Core Viewpoint - Zhuhai Duty-Free Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the company") has announced its 2025 performance forecast, indicating a significant reduction in losses despite ongoing challenges from its real estate business, which is now considered a past issue [2][3]. Financial Performance - The company expects a net profit attributable to shareholders of between -1.18 billion to -0.92 billion yuan for 2025, reflecting a year-on-year reduction in losses of 22.09% to 39.25% [2]. - The core factor affecting performance is the residual impact of the real estate business, although the company has accelerated its divestment from this sector [2]. - The net profit, excluding non-recurring gains and losses, is projected to show a reduction in losses of 39.42% to 53.42% [2]. Business Focus and Strategy - Following the divestment of its real estate business, the company is now fully focused on its duty-free operations, which have become the core of its business model [3][4]. - The company has established a comprehensive duty-free network across various ports, including land, water, and airport locations, achieving full coverage of key port hubs in Zhuhai [4]. - The company is expanding its operations beyond Zhuhai, with strategic projects like the Sanya Bay No. 1 commercial project in Hainan Free Trade Port, supported by resources from Huafa Group [4]. Future Outlook - The company plans to continue monitoring duty-free industry policies, seize development opportunities, expand product categories, optimize store efficiency, and enhance digital construction to improve operational quality and profitability in 2026 [4].

格隆汇12月23日｜长江证券研报指出，中国中免中标上海机场免税项目，深化利益绑定。此前中免通过 控股日上经营机场（中免持股51%，上海机场持股16%)来运营上海机场免税店，新模式下，上海机场持 股比例从16%提升至49%，实现利益高度绑定，有利于共同做大GMV。展望后市，中国中免是我国免税 行业领军企业，经过40年的发展，已经积累了渠道、规模、精细化运营管理、品牌等多维度的核心竞争 优势。海南离岛免税销售额同比企稳回升，机场口岸等销售额有望继续随着出境游人次增加而增长，预 计公司2025-2027 年归母净利润分别为36.9/42.7/49.7亿元，对应当前股价的PE 分别为46/40/34X，维 持"买入"评级。 ...

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" and is maintained [10] Core Insights - The company has recently won the bid for duty-free store projects at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, which is expected to enhance profit-sharing and operational efficiency [2][6] - The new revenue model includes a base fee plus a commission structure, which is rationalized, indicating potential profitability for the operating entities [2][8] - The company is positioned as a leader in China's duty-free industry, with significant competitive advantages accumulated over 40 years, including channel access, scale, and refined operational management [2][8] Summary by Sections Event Description - The company’s subsidiary has received a bid notification confirming the award for duty-free operations at two major airports in Shanghai, with a total operational area of approximately 12,101.53 square meters [6][7] - The investment structure involves a joint venture with a 51% stake held by the company and a 49% stake by Shanghai Airport, with a total investment of 102 million yuan [6][7] Revenue Model - The operational transfer period follows a "5+3" model, with a fixed monthly fee and a commission based on actual sales, ensuring a stable revenue stream [7] - The fixed fees are set at 3,090 yuan/m²/month for Pudong Airport and 2,827 yuan/m²/month for Hongqiao Airport, with commission rates ranging from 8% to 24% [7] Future Outlook - The company is expected to benefit from a recovery in sales as outbound travel increases, with projected net profits for 2025, 2026, and 2027 being 3.69 billion, 4.27 billion, and 4.97 billion yuan respectively [2][8] - The company maintains a strong competitive position in the duty-free market, with anticipated growth in sales driven by increased passenger traffic at airports [2][8]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Outperform the Market," indicating that the industry index is expected to perform better than the benchmark index over the next 6-12 months [14]. Core Insights - The recent bidding results for duty-free shops at Shanghai Airport show that China Duty Free Group and Dufry have won the bids, which is expected to enhance competition and operational vitality in the duty-free sector. The rental agreement has been optimized to a base fee plus a low commission model, which is anticipated to encourage duty-free operators to expand sales in port channels and reduce costs, benefiting both operators and the airport [1][3]. - The upcoming closure of Hainan and the continuous policy support across various channels, along with the optimized rental agreements at key ports, present multiple advantages for the duty-free industry. The report suggests focusing on the leading duty-free operator, China Duty Free Group, and notes that Wangfujing, as a state-owned enterprise in Beijing, is also expected to participate in the bidding and expand its port channel business [3]. Summary by Sections Bidding Results - Shanghai Airport announced the candidates for the duty-free shop bids, with Dufry winning the bid for the T1 and S1 satellite hall at Pudong Airport, and China Duty Free Group winning the T2 and S2 satellite hall and the T1 international section at Hongqiao Airport. The monthly fixed fees for the winning bids are 3,141 RMB/m²/month for Dufry, 3,090 RMB/m²/month for China Duty Free Group at Pudong T2, and 2,827 RMB/m²/month for China Duty Free Group at Hongqiao T1, with commission rates ranging from 8% to 24% [5][8]. Competitive Landscape - The introduction of foreign operators is expected to invigorate the duty-free market at ports, breaking the previous exclusive operating model. Dufry, backed by the world's largest travel retailer, is anticipated to enhance competition and operational efficiency in the duty-free sector [5][8]. Financial Implications - The new contracts feature a fixed fee plus a floating commission model, which is expected to lower the commission rates compared to previous agreements. The annual base fees remain stable, with Pudong T1 at 300 million RMB, Pudong T2 at 330 million RMB, and Hongqiao T1 at 70 million RMB. This new structure is likely to encourage duty-free operators to increase sales volume, effectively diluting fixed costs and promoting brand expansion [5][8].

Summary of Hainan Duty-Free Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The duty-free industry in Hainan is experiencing significant benefits from the duty-free policy, particularly for island residents who can purchase 15 categories of goods without limits within a year, stimulating demand from both residents and buyers [2][4][15] - In November, the overall sales growth in Hainan's duty-free market reached approximately 25% year-on-year, with island residents contributing about 15% to the sales [2][15] Key Insights and Arguments - **Sales Performance**: In November, Hainan's duty-free sales are expected to reach 2.6 billion yuan, showing over 30% growth compared to the previous year [4] - **Product Categories**: - Gold jewelry saw the highest growth rate of over 20% in November, while 3C electronic products grew by about 15% [5] - The sales distribution for January to October 2025 was as follows: cosmetics 12.377 billion yuan, luxury goods 5.6324 billion yuan, 3C electronics 903 million yuan, and liquor 1.915 billion yuan [9] - **Gross Margin**: The overall gross margin for the duty-free products is maintained at around 35%, with variations across different categories [9][8] - **Supply Chain Management**: Monthly ordering is based on a 90-day sales cycle, with safety stock for new products set at 120 days. The purchasing scale for peak seasons is expected to increase by 20%-30% year-on-year [17][19] Regulatory Environment - Customs regulations on purchasing have tightened, including the implementation of traceability systems and increased monitoring at ports, which could impact the market as approximately 70% of sales come from buyers [13][14] - The future of the gold category's operational model, which involves exporting and then importing, presents growth opportunities but is subject to potential regulatory tightening [11] Consumer Behavior - After the relaxation of policies for island residents, their shopping amounts and frequency increased by about 5%, but their overall contribution remains smaller compared to the total market growth [15] - The proportion of large purchase groups (buyers) in the market is between 50% to 70%, influenced by customs regulations and product structure changes [16] Future Outlook - The duty-free industry is expected to see continued growth driven by returning Japanese customers, although this effect may not be sustainable long-term [23] - Emerging categories like gold and domestic electronic products are anticipated to become significant growth points [23] - Potential policy changes, such as increasing the current spending limit from 100,000 yuan to 120,000 yuan, could further stimulate the market [24] Additional Insights - The cost of goods in Hainan is approximately 10% lower than in the domestic market, with specific categories like cosmetics and luxury goods having significant price advantages [3][21] - The upcoming Spring Festival is expected to boost island residents' consumption as they aim to utilize their annual quotas before they reset [29] - The new Haikou Duty-Free City project aims to enhance shopping convenience and attract more customers, despite currently operating at a loss [30][31] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call regarding the Hainan duty-free industry, highlighting sales performance, regulatory impacts, consumer behavior, and future growth prospects.

Core Viewpoint - UBS reports that Hainan's duty-free sales reached 506 million yuan from November 1 to 7, representing a year-on-year growth of 35%, with shopping visits increasing by 3.4% to 73,000, significantly exceeding market expectations, driven by new duty-free shopping policies [1] Industry Summary - The optimistic outlook for China's duty-free industry is primarily due to the new policies in Hainan and a low base effect, with expectations for a positive sales trend in the fourth quarter and accelerated growth from 2026 to 2027 [1] - China Duty Free Group is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of these developments, with airport duty-free sales anticipated to recover steadily due to the expansion of duty-free areas and double-digit growth in international passenger traffic [1] - Policy relaxation, along with increased retail space and product variety, will act as catalysts for the growth of China's duty-free sales [1]

Core Viewpoint - China Duty Free Group (601888) (01880) saw a stock increase of over 6%, closing at 75 HKD with a trading volume of 1.2 billion HKD, driven by positive developments in Hainan's duty-free shopping policies [1] Group 1: Duty-Free Sales Performance - In the first week of the new Hainan duty-free policy (from November 1 to 7), the Haikou Customs reported a total duty-free shopping amount of 5.06 billion RMB, with 72,900 shoppers, representing year-on-year increases of 34.86% and 3.37% respectively [1] - The sales situation in Hainan's duty-free sector is showing marginal improvement, with ongoing optimization of duty-free policies indicating a potential turning point for the industry [1] Group 2: Future Prospects - The Hainan Free Trade Port is set to officially commence full island closure operations on December 18, which is expected to open a new chapter in Hainan's external openness [1] - The duty-free policy remains a core pillar of Hainan's consumer market, with immediate purchases by island residents and the inclusion of international travelers expected to drive the recovery and development of the duty-free sector [1] - The integration of outbound and inbound duty-free policies is anticipated to resolve bottlenecks in city-based duty-free stores, paving the way for a new five-year growth phase for the duty-free industry [1]

Core Viewpoint - China Duty Free Group (01880) saw a stock increase of over 6%, closing at 75 HKD with a trading volume of 1.2 billion HKD, driven by positive developments in Hainan's duty-free shopping policies [1] Group 1: Duty-Free Sales Performance - In the first week of the new Hainan duty-free policy (November 1 to 7), the total duty-free shopping amount reached 5.06 billion RMB, with 72,900 shoppers, representing year-on-year increases of 34.86% and 3.37% respectively [1] - The sales situation in Hainan's duty-free sector is showing marginal improvement, with ongoing optimization of duty-free policies indicating a potential turning point for the industry [1] Group 2: Future Prospects - The official launch of the Hainan Free Trade Port's full closure operation is set for December 18, which is expected to open a new chapter in Hainan's external openness [1] - The duty-free policy remains a core pillar of Hainan's consumer market, with the inclusion of international travelers expected to boost the recovery and development of duty-free shopping [1] - The integration of outbound and inbound duty-free policies is anticipated to resolve existing bottlenecks in city-based duty-free stores, paving the way for a new five-year growth phase for the duty-free industry [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [9] Core Views - In the first half of 2025, the company reported revenue of 28.151 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 9.96%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 2.6 billion yuan, down 20.81% year-on-year [2][6] - For the second quarter alone, revenue was 11.405 billion yuan, a decline of 8.45% year-on-year, with a net profit of 662 million yuan, down 32.21% year-on-year [2][6] - The company is expected to achieve net profits attributable to shareholders of 4.292 billion yuan, 4.364 billion yuan, and 4.520 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, corresponding to current price-to-earnings ratios of 33.22, 32.67, and 31.54 [2][6] Revenue Analysis - Revenue from Hainan and Shanghai showed declines, with Hainan's revenue at 15.031 billion yuan (down 10.45% year-on-year) and Shanghai's at 6.870 billion yuan (down 19.18% year-on-year) [6] - The company's market share in Hainan's duty-free sector increased by nearly 1 percentage point, indicating strong operational capabilities despite overall revenue declines [6] - Duty-free revenue was 20.343 billion yuan (down 6.13% year-on-year), while taxable revenue was 7.189 billion yuan (down 21.50% year-on-year) [6] Profitability Insights - The overall gross margin slightly decreased to 32.8%, down 0.8 percentage points year-on-year, while the net profit margin was 10.3%, down 1.3 percentage points year-on-year [6] - The increase in expenses was noted, with sales, management, and R&D expenses showing slight increases [6] Industry Outlook - The duty-free and tourism retail sectors are expected to benefit from the positive outlook of the tourism industry, which is a significant part of China's economy and a key driver of domestic demand [6] - The company is positioned as a leading player in the duty-free industry, leveraging its advantages in channels, scale, and brand management [6]