Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Enjie Co., Ltd. [5] Core Views - The company's performance has significantly declined due to inventory impairment and inventory destocking, with a notable drop in both revenue and net profit for 2024 [2][3] - The company achieved a revenue of 10.2 billion yuan in 2024, down 16% year-on-year, and a net loss of 560 million yuan, a decrease of 122% year-on-year [2] - The report anticipates a recovery in the industry, with expectations for higher sales volumes and improved margins in the coming years [5] Performance Summary - In Q4 2024, the company reported a revenue of 2.7 billion yuan, down 8% year-on-year and up 1% quarter-on-quarter, with a net loss of 1 billion yuan [2] - For Q1 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 2.7 billion yuan, an increase of 17% year-on-year, while the net profit was 30 million yuan, down 84% year-on-year [2] - The report projects a total output of 9 to 10 billion square meters for 2025, with a focus on increasing market share in new technologies [3] Financial Analysis - The company’s cash and cash equivalents stood at 2.6 billion yuan at the end of 2024, a decrease of 33% year-on-year, while operating cash flow was 1.2 billion yuan, down 57% year-on-year [4] - The report forecasts net profits of 500 million yuan, 800 million yuan, and 1.2 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with corresponding P/E ratios of 56, 34, and 22 [5][9] - The company is expected to maintain a balance between revenue and costs, with a focus on inventory reduction and price stabilization in the domestic market [3][4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Enjie Co., Ltd. [5] Core Views - The company's performance has significantly declined due to inventory impairment and inventory destocking, with a notable drop in both revenue and net profit for 2024 [2][3] - The company achieved a revenue of 10.2 billion yuan in 2024, down 16% year-on-year, and a net loss of 560 million yuan, a decrease of 122% year-on-year [2] - The report anticipates a recovery in the industry, with expectations for higher sales volumes in 2025, targeting 9 to 10 billion square meters of wet-process output [3][5] Summary by Sections Performance Overview - In Q4 2024, the company reported a revenue of 2.7 billion yuan, down 8% year-on-year and up 1% quarter-on-quarter, with a net loss of 1 billion yuan [2] - Q1 2025 saw a revenue of 2.7 billion yuan, an increase of 17% year-on-year, but a net profit of only 30 million yuan, down 84% year-on-year [2] Operational Analysis - The company expects to ship 6.9 billion square meters in Q4 2024, a 40% increase year-on-year, and 2.1 billion square meters in Q1 2025, a 68% increase year-on-year [3] - The average selling price in Q4 2024 was 1.2 yuan per square meter, down 50% year-on-year, with a projected average price of 1.0 yuan per square meter in Q1 2025 [3] Inventory and Cash Flow - As of the end of 2024, the company had 1.9 billion yuan in finished goods inventory, with an inventory coefficient of 2 to 3 months, a 10% decrease from the mid-year report [4] - The company reported cash and cash equivalents of 2.6 billion yuan at the end of 2024, down 33% year-on-year, with a net operating cash flow of 1.2 billion yuan, down 57% year-on-year [4] Profit Forecast and Valuation - The report forecasts net profits of 500 million yuan, 800 million yuan, and 1.2 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, corresponding to PE ratios of 56, 34, and 22 [5] - The report highlights the potential for growth in the 5um product segment and advancements in solid-state electrolyte membranes as key areas to watch [5]

Core Viewpoint - The lithium battery separator market is experiencing a recovery characterized by simultaneous increases in both volume and price, particularly in the dry separator segment, with prices expected to rise over 20% by 2025, indicating a potential end to the prolonged industry downturn [1] Group 1: Dry Separator Market - Recent reports indicate that leading companies anticipate a price increase of over 20% for dry separators by 2025, marking a significant shift from the previous trend of declining prices [1] - The price of dry separators fell by more than 10% in 2024, at one point dropping below the cost line due to oversupply and intense price competition, which led to reduced production willingness among manufacturers [1] - Long-term price wars have resulted in severe cost and profit imbalances for separator manufacturers, necessitating price increases to gradually restore profit margins [1] Group 2: Technological Developments and Demand - The rapid development of new battery technologies, such as BYD's second-generation blade battery and advancements in solid-state electrolyte membranes, has created new demand for dry separators, which are essential as a "supporting framework" [1] - The demand for high-performance separators is growing in traditional applications, particularly for fast-charging batteries and large-capacity energy storage cells, which require thinner and superior performance separators [2] - Emerging markets, including semi-solid batteries and lithium battery UPS for data centers, are driving demand for separators with high safety requirements, presenting significant market opportunities for aramid-coated separators [2] Group 3: Collaboration and Commercialization - A collaboration between Xingyuan Material and Taihe New Materials has successfully developed aramid-coated separators, which have been applied in the Kirin battery of the Wanjie M9 [3] - The production lines for aramid-coated separators from both companies are expected to be operational by 2025, paving the way for commercialization [3]