Core Viewpoint - CMB International maintains a "market perform" rating for China's discretionary consumption sector for 2026, expecting overall retail sales growth of approximately 3.5% with a cautious outlook [1] Sector Summaries Preferred Sub-sectors - The company is optimistic about the following sub-sectors: 1) Tea and coffee, 2) Trendy toys, 3) Apparel, 4) Textiles [1] Neutral Outlook Sub-sectors - The company maintains a "market perform" view on the following sub-sectors: 5) Dining, 6) Sports goods, 7) Travel and hotel, 8) Home appliances [1] Consumption Types - In a basic scenario, the company favors: 1) Survival consumption (frugality, low price, high cost-performance), with related companies including: Guoquan, Yum China, Luckin Coffee, Dashihua, Bosideng [1] - 2) Compensatory consumption (small pleasures, affordable entertainment, emotional value, experiential) [1] - 3) Defensive consumption (gold, silver, high dividends), with related companies including: Bosideng, Jiangnan Buyi, Li Lang, Tabo [1] Optimistic Scenario - In an optimistic/bull market scenario (strong stock market, stabilizing real estate), large-ticket consumption will benefit more, with related companies including: Haier Smart Home, Midea Group, Hai Di Lao, Anta Sports [1]

Core Viewpoint - The report from CMB International indicates a cautious outlook for China's discretionary consumption sector in 2026, with an expected overall retail sales growth of approximately 3.5%, a slight decrease from about 4% in 2025, influenced by factors such as the delayed Spring Festival, extended holidays, potential recovery in the real estate sector, and a thriving stock market [1] Group 1: Industry Overview - The industry valuation is likely to have bottomed out this year, currently at around 15 times the price-to-earnings ratio, which is still not expensive compared to the average of about 20 times over the past eight years [1] - The overall view remains conservative due to potential slowing growth in the next 12 months and high geopolitical risks, suggesting that valuations may not rise quickly without significant positive policies or a clear recovery in real estate [1] Group 2: Subsector Ratings - CMB International prioritizes the following subsectors for 2026: 1) Tea and coffee, 2) Trendy toys, 3) Apparel, 4) Textiles; maintaining a "market perform" rating for: 5) Dining, 6) Sports goods, 7) Travel and hotel, 8) Home appliances [2] - The ratings for the tea and coffee sector and trendy toys are maintained at "outperform," while the apparel and textile sectors have been upgraded to "outperform" [2] Group 3: Investment Themes - The investment themes are categorized into different types of consumption, with a focus on: 1) Essential consumption (frugality, low price, high cost-performance), related companies include: Guoquan (02157), Yum China (09987), Luckin Coffee (LKNCY.US), Dashihua (01405), Bosideng (03998) [2] - Other themes include compensatory consumption (small pleasures, affordable entertainment, emotional value, experiential) and defensive consumption (gold, silver, high dividends), with related companies such as Bosideng (03998), Jiangnan Buyi (03306), Li Lang (01234), and Taobo (06110), all rated as "buy" [2] Group 4: Large-ticket Consumption - CMB International is less optimistic about large-ticket consumption (durables, real estate-related, luxury goods, high-end tourism), but in a bullish scenario (if wealth effects are strong with a thriving stock market and stabilizing real estate), it could benefit large-ticket consumption, with related companies including Haier Smart Home (06690, 600690.SH), Midea Group (00300, 000300.SH), Haidilao (06862), and Anta Sports (02020), all rated as "buy" [3]

Core Insights - The tea and coffee industry, represented by leading brands like Mixue Ice City and Luckin Coffee, has experienced rapid expansion, creating a consumer frenzy, but the profitability of franchise operations is declining as competition intensifies and growth slows [1][2] Industry Overview - The franchise model, once seen as a guaranteed profit-making venture, is now facing significant challenges, with many franchisees realizing that making money is not as easy as previously thought [2][3] - The tea and coffee market in China is projected to grow, with the tea market size reaching 618.1 billion yuan in 2023 and expected to hit 664.6 billion yuan in 2024, while the ready-to-drink tea market is anticipated to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 25.9% over the next five years [5][6] Franchise Challenges - Franchisees are facing increasing operational costs and market saturation, leading to a rise in store closures. For instance, in 2024, the number of new tea shops is expected to be 127,700, while closures may exceed 140,000, indicating a troubling trend of more closures than openings [3][4] - Notable brands like Nayuki Tea and NOWWA Coffee are experiencing significant store closures, with Nayuki closing 157 stores in just the first 11 months of 2024, a threefold increase compared to previous years [4] Market Dynamics - The shift from rapid expansion to a more rational approach in the tea and coffee industry reflects a necessary transition from a focus on quantity to quality and sustainability in operations [8] - The average payback period for franchisees has extended, with some reporting delays of up to 12.5 months beyond the expected 5.5 months, indicating increased financial pressure on franchise operators [8]