Summary of China Spirits Tracker Conference Call Industry Overview - The spirits industry is experiencing a recovery in market sentiment, with investors adopting a "worst is over" perspective as the impact of anti-graft policies normalizes [1][1] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) gap between spirits and A-share indices is nearing a decade low, approximately 2-3x, which is an 18% premium compared to the last decade average of 103% [1][1] - Northbound fund flows into spirits stocks remain low as of the end of Q2 2025 [1][1] Demand and Consumption Trends - Retail demand is gradually improving month-on-month, although banquet consumption is still significantly affected by anti-graft policies, with an estimated 30-50% of commercial banquet demand under policy impact [1][1] - A 30% decline in retail sales for spirits was observed in August due to these ongoing impacts [1][1] - Distributors are cautious with channel stocking, leading to minimal prepayments in July and August [1][1] Company-Specific Insights - **Shede Spirits**: Despite policy challenges, management reported a sequential improvement in retail demand, with some SKUs showing positive bottle-open ratios year-on-year in August [1][1] - The company remains cautiously optimistic about sell-through performance during the upcoming peak seasons [1][1] - Regional performance varies, with Jiangsu and Guangdong under pressure, while Shandong, Hebei, and Sichuan show resilience [1][1] Price Trends - **Moutai**: The wholesale price of original case Feitian Moutai decreased by RMB 65 from RMB 1,910 to RMB 1,845, while unpacked prices fell by RMB 55 from RMB 1,875 to RMB 1,820 [5][5] - Other Moutai SKUs also saw price declines, with significant drops in various products [5][5] - **Wuliangye**: The wholesale price decreased by RMB 90 to RMB 860 and RMB 80 to RMB 835 for different product lines [5][5] - **Guojiao 1573**: Prices remained stable at RMB 835 [5][5] Market Focus - The upcoming peak retail season, particularly around the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 6, 2025, is a key focus for the industry [1][1] - The direction of future policies, including property-related policies and clarifications on anti-graft measures, will significantly influence market dynamics [1][1] Additional Developments - Moutai launched a new full-case specification on August 14, 2025, priced 30% lower than previous offerings [17][17] - ZJLD's chairman is actively building personal branding and engaging with merchants to boost sales [17][17] - Gujing launched a new product targeting younger consumers, emphasizing a minimalist design and mix-drinking scenarios [17][17] Conclusion - The spirits industry is navigating through a challenging environment with cautious optimism as demand begins to recover. Key players are adjusting strategies to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences while keeping an eye on regulatory impacts and upcoming seasonal opportunities [1][1][1]

Investment Rating - The report downgrades four stocks: Fen Wine, Luzhou Laojiao, ZJLD to Neutral from Buy, and Anhui Gujing to Sell from Neutral, while maintaining Buy on Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye [9][36]. Core Insights - The current cycle for the spirits industry is likely prolonged due to the impact of the new austerity policy, with uncertainties on when the cycle will bottom out [1][14]. - The report anticipates policy headwinds to persist from 2Q25 to 2Q26, followed by a modest impact in 2H26 as improper dining restrictions for civil servants normalize [2][14]. - The spirits industry is expected to see a decline in total addressable market (TAM) by 10% to 14% in 2025-27E, with a forecasted decline of over 6% in 2025 and a -2% decline in 2026 [2][14]. Summary by Sections Risk Profiling - A policy impact ranking analysis indicates that upper mid-end and commercial banquet-focused products will face greater pressure, while Moutai is expected to remain resilient due to its gifting demand and limited exposure to government-related banquet consumption [2][12]. Earnings and Valuation Analysis - The report projects +1%/+5% aggregated topline growth for 2025/26E, down from previous estimates of +6%/+9%, with high-end spirits expected to grow by +5%/+5% and upper-mid-high end spirits facing declines of -10%/+2% [2][14]. - A bear case analysis suggests potential earnings downside risks of 6% to 18% for most spirits names compared to the base case [2][14]. Industry Growth Forecast - The spirits industry growth forecast has been revised down to a greater than 6% decline in 2025 and a -2% decline in 2026, compared to prior forecasts of +4%/+3% growth [2][14]. - The report highlights that the spirits industry has been consolidating, with leading players gaining market share, particularly in the super premium segment [2][25]. Company-Specific Insights - Moutai's wholesale price stability is supported by various measures, and the report suggests that a price below RMB 1,800 could hurt distributor profits, leading to market volatility [8][14]. - The report revises down sales and net profit estimates for various companies, including a 1% to 19% reduction for most names, reflecting the impact of the new policy [36][37].