Summary of China Industrials Update Industry Overview - **Industry**: China Industrials - **Current Cycle**: The industry is in an upcycle driven by industrial upgrades and replacement cycles [6][4][3] Key Long-term Drivers - **AI Technology**: Diffusion of AI technology into intelligent manufacturing and equipment [6][4] - **Advanced Equipment Localization**: Focus on localizing advanced equipment production [6][4] - **Global Expansion**: Companies are increasingly going global [6][4] Robotics Sector - **Booming Era**: The robotics sector is entering a new booming era, with significant growth expected [6][4] - **Market Growth**: The robot industry in China is projected to double by 2028, with drones, mobile robots, and collaborative robots (cobots) leading the growth [57][66] - **Localization**: High localization rates are expected, with the ranking from high to low being drones, service robots, mobile robots, cobots, and traditional industrial robots [72][66] Subsector Insights - **Automation and Robotics**: - **Outperforming Stocks**: Inovance, Geekplus, Han's Laser, Shuanghuan, Hongfa, and Neway Valve are recommended as outperformers [6][4] - **Market Performance**: The automation market is in a mild recovery stage, with flat sales year-on-year in 9M25 compared to a decline in 2024 [26][32] - **Future Outlook**: Positive outlook for 2026-27 recovery driven by replacement demand and AI applications [27][32] - **Construction Machinery**: - **Growth Factors**: Domestic and overseas growth supported by large-scale infrastructure projects and electrification [142][138] - **Sales Performance**: Heavy-duty truck sales increased by 22% year-on-year in 10M25, but a decline is anticipated in 2026 due to front-loaded demand [143][144] - **Lithium Battery Equipment**: - **Demand Growth**: Expected growth of 54% in 2025, driven by capacity expansions and the first major replacement cycle starting in 2025 [174][181] - **Market Dynamics**: Global demand for lithium battery equipment is projected to grow at approximately 30% in 2026-27 [176][181] - **Solar Equipment**: - **Cyclical Low**: The solar equipment sector is expected to remain at a cyclical low in 2026 due to global overcapacity and single-digit growth in installations [182][186] - **Shift to Semi Equipment**: Companies are diversifying into non-solar lineups to mitigate downturns in solar demand [183][186] Financial Metrics - **Return on Equity (ROE)**: Mixed trends across subsectors, with improvements expected in automation and lithium battery equipment, while solar equipment shows erosion [19][21] - **Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Multiples**: Most subsector valuations are above the five-year median, particularly in automation and solar equipment [13][12] Conclusion - **Investment Opportunities**: The China Industrials sector presents various investment opportunities, particularly in automation, robotics, and lithium battery equipment, while caution is advised in solar equipment due to expected downturns [6][4][182]

Core Viewpoint - The company has successfully won a bid for a large-scale lithium battery equipment procurement project in the U.S., marking a significant achievement in its international expansion efforts [2][4]. Group 1: Project Details - The project is located in Texas and is one of the most notable computing infrastructure projects in the U.S., with a total planned investment exceeding $25 billion and a total power supply capacity of 1.4 GW [5]. - The bid amount for the project is 478 million RMB, which highlights the company's growing competitiveness in high-end overseas markets [2][4]. Group 2: Industry Context - The AIDC energy storage sector is experiencing high demand, but companies face challenges such as resource connectivity issues, difficulty in grasping technological trends, and obstacles in commercial implementation [6]. - The upcoming ESIE 2026 International Energy Storage Summit and Exhibition will focus on industry needs and create a dedicated AIDC energy storage area to provide comprehensive support for enterprises [6][8].

Summary of China Industrials Update Industry Overview - **China Industrials** is currently experiencing an upcycle driven by industrial upgrade and replacement cycles [6][6][6] - Key long-term drivers identified include: - AI technology diffusion into intelligent manufacturing and equipment - Advanced equipment localization - Global expansion [6][6][6] - The robotics sector is entering a new booming era, with significant growth anticipated [6][6][6] Subsector Insights - **Automation, Robotics, and AIDC Equipment**: - Rated as Overweight (OW) with key stocks including Inovance, Geekplus, Han's Laser, Shuanghuan, Hongfa, and Neway Valve [6][6][6] - **Construction Machinery**: - Rated as Overweight (OW) with key stocks including Sany, Hengli Hydraulic, and Zoomlion [6][6][6] - **Lithium Battery Equipment**: - Rated as Overweight (OW) with key stocks including Wuxi Lead and Hangke [6][6][6] - **Heavy Duty Trucks and Railway Equipment**: - Rated as Equal Weight (EW) with key stocks including Weichai, Sinotruck, and CRRC [6][6][6] - **Solar Equipment and Infrastructure E&C**: - Rated as Underweight (UW) with key stocks including SC New Energy and CSCEC [6][6][6] Market Performance - The automation market showed a mild recovery with a 1% year-on-year increase in sales for 1H25, indicating a less intense competitive environment compared to the previous year [28][28][28] - Anticipated recovery in 2026-27 driven by: - Replacement demand from equipment sold during the 2020-21 capex upcycle - New capex demand from AI applications - Continued benefits from overseas capacity expansion [28][28][28] Financial Metrics - **Return on Equity (ROE)**: Mixed trends observed across subsectors, with growth in ROE for lithium battery equipment, automation, and construction machinery, while solar equipment and E&C show eroding ROE [20][20][20] - **Sector P/E Multiples**: Most subsector valuations are above the five-year median, particularly in automation, solar equipment, and lithium battery equipment [13][13][13] Robotics Market Insights - The Chinese robotics market is expected to double by 2028, with significant growth in drones, mobile robots, and collaborative robots (cobots) [62][62][62] - Localization in robotics is increasing, with domestic players gaining market share [76][76][76] - The market for robot components is projected to reach a total addressable market (TAM) of US$40 billion by 2024, with a 23% CAGR anticipated from 2025 to 2028 [86][86][86] Conclusion - The China Industrials sector is poised for growth, driven by technological advancements and increasing localization. Key subsectors such as automation and robotics are expected to lead this growth, with significant investment opportunities identified in specific companies. The overall market dynamics suggest a favorable environment for both established players and new entrants in the industrial landscape [6][6][6][62][62][62]

Group 1 - The recent performance of the ChiNext market has been notable, with the ChiNext Composite Index successfully breaking through 3800 points, reflecting a 90.64% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the Shanghai Composite Index's 42.54% rise [1] - The newly listed Penghua ChiNext Composite Index ETF closely tracks the ChiNext Composite Index, which is characterized as a gathering place for "specialized, refined, and innovative" companies [1] - The top four industries within the ChiNext Composite Index are power equipment (19.0%), pharmaceuticals and biology (13.1%), electronics (12.6%), and computers (10.5%), collectively accounting for over 50% of the index [1] Group 2 - Leading domestic lithium battery equipment company, Sian Intelligent, reported that solid-state battery equipment has been integrated into the supply chains of major domestic and international battery and automotive companies, with multiple orders received [2] - The domestic energy storage market saw a significant increase in bidding scale, reaching 202.4 GWh from January to July 2025, representing a 146.3% year-on-year growth, with July's new bidding volume at 25.8 GWh, a 10% month-on-month increase [2] - Huatai Securities believes that under supportive policies, the completion of installation targets is feasible, and actual installations may exceed expectations, with prices in the energy storage industry stabilizing and expected to recover [2]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry Focus**: The discussion primarily revolves around the **China Industrials** sector, with a specific emphasis on **lithium battery equipment**, **automation & robotics**, and **construction machinery** [1][3][10]. Core Insights - **Investor Sentiment**: There is a high level of investor interest in the broad industrial space, with approximately 40 investors engaged in discussions. Most investors are optimistic about the China equity market and have increased their positions significantly [3][10]. - **Positive Outlook on Sectors**: The company maintains a positive outlook on the **lithium battery**, **automation & robotics**, and **construction machinery** sectors, indicating they are in the early stages of an upcycle [4][10][19]. - **Concerns on Lithium Battery Demand**: Investors expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of lithium battery demand in 2026, particularly regarding solid-state batteries, which are still in early commercialization stages [4][10][11]. Sector-Specific Insights Lithium Battery Equipment - **Demand Growth**: The demand for liquid batteries is expected to grow at rates of 25% in 2026, 24% in 2027, and 21% in 2028, driven by electric vehicles and energy storage systems [11]. - **Replacement Cycle**: A strong replacement cycle for liquid battery equipment is anticipated, with replacement demand expected to account for 25-30% of total equipment demand in 2026-27 [12]. - **Capacity Expansion**: Non-tier 1 battery players are expanding capacity more aggressively than expected, with significant orders from major clients like CATL and BYD [13]. Automation & Robotics - **Growing Demand**: There is a mild to moderate increase in demand for automation products, with strong growth potential for intelligent robots. The State Council's "AI+" guideline is expected to drive capital expenditure for new AI-enabled equipment [15][16]. - **Investor Preferences**: Investors are focusing on leading players in the automation space, with preferences for companies like Inovance and Geekplus [16][17]. Construction Machinery - **Positive Recovery Cycle**: The company is optimistic about a recovery cycle in both the domestic and global construction machinery markets in 2026. Sany is highlighted as a leading company in this sector [19]. - **Investor Perspectives**: There is a mix of opinions among investors regarding stock selection, with some hedge funds favoring laggard stocks over leading companies like Sany [19]. Heavy Duty Trucks - **Mixed Feedback**: Investor feedback is divided, with half expressing positive views due to strong sales momentum and the other half concerned about profitability amid price competition and the rise of electric trucks [20]. Additional Considerations - **Anti-Involution Concerns**: Investors are wary of overcapacity issues in new technology and new energy industries, particularly in the solar sector, which may lead to stock volatility [21]. - **Preferred Stocks**: The company recommends several stocks, including Sany, Wuxi Lead, Inovance, and Zoomlion, among others, as preferred investments in the discussed sectors [10][19]. Conclusion The conference call highlighted a generally positive outlook for the China Industrials sector, particularly in lithium battery equipment, automation & robotics, and construction machinery, while also addressing investor concerns regarding demand sustainability and market dynamics.

Summary of the Investor Presentation: China Industrials Update Industry Overview - The focus is on the **China Industrials** sector, particularly capital goods, automation, robotics, construction machinery, and lithium battery equipment [6][7][8]. - The overall industry view is rated as **In-Line** [2]. Key Insights - **Positive Outlook for Capital Goods**: The sector is expected to benefit from industrial upgrades, technology iterations, domestic replacement cycles, and overseas opportunities. Key areas include lithium battery equipment and construction machinery [6]. - **Long-term Drivers**: Three main drivers are identified: 1. AI technology diffusion into intelligent manufacturing and equipment 2. Advanced equipment localization 3. Global expansion [6]. - **Cycle Reversal**: After a 3-4 year down-cycle, the construction machinery and lithium battery equipment sectors are entering an up-cycle. However, the solar equipment sector is facing challenges due to overcapacity and sluggish demand [7][8]. Sector Performance - **Stock Performance**: Various sectors have shown mixed performance, with automation and lithium battery equipment experiencing significant growth, while solar equipment has struggled [11][12][13]. - **1H25 Sector Performance**: The trading P/E ratios for many sub-sectors are above the five-year median, particularly in automation and lithium battery equipment [15][17]. Construction Machinery Insights - **Domestic and Overseas Growth**: The domestic market for construction machinery is expected to grow due to replacement demand and large-scale infrastructure projects. The overseas market is also anticipated to recover, providing opportunities for Chinese OEMs [46][48][51]. - **Utilization Rates**: The average utilization rate for construction machinery has slightly declined to 44% [42]. Heavy-Duty Trucks (HDT) - **Sales Growth**: HDT sales grew 7% year-on-year in 1H25, with expectations for continued growth driven by domestic replacement demand [53][54]. - **Market Trends**: The penetration of LNG HDTs has increased to 30% in 2024, while new energy HDT sales surged by 176% year-on-year in 7M25 [61][66]. Automation Market - **Demand Recovery**: The automation market is in a mild recovery stage, with expectations for continued growth driven by replacement demand and AI applications [68][69]. - **Market Competition**: Competition remains less intense than in previous years, with limited margin downside for most markets [68]. Lithium Battery Equipment - **Demand Forecast**: Sustained demand growth is expected in 2026-27, driven by capacity expansions and the first major replacement cycle starting in 2025 [119][125]. - **Global Demand**: Global lithium battery equipment demand is projected to grow at approximately 30% annually in 2026-27 [122]. Solar Equipment - **Challenging Outlook**: The solar equipment sector is expected to remain at a trough in 2026 due to global overcapacity and sluggish demand [126][128]. - **Installation Shortfall**: China may experience a solar installation shortfall in 2026-27 following a rush in installations in 2025 [129]. Intelligent Robotics - **Adoption Trends**: The adoption of intelligent robots is expected to ramp up in 2H25, with new model launches anticipated [135][136]. Conclusion - The China Industrials sector is poised for growth, particularly in capital goods and automation, despite challenges in the solar equipment market. Key players are encouraged to focus on innovation and market expansion to capitalize on emerging opportunities.