Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Outperform" rating for Marubi Biotechnology, expecting the stock's total return over the next 12-18 months to exceed the return of its relevant broad market benchmark [20]. Core Insights - Marubi achieved operating revenue of 1.769 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.83%, driven by brand innovation, channel expansion, and operational efficiency improvements [2][8]. - The company's online channels generated 1.571 billion yuan in revenue during the first half of 2025, up 37.85% year-on-year, while offline channels saw a decline of 7.07% to 197 million yuan [2][8]. - Marubi's gross margin for the first half of 2025 was 74.6%, slightly down by 8 basis points year-on-year, attributed to optimization in product and sales structures [2][8]. Revenue and Growth - In Q2 2025, Marubi's revenue reached 923 million yuan, marking a 33.5% year-on-year growth [2][8]. - The Marubi brand generated 1.25 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of 2025, up 34.36% year-on-year, accounting for 70.72% of total revenue [2][8]. - The PASSIONAL LOVER brand achieved 516 million yuan in revenue, a 23.87% increase year-on-year, representing 29.22% of total revenue [2][8]. Cost and Profitability - Sales expenses in the first half of 2025 were 1 billion yuan, up 39.31% year-on-year, leading to a sales expense ratio of 56.5%, an increase of 3.4 percentage points [3][9]. - The net profit attributable to the parent company for the first half of 2025 was 186 million yuan, a 5.21% increase year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 10.5%, down 2.6 percentage points [3][9]. Product Development and Market Position - Marubi expanded its product range, particularly in eye care and anti-aging, with the Little Red Pen Eye Cream achieving a 150% year-on-year sales growth in the first half of 2025 [4][10]. - The Little Golden Needle Serum and other products maintained strong sales performance, with the Little Golden Needle Super Mask reaching a market share of 4.23% on TikTok [4][10]. Marketing and Sales Strategy - The company adopted an eight-account matrix operation model for self-broadcasting, achieving a penetration rate of 82% [5][11]. - Marubi's self-broadcasting business saw a 60% year-on-year increase in Q1 2025 and a 10% increase in Q2 2025 [5][11].

Core Viewpoint - Marubi Biological has officially started construction on a Class III medical device pilot base in Zhuhai, focusing on the research and industrialization of recombinant collagen protein in the medical beauty field, indicating a strategic shift from a cosmetics company to a biotechnology company [1][3]. Company Developments - The project aims to deepen research into recombinant collagen protein, expanding its application from cosmetic beauty to medical beauty, reflecting Marubi's ambition to enhance its competitive edge in the cosmetics industry and explore new revenue streams in the medical sector [1][3]. - Marubi has changed its name from "Marubi Co., Ltd." to "Marubi Biological" and has invested in medical biomaterials companies, signaling a commitment to this new direction [1][3]. Market Trends - The focus on recombinant collagen protein aligns with Marubi's historical emphasis on anti-aging products, particularly in eye care, and the growing popularity of this ingredient in the skincare market [3][4]. - The market for recombinant collagen protein is still in its early stages, presenting opportunities for early entrants like Marubi to capture market share [3][4]. Research and Development Strategy - Marubi plans to invest over 1 billion yuan in recombinant collagen protein research by 2032, with specific milestones including obtaining medical device registration by 2026 and advancing into serious medical applications by 2028 [4][5]. - Despite the ambitious R&D plans, Marubi's R&D expenses have not kept pace with revenue growth, leading to a decline in R&D expense ratios from 2.80% in 2023 to 2.48% in 2024 [5][9]. Financial Performance - Marubi's revenue has shown significant growth, surpassing 2.2 billion yuan in 2023, a 28.52% increase from the previous year, with projections indicating potential revenue exceeding 3 billion yuan by 2025 [7][9]. - The company has successfully adapted its marketing strategies, particularly through online channels and product focus, contributing to its revenue growth [7][8]. Competitive Landscape - Marubi faces challenges from increasing online marketing costs and rising sales expenses, which have impacted profitability, with net profit margins decreasing from 26.56% in 2020 to 11.52% in 2024 [9][10]. - The reliance on a single ingredient, recombinant collagen protein, poses risks, as market trends can shift rapidly, potentially affecting long-term sustainability [9][10].