Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the agricultural sector, particularly focusing on livestock and feed companies [7]. Core Insights - The USDA's December supply and demand report indicates a tightening supply-demand balance for corn, with prices expected to maintain a moderate upward trend [15][18]. - For soybeans, the report suggests a recovery in U.S. imports, which is likely to support price recovery [33][35]. - The beef market is projected to see a price increase in 2026, driven by reduced production and strong domestic demand [3][6]. - The dairy sector is expected to experience a price reversal due to a combination of reduced supply and increased demand for both meat and milk [4][6]. - The pork market is anticipated to face a decline in prices in the latter half of 2026, despite a positive outlook for the first half [6][7]. Summary by Sections Corn - The USDA report predicts a reduction in global corn production by 3.27 million tons, leading to a decrease in global ending stocks and a tightening supply-demand ratio [15][16]. - Domestic corn prices are currently at a historical low, with expectations for a gradual recovery supported by low trader inventories [18][19]. Soybeans - The global soybean ending stocks are expected to increase slightly, with a projected rise in U.S. imports and a positive outlook for domestic soybean meal prices [33][35]. - The report highlights the importance of monitoring U.S.-China trade relations and South American weather conditions for future price movements [38]. Wheat - The global wheat supply remains ample, with an increase in production forecasts from major exporting countries, leading to a slight rise in the global ending stocks ratio [2][45]. - Domestic wheat prices are expected to stabilize, influenced by the overall supply situation and potential government storage interventions [48][52]. Beef - The USDA forecasts a decrease in U.S. beef production, with prices expected to rise due to strong domestic demand and reduced imports [3][6]. - The report anticipates a turning point in the domestic beef cycle by 2025, with prices likely to trend upwards [3][6]. Dairy - The report indicates a potential reversal in the dairy market, driven by reduced cow inventories and a tightening supply-demand balance [4][6]. - Domestic raw milk prices are expected to rise as a result of these factors [4][6]. Pork - The U.S. pork market is projected to see a decline in prices in the latter half of 2026, despite a positive outlook for the first half of the year [6][7]. - Domestic breeding sow inventories are stabilizing, which may help support industry profitability [6][7]. Poultry - The U.S. poultry market is expected to recover, with increased production and consumption anticipated as avian influenza impacts diminish [6][7]. - Domestic chicken supply is projected to stabilize, with a focus on internal demand recovery [6][7].

Group 1 - The company maintains its profit forecast for 2025/2026, with current trading at 26.9/11.0 times P/E and 0.9/0.8 times P/B for 2025/2026, raising the target price by 10.0% to HKD 1.43, while maintaining an "outperform" rating [1] - In 2024, the company reported revenue of CNY 13.3 billion, with a 2H24 revenue of CNY 6.8 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 0.2%. The cash EBITDA for 2024 is CNY 3 billion, representing a growth of approximately 20% [1] - The company’s milk yield continues to improve, with a slight year-on-year increase of 1.6% to 12.8 tons per cow in 2024, and the herd size is expected to reach 491,000 by the end of 2024 [1] Group 2 - The company benefits from a decrease in feed costs by 16.7% and an improvement in milk yield, leading to a slight expansion of gross margin by 2.8 percentage points in 2024 [2] - Despite the decline in raw milk prices, the company’s cash EBITDA increased by 20% due to improved gross margins [2] - The industry is experiencing a reduction in herd size, with 85-90% of the industry facing losses, and a continued decrease in herd size is expected into 2025 [3] Group 3 - The company is positioned well in the industry downturn, with a projected domestic raw milk supply gap of approximately high single digits to 10% in 2024, and potential stabilization of raw milk prices anticipated in 2025 [3] - The industry is currently at the bottom of the cycle, and it is considered a favorable time for left-side investments [3]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" indicating that the industry is expected to outperform the overall market [48]. Core Viewpoints - The report emphasizes focusing on the pet food and breeding sectors, highlighting a favorable competitive landscape and potential for performance recovery in the breeding industry [3][4]. - The pet economy is driven by demographic changes, with a significant increase in new pet owners expected from 2025 to 2040, supporting long-term growth [7][8]. - The breeding sector is nearing a bottom, with expectations of a cyclical recovery in the livestock market, particularly for pork and beef [7][8]. Summary by Sections Market Performance - The Shenwan Agricultural Index rose by 2.8% this week, outperforming the CSI 300 Index which increased by 1.6% [7][8]. - Top-performing stocks included Xue Rong Biological (44.0%), Pingtan Development (16.8%), and Zhongji Health (13.1%) [8]. Pet Food Sector - The pet food industry remains a core focus, with expectations of continued growth driven by consumer upgrades and a favorable competitive environment [7][8]. - Leading companies in the pet economy include Guibao Pet, Zhongchong Co., and Ruipu Biological [7][8]. Breeding Sector - The report suggests a left-side layout in the breeding sector, with the pork breeding industry nearing a bottom and a potential recovery in the beef market expected by late 2025 to early 2026 [7][8]. - Current pork prices are low, with the average price at 14.63 CNY/kg, indicating a challenging environment for farmers [7][8]. Chicken Breeding - The white feather chicken market is showing signs of recovery, with prices for chicken seedlings rising by 8.5% week-on-week [7][8]. - The report highlights the importance of consumer demand, particularly in the restaurant and catering sectors, for the recovery of the chicken breeding market [7][8]. Key Companies and Valuations - Key companies in the breeding sector include Muyuan Foods, Wens Foodstuffs, and Juxing Agriculture, with varying earnings per share (EPS) and price-to-earnings (PE) ratios projected for 2023 to 2025 [43].