Investment Rating - The report maintains a BUY rating for Xtep with a target price of HK4.46 [4]. Core Insights - Xtep's retail sales in 1Q24 increased by high single digits year-over-year, aligning with market expectations, and showing signs of acceleration in growth due to new product launches and e-commerce support [2][3]. - The company expects improved retail sales growth, better discounts, and inventory levels from 2Q24E onward, supported by the popularity of new products like the 360X running shoes [2][3]. - The stock is currently trading at an undemanding valuation of 9x FY24E P/E, which is attractive compared to its 8-year average of 15x [2][4]. Earnings Summary - Xtep's revenue for FY24E is projected at RMB 15,913 million, with a year-over-year growth of 10.9% [12]. - The net profit for FY24E is estimated at RMB 1,230 million, reflecting a net profit margin of 7.7% [12]. - The company anticipates a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% for sales and 18% for net profit during FY23-26E [2][4]. Retail Performance - Retail sales growth for offline, online, and kids segments was reported at low single digits, over 25%, and 10% respectively in 1Q24 [2]. - Retail discounts narrowed to 25%-30% in 1Q24, showing improvement from 30% in 4Q23, with expectations for further reduction in 2Q24E [2][3]. Market Position - Xtep's new products, particularly the 360X running shoes, have been well-received, with over 500,000 pairs sold in just one month [2]. - The e-commerce segment is expected to rebound as the company increases the supply of entry-level and value-for-money products [2]. Financial Projections - The report conservatively estimates a revenue of RMB 17,587 million for FY25E and RMB 19,322 million for FY26E, maintaining the same growth expectations as previous estimates [8][9]. - Gross profit margin is projected to improve to 42.7% in FY25E and 43.1% in FY26E [12].
Steady recovery shall continue with high yield