Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Technology reported a revenue increase of 4.72% in 2024, but net profit decreased by 53.53%, indicating a significant pressure on profit margins due to intensified competition in the agricultural machinery market [1][2][3] Revenue and Profit Summary - In 2024, Huaxi Technology achieved a revenue of 82.1853 million yuan, up 4.72% year-on-year, while net profit attributable to shareholders fell to 1.5626 million yuan, down 53.53% [1][2] - The company's gross profit margin declined to 23.99%, a decrease of 5.08 percentage points compared to the previous year [2] - The revenue from the picking-type baler was 45.394 million yuan, an increase of 14.75%, but its gross margin dropped to 24.47%, down 15.80 percentage points [2][3] - The revenue from the crushing-type baler decreased by 39.52% to 18.4918 million yuan, while its gross margin increased by 2.39 percentage points to 24.67% [2] - The corn header saw a revenue increase of 140.61% to 15.267 million yuan, with a gross margin of 15.60%, down 0.86 percentage points [2] Market Competition and Challenges - The company attributed the decline in gross margins to severe product homogeneity in the agricultural machinery market, leading to price competition and shrinking profit margins [2][3] - The sales volume of high-end models of the picking-type baler decreased, while low-end models increased, negatively impacting average selling prices [3] - The overall revenue growth was primarily due to winning a project for self-manufactured balers; excluding this project, the main business revenue actually declined by 7.49% [2] Inventory and Financial Management - As of the end of 2024, Huaxi Technology's inventory balance was 30.2479 million yuan, a decrease of 20.54% year-on-year, with a provision for inventory impairment rising by 97.10% to 1.1916 million yuan [4][5] - The company stated that the inventory mainly consisted of market-ready models, indicating no significant risk of sales slowdown or unsold stock [5] - The company provided a maximum repurchase guarantee of 20 million yuan for financing leasing business, with an actual guarantee balance of 4.1368 million yuan at year-end [5][6] Customer Dynamics - In 2024, four out of the top five customers were new, attributed to market saturation in certain regions leading to a decline in dealer sales [3] - The company explained that the changes in customer structure were reasonable due to the nature of its products as durable goods [3]