 21%, and 20% in 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively [3][21]. - Operating profit is expected to be 1,018 million in 2023, with a significant drop to 469 million in 2024, before recovering to 690 million in 2025 and reaching 1,035 million by 2027 [3][21]. - The net profit attributable to the parent company is forecasted to be 845 million in 2023, declining to 394 million in 2024, and then recovering to 579 million in 2025, with further growth to 869 million by 2027 [3][21]. - The company’s earnings per share (EPS) is projected to be 1.45 in 2023, dropping to 0.68 in 2024, and then increasing to 0.99 in 2025 [3][22]. Business Performance - In the first half of 2025, the company reported revenue of 2,163 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.35%, with a net profit of 255 million, up 16.49% year-on-year. The gross profit margin was 28.99%, reflecting a decrease of 3.01 percentage points [6][9]. - The data center business generated revenue of 1,329 million in the first half of 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 7.89%. The gross margin for this segment was 33.26% [6][9]. - The renewable energy business achieved revenue of 813 million in the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 26.38%, although it faced short-term fluctuations due to inventory issues with European clients [6][9]. Market Position and Strategy - The company has established itself as a key supplier for major internet clients such as ByteDance, Alibaba, and JD.com, indicating strong market positioning [6][9]. - The introduction of integrated cooling solutions for high-density scenarios, such as the AquaCube series, highlights the company's innovation in addressing market needs [6][9]. - The company is accelerating its overseas expansion, particularly in the UPS market, which is expected to enhance its prospects in the HVDC segment [6][9].