Core Viewpoint - CICC initiates coverage on Zhengli New Energy (03677) with an "outperform" rating and a target price of HKD 11.40, indicating a potential upside of 20.6% based on a PE valuation method with a multiple of 26.0x for 2026 [1] Group 1: Company Performance and Projections - The company is a leading manufacturer of power and energy storage batteries in China, with projected EPS of CNY 0.20 and CNY 0.40 for 2025 and 2026 respectively, reflecting a CAGR of 236% from 2024 to 2026 [1] - The company has crossed the inflection point of scalable profitability, with expectations for steady improvement in profitability [1] Group 2: Industry Growth and Market Opportunities - The penetration rate of new energy vehicles is continuously increasing, with the Chinese power battery installation expected to grow to 1,961.4 GWh by 2029, corresponding to a CAGR of 29.0% from 2024 to 2029 [2] - Emerging application scenarios such as energy storage, electric ships, and electric aircraft are rapidly growing, opening long-term growth opportunities for lithium batteries [2] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from the growth of second and third-tier battery manufacturers leveraging multi-technology and multi-market strategies [2] Group 3: Product Diversification and Customer Demand - The company develops a multi-path product portfolio driven by market demand and technology, covering various materials and power types, including BEV and PHEV, as well as applications in electric vehicles, electric aircraft, and electric ships [3] - The domestic market share for the company's lithium iron phosphate power batteries is projected to be 2.0% in 2024, with PHEV battery market share at 1.8%, and over 70% market share for the HEV battery pack in collaboration with New Zhongyuan Toyota [3] Group 4: Competitive Advantages and Future Outlook - The company benefits from flexible manufacturing leading to high utilization rates and cost control advantages, positioning it favorably among second and third-tier battery manufacturers despite smaller revenue and shipment scales [4] - The company is expected to continue expanding its customer base and releasing scale effects, driving sustained profitability improvements [4]