Shenwan Hongyuan Securities·2025-11-04 09:15Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Optimistic" rating for the construction industry [2][3]. Core Insights - The construction industry faced revenue and profit pressures in Q1-Q3 2025, with total revenue of 5.52 trillion, down 5.2% year-on-year, and net profit of 118.9 billion, down 9.0% year-on-year [2][3]. - The decline in revenue has narrowed, and cash flow has shown significant improvement, attributed to local government debt resolution policies and enhanced cash flow management by companies [2][5]. - The industry’s gross margin remained stable at 9.8%, with a net margin of 2.16%, indicating effective cost control despite external pressures [2][10]. Summary by Sections 1. Financial Overview of the Construction Industry - In Q1-Q3 2025, major listed companies in the construction sector reported a total revenue of 5.52 trillion, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 5.2%, and a net profit of 118.9 billion, down 9.0% [3][9]. - Quarterly revenues were 1.84 trillion, 1.91 trillion, and 1.76 trillion, with respective year-on-year declines of 6.2%, 5.2%, and 4.3% [3][9]. 2. ROE Analysis - The overall Return on Equity (ROE) for the industry in Q1-Q3 2025 was 3.36%, a decrease of 0.53 percentage points year-on-year [17]. - The decline in ROE is attributed to reduced investment and increased cost pressures, impacting profitability [17][28]. 3. Cash Flow Improvement - The industry’s operating cash flow showed improvement, with a net outflow of 404.7 billion, which is 70.7 billion less than the previous year [4][14]. - The cash collection ratio improved to 103%, 87%, and 108% across the three quarters, indicating better cash management [4][14]. 4. Investment and Profitability Trends - The construction sector is experiencing a shift towards cash management and asset quality improvement, with companies focusing on reducing ineffective assets [5][26]. - Investment net income in Q3 2025 decreased by 39.4 billion year-on-year, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the sector [26]. 5. Market Perception and Opportunities - The report suggests that the market underestimates the potential for investment in the construction and real estate sectors, which remain crucial to the economy [6]. - The emphasis on quality over growth by state-owned enterprises is expected to create new opportunities for sustainable growth [6].