Core Viewpoint - GuoMin Technology Co., Ltd. has submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with CITIC Securities as its sole sponsor [1]. Company Overview - GuoMin Technology is a platform-based integrated circuit design company focused on providing high-security, high-reliability, and high-integration control chips and system solutions for various smart terminals. The company has established a diverse product matrix across key sectors such as consumer electronics, industrial control, digital energy, smart home, automotive electronics, and medical electronics [5][6]. - According to ZhiShi Consulting, by 2024 revenue, GuoMin ranks among the top five Chinese companies in the global platform MCU market and among the top three in the global 32-bit platform MCU market. It holds the first position in the Chinese MCU market for embedded commercial password algorithm modules [5]. Product Development - Since its establishment in 2000, the company has transitioned from specialized market chips to general-purpose MCUs and high-end products like edge AI computing. The company has expanded its product range to include BMS chips and RF chips, particularly after defining its direction as a platform-based integrated circuit design company in 2018 [6]. - The company has launched multiple 32-bit MCU products based on Cortex-M0 to M7, continuously optimizing chip size, power consumption, and performance, thus enhancing its market competitiveness in high-performance computing and high-end control [6]. Market Potential - The global MCU market is projected to grow from approximately $29.9 billion in 2024 to about $48 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. Emerging applications in AI, robotics, new energy, and low-altitude economy are expected to drive significant growth [7]. - GuoMin's advanced technologies, including multi-core heterogeneous architecture, AI algorithm support, and power consumption control, align with industry trends, particularly in edge intelligence and energy storage control [7]. Financial Performance - For the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, GuoMin reported revenues of approximately RMB 1.195 billion, RMB 1.037 billion, and an estimated RMB 1.168 billion, respectively. The company incurred losses of approximately RMB 18.93 million, RMB 594 million, and RMB 256 million during the same periods [11][12]. Business Diversification - In addition to its chip business, GuoMin is developing lithium battery anode materials, creating a dual-main business model of "integrated circuits + new energy materials." The anode materials focus on artificial graphite and explore various technological routes, widely applied in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and portable devices [8]. - The company aims to integrate battery management system control chips with lithium battery anode materials within the same customer base, enhancing system-level efficiency, safety, and cost control [8].

Group 1: Key Insights on Energy Storage and New Energy - Major energy storage companies have diverse business models and regional layouts, with promising expansion in non-US markets [2][10] - The report highlights the strong performance of leading companies like Sungrow Power Supply and Aiko Solar in the energy storage sector, particularly in overseas markets [7][8] - The demand for energy storage in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia is expected to grow significantly, with a projected increase in installed capacity [9][10] Group 2: Key Insights on Coal Industry - The coal market is currently experiencing a bottoming phase, with both thermal and coking coal prices stabilizing, and potential exits of high-cost mines [3][14] - The average sales cost for thermal coal is approximately 291 RMB/ton, while for coking coal it is about 507 RMB/ton, indicating profitability for thermal coal producers [12] - The coal industry is expected to maintain high dividend yields, with an average cash dividend payout ratio of around 62% for major listed coal companies in 2024 [14][13] Group 3: Key Insights on Semiconductor Industry - The rise of edge AI computing is driving demand for AI-enhanced System on Chip (SoC) solutions, which are crucial for smart devices [4][16] - Wireless communication technologies are expanding, with increasing demand for low-power IoT connection chips in various applications [4][16] - The integration of AI in consumer electronics is enhancing user experience, with products like smart glasses and smart speakers becoming key platforms for AI technology [4][16]

Investment Rating - Semiconductor industry maintains a strong market rating [1] Core Insights - The report highlights the rapid penetration of AI applications at the edge, driven by technological innovations that promote hardware upgrades [5][9] - The integration of AI-enhanced SoCs with NPU and reconfigurable computing units is breaking traditional processor efficiency bottlenecks, enabling real-time inference and decision-making capabilities at the edge [2][9] - Audio is emerging as a primary information dimension for AI applications, with AI-enhanced audio models driving product innovation [10][15] Summary by Sections Processing: Edge Intelligence Drives NPU Adoption - The widespread application of NPUs is being propelled by edge intelligence, with low power consumption making them ideal for edge devices [2][32] - NPU architecture is evolving alongside AI algorithms and application scenarios, enhancing performance in tasks like facial recognition and voice recognition [32][41] Connectivity: Wireless Communication as the Main IoT Implementation Method - The demand for edge connectivity in IoT is growing, leading to the expansion of local wireless connection technologies such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee [2][73] - The integration of various wireless technologies enhances device functionality and application scenarios, allowing for flexible communication methods based on specific needs [73][74] Edge Applications: AI's Core is Upgrading User Experience - The shift of AI development focus towards end devices is creating a strong demand for intelligent perception and natural dialogue across multiple modalities [2][9] - AI technologies are being integrated into devices like smart glasses, headphones, and smart speakers, significantly enhancing user experience [9][10] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on companies like Rockchip, Allwinner Technology, Hengxuan Technology, and others, as the demand for edge AI computing in low-power devices is expected to rise significantly [2][9]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry or Qualcomm, but it discusses market share expectations and strategic positioning, indicating a cautious outlook on market penetration and competition [2][7]. Core Insights - Qualcomm is accelerating its AI PC ecosystem, challenging the x86 architecture with its Snapdragon X Elite/Plus platform, which boasts 45 TOPS NPU performance. Over 85 Windows 11 AI+ PC models are in production or development, with plans to reduce prices to $600 by 2026 to enhance mid-range market penetration [2][7]. - The company is focusing on a hybrid AI architecture that prioritizes on-device processing for privacy and efficiency while leveraging cloud capabilities for complex tasks. This includes transferring smartphone 5G and NPU capabilities to PCs and robotics [3][8]. - Qualcomm is responding to Xiaomi's self-developed chip strategy by emphasizing the coexistence of self-design and outsourcing, maintaining that Xiaomi will still rely on Qualcomm for critical components [4][9]. - The company is restarting its Arm-based server chip business, launching a data center CPU based on the Nuvia Oryon architecture, and collaborating with NVIDIA to enhance performance and efficiency [4][10]. Summary by Sections AI PC Ecosystem - Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite/Plus platform is set to challenge the x86 architecture, with over 85 AI+ PC models in development and a target price of $600 by 2026 to penetrate the mid-range market [2][7]. - The Snapdragon X series supports over 750 applications and 1,400 games, addressing previous concerns about the Arm ecosystem's limitations [2][7]. On-device AI and Hybrid Architecture - Qualcomm's hybrid AI architecture emphasizes local data processing for privacy, while cloud resources are utilized for more complex tasks. The company is also promoting its AI Hub with 75 pre-optimized models to facilitate on-device AI development [3][8]. Competitive Landscape - Qualcomm's response to Xiaomi's self-developed chip highlights the balance of cooperation and competition in the industry, asserting that Xiaomi will continue to depend on Qualcomm for essential components [4][9]. Diversification Strategy - Qualcomm is reviving its Arm server chip business with the Nuvia Oryon architecture and plans to integrate its CPUs with NVIDIA's GPUs for improved performance and efficiency in data centers [4][10].