Core Viewpoint - The company "Pian Zai Huang," once valued at nearly 300 billion yuan, reported disappointing financial results for the first three quarters of 2025, marking its worst performance since 2015, with revenue and net profit both declining significantly [1] Financial Performance - Revenue for the first three quarters of 2025 was 7.442 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 11.93% [1] - Net profit for the same period was 2.129 billion yuan, down 20.74% year-on-year [1] - Non-net profit fell sharply by 30.38%, and operating cash flow net amount decreased by 62.53% [1] Cost and Pricing Issues - The price of natural cow bile, a key raw material for the company's main product, surged from 650,000 yuan per kilogram in January 2023 to 1.65 million yuan per kilogram in January 2025, an increase of over 150% [1] - In May 2023, the company raised the retail price of its pill from 590 yuan to 760 yuan, an increase of 28.8%, but this was insufficient to cover rising costs [1] - The actual retail price of the pill has dropped to around 650 yuan, with near-expiry products selling for as low as 350 yuan, indicating a failure of the pricing strategy [2] Market Demand and Diversification Challenges - The demand for high-end products has sharply decreased due to slowing economic growth and rational consumer behavior, impacting the company's sales as it is perceived as a luxury health product [1] - The company's attempts at diversification, such as expanding into cosmetics and cardiovascular medications, have yielded minimal results, with cosmetic revenue falling by 23.82% and cardiovascular medication revenue plummeting by 71.04% [2] - R&D investment for the first three quarters of 2025 was only 180 million yuan, significantly lower than competitors, limiting product innovation [2] Strategic Responses - The company is exploring multiple avenues to overcome its challenges, including potential relief from the falling price of natural cow bile and new drug development, such as the clinical trial of Wen Dan Pian for anxiety treatment [3] - Analysts suggest that the company must address its innovation shortcomings, fragile distribution channels, and the shift towards rational consumer spending to navigate its current difficulties [3] - The ability to move beyond reliance on price increases and establish a positive cycle of product development, research, and market engagement will be crucial for the company's recovery [3]