Haitong Securities International·2026-01-05 13:31Investment Focus - The report emphasizes prioritizing midstream dairy companies for consumer staples exposure in China, suggesting that this sector is expected to recover first in terms of performance and valuation [1][6]. Industry Overview - In December 2025, among the eight tracked essential consumer sectors, four showed positive growth while four experienced declines. The growing sectors included condiments, frozen foods, soft drinks, and dining, while the declining sectors were premium and mass-market baijiu, dairy products, and beer [3][9]. - The report indicates that the overall demand in most sectors remains subdued, with traditional categories like baijiu, beer, and dairy under pressure due to weakened consumer sentiment and competition from substitutes [3][9]. Price Trends - Baijiu wholesale prices mostly stabilized in December, with notable price changes for various brands. For instance, the price for Moutai (飞天) was reported at 1600 RMB for a full box, down 50 RMB from the previous month [4][22]. - Discounts on liquid milk and convenience foods increased significantly, reflecting a lack of demand, while discounts on condiments and soft drinks decreased [4][36]. Cost Analysis - The cost index for six categories of consumer goods showed mixed results in December, with soft drinks and instant noodles experiencing slight increases, while dairy products and beer saw modest declines [4][5]. - The prices of raw materials such as aluminum cans and paper increased year-on-year, impacting overall production costs [4]. Market Capitalization and Valuation - As of the end of December, net inflows into Hong Kong Stock Connect amounted to 20.825 billion RMB, with the consumer staples sector's market capitalization share rising to 5.61% [5]. - The report notes that the historical PE ratio for A-share food and beverage companies was at 16% (20.3x), indicating a decrease of 5 percentage points from the previous month [5]. Recommendations - The report suggests a two-pronged investment strategy for January: focusing on high-risk preference stocks like Luzhou Laojiao and Wuliangye, and on stocks with improving fundamentals and dividend yields such as Yili and Mengniu [6].