Core Viewpoint - The company reported a steady growth in revenue and net profit for 2024, with a focus on expanding its product offerings and distribution channels, despite facing challenges in profit margins and traditional sales channels [1][2][3][4]. Financial Performance - In 2024, the company's revenue and net profit were 7.131 billion and 849 million yuan, respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 4.79% and 5.82% [1]. - For Q4 2024, revenue and net profit were 2.374 billion and 223 million yuan, showing a year-on-year increase of 1.99% but a decline in net profit by 24.79% [1]. - In Q1 2025, revenue and net profit dropped to 1.571 billion and 77 million yuan, reflecting year-on-year decreases of 13.76% and 67.88% [1]. Product Performance - Key products showed robust growth, with revenue from sunflower seeds, nuts, and other products reaching 4.381 billion, 1.923 billion, and 773 million yuan, respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 2.60%, 9.74%, and 8.04% [1]. - The company is focusing on establishing its brand in the sunflower seed market and has launched new products like "Da Shou" peanuts, which have seen rapid sales growth [1]. - The high-end sunflower seed product "Kuaizhen" is expanding through new channels such as high-end membership stores and boutique supermarkets [1]. Channel Development - New channels such as volume sales and e-commerce are growing rapidly, while traditional channels are under pressure [2]. - In 2024, revenue from southern, northern, eastern regions, e-commerce, and overseas markets were 2.266 billion, 1.343 billion, 2.121 billion, 779 million, and 569 million yuan, with year-on-year growth rates of 3.88%, -3.25%, 9.47%, 8.86%, and 10.28%, respectively [2]. - The number of distributors decreased by 99 to 1,380, but average distributor income increased by 6% to 4.11 million yuan per distributor [2]. Profitability and Cost Structure - The company's gross margin and net margin improved by 2.02 and 0.12 percentage points to 28.78% and 11.92%, respectively, in 2024 [3]. - In Q4 2024, due to rising raw material prices, the overall cost increased as the company utilized both reserve and newly procured raw materials [3]. - For Q1 2025, gross margin and net margin decreased to 19.47% and 4.93%, with changes in expense ratios reflecting a mixed trend [3]. Investment Outlook - The company is expected to achieve revenues of 7.4 billion, 7.8 billion, and 8.2 billion yuan in 2025-2027, with year-on-year growth rates of 3%, 6%, and 5% [4]. - Net profit forecasts for the same period are 720 million, 850 million, and 920 million yuan, with a projected year-on-year decline of 15% in 2025, followed by increases in subsequent years [4]. - The company aims to enhance business growth quality and maintain a "buy" rating based on its strategic initiatives [4].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" with a target price not specified [6][17] Core Views - The company is expected to see revenue and net profit growth in 2024, with revenue projected at 7.131 billion yuan (+4.79% YoY) and net profit at 849.48 million yuan (+5.82% YoY) [1] - The company is focusing on expanding its product lines, particularly in the sunflower seed and nut categories, with notable growth in sales from high-end products and new product launches [1][4] - The company is actively exploring new sales channels, including e-commerce and overseas markets, while traditional channels are experiencing slight pressure [2][4] Financial Performance Summary - In 2024, the company reported revenue of 7.131 billion yuan, with a growth rate of +4.79% compared to the previous year [5] - The gross profit margin for 2024 was 28.78%, an increase of 2.02 percentage points YoY, while the net profit margin was 11.92%, up by 0.12 percentage points YoY [3] - The company’s net profit for Q1 2025 is projected to decline significantly to 770 million yuan, a decrease of 67.88% YoY [1] Product and Channel Development - The company is enhancing its product offerings, particularly in the nut category, and is expanding its sales channels to include county-level distributors and new retail formats [4][2] - The company has seen a significant increase in direct sales, with a growth rate of 38% and an increase in the number of terminal outlets to over 490,000 [2][4] Profitability and Cost Management - The company is facing pressure on profit margins due to rising raw material costs, with a gross margin of 19.47% in Q1 2025, down by 10.97 percentage points YoY [3] - The selling expense ratio increased to 10.60%, reflecting higher marketing investments [3]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" with a target price not specified [6][17] Core Views - The company is expected to see revenue and net profit growth in 2024, with revenue projected at 7.131 billion yuan (+4.79% YoY) and net profit at 849.48 million yuan (+5.82% YoY) [1] - The company is focusing on expanding its product lines, particularly in the sunflower seed and nut categories, with notable growth in sales from high-end products and new product launches [1][4] - The company is actively expanding its distribution channels, including new TO-B group purchasing and restaurant partnerships, while also increasing its presence in e-commerce and overseas markets [2][4] Financial Performance - In 2024, the company reported revenue of 7.131 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 4.79%, and a net profit of 849.48 million yuan, reflecting a growth rate of 5.82% [5] - The gross margin for 2024 was 28.78%, an increase of 2.02 percentage points YoY, while the net margin was 11.92%, up 0.12 percentage points YoY [3] - The company’s revenue for Q1 2025 was 1.571 billion yuan, a decrease of 13.76% YoY, and net profit was 770 million yuan, down 67.88% YoY [1] Product and Channel Development - The company is enhancing its product offerings, particularly in the nut category, and is focusing on high-end sunflower seed products through new sales channels [1][4] - The company has seen a significant increase in direct sales, with a growth rate of 38% and an increase in the number of terminal outlets to over 490,000 [2][4] - The company is also expanding its international market presence, particularly in Southeast Asia and Canada [2]

Core Insights - The snack industry has seen significant revenue growth, driven by new product launches and channel restructuring, including social e-commerce and discount stores [1][2] - Despite revenue growth, snack companies are facing challenges in maintaining profitability, with fluctuating sales expenses and gross margins [1][8] Revenue Growth Drivers - Major snack companies reported substantial revenue figures for 2024, with Three Squirrels leading at 10.622 billion, followed by other companies like Liangpinpuzi and Qiaqia Foods [2] - New product development has been highlighted as a key contributor to revenue, with Three Squirrels launching over 20 new products that achieved significant sales [3][4] Channel Expansion - The restructuring of sales channels has provided new opportunities for snack companies, with a focus on e-commerce and discount stores [5][6] - Three Squirrels reported an 81.73% increase in revenue from Douyin, indicating the effectiveness of digital marketing strategies [4] International Market Growth - Companies are increasingly targeting international markets, particularly Southeast Asia, to expand their growth potential [6][7] - Qiaqia Foods and other companies have reported significant growth in overseas sales, with Qiaqia's overseas revenue increasing by approximately 90% [6] Profitability Challenges - Many snack companies have experienced rising sales expenses, with increases ranging from 15.55% to 50.92%, primarily due to higher advertising costs [8][9] - Gross margins have shown volatility, with some companies reporting declines due to rising raw material costs and competitive pricing strategies [10] Dividend Distribution - Several companies have announced substantial cash dividends, reflecting confidence in their operational performance and future growth [11][12] - The total cash dividends and share buybacks for some companies represent a significant portion of their net profits, indicating a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [11]