21世纪经济报道·2025-05-17 02:38Core Viewpoint - The dairy industry, particularly the infant formula segment, is facing challenges as major players like Mengniu and Yili transition away from high growth models, leading to significant goodwill impairments and revenue declines [3][6][10]. Group 1: Company Performance - Mengniu's revenue in 2024 was 88.68 billion, a year-on-year decline of 10.1%, with a net profit of 1.05 billion, down 97.8% due to goodwill impairment related to Bellamy [3][12]. - Yili reported revenue of 115.78 billion in 2024, a decrease of 8.24%, with a net profit of 8.45 billion, down 18.94%, impacted by a 3.03 billion goodwill impairment from Aoyou [3][12]. - Both companies are experiencing a shift in focus towards profitability rather than growth, with Yili's milk powder and dairy products achieving a gross margin of 41.02% in 2024, compared to lower margins in liquid milk [11][12]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The infant formula market is under pressure, with offline sales in 2024 declining by 9.8% in value and 9.4% in volume, reflecting a saturated market due to declining birth rates [8][12]. - Yili's acquisition of Aoyou and Mengniu's acquisition of Bellamy were strategic moves aimed at capturing high-end market segments, despite the current market downturn [6][8]. - The competition in the high-margin infant formula segment is intensifying, with both companies aiming to enhance product value and structure to adapt to market changes [11][17]. Group 3: Future Strategies - Mengniu's new president, Gao Fei, has introduced a strategy focusing on core business and innovation, aiming for revenue recovery by 2025 [17]. - Yili plans to improve product value through diversified operations and global expansion, with expectations of continuous profit improvement in existing businesses [17]. - Both companies are committed to returning to previous stock price highs, with Yili maintaining a dividend payout ratio of 91.4% in 2024, while Mengniu increased its payout ratio to 45% [14][17].