Core Viewpoint - The report from Haitong International emphasizes the structural opportunities arising from policy catalysts, highlighting the need to focus on industries benefiting from government policies while adhering to the principle of "high dividends + fundamental improvement" [1] Demand - In July, among the eight essential consumer sectors tracked, six maintained positive growth, while two experienced negative growth. The sectors with single-digit growth included dining (+4.4%), soft drinks (+2.7%), frozen foods (+1.7%), condiments (+1.1%), dairy products (+1.1%), and beer (+0.6%). The sectors with declines were high-end and above liquor (-4.0%) and mass-market liquor (-3.9%). Compared to the previous month, five sectors saw a deterioration in growth rates, while three improved [2] Pricing - In July, most liquor prices stabilized. The prices for Feitian (whole box, loose bottle, and Moutai 1935) were 1915, 1880, and 655 yuan, respectively, showing changes of -35, flat, and -20 yuan compared to the previous month, and -665, -500, and -155 yuan year-on-year. The price for Pu'er liquor was 930 yuan, up by 10 yuan from the previous month, remaining flat year-on-year. After significant adjustments in June, most liquor prices saw slight increases or remained stable in July, with only a few continuing to decline. The discounts for liquid milk and beer products decreased, while soft drink discounts increased, with prices for infant formula, convenience foods, and condiments remaining stable [3] Costs - In July, the spot cost index generally declined, while the futures cost index primarily increased. The spot cost indices for dairy products, soft drinks, frozen foods, beer, instant noodles, and condiments changed by -2.92%, -2.46%, -1.88%, -1.78%, -1.58%, and -1.29%, respectively. The futures cost indices changed by -1.52%, +1.64%, -1.77%, +3.57%, +0.84%, and +2.89%. In terms of packaging materials, the prices for aluminum cans, glass, plastic, and paper changed by +3.67%, -0.08%, -0.82%, and -1.20% month-on-month, and year-on-year changes were +6.78%, -21.18%, -15.60%, and -4.11%. The prices for direct raw materials, such as palm oil, increased by +5.33% month-on-month and +13.13% year-on-year, while fresh milk prices slightly dropped to 3.03 yuan/kg [4] Funds - By the end of July, net inflows from Hong Kong Stock Connect amounted to 124.1 billion yuan (up from 73.45 billion yuan the previous month), with the essential consumer sector's market capitalization accounting for 5.05%, an increase of 0.17 percentage points from the previous month. The market share of the food additives sector in Hong Kong Stock Connect was 12.7%, down by 0.52 percentage points, while dairy products saw an increase of 0.6% to 11.6%. In terms of holding ratios, Qingdao Beer (600600) had the highest at 40.0%, followed by Huabao International at 19.8%. As of the end of June, the market capitalization share of food and beverage in the A-share market was 4.56%, down by 0.22 percentage points from Q1 2025, with Yili (600887) having the highest holding ratio at 10.7%, followed by Dongpeng Beverage (605499) at 9.9% [5] Valuation - At the end of July, the historical PE ratio for the food and beverage sector was at the 16th percentile (20.2x), unchanged from the end of the previous month. The sub-sectors with lower percentiles included beer (3%, 23.8x) and liquor (11%, 17.9x). The median valuation for leading A-share companies was 20x, down by 1x from the previous month. The historical PE ratio for the essential consumer sector in H-shares was at the 54th percentile (20.0x), an increase of 10 percentage points from the previous month (44%, 19.4x). The sub-sectors with lower percentiles included packaged foods (6%, 10.7x) and alcoholic beverages (7%, 17.6x). The median valuation for leading food and beverage companies in H-shares was 21x, up by 1x from the previous month [6]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the food and beverage industry Core Insights - The health consumption trend is reshaping beverage consumption patterns, with functional plant-based drinks experiencing rapid growth, particularly birch juice beverages, which saw a 155.5% month-on-month increase on Douyin e-commerce platforms [4] - Vitamin drinks are witnessing a resurgence in 2024, with brands like Yuanqi Forest and Kangshifu launching new products targeting specific vitamins and consumption scenarios [3][15] - The market for sugar-free tea has stabilized, while the future of electrolyte drinks remains uncertain, with significant market share held by brands like Nongfu Spring [6] Industry Trends - Health consumption trends are driving the popularity of functional plant-based beverages, with domestic brands leading the upgrade in this category [4] - The vitamin drink market is becoming more competitive, with new products focusing on specific vitamins and tailored marketing strategies for different consumption scenarios [3][15] - The sugar-free tea market is dominated by Nongfu Spring's Dongfang Shuye, which holds over 70% market share, while the electrolyte drink market is led by Yuanqi Forest's Alien brand [6] - The Chinese soft drink industry is transitioning from an incremental growth phase to a stock competition phase, with health and functionality becoming key trends [7] - The market for traditional Chinese health drinks is rapidly growing, driven by the health consciousness of the younger generation [8][16] Brand Dynamics - Yuanqi Forest is actively entering the birch juice market, which has seen a sales increase of 834.8% on Douyin, indicating strong consumer interest [13] - The collaboration between Kangshifu and Yili aims to innovate within the instant noodle market, targeting nighttime consumption [9] - The partnership between Yuanqi Forest and Deli to create eco-friendly stationery from recycled beverage bottles highlights a commitment to sustainability [21]

Market Performance - The three major A-share indices continued to rise, with the Shanghai Composite Index surpassing 3600 points again, closing at 3617 points, up 0.96% [1] - The Shenzhen Component Index increased by 0.59%, while the ChiNext Index rose by 0.39% [1] - Total trading volume reached 1.62 trillion yuan, an increase of 976 billion yuan compared to the previous trading day, with over 3900 stocks rising across the market [1] Sector Performance - PEEK materials saw significant gains, with stocks like Xinhan New Materials and Zhongxin Fluorine Materials hitting the daily limit [1] - The consumer electronics sector also performed well, with stocks such as Furi Electronics and Yidelong reaching the daily limit [1] - The communication equipment sector strengthened, with companies like Dongxin Peace and Changfei Optical Fiber hitting the daily limit [1] - The automotive parts sector was active, with stocks like Xinquan Co., Hunan Tianyan, and Zhongma Transmission also reaching the daily limit [1] - Other notable sectors with strong performance included copper cable high-speed connections, brain-computer interfaces, space station concepts, and plastic products [1] - Conversely, the traditional Chinese medicine sector declined, with Qizheng Tibetan Medicine hitting the daily limit down [1] - The Kimi concept saw a downturn, led by Wanxing Technology, while sectors like recombinant proteins, hepatitis concepts, and chemical pharmaceuticals also experienced significant declines [1] Index Summary - Shanghai Composite Index: 3617.60, +34.29 (+0.96%) [1] - Shenzhen Component Index: 11106.96, +65.40 (+0.59%) [1] - ChiNext Index: 2343.38, +9.05 (+0.39%) [1] - Other indices such as the Sci-Tech 50 and CSI 300 also showed positive movements [1]

Core Viewpoint - The energy drink market in China is experiencing significant growth, with major brands like Dongpeng and Red Bull reporting substantial revenue increases, indicating a robust demand for functional beverages that enhance energy and alertness [4][6][9]. Group 1: Market Performance - Dongpeng Beverage reported a revenue of over 10 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 36.37%, with its flagship product, Dongpeng Special Drink, generating sales of 8.36 billion yuan [4]. - Red Bull's revenue for 2024 reached 21 billion yuan, exceeding its initial targets, while Monster Beverage Corporation reported a 40.1% year-on-year increase in net sales in China for Q1 2024 [6][9]. - The energy drink segment accounts for approximately 70% of the functional beverage market, which has been the fastest-growing category in China's soft drink sector over the past five years [9][12]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics - The energy drink market in China has evolved since Red Bull's entry in 1995, with numerous domestic brands emerging and initially mimicking Red Bull's product and packaging [15][18]. - Dongpeng's rise can be attributed to its focus on blue-collar workers, competitive pricing, and innovative packaging, which helped it capture market share from Red Bull [18][20]. - The competitive landscape has intensified, with brands like Dongpeng and others employing aggressive marketing strategies, including sponsorship of sports events and targeted promotions to attract younger consumers [21][22]. Group 3: Consumer Trends - The consumption of energy drinks is increasingly common among various demographics, including blue-collar workers, office employees, and students, with the top three consumption scenarios being sports (31.21%), night shifts (30.12%), and late-night studying (29.44%) [26][28]. - The demand for energy drinks is driven by the fast-paced lifestyle of modern consumers, leading to a broader acceptance and habitual consumption of these beverages [28].

Group 1 - The company has completed the repurchase and cancellation of part of the shares from the 2024 employee stock ownership plan, as approved in the board meeting and the annual shareholders' meeting [1][2] - A total of 4,331,300 shares have been repurchased and transferred to the company's designated repurchase account, with the cancellation completed by July 31, 2025 [2][3] - Following the repurchase, the company's share capital structure has changed, with the total number of unrestricted shares decreasing from 394,433,144 to 390,101,844 [3]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "stronger than the market," indicating an expected increase of over 10% in the industry index relative to the CSI 300 over the next six months [59]. Core Insights - The food and beverage sector experienced a slight increase of 0.89% in July 2025, with notable performances from liquor and cooked food, while overall trading volume remained low at 32.698 billion shares [1][7]. - From January to July 2025, the food and beverage sector recorded a cumulative decline of 3.50%, underperforming the market index, with the sector ranking second to last among 31 primary industries [5][12]. - The valuation of the food and beverage sector is at a ten-year low, with a current valuation of 13.93 times earnings, while liquor is even lower at 11.98 times [5][14]. - In July 2025, 52.34% of individual stocks in the sector saw price increases, indicating a significant improvement in stock performance compared to the previous month [21][24]. - Investment opportunities are recommended in the liquor, soft drink, health products, baking, and snack sectors for August 2025, with a specific stock portfolio suggested [54][56]. Summary by Sections 1. Market Performance - The food and beverage sector saw a slight increase of 0.89% in July 2025, with significant gains in cooked food, health products, liquor, and meat products, while other sub-sectors declined [1][7]. - The total trading volume for the sector in July was 32.698 billion shares, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 1.509 billion shares but a decrease of 19.525 billion shares from the peak in April [1][7]. 2. Valuation - As of July 31, 2025, the food and beverage sector's valuation stands at 13.93 times earnings, which is low compared to historical data, with liquor at 11.98 times [5][14]. 3. Individual Stock Performance - In July 2025, 52.34% of stocks in the food and beverage sector increased in value, with health products and dairy products showing strong performance [21][24]. - Specific stocks such as liquor brands and baked goods showed signs of recovery, with notable increases in their stock prices [21][24]. 4. Investment Trends - The food and beverage manufacturing sector has seen a continuous increase in fixed asset investment, with a year-on-year growth of 22.9% in 2024 and 16.0% in 2025 [28]. - The report highlights the potential for growth in emerging markets within the food and beverage sector, such as pre-prepared meals and baked goods, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences towards higher-quality and more diverse food options [53][54].

Investment Rating - Industry Rating: Outperform the market (maintained rating) [5] Core Viewpoints - The liquor sector experienced a slight pullback, with stable prices for Feitian liquor. The white liquor index PE-TTM is at 18.06X, which is 5.23% below the reasonable low level over the past decade. Strong alpha companies such as Shanxi Fenjiu and Guizhou Moutai are recommended, along with beta companies like Luzhou Laojiao and Water Well [2][12] - The beer sector saw a decline, with Budweiser Asia reporting a 3.9% decrease in revenue and a 6.2% drop in sales in Q2 2025. However, there is optimism for recovery in beer sales due to upcoming consumption promotion policies and adjustments to alcohol bans [3][13] - The consumer goods sector is experiencing a pullback, with a focus on new products and performance data catalysts. Companies that can enhance efficiency and market share are highlighted as strong investment opportunities [4][20] Summary by Sections Market Performance Review - The food and beverage sector declined by 2.17%, while the Shanghai Composite Index fell by 0.94% and the CSI 300 Index dropped by 1.75%. Specific declines included snacks (-3.03%) and soft drinks (-4.28%) [1][21] Liquor Sector Insights - The white liquor sector saw a 2.40% decline, with notable drops in companies like Shanxi Fenjiu and Shede Liquor. Despite this, the mid-term value of the sector remains promising [2][12] - The yellow wine sector is also under observation, with companies like Gu Yue Long Shan actively repurchasing shares [12] Beer and Beverage Sector Insights - The beer sector's decline was led by companies like Qingdao Beer and Budweiser Asia. The latter's performance was impacted by weak demand in China and Korea [3][13] - The soft drink sector also faced challenges, with companies like Nongfu Spring and Master Kong showing declines [15] Consumer Goods Sector Insights - The consumer goods sector is focusing on new product launches and performance data. Companies like Qiaqia Food and Jinzai are expanding their product lines [4][20] - The dairy sector remains stable, with average milk prices at 3.03 RMB/kg, showing a year-on-year decline of 5.90% [18] Investment Recommendations - Strong alpha liquor companies such as Shanxi Fenjiu and Guizhou Moutai are recommended, along with consumer goods companies that focus on cost reduction and market share growth [5][20]

Investment Focus - The report highlights a focus on structural opportunities driven by policy catalysis, particularly in essential consumer sectors such as dairy products and liquor, while cautioning against the risks in the soft drink sector [7]. Demand Analysis - In July, among the eight tracked essential consumer sectors, six maintained positive growth, while two experienced negative growth. The sectors with single-digit growth included dining (+4.4%), soft drinks (+2.7%), frozen foods (+1.7%), condiments (+1.1%), dairy products (+1.1%), and beer (+0.6%). The declining sectors were high-end and above liquor (-4.0%) and mass-market liquor (-3.9%) [3][9]. - The report notes that five sectors saw a deterioration in growth rates compared to the previous month, while three improved. The new alcohol ban and adverse weather conditions were identified as significant negative factors affecting demand [3][9]. Price Trends - In July, most liquor wholesale prices stabilized after a period of decline. Specific prices included Feitian at 1915/1880/655 yuan for different packaging, with year-on-year declines of 665/500/155 yuan. The price of Wuliangye was 930 yuan, showing a slight increase of 10 yuan from the previous month [3][22][24]. - The report indicates that the prices of liquid milk and beer saw a reduction in discount rates, while soft drink discounts increased, with stable prices for infant formula, convenience foods, and condiments [4][19]. Cost Analysis - The report states that the spot cost index for various sectors, including dairy, soft drinks, frozen foods, and beer, generally decreased in July, while futures cost indices showed mixed results. For instance, the spot cost index for dairy products fell by 2.92% [4]. Fund Flow - As of the end of July, net inflows into Hong Kong Stock Connect amounted to 124.1 billion yuan, with the essential consumer sector's market capitalization share rising to 5.05%. The food additives sector saw a decrease in share, while the dairy sector experienced an increase [5]. Valuation Insights - By the end of July, the historical PE ratio for the food and beverage sector was at 16% (20.2x), remaining stable from the previous month. The report notes that the median valuation for leading A-share companies was 20x, a decrease of 1x from the previous month [6]. Sector Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on sectors benefiting from policy support, particularly dairy and liquor, while being cautious about the soft drink sector's marginal deterioration. Specific companies to watch include China Feihe, Yili, Mengniu, Master Kong, Uni-President, Yanghe, WH Group, and China Foods [7].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the Chinese consumer staples sector is "Outperform" for multiple companies including Guizhou Moutai, Wuliangye, and Yili [1]. Core Insights - In July 2025, among the eight key tracked consumer staples industries, six maintained positive growth while two experienced negative growth. The industries with single-digit growth include catering, soft drinks, frozen foods, condiments, dairy products, and beer, while the only declining industry was Baijiu [30]. - The growth rate of most industries has deteriorated compared to the previous month, with five industries showing a decline in growth rates and three showing improvement. The new alcohol ban and adverse weather conditions are significant negative factors impacting the sector [3][30]. Summary by Industry Baijiu (Chinese Liquor) - For the high-end and above Baijiu segment, July revenue was 19 billion yuan, down 4.0% year-on-year, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 243.1 billion yuan, a decrease of 0.8% [10]. - The low-end Baijiu segment saw July revenue of 11 billion yuan, down 3.9% year-on-year, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 115.9 billion yuan, down 12.8% [12]. Beer - The domestic beer industry reported July revenue of 17.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 111.9 billion yuan, up 0.7% [15]. Condiments - The condiment industry generated July revenue of 36.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 261.6 billion yuan, up 1.6% [17]. Dairy Products - The dairy industry reported July revenue of 38.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 267.8 billion yuan, up 0.3% [19]. Frozen Foods - The frozen food industry had July revenue of 7.58 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.7%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 64.5 billion yuan, up 1.4% [21]. Soft Drinks - The soft drink industry reported July revenue of 71 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.7%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 425 billion yuan, up 2.5% [23]. Catering - The catering sector generated July revenue of 16.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.4%, with cumulative revenue from January to July at 103.9 billion yuan, up 3.0% [25].

Core Viewpoint - The regulatory body has introduced new requirements for listed companies to enhance their dividend distribution, leading to an early wave of dividend announcements for the 2025 interim period [1][2]. Group 1: Dividend Trends - A significant number of companies have announced their 2025 interim dividend plans ahead of the usual peak period, with at least 9 companies declaring interim dividends for the first time [1][5]. - Notable examples include WuXi AppTec, which plans to distribute 35 yuan per share, marking its first interim dividend [1][5]. - Dongpeng Beverage has announced a substantial interim dividend of 250 yuan per share, totaling 1.3 billion yuan, indicating a trend of increasing dividend payouts [3][4]. Group 2: Growth Companies and Dividends - High-growth companies are also participating in the dividend trend, with CATL announcing a 100.7 yuan per share interim dividend, nearly double its previous payout [4][5]. - The total dividend amount for CATL is projected to be 4.573 billion yuan, significantly higher than its previous interim dividend [4]. Group 3: Regulatory Influence - The increase in dividend announcements is attributed to regulatory guidance and measures aimed at companies with low or no dividends, which have been subjected to risk warnings [2][6]. - The China Securities Regulatory Commission has encouraged companies to adopt a dual dividend system, leading to a notable rise in the number of companies declaring interim dividends [6][7]. Group 4: Historical Context and Future Outlook - The number of companies declaring interim dividends has surged, with nearly 900 companies having multiple dividend distributions in the past year, compared to around 200 in 2023 [1][6]. - Analysts expect the trend of increasing interim dividends to continue, with more companies likely to announce their plans as the reporting season progresses [6][7].