Construction Industry - In January-February, key indicators of the real estate market continued to decline year-on-year, with real estate development investment down by 9.8%, new construction area down by 29.6%, construction area down by 9.1%, sales area of commercial housing down by 5.1%, and completed housing area down by 15.6%, although the decline was narrower compared to the same period last year [2] - Infrastructure investment grew by 5.6% year-on-year, with water management investment up by 39.1%, air transport investment up by 13.4%, public facility management investment up by 2.6%, road transport investment down by 3.2%, and railway transport investment up by 0.2% [2] - National major power generation enterprises completed an investment of 75.3 billion yuan in power source projects, a year-on-year increase of 0.2%, while grid projects saw an investment of 43.6 billion yuan, up by 33.5% [2] Machinery Industry - In January-February, the machinery industry maintained growth, with most product outputs increasing year-on-year. The export value of electromechanical products totaled 2.3 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%, accounting for 60.0% of total exports [3] Automotive Industry - In January-February, 4.553 million vehicles were produced, a year-on-year increase of 16.2%, with passenger car production at 3.936 million (up 17.2%) and commercial vehicle production at 617,000 (up 10.2%) [4] - New energy vehicle production continued to grow rapidly, increasing by 52.0%, with sales accounting for 40.3% of total vehicle sales. Vehicle exports reached 910,000, a year-on-year increase of 10.9%, although the growth rate slowed [4] - In February, vehicle production was 2.1 million, a year-on-year increase of 39.6%, but a month-on-month decrease of 14.1% [5] Home Appliance Industry - In January-February, the production of the three major white goods (washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators) increased year-on-year, with washing machine production at 18.52 million units (up 12.7%), air conditioner production at 41.28 million units (up 9.0%), and refrigerator production at 15.12 million units (up 11.7%) [6] - Home appliance exports increased by 9.4% year-on-year, although the growth rate was narrower compared to the same period last year [6] Container Industry - In January-February, container production reached 3.519 million cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 51.3%, although the growth rate was significantly narrower compared to the same period last year, with export volume increasing by 21.2% [7]

Group 1: Portfolio Strategy - Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, suggests replacing the traditional 60/40 portfolio model with a 50/30/20 model, allocating 20% to infrastructure and real estate [1][5] - The 60/40 model has been a reliable choice for small investors, but Fink believes it is outdated due to the emergence of new asset classes [2][5] Group 2: Infrastructure Investment - Infrastructure includes large physical assets that provide reliable cash flows, such as utilities, toll roads, and energy pipelines [6] - Brookfield Infrastructure is highlighted as a leading company in the infrastructure sector, offering a 6% distribution yield for its partnership share class and a 4.8% yield for its corporate share class [7][9] Group 3: Brookfield Infrastructure Overview - Brookfield Infrastructure has a diversified portfolio with 26% of funds from operations (FFO) in utility assets, 41% in transportation, 21% in oil & gas pipelines, and 12% in data [9] - The company is managed by Brookfield Asset Management, operating similarly to a private equity firm by acquiring undervalued assets, upgrading them, and reinvesting proceeds [10] Group 4: Investment Appeal - Brookfield Infrastructure is positioned as an attractive investment option, providing high yield, regular distribution growth, and global diversification, making it suitable for income-focused portfolios [11]

Market Overview - The majority of U.S. stock indices ended the week positively, with a notable rise on April 11, 2025, as investor concerns regarding the U.S.-China trade war eased [1] - Producer price data indicating a decline in wholesale inflation for March contributed to investor optimism, reflected in rising share prices [1] Investment Strategy - Investors are encouraged to consider low-leverage stocks to mitigate risks during market volatility [2][6] - Low-leverage stocks are defined as those with a debt-to-equity ratio lower than their industry peers, which indicates reduced financial risk [9][11] Leverage and Financial Metrics - Leverage refers to the practice of borrowing capital for operations and expansion, primarily through debt financing [4] - Excessive debt financing can lead to significant losses, making it crucial for investors to select companies with lower debt levels [5][6] - The debt-to-equity ratio is a key metric for assessing a company's financial risk, with a lower ratio indicating better solvency [7] Stock Picks - **Bilibili (BILI)**: An online entertainment platform in China, with a projected 11% sales improvement for 2025 and a Zacks Rank of 2 [13][14] - **Willdan Group (WLDN)**: Provides consulting services and has secured a $30 million contract for energy modernization, with a 13.2% earnings improvement forecast for 2025 and a Zacks Rank of 1 [15][16] - **Sterling Infrastructure (STRL)**: Focuses on E-Infrastructure and has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15%, with a 34.6% earnings improvement expected for 2025 and a Zacks Rank of 1 [17][18] - **ASML Holding (ASML)**: A leading semiconductor technology manufacturer, with an 18% long-term earnings growth rate and a 14.1% sales improvement forecast for 2025, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 [19][20] - **Leonardo DRS (DRS)**: Develops defense products, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 14.6% and an 8.4% sales improvement expected for 2025, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 [20][21]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue growth of 3% for 2024, with total revenue reaching approximately $63 billion [6][18] - Free cash flow for the year was $12.7 billion, marking the highest level of free cash flow generation in many years [6][18] - Operating pre-tax income was $11.2 billion, with operating earnings per share at $10.33, reflecting a 7% increase [18][22] - The operating pre-tax margin expanded by 120 basis points, contributing to a 9% growth in operating pre-tax profit and a 14% increase in free cash flow [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Software revenue grew by 9% for the full year, with a notable 11% growth in Q4, driven by strong performance in Red Hat, automation, data and AI, and transaction processing [18][20][24] - Consulting revenue was up 1% for the year but down 1% in Q4, impacted by a dynamic market environment [19][20][29] - Infrastructure revenue decreased by 3% for the year and 6% in Q4, reflecting product cycle dynamics, particularly with the Z16 mainframe [19][20][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The software segment now constitutes about 45% of the company's business, with over $15 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) growing at double digits [10][18] - The generative AI book of business grew to over $5 billion, with a quarter-over-quarter increase of approximately $2 billion [11][12] - The company reported strong signings and a healthy backlog, with an 8% year-over-year increase in backlog levels [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for revenue growth to inflect higher to 5% plus in 2025, supported by a strong portfolio and ongoing investments in innovation [16][36] - The focus remains on enhancing the software-led integrated platform, with expectations of approaching double-digit growth in software [36][37] - The company is actively pursuing M&A opportunities, particularly in a more favorable regulatory environment, to enhance its capabilities [51][52] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the importance of technology in driving sustainable growth amid geopolitical tensions, interest rate volatility, and evolving cyber threats [9][81] - There is optimism in the business climate for 2025, with expectations of improved growth compared to 2024 [81] - The company anticipates that software budgets will remain a priority for clients, reinforcing confidence in revenue growth [83] Other Important Information - The company has made significant investments in R&D, with expenses up 13% year-over-year, reflecting a commitment to innovation [21][23] - The balance sheet remains strong, with cash of $14.8 billion and a reduction in debt by $1.6 billion to $55 billion [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide context around linearity for the 2025 guidance, particularly H1 versus H2? - Management indicated a strong portfolio execution in software, with expectations of a normal seasonal pattern, and noted that consulting growth may accelerate in the second half of the year [45][46] Question: What are the thoughts on M&A in a potentially lower regulatory environment? - Management expressed optimism about a more rational regulatory environment, which could facilitate reasonable deals, and indicated a willingness to pursue acquisitions that meet their criteria [51][52] Question: Can you highlight the confidence in consulting revenue recovery? - Management acknowledged the dynamic macroeconomic environment but expressed confidence in the consulting segment's growth potential, particularly driven by generative AI initiatives [60][62] Question: What software products are expected to stand out in the coming years? - Management highlighted the Watson X family and Red Hat products as key drivers of future software performance, emphasizing their role in enterprise AI deployments [63][64]