Summary of MINISO Conference Call Company and Industry Overview - The conference call discusses MINISO, a retail company focusing on IP derivative products, which is part of the broader IP licensing industry that maintains a growth rate of nearly 10% [2][4] - The collectible toy market, particularly in the IP sector, has a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20%, with plush toys and blind boxes being the fastest-growing segments [2][4] Core Insights and Arguments - MINISO strategically entered the IP retail sector to target core customer groups, shifting from a cost-effective positioning to a more segmented user profile, aligning with the transformation trends in offline retail [2][7] - The company has a global multi-tiered channel system that empowers upstream licensing and facilitates the international expansion of domestic IPs [2][8] - MINISO's product development cycle is rapid, with an inventory turnover period of about 90 days, allowing for quick adaptation to market demands [2][8] - The demand for global IP licensing and derivative products is increasing, providing MINISO with opportunities to expand market share, especially in the Chinese market where the penetration rate of licensed products is significantly lower than in the U.S. [2][4][10] Competitive Advantages - MINISO's competitive advantages include: 1. A global, multi-tiered channel system that enhances its licensing capabilities [8] 2. Strong product development and iteration capabilities, with a quick inventory turnover [8] 3. A strategic positioning in overseas markets with a diverse range of IP products at competitive prices [8][9] Areas for Improvement - Past collaborations, such as with Marvel, revealed issues with inventory management and product precision, indicating room for improvement in distribution and stock management [11] - The performance of certain products, like the Chikawa line in first and second-tier cities, was suboptimal, highlighting the need for better market fit and inventory strategies [11] Strategic Initiatives for 2025 - In 2025, MINISO is focusing on core categories such as gummy plush toys, blind boxes, perfumes, and travel products, while launching co-branded and self-designed new products [12][13] - The introduction of the MINISO Land store format in key commercial areas aims to enhance brand image and significantly boost single-store revenue, with one store's performance equating to that of 30 regular stores [3][13] - New exclusive partnerships with brands like TMT Space and others have been established to strengthen MINISO's position as an IP collection store [14] Performance and Future Outlook - MINISO's overall performance has shown improvement, with same-store sales turning positive as of May 2025, and expectations for further growth due to a low base effect [15] - The company is shifting its focus from rapid store expansion to optimizing existing stores, particularly in overseas markets [15] - MINISO's current price-to-earnings ratio is 13 times, which is considered attractive compared to other retailers and IP valuations, leading to a buy recommendation [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - Miniso's Q4 2024 performance shows mixed results, with overseas business growth driving profitability to a historical high despite slight revenue miss [1][4]. Group 1: Revenue Performance - In Q4 2024, Miniso achieved revenue of 4.71 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.7%, slightly missing Bloomberg's consensus estimate of 4.81 billion yuan [1][9]. - Overseas revenue grew by 42.7%, with direct and agency markets increasing by 65.5% and 17.4% respectively, leading to overseas revenue accounting for 45% of total revenue, up from 39% in the same period last year [1][9]. - Domestic revenue reached 2.58 billion yuan, showing a recovery in growth compared to Q3, with Miniso brand growing by 10% and TOPTOY maintaining a high growth rate of 42.7% [1][9]. Group 2: Store Expansion - In Q4 2024, Miniso added a net total of 360 stores, reaching 7,780 stores, with overseas and domestic net additions of 182 and 178 stores respectively [2][10]. - The overseas direct store count increased significantly, with the proportion rising to 16.1%, marking a continuous increase since Q1 2023 [2][11]. - The company focused on expanding in third-tier and lower cities, aligning with its strategy of "opening large stores, closing small stores, and optimizing store quality" [2][11]. Group 3: Profitability and Margins - Miniso's gross margin reached a historical high of 47% in Q4 2024, driven by the ongoing IP retail strategy and an increase in high-margin IP products [3][12]. - Despite increased marketing expenses during the overseas Christmas season, the overall expense ratio remained stable, with a slight decrease in sales expense ratio by 0.8 percentage points [3][12]. - Adjusted net profit margin improved by 1.6 percentage points to 16.8% [3][12]. Group 4: Future Outlook and Concerns - The company aims for overseas revenue to quadruple over the next five years, targeting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%-40% [9]. - Concerns exist regarding the cash flow impact of Miniso's acquisition of Yonghui Supermarket, which involved a cash outlay of 6.27 billion yuan, potentially affecting Miniso's expansion plans [4][5]. - The acquisition may dilute Miniso's return on equity (ROE) due to Yonghui's ongoing losses, with estimates suggesting a potential impact of around 400 million yuan on Miniso's net profit [5][6].