Core Viewpoint - The restaurant industry in 2025 is experiencing a dramatic contrast, with brands like Gu Ming and Mi Xue Bing Cheng showing significant growth, while the capital market witnesses a wave of cash-out activities in the food and beverage sector [1][6]. Group 1: Company Performance - Gu Ming reported impressive results for the first half of 2025, with revenue increasing by 41.2% and net profit soaring by 121.5%, reaching 1.625 billion yuan [3][4]. - The total number of Gu Ming stores surpassed 11,000, making it the second tea brand to achieve this milestone after Mi Xue Bing Cheng [1][3]. - The average daily GMV per store rose from 6,200 yuan to 7,600 yuan, and the average daily cups sold increased from 374 to 439 [3]. Group 2: Capital Market Activities - Gu Ming initiated two rounds of dividend payouts totaling 4.1 billion HKD within just nine months of its IPO, which exceeds the company's net profit accumulated over the past year and a half [5][6]. - Approximately 2.7 billion HKD of the dividends flowed into the founder's team, raising concerns about the implications for long-term corporate governance [6][9]. - The broader trend in the A-share market shows a significant "dividend wave," with over 1,034 listed companies announcing mid-term dividend plans, expected to exceed 734.9 billion yuan [6]. Group 3: Market Trends and Concerns - The phenomenon of substantial cash-outs by shareholders is not isolated to Gu Ming, as other companies in the food and beverage sector are also engaging in similar practices, raising questions about their motivations for going public [12][14]. - The actions of major shareholders, such as selling shares before or after dividend announcements, often signal a lack of confidence in the company's short-term prospects [12][16]. - The ongoing discussions around Gu Ming's dividend strategy provide important insights into the capitalized processes within the food and beverage industry [18].