Summary of the Conference Call for Hengan International Industry Overview - The consumer paper market is experiencing a slowdown in growth, but an increase in per capita usage and the penetration of high-margin products are driving price growth, leading to stable industry growth expectations [2][3] - The sanitary napkin market is seeing a decline in sales, but innovation in high-end products is pushing up unit prices, with future growth relying on high-end strategies [2][4] - The diaper market is significantly influenced by the number of newborns, necessitating differentiated products to increase average transaction value [2][4] Company Performance - Hengan International's brands, such as "Heart to Heart," hold a leading market share in the consumer paper sector, with an upward trend in the CR10 index [2][5] - The company reported sales exceeding 400 million yuan in 2024 and nearly 300 million yuan in the first half of 2025, with a significant increase in internal sales contribution [2][7] - The high-end brand Kimo has significantly boosted the diaper business, maintaining a growth rate of 20% [2][8] Product Innovation - Recent product launches include high-end items such as "Sunshine" and "Rong Lifang," which have positively impacted sales and gross margins. For instance, the price of "Sunshine" is 70% higher than traditional series [2][6] - The introduction of innovative products like "Rong Lifang," which utilizes CAD air-drying technology, has improved absorption and doubled the price compared to traditional products [2][6] Market Dynamics - The competitive landscape in the consumer paper industry remains stable, with major players maintaining their market shares while new entrants are eroding smaller brands' shares, leading to an increase in the CR10 index [5] - In the sanitary napkin sector, foreign brands are losing market share to domestic brands, which are aggressively investing in sales [5] - The diaper market is similarly affected, with significant declines in market share for foreign brands like Procter & Gamble and Kao, while domestic brands are rising [5] Cost and Profitability - Recent cost reductions are a key reason for optimism regarding Hengan International's performance in the second half of 2025. The prices of needle and broadleaf pulp are expected to decrease by 9.55% and 7.5%, respectively, which could restore profit margins by 3 percentage points [3][9][10] - The revenue structure shows that consumer paper accounts for 70% of revenue, while sanitary products account for 30%, but the profit contribution is reversed, with sanitary products contributing more [3][10] Valuation and Investment Outlook - Hengan International has a high dividend payout ratio, with a current valuation corresponding to an annual price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 11 to 12 times and a dividend yield of about 5.5% [3][11] - The company is expected to enhance its dividend levels due to short-term performance elasticity and long-term recovery expectations, making it an attractive investment in the Hong Kong stock market and the sanitary products sector [3][11]

Core Insights - The 24th CBME International Baby, Maternity & Children Industry Expo was held in Shanghai from July 16 to July 18, showcasing Hengan Group's main baby pants brands, An'erle and Qimo, after several years of absence [1][3]. Group 1: Product Highlights - Hengan Group presented multiple star products and new offerings at the expo, with a focus on the upgraded Qimo Royal Cloud Soft series, which emphasizes user comfort and product quality [3]. - The upgrade of Qimo Royal Cloud Soft is based on deep insights into consumer needs, aiming to continuously innovate and produce high-quality diapers to meet the growing market demand for premium baby care products [3]. Group 2: Industry Engagement - The expo attracted over 3,200 exhibitors and more than 4,500 brands, with a significant turnout of global maternal and infant channel merchants and retail representatives engaging with Hengan's team [3]. - During the event, Hengan Group's adult care brands, An'er Kang and Bian Li Tuo, along with its baby care brands, An'erle and Qimo, participated in a signing ceremony with the China Aerospace Foundation, reinforcing their partnership [3][5]. Group 3: Awards and Recognition - Hengan Group received the 2025 CBME AWARDS Green Guardian Award for its outstanding performance at the expo, while its brand An'erle won the 2025 All-Domain Marketing Attraction Award, and Qimo received the 2025 Outstanding Brand Innovation Award [5]. - The partnership with the China Aerospace Foundation aligns with Hengan Group's commitment to product quality and excellence, reflecting a shared pursuit of high standards [5].

Group 1 - The core issue involves a customer service incident at Hengan International's "Heart to Heart" e-commerce platform, where a customer was insulted by a service representative, leading to a public outcry and company investigation [1] - Hengan International reported that the customer service account in question showed unusual login activity, prompting further investigation into whether it was a personal misconduct or a technical issue [1] - The company emphasized its commitment to addressing the situation, stating that if the behavior was intentional, appropriate disciplinary actions would be taken against the employee, and compensation would be provided to the affected customer [1] Group 2 - Hengan Group's latest financial report for 2024 shows a revenue of 22.669 billion RMB, a year-on-year decrease of 4.6% [2] - Operating profit for the same period was 3.355 billion RMB, down 15.7% year-on-year, while net profit fell to 2.299 billion RMB, a decline of 17.9% [2] - The "Heart to Heart" brand, which is a significant contributor to the company's revenue, accounted for 59.2% of total income, with a year-on-year drop of 2.4% to 13.42 billion RMB [2] - The sanitary napkin segment represented 25% of total revenue, experiencing a decline of approximately 8.1% [2]