Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the construction and engineering sector [6] Core Insights - The construction sector experienced its first annual revenue decline in 2024, with a YoY decrease of 4.10%, and a net profit decline of 14.4% due to multiple pressures including a slowdown in real estate construction and traditional infrastructure investment [1][15] - The sector is expected to enter a phase of deep integration, with potential for performance improvement in the latter half of 2025 as policies take effect and the high base effect diminishes [1][21] Summary by Sections Industry Overview - In 2024, the construction sector's revenue was 8.7 trillion yuan, marking a YoY decline of 4.10%, while net profit was 168.9 billion yuan, down 14.4% [15] - The sector's gross profit margin improved slightly to 10.96%, but the net profit margin decreased to 1.94% [15][24] Financial Performance - The sector's financial expenses increased, leading to a decline in net profit margins, with a financial expense ratio of 0.86%, up 0.11 percentage points YoY [2][39] - The cash flow situation showed a net outflow of 209.7 billion yuan, a reduction of 22 billion yuan YoY, indicating some improvement in cash flow management [2][46] Subsector Analysis - Among the subsectors, only international engineering saw a profit increase of 5.5%, while other subsectors like large-scale infrastructure and chemical engineering experienced declines of 11.5% and 1.2%, respectively [3][52] - The resilience of large state-owned enterprises in the international market contrasts with the significant pressures faced by smaller and private firms [3][52] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on high-dividend value state-owned enterprises such as China State Construction, China Communications Construction, and Sichuan Road and Bridge, which are expected to benefit from stable demand and improving cash flow [5][9] - The report highlights growth opportunities in specialized engineering sectors, particularly in data centers and cleanroom engineering, which are anticipated to see rapid demand growth [5][9]