Summary of Liberty Global Conference Call - November 12, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Liberty Global (NasdaqGS:LBTY.A) - **Revenue**: $22 billion across four core markets [2][3] - **Market Position**: Claims to be undervalued compared to peers, with a leverage ratio of 5.5 times [2][3] Core Strategic Pillars 1. **Liberty Telecom**: - Focus on telecom assets across Europe, with a history of buying and building telcos [2][3] - Significant opportunities for value creation despite current low stock valuation [3] 2. **Liberty Growth**: - Valued at $8-$9 per share, primarily from media and sports infrastructure assets [3][4] - Generated over $600 million in revenue from tech and financial services platforms [4] 3. **Liberty Services and Corporate**: - Corporate spend guidance reduced from $200 million to $100 million, indicating improved efficiency [4][51] - Headcount reduced by 40% year-over-year, contributing to cost savings [51] Value Creation Initiatives - **Spin-off of Sunrise**: - Successfully spun off Swiss operation, which now trades at 8 times EBITDA, unlocking significant value [7][10] - The market cap of Sunrise is larger than Liberty Global's current market cap [7] - **Belgium and Netherlands Operations**: - Belgium's market is rational with three core operators, and Liberty Global is building fiber off-balance sheet [11][12] - Dutch operations are showing signs of turnaround with improved performance and investment in brand [23][24] - **Formula E Investment**: - Liberty Global sees potential in motorsports, particularly in electric racing, with a focus on global reach and sustainability [46][49] Competitive Landscape - **UK Market**: - Highly competitive with aggressive MVNOs and AltNets impacting pricing and broadband net adds [16][17] - Liberty Global is focusing on retention strategies and enhancing service offerings [17] - **Regulatory Environment**: - Positive changes anticipated in the EU and UK regarding merger controls and spectrum allocation [19][20] - Liberty Global advocates for a favorable regulatory environment to support growth [21][66] Financial Performance and Guidance - **2025 EBITDA Guidance**: - Mid to high single-digit decline expected in EBITDA for the Netherlands, but signs of recovery are evident [23][24] - Focus on generating free cash flow and maintaining a strong cash position [44][65] - **Share Buybacks**: - Consistent share buybacks have reduced share count by 65% since 2017, enhancing shareholder value [57][58] Additional Insights - **Corporate Efficiency**: - Significant reductions in corporate spending and headcount are expected to continue, with potential for further cost savings [51][52] - Liberty Bloom initiative aims to create a separate revenue stream from back-office solutions [53][54] - **Long-term Vision**: - The focus remains on delivering value to shareholders rather than the company's structural form [74] - Liberty Global is positioned to leverage its assets for future growth and value creation opportunities [66][70] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Liberty Global conference call, highlighting the company's strategic focus, financial performance, and market positioning.

Core Viewpoint - The metal packaging industry is entering a capacity expansion phase from 2022 to 2024, with increased competition and a projected average price drop for two-piece cans to 0.47 yuan per can in 2024. However, leading companies are showing a stronger willingness to avoid internal competition, which may stabilize prices and improve profitability across the industry [1]. Industry Overview - The metal packaging industry generated revenue of 150.56 billion yuan in 2023, accounting for 13.05% of the overall packaging industry. Approximately 70% of the demand for metal packaging products comes from the food and beverage sector, with two-piece and three-piece cans being the primary products [1]. Price Fluctuation and Demand Drivers - The price of two-piece cans has experienced cyclical fluctuations due to changes in supply and demand dynamics. Historical price trends show a decline from 0.52 yuan per can to 0.37 yuan per can during the capacity concentration phase (2012-2016), followed by a recovery to 0.54 yuan per can during the industry consolidation phase (2016-2022). The average price is expected to drop to 0.47 yuan per can during the current capacity expansion phase (2022-2024) [2]. - The beer canning rate in China is projected to increase from 21.21% in 2016 to 29.56% in 2024, driving demand for two-piece cans from 28.96 billion cans to 31.55 billion cans. Each 1% increase in canning rate is estimated to add 1.061 billion cans to demand [2]. Industry Consolidation - The market share of leading companies in the two-piece can sector is increasing, with the CR3 ratio approaching 80% following the acquisition of COFCO Packaging by Orijin in April 2025. This consolidation is expected to halt net growth in domestic two-piece can capacity, with companies also expanding overseas production [3]. Cost Structure and Profitability - Aluminum is the largest cost component in the production of two-piece cans, and its price fluctuations significantly impact profitability. If aluminum prices remain stable, a 0.01 yuan increase in two-piece can prices could lead to a 45% increase in net profit per unit. Conversely, a 2% decrease in aluminum prices could result in a 32% increase in net profit per unit if can prices remain unchanged [4].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the metal packaging industry [11]. Core Insights - The metal packaging industry, particularly the two-piece can segment, is expected to see a recovery in profitability as supply dynamics shift and demand from the beverage sector remains stable [3][4]. - The two-piece can market is characterized by cyclical price fluctuations influenced by supply-demand imbalances, with recent trends indicating a potential bottoming out of prices [2][56]. - The increasing canning rate in the beer and soft drink sectors is projected to be a key driver for future demand growth for two-piece cans [3][32]. Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The metal packaging industry generated revenue of CNY 150.56 billion in 2023, accounting for 13.05% of the overall packaging industry [1][19]. - Approximately 70% of the demand for metal packaging comes from the food and beverage sector, with two-piece cans being a significant product [1][18]. Price Dynamics - The price of two-piece cans has experienced three distinct phases: 1. A decline from CNY 0.52 to CNY 0.37 per can during the capacity concentration phase (2012-2016) due to oversupply [2]. 2. A recovery to CNY 0.54 per can during the industry consolidation phase (2016-2022) as market concentration increased [2]. 3. A projected decline to CNY 0.47 per can during the current capacity expansion phase (2022-2024) as competition intensifies [2][56]. Demand Drivers - The canning rate for beer in China is expected to rise from 21.21% in 2016 to 29.56% in 2024, leading to an increase in demand for two-piece cans from 28.96 billion to 31.55 billion cans [3][32]. - Each 1% increase in the canning rate is estimated to add approximately 1.061 billion cans to demand [3][32]. Industry Consolidation - The market share of leading companies is expected to increase following the acquisition of COFCO Packaging by ORG Packaging, which will further concentrate the market [3][49]. - The top three companies are projected to control nearly 80% of the market share post-acquisition [3][49]. Cost Structure - The price of aluminum, a major cost component in can production, significantly impacts profitability; a CNY 0.01 increase in can price can lead to a 45% increase in net profit per unit [4][56]. International Expansion - Leading companies are actively establishing overseas production bases to enhance profitability, with significant investments planned in countries like Vietnam and Thailand [52][54].

Core Viewpoint - The performance of Guotai Junan Securities in the first three quarters of 2025 has shown strong growth following the merger with Haitong Securities, with total assets exceeding 2 trillion yuan and multiple financial metrics reaching historical highs [1][2]. Financial Performance - As of the end of Q3 2025, the company's total assets reached 2.01 trillion yuan, a 91.74% increase from the beginning of the year, maintaining the industry's leading position in net assets and net capital [1]. - Q3 revenue increased by 136% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders grew by 40.6%, and the growth rate of net profit excluding non-recurring items surged to 101.52%, with a significant quarter-on-quarter increase of 126% [1]. - The company recorded an investment income (including fair value) of 20.37 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 90.11%, and net interest income rose by 232.31% [2]. Business Segments - The brokerage business saw a substantial increase in net income from commissions, up 142.80% year-on-year, with the margin balance reaching 238.6 billion yuan, a 124% increase from the beginning of the year, and market share rising to 10% [2]. - Investment banking fees increased by 46.2% year-on-year, while asset management fees grew by 49.29% year-on-year, reflecting the deepening layout in the asset management sector [2]. Market Environment - The company's development is closely tied to the broader Chinese capital market, which is supported by institutional investors like Central Huijin and the new "National Nine Articles" policy, promoting high-quality industry development [3]. - Despite potential short-term market fluctuations, these factors do not alter the long-term positive outlook for the Chinese capital market [3]. Future Outlook - The company is expected to continue benefiting from the capital market's development, with revenue forecasts for 2025-2027 at 52.99 billion, 60.03 billion, and 65.72 billion yuan, representing year-on-year growth rates of 22.11%, 13.28%, and 9.49% respectively [3]. - Projected net profit attributable to shareholders for the same period is 20.42 billion, 20.71 billion, and 24.01 billion yuan, with growth rates of 56.82%, 1.38%, and 15.96% respectively [3].

Core Viewpoint - Jiangnan Chemical's Q3 2025 report highlights resilience in performance driven by dual engines of civil explosives and new energy, despite a decline in net profit [2][5]. Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, the company achieved operating revenue of 6.885 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.78%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 664 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 11.40% [2]. - In Q3 2025, the company reported operating revenue of 2.271 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.95%, but a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 12.71%. The net profit attributable to shareholders was 237 million yuan, down 28.47% year-on-year and 15.47% quarter-on-quarter [2]. Business Segments - The company has a comprehensive business layout in the civil explosives sector, covering production, sales, and engineering services, with a production capacity of 777,500 tons of industrial explosives, ranking among the top in the industry [3]. - The company is strategically positioned in resource-rich provinces like Xinjiang and has international operations in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing its service offerings in mining projects [3]. New Energy Development - Jiangnan Chemical's new energy business includes wind and solar power project development, with a cumulative installed capacity of approximately 1.06 million kilowatts as of June 2025 [4]. - The company operates 16 wind power projects and 2 solar power projects across resource-rich areas in China, demonstrating a solid development in the new energy sector [4]. Operational Efficiency - The company has optimized its cost structure, with sales, management, and financial expense ratios at 1.59%, 8.83%, and 1.29% respectively for the first three quarters of 2025, indicating effective cost control [4]. - Gross margin and net margin for the first three quarters of 2025 were 30.24% and 12.70%, respectively, reflecting strong profitability [4]. Investment Outlook - The dual business model of civil explosives and new energy is expected to drive long-term growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 13.91% for net profit over the next three years [5]. - A target price of 8.16 yuan is set based on a 24x PE ratio for 2025, with an initial "buy" rating recommended [5].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 2025 was $42.2 million, down 9% year-over-year, but in line with expectations, reflecting continued softness across core markets [12] - Average monthly revenue per paying client decreased by 12% year-over-year to $2,693, primarily due to overall revenue softness and a shift towards newer clients with lower spend levels [13] - Net income for the quarter was $3.6 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $7.6 million, demonstrating profitability amid a softer revenue environment [14] - Cash at the end of the quarter was $62.6 million, up 39% year-over-year, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of positive cash generation [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue across all product categories declined year-over-year, with the majority of the decrease driven by featured and deal listings, which are typically the first areas clients scale back when budgets tighten [12] - Average monthly paying clients increased by 2% year-over-year to 5,221, reflecting continued client acquisition in developing markets, partially offset by churn in more mature states [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Average retail flower prices in California are down roughly 9% year-over-year, and more than 20% in Michigan, indicating significant price and margin compression in key markets [5] - Michigan has introduced a wholesale excise tax of 24% on top of existing taxes, exacerbating the challenges faced by the cannabis industry [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is being increasingly selective in aligning with clients for long-term prospects, sometimes foregoing near-term revenue to improve future opportunities [7] - The company is focusing on developing its brand offerings to better align with the state of the industry and is prioritizing growth with multi-state operators (MSOs) [10] - The company aims to balance near-term execution with long-term opportunities, especially in anticipation of potential federal regulatory changes [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the cannabis industry is facing significant regulatory challenges and market pressures, which may lead to continued industry consolidation [6] - Despite the challenges, management believes that underlying demand and consumer adoption trends remain strong, presenting opportunities for the company to shape the legal cannabis economy [11] - The company expects revenue for Q4 2025 to be between $41 million and $43 million, reflecting ongoing pressure in mature markets and planned investments in key initiatives [15] Other Important Information - The company operates with no debt, providing flexibility to navigate near-term market volatility while investing in strategic initiatives [14] - The company has a strong focus on expense discipline and operational efficiency, which has allowed it to remain profitable despite revenue challenges [14] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions or answers were provided in the content regarding the Q&A session.

Group 1: Kimberly Clark Acquisition - Kimberly Clark is acquiring Ken View in a deal valued at $48.7 billion, which is significant in the consumer staples sector [1] - Shares of Kimberly Clark are currently experiencing a double-digit pullback, indicating market skepticism about the deal [1] - The consumer staples sector is underperforming, being one of the only two sectors with negative earnings growth in the third quarter [2][3] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Sector Performance - The current market cycle is not in the early stages, and fundamentals are crucial, with concerns about staples' pricing power and margins [3] - The acquisition by Kimberly Clark is seen as opportunistic rather than a sign of a broader trend in capital markets activity [4] - The potential for $2 billion in synergies from the acquisition highlights the focus on cost efficiencies [5] Group 3: Healthcare Sector Insights - The healthcare sector, particularly biotech, has faced challenges, but there are signs of recovery with stocks like Amgen and Novo Nordisk being viewed as attractive despite recent struggles [7][8] - Amgen's stock has decreased by 60% from its high, but restructuring efforts are seen positively [8] - The XBI biotech index has been a focus for investment, with a specific entry point identified around 104.5 [10] Group 4: Financial Sector Developments - Charles Schwab has had its price target raised from $130 to $139, reflecting confidence in its integration of the TD purchase and growth potential from $13 trillion in assets [12] - The financial sector is expected to benefit from a broad-based institutional approach, with Schwab positioned to meet consumer needs [12] Group 5: Retail Sector Dynamics - Costco is under pressure and needs to demonstrate strong performance in the upcoming quarter, contrasting with Walmart's recent partnership with OpenAI [14][15] - The momentum score for Costco indicates that strong appreciation from the past year is beginning to roll off, affecting its stock performance [14]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the securities industry, expecting the industry index to outperform the benchmark index by more than 5% in the next 3-6 months [3][23]. Core Insights - The securities industry has experienced a significant recovery, with a 62% year-on-year increase in net profit attributable to shareholders for the first nine months of 2025, driven by a market beta recovery and strong performance in proprietary trading and traditional brokerage businesses [2][6]. - The current price-to-book (PB) ratio for the brokerage sector is 1.55x, which is at the 42.3% percentile over the past 10 years, indicating a certain degree of valuation divergence from performance [2][10]. - Future growth opportunities in the sector will depend on the continuation of market activity and the ability of firms to generate sustainable alpha in proprietary trading and derivatives [2][8]. Summary by Sections Industry Performance - In the first nine months of 2025, total revenue for 42 listed brokerages reached CNY 419.56 billion, a 17% increase year-on-year, with net profit attributable to shareholders at CNY 169.05 billion, up 62% year-on-year [6]. - The average daily trading volume for A-shares was CNY 1.6496 trillion, reflecting a 107% year-on-year increase [6]. Business Segments 1. **Brokerage**: - Net income from commissions and fees reached CNY 111.78 billion in 9M25, a 75% increase year-on-year, with Q3 showing a 142% increase year-on-year [6]. 2. **Investment Banking**: - Revenue from investment banking fees was CNY 25.15 billion in 9M25, a 23% increase year-on-year, with IPOs showing a 61.5% increase year-on-year [6]. 3. **Asset Management**: - Net income from asset management fees was CNY 33.25 billion in 9M25, a 2% increase year-on-year [6]. 4. **Credit**: - Net interest income from credit activities was CNY 33.91 billion in 9M25, a 55% increase year-on-year [6]. 5. **Proprietary Trading**: - Revenue from proprietary trading reached CNY 186.86 billion in 9M25, a 44% increase year-on-year [6]. Market Trends - The report highlights a significant increase in margin trading balances, which reached CNY 24.99 trillion as of October 30, 2025, indicating a recovery in market sentiment [6][9]. - The report also notes that the brokerage sector outperformed the broader market, with a 0.09 percentage point advantage over the benchmark index during the week ending October 30, 2025 [6]. Company Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on supply-side reforms and industry consolidation within the brokerage sector, with specific stock recommendations including Guangfa Securities, CITIC Securities, Huatai Securities, and others [8].

Core Viewpoint - The stock of Eddiecon Holdings (09860) experienced a significant increase, closing up 9.27% at HKD 6.6, with a trading volume of HKD 41.53 million, following a report from Goldman Sachs indicating signs of recovery in the Chinese diagnostics industry starting in Q3 2025 [1] Industry Summary - Goldman Sachs' latest report suggests that the Chinese diagnostics industry, including Independent Clinical Laboratories (ICL) and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) companies, will show recovery signs beginning in Q3 2025 [1] - In the ICL sector, both Kingmed Diagnostics (603882) and Dian Diagnostics (300244) reported improvements in operating cash flow, with a sequential increase in revenue and an expansion in profit margins, despite not meeting revenue targets [1] - CITIC Securities noted a narrowing decline in ICL sector revenues for Q3 2025, although profits are still impacted by impairments [1] - The report highlights that companies with good cost and quality control are likely to gain market share, despite uncertainties in growth rates within the ICL industry [1] Company Summary - Eddiecon reported a gross profit of HKD 450 million and a net profit of HKD 43 million, making it the most profitable among the top three ICL companies [1] - Dian Diagnostics achieved a turnaround, reporting a net profit of HKD 10.27 million during the same period, while Kingmed Diagnostics remains in a loss position [1]

Core Viewpoint - The stock of Aidi Kang Holdings (09860) experienced a significant increase, closing up 9.27% at 6.6 HKD, with a trading volume of 41.53 million HKD, indicating positive market sentiment towards the company and the industry as a whole [1] Group 1: Industry Insights - Goldman Sachs' latest report suggests that the Chinese diagnostic industry, including Independent Clinical Laboratories (ICL) and In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) companies, is expected to show signs of recovery starting from Q3 2025 [1] - In the ICL sector, both Kingmed and Dian Diagnostics reported improvements in operating cash flow, with a sequential increase in revenue and an expansion in profit margins, despite not meeting revenue targets [1] - CITIC Securities noted that the revenue decline in the ICL sector has narrowed in Q3 2025, although profitability remains impacted by impairments [1] Group 2: Company Performance - Aidi Kang reported a gross profit of 450 million and a net profit of 43 million, making it the most profitable among the top three ICL companies [1] - Dian Diagnostics achieved a turnaround, reporting a net profit of 10.27 million during the same period, while Kingmed remains in a loss position [1]