Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges and transformation paths of three major ODM companies in the smartphone industry: Wistron Technology, Huaqin Technology, and Longqi Technology, highlighting their struggles with low profit margins and the need for strategic shifts in a saturated market [1][2][3]. Group 1: Challenges Faced by ODM Giants - ODM companies are positioned in a "sandwich" layer of the supply chain, handling extensive processes from design to manufacturing, but lacking brand power and pricing authority, leading to low profit margins and high leverage [2][3]. - In 2024, Huaqin Technology and Longqi Technology reported net profit margins of 2.65% and 1.06%, respectively, while Wistron Technology faced a negative margin of -3.88% [2][4]. - The smartphone market's saturation and slow growth exacerbate the difficulties faced by ODM companies, with global smartphone sales hitting a low not seen since 2013 [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Performance of ODM Companies - In 2024, Huaqin Technology achieved a revenue of 109.88 billion yuan, a 28.80% increase, with a net profit of 29.30 million yuan, an 8.10% increase. Wistron Technology's revenue was 73.60 billion yuan, with a net loss of 28.33 billion yuan, and Longqi Technology's revenue reached 46.40 billion yuan, with a net profit of 5.01 million yuan [4][5]. - Despite significant revenue growth, the profit margins remain low, with Huaqin's gross margin at 7.4% and Wistron's at 2.49% [6][17]. Group 3: Transformation Strategies - Wistron Technology has divested its ODM business to focus on the semiconductor sector, marking a significant strategic shift in response to declining traditional business performance [10][12]. - Huaqin Technology is pursuing a diversified expansion strategy, aiming to integrate vertically across the supply chain while maintaining its core smartphone business [17][22]. - Longqi Technology is adopting a "1+2+X" strategy, focusing on its core smartphone business while expanding into personal computing and automotive electronics, as well as AIoT [42][43]. Group 4: Future Outlook and Market Positioning - Wistron Technology's shift towards semiconductors has shown promising results, with a significant increase in net profit and a higher revenue contribution from this sector [14][15]. - Huaqin Technology aims to achieve 500 billion yuan in revenue by 2034, indicating ambitious growth targets despite current challenges [32][40]. - Longqi Technology's focus on AI hardware and its strategic partnerships position it well for future growth, with a notable increase in revenue from AIoT products [44].