Summary of the Conference Call for Zhenhua Co., Ltd. Industry Overview - The chromium salt industry is experiencing tight supply and demand, with the average price of chromium oxide green reaching 30,000 yuan on April 24, 2025, an increase of 2,000 yuan since the beginning of the year, and a further price increase of 1,000 yuan on the same day. The price difference between chromium oxide green and chromium ore has increased by 1,686 yuan per ton since the beginning of the year, indicating an expansion of profit margins in the industry chain [2][3] - The demand for chromium salt and metallic chromium is primarily driven by the recovery of demand in the aviation engine and rocket engine sectors post-pandemic, as well as the increasing demand for high-performance materials in the AI era [4][8] Company Insights - Zhenhua Co., Ltd. has a production capacity of 12,000 tons of metallic chromium and approximately 250,000 tons of chromium salt, benefiting from the growth in demand for metallic chromium and rising industry prices, indicating significant operational flexibility [2][3] - The company has a competitive edge in technology transformation and cost control, with production costs 15%-20% lower than the second-largest player in the industry. This advantage is achieved through extending the industrial chain and scaling up operations [4][11] Market Dynamics - The commercial aircraft engine and gas turbine markets are crucial drivers for the chromium industry. The order cycle for commercial aircraft engines can exceed 13 years, while gas turbine orders typically last 4-5 years, providing sustained momentum for technological advancements and market growth [5][7] - The price transmission mechanism in the chromium industry affects all market segments, with rising prices of chromium oxide green reflecting tightening supply and demand, impacting traditional sectors like leather, electroplating, and pigments, as well as emerging fields like metallic chromium [6][12] Future Outlook - Zhenhua Co., Ltd. is positioned to benefit from the ongoing industry cycle, with expectations of continued demand growth in sectors such as aviation, gas turbines, and military applications, which will drive prices across the entire industry chain [18] - The company plans to expand its production capacity, with the Chongqing base expected to reach over 350,000 tons post-relocation, significantly enhancing its market share and operational flexibility [17] Risks and Challenges - Supply-side constraints include pollution issues associated with chromium salt production, leading to strict regulatory controls and limiting new entrants into the industry. Existing companies face stringent oversight, which may hinder significant supply increases in the coming years [9][10] Competitive Position - Zhenhua Co., Ltd. is the largest chromium salt producer globally and the second-largest producer of metallic chromium in China, benefiting from cost advantages and R&D investments that create barriers to entry for competitors [16]

Core Viewpoint - In the first quarter of 2024, the company reported a net profit of approximately 1.2 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 37.27%, attributed to improved gross margins and strong demand for high-temperature alloys [5][6]. Group 1: Financial Performance - For the full year 2024, the company achieved a net profit of about 4.7 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 27.53% [3]. - The company’s first-quarter revenue growth was driven by the robust performance of its metal chromium product line, which operated at full capacity with over 2,500 tons delivered [5][6]. - The overseas sales revenue for 2024 reached approximately 5.6 billion yuan, an increase of about 18.2% year-on-year, with products sold in nearly 40 countries and regions [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Production - The company is recognized as the largest producer of chromium chemicals and vitamin K3 globally, and it has become one of the top five metal chromium producers as of the end of 2024 [3]. - The company’s production of chromium salt products reached approximately 26,000 tons in 2024, accounting for 26% of the global chromium salt capacity [3]. - The domestic chromium salt industry has seen no new entrants or projects in the past decade, with supply growth primarily coming from the company's technological upgrades [3]. Group 3: Shareholder Composition - In the first quarter of 2024, two social security funds entered the company’s top ten shareholders, each holding approximately 6 million shares [7][8]. - The threshold for the top ten shareholders was about 3.56 million shares at the end of 2024, indicating that these funds acquired shares during the first quarter [8]. - Other funds also increased their holdings in the company during the first quarter, raising the threshold for the top ten shareholders to approximately 4.29 million shares [9].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Recommended" (maintained) [1] Core Insights - The price of metallic chromium has been continuously rising, benefiting the chromium salt industry chain. The average price of metallic chromium in China's non-ferrous market reached 73,060 RMB/ton as of April 22, 2025, an increase of 12,090 RMB/ton since the beginning of 2025. The demand for metallic chromium is driven by end-use sectors such as gas turbine markets for AI data centers and aviation engines, indicating a shift from traditional low-growth demand to emerging high-growth demand [5][6] - The chromium ore price has also been on the rise, providing support for the chromium salt industry's upward trend. As of April 22, 2025, the market price of chromium ore (Cr44%, South African concentrate) was 64 RMB/ton degree, up 17 RMB/ton degree since the beginning of 2025. The supply side is constrained by environmental regulations, making it difficult for production to expand significantly [6] Summary by Sections Industry Performance - The basic chemical industry has shown a relative performance of -4.1% over 1 month, 2.1% over 3 months, and 2.3% over 12 months. In comparison, the CSI 300 index has performed at -3.3% over 1 month, -0.3% over 3 months, and 7.2% over 12 months [4] Investment Strategy - The chromium salt industry is expected to enter a prosperous cycle due to tight supply, rising raw material prices, and increasing downstream demand. The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the chromium salt industry. It specifically recommends Zhenhua Co., Ltd., which is projected to increase its chromium salt production capacity from approximately 250,000 tons to over 350,000 tons following upgrades at its Chongqing base [6][7] Key Companies and Earnings Forecast - Zhenhua Co., Ltd. is highlighted as a key company with a stock price of 19.39 RMB as of April 22, 2025. The earnings per share (EPS) forecast for 2023, 2024E, and 2025E are 0.74, 0.96, and 1.43 RMB respectively, with corresponding price-to-earnings (PE) ratios of 13.77, 20.12, and 13.61. The investment rating for Zhenhua Co., Ltd. is "Buy" [7]

Group 1: Industry Insights - The drug regulatory authority has introduced a new data protection policy for drug trial data, granting 6 years of protection for innovative drugs and 3 years for improved and first-generic drugs [3] - The policy aims to accelerate the development of innovative drugs through faster approval processes and supportive pricing and reimbursement policies, particularly for differentiated innovative drugs [3] - The performance of major drug varieties is expected to accelerate, with significant growth anticipated for PD-1/IL-2 drugs by 2025 [3] Group 2: Automotive and Chip Industry - Local governments are promoting the implementation of L3 autonomous driving, particularly in cities like Beijing and Wuhan, supported by legal frameworks [4] - The cost of intelligent driving systems is significantly decreasing, with expectations that models priced above 150,000 yuan will standardize high-level intelligent driving systems [4] - Horizon Robotics, a leading domestic intelligent driving chip manufacturer, is expected to ship over 10 million units of its chips by 2025 [4] Group 3: Nuclear Fusion Industry - The nuclear fusion sector is attracting significant investment and participation from various companies, with strong government support for its development [5] - The U.S. is constructing the world's first commercial nuclear fusion power plant, with notable advancements in plasma confinement and fusion power output from international facilities [5] - The advantages of nuclear fusion power include stability and minimal greenhouse gas emissions, which are driving interest in the sector [5] Group 4: Chemical Industry - The demand structure for chromium salts is changing, with significant growth expected in the aerospace sector due to the material's properties [6] - Global gas turbine orders are projected to increase from 40 GW/year in 2023 to 80 GW/year by 2026, driving demand for chromium salts [6] - The chemical sector is anticipated to enter a restocking cycle as inventory levels are low and demand is expected to rebound [6]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Hesai Technology, indicating strong growth potential in the lidar market and expected revenue increases for 2025-2027 [8][12][32]. Core Insights - Hesai Technology reported a net revenue of RMB 2.077 billion (approximately USD 285 million) for 2024, marking a year-on-year growth of 10.7% and achieving a non-GAAP net profit of RMB 13.7 million, reversing a loss from the previous year [3][4]. - The company experienced a significant increase in gross margin, reaching 42.6% in 2024, up from 35.2% in 2023, primarily due to cost optimization and increased sales volume [4][5]. - Hesai's Q4 2024 performance was particularly strong, with net income of RMB 720 million (approximately USD 98.6 million), a year-on-year increase of 28.3%, and a non-GAAP net profit of RMB 170 million [4][5]. - The company anticipates a revenue of RMB 3-3.5 billion (approximately USD 411-480 million) for 2025, representing a growth of 44%-69% compared to 2024 [6][8]. Summary by Sections Hesai Technology - Hesai Technology is positioned as a leading player in the autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) lidar market, with a projected shipment of 1.5 million units in 2025 [8]. - The company has secured exclusive design contracts with top European OEMs, indicating strong demand for its lidar products [6][7]. - Hesai's new product line, including the JT series of 3D lidar for robotics, is expected to enhance its market presence and revenue streams [7]. Ideal Automotive - Ideal Automotive is transitioning from an electric vehicle manufacturer to an artificial intelligence company, with plans to leverage AI in its product offerings [9][10]. - The company is expected to achieve significant revenue growth, with projected net profits of RMB 13.35 billion and RMB 19.18 billion for 2025 and 2026, respectively [11]. Energy and Aluminum Sector - The report highlights the robust performance of Electric Power Energy and Shenhua Co., with both companies benefiting from rising aluminum prices and stable coal operations [12][13]. - Electric Power Energy is noted for its strong cash flow and stable profit margins, while Shenhua Co. is expected to see enhanced earnings due to its high aluminum production capacity [14][15]. Chemical Industry - Baofeng Energy reported a revenue of RMB 32.983 billion (approximately USD 4.5 billion) for 2024, driven by increased production and sales of polyethylene and polypropylene [24][26]. - The company is expanding its coal-to-olefins project in Xinjiang, which is expected to significantly boost its production capacity and market competitiveness [30][31]. Defense and Alloy Market - The report indicates that increased defense spending in China is likely to drive demand for chromium salts and high-temperature alloys, benefiting companies in the materials sector [38][39].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the chromium salt industry, indicating a positive outlook based on the industry's fundamentals and performance relative to the market index [1][13]. Core Insights - Continuous growth in national defense spending is expected to drive high demand for chromium salts. The 2025 national defense budget is projected at 1,784.665 billion yuan, reflecting a 7.2% increase, marking three consecutive years of growth at this rate [4][5]. - The report highlights that the defense and aerospace sectors are likely to significantly boost the demand for chromium salt products, particularly in high-temperature alloys and military applications [5][9]. Summary by Sections Recent Trends - The basic chemical industry has shown a performance increase of 2.9% over the last month, while the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 index has only increased by 0.2% [3]. Industry Demand Drivers - The report emphasizes that the growth in defense spending will enhance the demand for chromium salts, particularly in the context of military and aerospace applications [4][5]. - The commercial aerospace sector is also contributing to the rising demand for high-temperature alloys, with a growing number of market participants [6][9]. Key Companies and Forecasts - The report identifies Zhihua Co. as a key player in the chromium salt industry, with a projected earnings per share (EPS) of 1.07 for 2025 and a "Buy" rating based on its integrated advantages in the chromium salt supply chain [13].