Changjiang Securities·2026-03-08 11:04Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" and maintained [10] Core Viewpoints - The overall demand for sports footwear and apparel remains weak, with no clear turning point observed in January orders. Retail performance in the US and UK shows some resilience, while demand in continental Europe and Japan remains weak. Growth is primarily driven by high-end consumption, with mass apparel recovery expected to take more time. Export performance is improving in Vietnam, while China's export remains under pressure [2][6][24] - The upstream manufacturing sector shows strong performance certainty, with retail sales of apparel brands improving. The US Supreme Court's rejection of Trump's tariff policy is favorable for the manufacturing sector. The performance of upstream manufacturing is expected to be more certain in the first half of 2026, while the downstream sports supply chain is on a recovery path. Retail sales growth for apparel brands in January and February is promising, and sentiment in the sector is likely to improve [7][32] Summary by Sections Manufacturing Performance - In January, the revenue growth for major footwear manufacturers varied: Yuanyuan Group's revenue increased by 0.6% year-on-year, while Fengtai's revenue decreased by 1.8%, Zhijiang International's by 3.3%, and Yuchi-KY's by 5.1%. For apparel manufacturers, Ruhong's revenue grew by 7.6%, while Juyang's revenue fell by 19.2% [5][17] Demand Analysis - Retail demand in January showed resilience in the US and UK, with the US maintaining low positive growth and the UK showing relative stability. France's retail remains near zero growth, Germany shows some recovery, while Japan's growth is significantly weakening. The US consumer confidence index continues to decline, indicating that growth is mainly supported by high-end consumption, with mass apparel consumption recovery lagging [6][24][27] Upstream and Downstream Insights - The manufacturing sector is expected to recover in 2026, with strong performance certainty driven by rising material prices. Recommended stocks include Xin'ao Co. and others with strong earnings potential. The A-share market is expected to see continued destocking in 2025, with a potential for profit optimization in 2026. Recommended stocks include Mercury Home Textiles and others focusing on high-end apparel [32][33]