Core Viewpoint - The gold jewelry industry is facing significant challenges due to rising gold prices, leading to a decline in sales for most companies, while Lao Pu Gold stands out with strong performance [1][5]. Company Performance - Chow Tai Fook's revenue for the fiscal year 2025 was HKD 89.656 billion, a decrease of 17.5% year-on-year, primarily due to external macroeconomic factors and high gold prices affecting consumer spending [1][11]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders was HKD 5.916 billion, down 8.98% year-on-year, with operational profit increasing by 9.8% to HKD 14.746 billion after excluding losses from gold lending contracts [1][4]. Product Segmentation - Revenue from gold jewelry products increased by 105.5% to HKD 12.782 billion, while weight-based gold jewelry revenue fell by 29.4% to HKD 57.955 billion [2]. - Diamond-studded products saw a decline of 13.8%, but gold-studded diamond products experienced over 100% growth [2]. Store Operations - Chow Tai Fook closed 905 stores, ending the fiscal year with 6,644 stores, while improving average monthly sales per store to over HKD 10 million from HKD 9 million [4][11]. - The gross margin for the fiscal year was 29.5%, an increase of 5.5 percentage points, attributed to a higher proportion of high-margin products and rising gold prices [4]. Market Trends - The overall gold jewelry industry is underperforming, with A-share companies reporting a revenue decline of 4.73% to CNY 171.91 billion and a net profit drop of 17.75% to CNY 4.907 billion [5][6]. - In Q1 2025, the industry saw a revenue decline of 25.22%, but some companies showed significant profit improvements, indicating a recovery in overall profitability [5][6]. Strategic Transformation - Chow Tai Fook is shifting its strategy from rapid store expansion to enhancing store quality and product differentiation, launching new series that cater to diverse consumer preferences [11][12]. - The company is also focusing on high-end product offerings and collaborations with popular IPs to attract a broader customer base [11]. Financial Strategies - Following a high dividend announcement, Chow Tai Fook issued a 5-year convertible bond to raise HKD 8.8 billion for business development and store upgrades, despite a decline in cash flow [12]. - The market reacted negatively to the financing move, with Chow Tai Fook's stock price dropping by 7.29% [12]. Conclusion - The fiscal year 2025 is seen as a critical period for Chow Tai Fook, as it attempts to transform its business model by focusing on high-margin products and strategic partnerships, while navigating the challenges posed by rising gold prices and market saturation [13].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" [5][3]. Core Views - The company's revenue for the fiscal year 2025 was HKD 89.556 billion, a decrease of 17.75% year-on-year, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was HKD 5.916 billion, down 8.98% year-on-year. The decline in revenue was primarily due to high gold prices suppressing end demand and losses from gold lending contracts. However, after excluding the impact of fair value changes in gold lending, the operating profit was HKD 14.746 billion, reflecting a strong operational resilience with a year-on-year increase of 9.8% [1][9]. - The retail value decline narrowed to 1.7% year-on-year in April-May, compared to a 11.6% decline in January-March. Notably, same-store sales of gold jewelry and products in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) achieved a positive growth of 0.9% [1][9]. - The company has seen a significant increase in high-margin priced products, with revenue from priced gold jewelry products growing by 105.5% year-on-year to HKD 12.782 billion, accounting for 14.6% of total retail sales, an increase of 8.8 percentage points [2][11]. - The average monthly sales per store exceeded HKD 10 million, up from HKD 9 million the previous year, despite a net closure of 905 stores, bringing the total to 6,644 stores [2][11]. Financial Summary - The company's gross margin for fiscal year 2025 was 29.5%, an increase of 5.5 percentage points year-on-year, benefiting from a higher proportion of high-margin priced products and rising gold prices. The sales expense ratio was 9.7%, up 0.95 percentage points, influenced by declining revenue and increased marketing expenses [2][15]. - The company forecasts net profits for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to be HKD 7.062 billion and HKD 8.104 billion, respectively, with a new forecast for fiscal year 2028 at HKD 9.049 billion, corresponding to P/E ratios of 18.3, 16, and 14.3 times [3][19].