Core Viewpoint - The packaging paper industry is experiencing a price increase for raw materials, with significant implications for companies involved in this sector [1][3]. Group 1: Company News - *ST Dongtong is facing delisting due to financial fraud, with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange planning to terminate its stock listing after discovering false disclosures in annual reports from 2019 to 2022 [2]. - The company has been fined 229 million yuan for fraudulent issuance based on false financial data [2]. Group 2: Industry Trends - Since the third quarter of this year, the price of raw paper used in the packaging paper industry has been rising, with a reported increase of 20% to 30% for upstream raw paper [3]. - As of November 24, the average daily price of corrugated paper was 3,213 yuan per ton, up 17.65% year-on-year, while boxboard paper averaged 3,889 yuan per ton, up 6.86% year-on-year [3]. - Major paper companies have announced price increases for various paper products, with adjustments ranging from 50 to 200 yuan per ton, aimed at alleviating operational pressures and maintaining market order [3]. Group 3: Market Outlook - The paper industry is benefiting from a combination of price increases, improved demand, and structural upgrades, with leading companies driving price hikes and inefficient capacity being phased out [4]. - Analysts predict that the overall profitability of the packaging paper industry will improve in the fourth quarter due to rising waste paper prices and government policies against excessive competition [4]. Group 4: Profit Forecasts - Companies such as Sun Paper, Annie Co., Huatai Co., and Bohui Paper have seen significant net buying in financing, indicating positive market sentiment [5]. - Forecasts suggest that Hengfeng Paper, Qifeng New Materials, and Bohui Paper will experience substantial net profit growth in 2025, with increases of 70.67%, 35.33%, and 20.2% respectively [6]. - Shanying International is expected to turn profitable, supported by investments aimed at enhancing production capabilities and competitiveness [6].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Budweiser APAC (01876.HK) with a target price of HKD 10, while the current price is HKD 8.66 [2][6]. Core Insights - The company reported a total revenue of USD 6.246 billion and normalized EBITDA of USD 1.807 billion for the year 2024, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 7.0% and 6.3% respectively. The normalized net profit attributable to shareholders was USD 778 million, showing a decrease of 15.2% [2][7]. - The fourth quarter results showed revenue and normalized EBITDA of USD 1.142 billion and USD 228 million respectively, with a year-on-year decline of 11.0% and 7.2% [2][7]. - The company plans to distribute a dividend of USD 750 million, which is a 7% increase, resulting in a payout ratio of 103.25% [2]. Financial Performance Summary - For the fiscal year 2024, Budweiser APAC's total sales volume decreased by 8.8%, with a significant decline in the Chinese market, where sales volume and price per ton saw year-on-year declines of 11.8% and 1.4% respectively [6][7]. - The company experienced a mixed performance across regions, with the Asia Pacific West region facing challenges while the Asia Pacific East region showed strong growth, particularly in South Korea [6][7]. - The overall gross margin for 2024 was 50.4%, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.6 percentage points [6][7]. Future Outlook - Looking ahead to 2025, the company aims to prioritize market share recovery and has implemented significant management changes to drive this strategy. The new leadership is expected to bring renewed energy to the company's operations [6][7]. - The company plans to enhance its product offerings and increase marketing expenditures, particularly in key regions such as Fujian and Guangdong [6][7]. - The projected net profit for 2025 is adjusted to USD 815 million, with a corresponding PE ratio of 18 times [6][7].