Group 1: Financial Performance - The average revenue of self-operated stores for over 12 months increased by 42.19% year-on-year due to the integration of Hush Puppies men's and women's apparel into self-operation and an increase in high-revenue stores [2] - The company has optimized its channel structure by opening quality stores and closing low-profit ones, which contributed to the revenue increase [2] Group 2: Future Plans - The company plans to self-operate the Hush Puppies adult footwear category following the expiration of the licensing agreement with the previous licensee, with both online and offline channels undergoing changes [3] - There are plans to open new offline stores for adult footwear and add this category to existing men's and women's apparel stores [3] Group 3: Marketing and Sales Strategy - The company expects no significant increase in sales expenses in the second half of the year, despite ongoing marketing activities and the 30th anniversary celebration of the Water Child brand [3] - The pricing strategy remains firm, with slight adjustments based on market conditions and promotional activities [3] Group 4: Government Support - The reduction in government subsidies in the first half of the year is attributed to decreased support funds for subsidiaries [3] Group 5: Brand Development - The company is exploring the best operational models for other Hush Puppies categories, including children's shoes and bags, while continuing to develop the brand's presence [3]

Core Viewpoint - The company reported a steady performance in H1 2025, with revenue of 5.705 billion yuan, up 11.0% year-on-year, and a net profit of 858 million yuan, up 8.6% year-on-year, although net profit growth lagged behind revenue growth due to a decrease in interest income and other earnings [1] Financial Performance - The company declared an interim dividend of 20.4 Hong Kong cents per share, with a payout ratio of 45.0%, compared to 40.3% in H1 2024 [1] - The gross profit margin slightly increased by 0.2 percentage points to 41.5% in H1 2025, with adult shoes, adult clothing, children's shoes, and children's clothing gross margins at 43.3%, 41.3%, 42.1%, and 41% respectively [3] - The net profit margin decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 15.0% due to various factors, including a reduction in bank interest income and e-commerce commission income [3] Product Category Performance - Footwear outperformed apparel, with adult clothing revenue growing by 10.9% and children's clothing by 11.4%, accounting for 78% and 22% of total revenue respectively [1] - In the adult segment, footwear revenue increased by 12.8% while apparel revenue grew by only 1.6%, with a notable increase in sales of premium products [1] - In the children's segment, footwear revenue surged by 27.8%, while apparel revenue declined by 7.6%, with the company expanding its product range to include items for teenagers [1] Channel Strategy - E-commerce sales grew significantly, with online revenue increasing by 45.0% year-on-year, while offline revenue saw a slight decline of 1.2% [2] - The company is focusing on quality and efficiency in its store strategy, with a net reduction in the number of stores but an increase in average store size [2] - As of the end of H1 2025, the company had 5,669 adult clothing stores and 2,494 children's clothing stores, with a total of 49 new "super stores" launched [2] Cash Flow and Inventory - Operating cash flow improved significantly, reaching 524 million yuan, up 227.2% year-on-year, driven by reduced inventory and shorter accounts receivable turnover days [3] - The company reported a decrease in inventory to 1.89 billion yuan, down 220 million yuan from the end of 2024 [3] - The company ended the period with a net cash position of 4.3 billion yuan, indicating strong liquidity [3] Investment Outlook - The company is positioned in the mass market with a strong price-performance ratio and is enhancing its competitiveness through channel innovation and product upgrades [4] - The forecast for net profit for 2025-2027 is 1.3 billion, 1.46 billion, and 1.62 billion yuan, respectively, with a low valuation indicated by a PE ratio of 9, 8, and 7 times [4]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company reported a steady growth in H1 2025, with revenue reaching 5.705 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.0%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 858 million yuan, up 8.6% year-on-year. The lower profit growth compared to revenue is attributed to a decrease in interest income and other earnings [7] - The company maintains a strong market position with a focus on product upgrades and channel innovation, particularly through the expansion of "super stores" [7] - The financial outlook remains positive, with projected net profits of 1.3 billion, 1.46 billion, and 1.62 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, corresponding to a low valuation with P/E ratios of 9, 8, and 7 [7] Revenue and Profit Forecast - Total revenue is forecasted to grow from 8.518 billion yuan in 2023 to 13.990 billion yuan by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 10.57% [1] - Net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to increase from 961.43 million yuan in 2023 to 1.616 billion yuan in 2027, reflecting a CAGR of about 10.89% [1] Segment Performance - In terms of product categories, footwear outperformed apparel, with adult and children's footwear showing strong growth. Adult apparel revenue grew by 10.9%, while children's apparel saw a 11.4% increase [7] - Online sales experienced significant growth, increasing by 45.0% year-on-year, while offline sales saw a slight decline of 1.2% [7] Financial Metrics - The gross profit margin slightly increased to 41.5% in H1 2025, while the net profit margin decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 15.0% [7] - Operating cash flow improved significantly, reaching 524 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 227.2% [7]