Core Viewpoint - Haier officially launched its new brand Haier care at the 2025 Shanghai International Elderly Care, Aids, and Rehabilitation Medical Expo, aiming to become the leading brand in China's elderly care industry, showcasing its strategic layout and innovative strength in the smart elderly care sector [1][3]. Industry Context - The elderly care market, valued in the trillions, faces structural challenges such as an incomplete regulatory framework and inconsistent product quality and service standards. The lack of leading brands hampers the market's quality upgrade and affects the consumer experience for the elderly [3]. - In response to these challenges, the State Council issued a document in 2024 to support the incubation of new brands in the elderly care economy, highlighting the importance of Haier's launch of Haier care as a proactive response to national strategies [3]. Company Strategy - Haier has been strategically positioning itself in the elderly care sector since 2022, developing a comprehensive smart elderly care solution known as the 1+5+N model, which includes user interaction, strategic partnerships, and industry positioning [5]. - The introduction of Haier care marks a new journey for Haier in product innovation and ecosystem building, with a commitment to becoming a global leader in smart elderly care solutions [5][6]. Technological Innovation - AI technology is increasingly penetrating various industries, providing new solutions to the challenges posed by an aging population, such as workforce shortages and resource misallocation. Haier is leveraging AI to create smart elderly care solutions [6][8]. - The launch event showcased several AI-powered products, including the AI infrared therapy mat and AI exoskeleton robot, reflecting Haier's deep commitment to innovation in elderly care technology [8]. Brand Values - The Haier care brand emphasizes four core values represented by the acronym C-A-R-E: Convenience, Activity, Responsibility, and Ease, which are illustrated through real-life stories of individuals benefiting from Haier's products [10][11][12]. - The mission of Haier care is to ensure that all parents can enjoy life with dignity, focusing on the needs of various elderly demographics and enhancing their quality of life through technology [12].

Group 1: Demographic Trends and Economic Impact - China's aging population is rapidly increasing, with projections indicating that by 2025, the population aged 60 and above will reach 310.31 million, accounting for 22% of the total population [1] - By 2035, the elderly population is expected to exceed 400 million, with an aging rate surpassing 30%, leading to a net annual increase of over 10 million people aged 60 and above [1] - The silver economy is projected to reach a scale of 19 trillion yuan by 2035, representing 28% of total consumption and 9.6% of GDP [1] Group 2: Market Growth in Medical Devices - The medical device market in China is expected to reach 111.03 billion yuan in 2024, with a forecasted growth to 180 billion yuan in 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 13.5% [1] - From 2025 to 2030, the market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%-10%, increasing from 746.8 billion yuan to 1,346.7 billion yuan, a total increase of 81.1% [1] Group 3: Policy Support for Silver Economy - The Chinese government is promoting high-quality development of the silver economy through innovation, focusing on smart care robots, rehabilitation aids, and anti-aging industries [2] - Policies are aimed at integrating technology with the silver economy, emphasizing the development of smart home, wearable technology, and intelligent elderly care [2] Group 4: Company Profile - Yitai Pharmaceutical - Yitai Pharmaceutical has rapidly established itself as a benchmark in the elderly chronic disease medical device market since its inception in 2017, focusing on technology-driven health solutions [2] - The company’s core competitiveness lies in its technological innovation, particularly in its blood pressure monitoring products that combine the accuracy of the Korotkoff sound method with the stability of oscillometric methods [5] Group 5: Product Development and Future Plans - Yitai Pharmaceutical's blood pressure monitors utilize advanced signal processing technologies to ensure reliable measurements even in complex physiological conditions [5] - The company aims to enhance its service model by integrating artificial intelligence and big data analysis to create comprehensive health profiles and personalized care plans for users [6] - Future plans include expanding into international markets and leveraging a globalized approach to technology, aiming to benefit a larger elderly population [6]

Core Insights - The aging population in China is rapidly increasing, with projections indicating that by 2024, individuals aged 60 and above will reach 310.31 million, accounting for 22% of the total population. By 2035, this number is expected to exceed 400 million, surpassing 30% of the population [1] - Traditional family-based elderly care is becoming insufficient due to changing family structures, leading to a shift towards diversified elderly care models, including home, community, and institutional care [1] - Real estate companies have been exploring the elderly care sector for over a decade, with some exiting due to profitability pressures while others are finding new paths in the market [1] Industry Trends - The "He Yuan" community in Shunyi District, Beijing, represents a new model of elderly living, emphasizing social interaction and self-fulfillment rather than traditional nursing homes [3][4] - The community features various amenities such as libraries, fitness areas, and art studios, promoting an active lifestyle for the elderly [4][6] - The "He Yuan" community is part of a broader trend towards Continuous Living Retirement Communities (CLRC), which focus on enhancing the quality of life for seniors [4][7] Company Strategies - The "Chun Xuan Mao" brand, launched by the Far East Group in 2012, has developed multiple business models, including CLRCs and assisted living facilities, with over 11,000 operational beds [7][8] - The company emphasizes service quality over real estate development, opting for leasing suitable properties and making them age-friendly [8] - Profitability in the elderly care sector is challenging due to long investment recovery periods, but once occupancy rates stabilize, profitability becomes more reliable [8][10] Market Challenges - The elderly care industry faces common issues such as talent shortages and low market maturity, with a high turnover rate among frontline service staff [10][11] - The slow increase in occupancy rates and the prevalence of price wars among institutions highlight the need for improved service quality and consumer awareness [11] - The market is witnessing a consolidation of supply, with many developers exiting and a shift towards insurance companies and state-owned enterprises taking the lead [11] Future Opportunities - The industry is viewed as a "sunrise industry," with increasing interest from younger professionals and potential policy support for investment in elderly care [12] - There is a growing trend of core assets being repurposed for elderly care, with many local governments entering the market to meet public needs [12][15] - The company is focusing on light asset business models, offering consulting and management services to other projects, which allows for flexible revenue-sharing arrangements [13][15] Service Innovations - The company is developing online health management platforms that allow families to monitor their elderly relatives' health data in real-time [16] - Innovative care solutions, such as non-pharmaceutical approaches to dementia care, are being implemented to enhance the quality of life for seniors [16][17] - The shift in elderly care philosophy from mere survival to enjoyment and quality of life is becoming increasingly prominent, with a focus on personalized and high-quality services [17]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [1] Core Insights - The company reported revenue of 2.042 billion yuan and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 466 million yuan for 2024, reflecting year-on-year growth of 13.1% and 8.4% respectively, slightly exceeding previous expectations [2] - The company plans to distribute a final dividend of 0.388 HKD per share, with a payout ratio of 53.9% and a dividend yield of 12.7% [2] - The company has successfully acquired two new land parcels in Foshan, with a total construction area of 140,000 square meters [2] Summary by Sections Educational Business Performance - The educational segment showed steady growth, with total student enrollment increasing by 2.3% year-on-year to 58,000 and average tuition fees rising by 9.3% to 28,000 yuan per student [3] - Revenue from full-time higher education services, educational resource output, lifelong education services, and medical care business for 2024 were 1.626 billion, 221 million, 139 million, and 57 million yuan respectively, with year-on-year growth of 11.8%, 14.9%, -12.3%, and NA [3] Lifelong Education Business - The lifelong education segment experienced a decline, with revenue dropping by 12.3% to 139 million yuan due to a decrease in student enrollment [4] - The company implemented training projects for 94 institutions, covering nearly 41,000 students, and has registered approximately 2.3 million users on its online education platforms [4] Educational Resource Output - Revenue from educational resource output increased by 14.9% to 221 million yuan, supported by optimized cooperation structures and partnerships with 62 institutions [5] - The company launched several new platforms and training facilities, enhancing its integrated smart education platform [5] Medical and Health Business - The medical and health segment contributed 57 million yuan in revenue after being consolidated for 7 months, aligning with expectations [6] - The cardiovascular hospital received over 44,000 outpatient visits, and the occupancy rate of the nursing home exceeded 75% [6] Financial Performance and Forecast - The company’s adjusted net profit margin was 22.8% for 2024, with a gross margin of 47.4% [10] - Revenue forecasts for 2025 and 2026 are adjusted to 2.321 billion and 2.590 billion yuan respectively, with net profit estimates of 481 million and 610 million yuan [11] - The company maintains a PE ratio of 4/3/3X based on the current share price of 3.06 HKD, with a dividend yield of 12.7% [11]