Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company is experiencing a recovery in the European electronic vaporization market, and the HNB (Heat-not-Burn) segment is expected to release profit elasticity [8] - The company's revenue for the first half of 2025 reached 6.013 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.3%, aligning with forecast values and exceeding initial high single-digit expectations [8] - The HNB market is in a rapid growth phase, with the company collaborating with British American Tobacco on new products, indicating potential for future profit contributions [8] Financial Summary - Total revenue projections for the company are as follows: - 2023A: 11.177 billion yuan - 2024A: 11.799 billion yuan - 2025E: 13.722 billion yuan - 2026E: 16.166 billion yuan - 2027E: 18.395 billion yuan - Year-on-year growth rates are projected at (8.06)%, 5.56%, 16.30%, 17.81%, and 13.79% respectively [1] - Net profit attributable to the parent company is forecasted as: - 2023A: 1.645 billion yuan - 2024A: 1.303 billion yuan - 2025E: 1.329 billion yuan - 2026E: 2.217 billion yuan - 2027E: 2.891 billion yuan - Year-on-year growth rates are projected at (34.47)%, (20.78)%, 1.96%, 66.84%, and 30.40% respectively [1] - The latest diluted EPS (Earnings Per Share) is projected as follows: - 2023A: 0.27 yuan - 2024A: 0.21 yuan - 2025E: 0.21 yuan - 2026E: 0.36 yuan - 2027E: 0.47 yuan [1] - The P/E (Price-to-Earnings) ratios at current price and latest diluted EPS are: - 2023A: 80.56 - 2024A: 101.69 - 2025E: 99.73 - 2026E: 59.78 - 2027E: 45.84 [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the accelerating growth of upgraded consumption, particularly in high-end sectors, with a focus on the rising demand for tobacco and alcohol products, especially electronic cigarettes [1] Group 1: Market Trends - The electronic cigarette sector has shown a continuous upward trend since mid-April, with leading company Smoore International's stock price increasing by 100% since the beginning of the year [1] - British American Tobacco (BAT) reported a 2.4% year-on-year increase in revenue from new tobacco products, reaching £1.651 billion, with adjusted gross profit rising by 6.8% to £1.006 billion [2] - The HNB (Heated Not Burned) segment of BAT achieved revenue of £440 million, a 0.8% increase, with sales volume growing by 1.6% to 10.1 billion units [2] Group 2: Company Performance - Smoore International's revenue for the first half of the year was 6.013 billion yuan, an 18% year-on-year increase, while pre-tax profit is expected to be between 629 million and 769 million yuan, reflecting a decrease of 5% to 23% [3] - The company has seen significant growth in its proprietary brand and enterprise client business, contributing to an increase in gross profit [3] - Smoore has established a METEX division to enhance its strategic layout in the HNB field, showcasing its technological capabilities and patent portfolio [4] Group 3: Future Outlook - The global HNB market is expected to continue growing, with significant potential in the U.S. market as regulations tighten on non-compliant products [6][7] - Smoore's ongoing investment in R&D, particularly in HNB and medical aerosol products, reached 390 million yuan, a 41.3% increase, indicating a strong commitment to this sector [6] - The collaboration with BAT on the Glo Hilo series is anticipated to enhance Smoore's position in the value chain, transitioning from a component supplier to a core technology partner [4][5]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the accelerating growth of upgraded consumption, particularly in high-end sectors, with a focus on the rising demand for tobacco and alcohol products, especially electronic cigarettes [1] Group 1: Market Trends - The electronic cigarette sector has shown a continuous upward trend since mid-April, with leading company Smoore International's stock price increasing by 100% since the beginning of the year [1] - British American Tobacco (BAT) reported a 2.4% year-on-year increase in revenue from new tobacco products, reaching £1.651 billion, with adjusted gross profit rising by 6.8% to £1.006 billion [2] - The HNB (Heated Not Burned) segment of BAT generated £440 million in revenue, reflecting a 0.8% year-on-year growth, with sales volume increasing by 1.6% to 10.1 billion units [2] Group 2: Company Performance - Smoore International's revenue for the first half of the year was 6.013 billion yuan, an 18% increase year-on-year, while pre-tax profit is expected to decrease by 5%-23% [3] - The company has established a strategic partnership with BAT, becoming a core supplier for the Glo Hilo product line, which has enhanced its market position [4] - Smoore has invested significantly in R&D, with a 6% year-on-year increase in R&D spending, and a notable 41.3% increase in investment for medical and beauty aerosol products [6] Group 3: Future Outlook - The global HNB market is expected to continue growing, with significant potential in the U.S. market as regulations tighten on non-compliant products [7] - Smoore's strategic focus on HNB technology and its partnerships with major clients like BAT position it well for future growth, despite short-term profit pressures [5][7] - The anticipated global rollout of innovative products like Glo Hilo is expected to further solidify Smoore's leading position in the new tobacco industry [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article reviews the development history of leading international tobacco companies in the context of intensifying global competition in heated not burned (HNB) products, summarizing successful experiences and projecting future trends [1][5]. Group 1: International Tobacco HNB Development Review - Philip Morris International (PMI) launched IQOS ILUMA in 2021, utilizing electromagnetic induction technology, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.4% in revenue from 2018 to 2024, with a projected shipment volume of 139.7 billion sticks in 2024 [3]. - Japan Tobacco introduced Ploom X in 2021, employing four-way airflow heating technology, with a projected shipment volume of 10.9 billion sticks in 2024 [3]. - British American Tobacco (BAT) anticipates a shipment volume of 20.9 billion sticks for its Glo series in 2024, with the Glo Hilo high-end heating platform set to launch in Japan in June 2025 after trials in Serbia [3]. Group 2: Insights from Stock Price Review of International Tobacco Leaders - Regulatory clarity significantly impacts business expansion and stock performance, with U.S. FDA approval timelines and European flavor bans affecting market dynamics [3]. - The pathway for HNB promotion is characterized by strong single products, trial feedback, global expansion, and profit enhancement, with market expectations, revenue growth, and performance realization driving capital market performance [3]. - Strong technology-driven single products are crucial for HNB market penetration, with specific market trial feedback shaping expectations and driving valuation increases [3]. Group 3: Financial Performance of Philip Morris International - PMI's revenue has shown consistent growth, with a CAGR of 4.5% from 2016 to 2024, leading among international tobacco companies, while net profit has fluctuated due to product mix and exchange rate impacts [7]. - The revenue from HNB products has grown at a CAGR of 45% from 2016 to 2024, with its share of total revenue increasing from 2.7% in 2016 to 37.8% in 2024, and HNB gross margins surpassing traditional cigarettes for the first time in 2024 [7][10]. Group 4: Financial Performance of Japan Tobacco - Japan Tobacco's traditional cigarette sales have remained stable, with HNB products driving rapid growth since 2022, particularly in the Japanese market where HNB sales are projected to reach approximately 9 billion sticks in 2024 [20][22]. - The Ploom X product has significantly contributed to revenue growth, with a projected 24.2% increase in sales volume and a 21.1% increase in revenue in 2024 [22]. Group 5: Financial Performance of British American Tobacco - BAT's traditional cigarette revenue is under pressure, with a projected decline in revenue and volume from 2019 to 2024 [33]. - New tobacco products, including HNB and oral nicotine products, are expected to take over growth from the declining e-cigarette segment, with a CAGR of 22% from 2019 to 2024 for new tobacco products [35].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the retail industry [1] Core Insights - The introduction of the new heated non-combustible (HNB) products, Glo Hilo and Glo Hilo Plus, by British American Tobacco (BAT) in Japan is expected to drive growth in the HNB market, which is projected to reach a retail value of $389 billion by 2024 [4][11] - The Hilo product has received positive feedback during its trial phase, indicating a potential for rapid sales growth as it enters the broader Japanese market [10] - The global tobacco industry is nearing a trillion-dollar valuation, with new tobacco products expected to capture a larger market share as companies pivot towards harm reduction strategies [11] Industry Trends - The HNB market is anticipated to grow significantly, with BAT and other major tobacco companies increasing their focus on HNB products to facilitate a transition to smoke-free alternatives [11] - The market share for HNB products is currently dominated by Philip Morris International (71%), followed by British American Tobacco (16%) and Japan Tobacco (6%) [11] - The report suggests monitoring companies linked to BAT's HNB products, such as Smoore International, and other key players in the new tobacco product space [11] Market Performance - The report notes that the retail index increased by 4.56% during the week of June 23 to June 27, 2025, while the overall market indices also showed positive performance [12][14] - Year-to-date performance for the retail index stands at a 9.49% increase, indicating a favorable market environment for the retail sector [12][16] Company Valuation - The report includes a valuation table for various companies within the industry, highlighting their market capitalization, earnings projections, and investment ratings [18] - Notable companies such as Proya (P/E of 21), Betaini (P/E of 37), and Marubi (P/E of 48) are recommended for investment, indicating strong growth potential [18]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [7] Core Views - The company is expected to see a recovery in its core business of atomization, with promising growth in the HNB (Heated Not Burned) segment. The revenue growth trend is anticipated to continue into 2025, supported by increased demand for compliant products due to regulatory changes in the US and Europe [1][2][4] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - The company forecasts a pre-tax profit of 255 million RMB for Q1 2025, representing a year-over-year decline of 36.3%, and a post-tax profit of 192 million RMB, down 43.4% year-over-year. This decline is attributed to increased business investments and a higher tax rate [1] - For 2025, the company expects revenues to reach 12.96 billion RMB, reflecting a growth of 9.82% compared to 2024 [6] Business Segments - In the To B (business-to-business) segment, the company anticipates revenue recovery driven by stricter enforcement of regulations on non-compliant electronic vapor products in the US and increased demand for compliant products in Europe. Revenue growth in the US and Europe is projected at 5.2% and 14.4% respectively for the second half of 2024 [2] - The To C (business-to-consumer) segment is expected to see continued strong performance from the company's proprietary brand, VAPORESSO, with projected revenue of 2.48 billion RMB in 2024, a year-over-year increase of 34.0% [2] HNB Business - The company has made significant progress with its HNB business, particularly with the launch of new products by a major client, British American Tobacco (BAT). The Glo Hilo series is expected to be introduced to additional markets in 2025-2026, indicating substantial growth potential for the company [3] - The global HNB market was valued at 34.463 billion USD in 2023, with PMI holding a market share of 71% and BAT at 15.3%, highlighting the competitive landscape and growth opportunities for the company [3] Profit Forecast and Valuation - The report adjusts the profit forecasts for 2025-2027, estimating net profits of 1.323 billion RMB, 2.140 billion RMB, and 2.762 billion RMB respectively. The corresponding EPS is projected to be 0.21 RMB for 2025, 0.35 RMB for 2026, and 0.45 RMB for 2027 [4][6] - The target price is set at 16.25 HKD, based on a PE ratio of 43 times the expected EPS of 0.36 RMB for 2026 [4]