Core Viewpoint - The express delivery industry is expected to see price stabilization and potential recovery in performance due to government policies against "involution" and recent mergers and acquisitions [1][4]. Short-term Price Stabilization - The express delivery industry has maintained a double-digit growth rate in volume since 2025, with an expected growth rate of 15% for the year. However, due to intense price competition among leading companies, the performance of franchise express companies has declined in Q1 2025, and this trend may continue into Q2 2025 [2][3]. Policy Background and Price Recovery - Under the guidance of local postal authorities, express delivery prices in certain grain-producing areas have shown signs of stabilization. As the off-peak season ends and the peak season begins in September, a broader price recovery is anticipated, which may alleviate the pressure on franchise operators and improve overall industry sentiment. A price increase of 0.1 yuan is estimated to increase net profit per share by 0.0375 yuan for listed companies [3][4]. Long-term Competitive Ecology Optimization - On July 25, Shentong announced a cash acquisition of 100% of Daniao Logistics for 362 million yuan. This move aims to create a dual business matrix of "economical express + quality express," optimizing product structure and capturing new market opportunities. The State Post Bureau has been encouraging mergers and acquisitions in the express delivery sector, which is expected to lead to a healthier industry structure and improved competitive ecology, presenting investment opportunities [4][5]. Investment Recommendations - Despite significant operational pressure in the express delivery sector in H1 2025, the potential for performance recovery in the short term and competitive ecology optimization in the long term suggests that express companies may see improved results. Recommendations include Jitu Express, Shentong, YTO Express, Zhongtong, and Yunda Express due to their respective growth prospects and market positions [5].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the transportation industry is "Positive" (maintained) [4] Core Views - The report highlights the ongoing consolidation in the express delivery sector, with Shentong Express planning to acquire Daniao Logistics for 362 million yuan, aiming to enhance its market position and differentiate itself from competitors [5] - The report emphasizes the recovery in air travel demand and the potential for long-term growth in the aviation sector, driven by macroeconomic improvements and a favorable supply-demand dynamic [13] - The shipping market is expected to benefit from rising oil transport demand due to OPEC+ production increases and a favorable interest rate environment, with a positive outlook for dry bulk shipping as well [14] Summary by Sections Express Delivery - Shentong Express is set to acquire Daniao Logistics for 362 million yuan, which is expected to enhance its market share by 0.8 percentage points and improve brand influence [5] - The express delivery sector shows resilient demand, with terminal prices at historical lows, limiting further downside [13] - Key companies to watch include Zhongtong Express, YTO Express, and SF Express, which are expected to benefit from cyclical recovery and cost control [13] Aviation - The aviation sector is experiencing low long-term supply growth, but demand is anticipated to benefit from macroeconomic recovery, leading to a favorable supply-demand balance [13] - The report notes that the overall passenger transport volume in civil aviation reached 370 million in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 6% [7] - Key companies to focus on include China Southern Airlines, Air China, and HNA Group [13] Shipping - The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) reached a new high of 2258 points, up 119% year-to-date, driven by improved consumption expectations and seasonal factors [9] - The report suggests a positive outlook for oil transportation due to OPEC+ production increases and a favorable interest rate environment [14] - Companies to watch include China Merchants Energy Shipping and COSCO Shipping [14] Ports - China's port cargo throughput increased by 2.43% week-on-week, reaching 26.677 million tons, while container throughput rose by 2.61% to 6.64 million TEU [12][77] - The report highlights the stable cash flow and growth potential of port operations, suggesting a focus on companies like Tangshan Port and Qingdao Port [14] Road and Rail - National logistics operations are running smoothly, with rail freight volume increasing by 1.11% and highway freight traffic up by 0.67% [12] - The report indicates that road passenger traffic decreased by 3.92%, while freight volume increased by 2.86% [45]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Shentong Express plans to acquire 100% equity of Daniao Logistics for a cash consideration of 362 million yuan, which is a strategic move to enhance its service offerings in the high-end express delivery market [1][3]. - Daniao Logistics, a subsidiary of Cainiao Group, specializes in quality express delivery and reverse logistics services, operating a network that covers nearly 300 cities in China and providing high-certainty delivery services such as same-day and next-morning delivery [2][3]. - The acquisition will allow Shentong to form a dual business matrix of "economical express + quality express," enabling it to capture emerging opportunities in regional distribution and instant retail while optimizing its product structure for a differentiated advantage [3][4]. Group 2 - Daniao Logistics is projected to achieve over 12 billion yuan in revenue in 2024, with a significantly higher average revenue per package compared to Shentong, indicating a complementary business positioning between the two companies [3]. - The acquisition aligns with the recent regulatory push against cutthroat competition in the express delivery industry, as Shentong aims to transition from price competition to value competition, enhancing service quality and operational efficiency [4]. - Shentong plans to implement advanced delivery solutions, including deploying 2,000 unmanned vehicles to strengthen its end-delivery capabilities, which is part of its strategy to deepen value creation in response to industry trends [4]. Group 3 - The forecast for Shentong Express indicates a potential increase in market share and profitability due to capacity enhancements and industry growth, with projected net profits of 1.29 billion, 1.6 billion, and 2.01 billion yuan for 2025-2027, respectively [5]. - The company is expected to face challenges in profitability due to intense price competition in 2025, which may impact its earnings despite the anticipated growth in business volume [5].

Core Viewpoint - Shentong Express plans to acquire 100% equity of Daniao Logistics for 362 million yuan to enhance its quality express delivery services and optimize resource integration [2][7]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves Shentong Express's wholly-owned subsidiary and is classified as a related party transaction, but not a major asset restructuring [2]. - Daniao Logistics is primarily owned by Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain, which holds 96.15% of the shares [3]. Group 2: Industry Overview - The express delivery industry has seen significant growth, with a projected completion of 175.08 billion packages in 2024, marking a 21.5% year-on-year increase [5]. - The total revenue for the express delivery sector is expected to reach 1.4 trillion yuan in 2024, reflecting a 13.8% increase [5]. - The average price per express delivery package is forecasted to be 8.01 yuan, down 6.33% year-on-year, indicating a trend of declining product prices [5]. Group 3: Strategic Intent - Shentong Express aims to integrate resources and optimize product structure to build a differentiated competitive advantage through this acquisition [7]. - The company emphasizes the need for supply-side structural reforms in the industry to enhance service quality and efficiency while avoiding disorderly competition [6]. Group 4: Daniao Logistics Profile - Daniao Logistics, established in 2009, has a registered capital of 498 million yuan and provides services such as pickup, transit delivery, and reverse logistics for major e-commerce platforms [7]. - The company operates a mature quality express network with 59 distribution centers and over 2,600 service points across the country [7]. - In 2024, Daniao Logistics is expected to handle over 4 million high-value orders daily, generating revenues of 12.351 billion yuan [7]. Group 5: Financial Performance - Shentong Express reported a total revenue of 47.169 billion yuan for 2024, a 15.26% increase year-on-year, with a net profit of 1.04 billion yuan, up 205.24% [9]. - In Q1 2025, the company continued its growth trajectory with revenues of 11.999 billion yuan, an 18.43% increase, and a net profit of 236 million yuan, up 24.04% [10]. Group 6: Market Reaction - Following the acquisition announcement, Shentong Express's stock price surged to 15.14 yuan per share, reaching a new high since 2021, with a total market capitalization of 23.18 billion yuan [8]. - The stock has seen a cumulative increase of 41.63% in July [8].