Core Viewpoint - The global AI server PCB market is projected to reach $12.08 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% in the coming years [1]. Market Overview - The AI server PCB market is primarily driven by the surge in demand for AI-optimized servers and the rapid expansion of data centers and cloud infrastructure [11]. - The top five manufacturers hold approximately 48.2% of the market share, with major players including Guanghe Technology, Jianding Technology, and Jinxiang Electronics [6][16]. Product Type Segmentation - Multi-layer PCBs dominate the market, accounting for about 58.4% of the total share [8]. - High-density interconnect (HDI) boards are also significant in the product mix [16]. Application Segmentation - Data centers and cloud computing represent the largest downstream market, capturing approximately 49.5% of the demand for AI server PCBs [9]. Industry Drivers and Challenges - The explosive growth of generative AI and AI-driven workloads is a key driver for unprecedented demand for AI servers [11]. - Challenges include maintaining signal integrity for high-speed interconnections and the high costs associated with materials and manufacturing processes [11]. Industry Opportunities - The need for high-speed interconnections presents opportunities for advanced PCB technologies, such as HDI, SLP, and mSAP, which meet the requirements for high layer counts and low-loss materials [12]. Industry Chain Structure - The industry chain consists of upstream raw materials (e.g., copper-clad laminates, copper foil), midstream PCB manufacturers focusing on high-performance products, and downstream applications in AI server manufacturers and cloud computing [15].

Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the performance and strategic developments of various companies in the Qingyuan region, emphasizing the resilience and transformation of traditional industries alongside the growth of emerging sectors. Group 1: Company Performance - Haomei New Materials achieved a revenue of 6.672 billion yuan, accounting for nearly 30% of the total revenue of Qingyuan A-share listed companies [8] - Jinlu Electronics led with a revenue growth rate of 20.24% and a net profit increase of 89.09%, while Guokang Biochemical reported a revenue increase of 46.15% [7][10] - Dongpeng Holdings experienced a revenue decline of 16.77% and a net profit drop of 54.41%, reflecting challenges in the construction ceramics industry [8][9] Group 2: Industry Trends - The construction ceramics industry, where Dongpeng Holdings operates, remains fragmented with low market concentration and intense competition [4] - The Qingyuan region has seen a rise in A-share listed companies, with a total of 8 companies now, indicating diversification into electronics, new materials, and cables [6][17] - The overall revenue of Qingyuan's 7 A-share companies reached 23.131 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 0.82%, surpassing the national average decline of 0.23% [6] Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Dongpeng Holdings is exploring low-carbon circular materials and has launched a series of eco-friendly products to adapt to market changes [9] - Haomei New Materials is focusing on green building materials, with its Becklo system windows reducing air conditioning energy consumption by over 20% [10] - Jinlu Electronics is adjusting its order structure, with multi-layer PCB revenue making up 72.66% of its main business income, reflecting a strategic shift towards smart driving applications [10][12] Group 4: R&D and Innovation - Qingyuan companies collectively increased R&D spending, with Guokang Biochemical's R&D expenses rising by 43.46% in 2024 [11] - Dongpeng Holdings invested 233 million yuan in R&D in 2024, maintaining a strong patent portfolio with 1,447 effective patents [12] - Digital transformation is a key focus, with Jinlu Electronics implementing various digital systems that contributed to its significant profit growth [13][14] Group 5: Financial Support and Growth - Qingyuan's financial initiatives include promoting loans for specialized and innovative enterprises, with a 159.68% year-on-year increase in loans for "specialized, refined, and new" small and medium-sized enterprises [20][21] - The local government is actively facilitating financing and support for companies aiming for public listings, enhancing market confidence [20]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company is expected to benefit from a rebound in performance in H1 2025, driven by both volume and price increases, while the sustainability of performance in H2 2025 remains to be monitored [4][5] - The forecast for net profit for 2025-2026 has been revised down from HKD 27.0 billion and HKD 29.0 billion to HKD 19.8 billion and HKD 22.1 billion respectively, with a new forecast for 2027 at HKD 30.3 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 48.3%, 11.8%, and 36.9% [4] - The current market capitalization corresponds to a PE ratio of 11.3, 10.2, and 7.4 for 2025-2027 [4] Financial Summary and Valuation Metrics - Revenue (million HKD): 2023A: 16,750, 2024A: 18,541, 2025E: 20,261, 2026E: 21,112, 2027E: 23,916 with year-on-year growth rates of -25.1%, 10.7%, 9.3%, 4.2%, and 13.3% respectively [7] - Net Profit (million HKD): 2023A: 907, 2024A: 1,326, 2025E: 1,977, 2026E: 2,210, 2027E: 3,027 with year-on-year growth rates of -64.5%, 45.5%, 48.3%, 11.8%, and 36.9% respectively [7] - Gross Margin (%): 2023A: 16.0, 2024A: 15.7, 2025E: 19.8, 2026E: 20.5, 2027E: 22.5 [7] - Net Margin (%): 2023A: 5.4, 2024A: 7.2, 2025E: 9.8, 2026E: 10.5, 2027E: 12.7 [7] - ROE (%): 2023A: 6.1, 2024A: 8.7, 2025E: 14.0, 2026E: 15.0, 2027E: 19.4 [7] - EPS (diluted/HKD): 2023A: 0.29, 2024A: 0.43, 2025E: 0.63, 2026E: 0.71, 2027E: 0.97 [7] - P/E (times): 2023A: 24.7, 2024A: 16.9, 2025E: 11.3, 2026E: 10.2, 2027E: 7.4 [7]