Core Viewpoint - The controlling shareholder of Salted Snack Company, Zhang Xuewen, plans to reduce his stake by up to 2%, potentially cashing out over 400 million yuan, coinciding with the company's stock price reaching a new high [1][5]. Group 1: Shareholder Reduction Announcement - On July 14, Salted Snack Company announced a pre-disclosure of share reduction by major shareholders and senior management [2]. - Zhang Xuewen, holding 15.38% of the shares, intends to reduce his holdings by a maximum of 5.4556 million shares, equating to 2% of the total share capital [2][4]. - Other executives, including Deputy General Manager Li Hanming and CFO Yang Feng, plan to reduce their holdings by a combined total of 97,100 shares, or 0.04% of the total share capital [2][4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Based on the closing price of 74.84 yuan per share on July 14, if the maximum reduction occurs, Zhang Xuewen's cash-out could exceed 400 million yuan [5]. - As of July 15, the company's stock price was 73.80 yuan per share, reflecting a 19.81% increase since the beginning of the year, with a total market capitalization of 20.131 billion yuan [5]. Group 3: Market Reaction and Concerns - The announcement of the share reduction raised market concerns, leading to a 1.39% drop in the stock price on July 15 [6]. - The company cited "personal funding needs" as the reason for the reduction, despite Zhang Xuewen's departure from the company in October 2019 [5]. Group 4: Company Performance and Challenges - Since its listing in 2017, the company's revenue has grown from 754 million yuan to 5.304 billion yuan in 2024, while net profit has shown volatility [7]. - The company faces challenges in brand recognition compared to competitors, with a noted lack of market presence [9]. - Salted Snack Company has experienced a decline in gross margin from 43.83% in 2020 to 31.84% in 2024 due to competitive pressures from low-price strategies in the market [9]. Group 5: Food Safety Issues - The company has faced multiple food safety complaints, including issues with preservatives and product quality, leading to increased consumer scrutiny [11][15]. - In 2025, there were over 100 new complaints related to food safety, with a total of 748 complaints recorded on the Black Cat Complaint platform [15][16].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [2] Core Insights - The company's core categories continue to grow, with rapid expansion across multiple channels [2] - The company reported a revenue of 5.30 billion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.89%, and a net profit of 639.95 million yuan, up 26.53% year-on-year [7] - The company is focusing on brand strategy and product innovation, particularly in the konjac product category, which is expected to maintain high growth [7] - The company is expanding its distribution channels, including e-commerce and overseas markets, which is expected to enhance profitability [7] - The gross margin slightly decreased due to changes in channel structure, but effective cost control is anticipated to improve profitability [7] Financial Forecasts - The forecasted main revenue for 2024 is 5,303.93 million yuan, with expected growth rates of 28.89% for 2024, 28.28% for 2025, 21.46% for 2026, and 18.05% for 2027 [5][8] - The projected net profit for 2025 is 846.85 million yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 32.33% [5] - The earnings per share (EPS) are expected to be 3.10 yuan for 2025, 3.83 yuan for 2026, and 4.66 yuan for 2027 [5][8] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is projected to decrease from 37.22 in 2024 to 28.12 in 2025, and further to 22.77 in 2026 [5][8]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [2] Core Views - The company has shown continuous growth in core categories, with rapid expansion across multiple channels [2] - The company reported a revenue of 5.30 billion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.89%, and a net profit of 639.95 million yuan, up 26.53% year-on-year [7] - The company is focusing on high-growth products such as konjac snacks and quail eggs, with strong performance expected to continue [7] - The company is expanding its distribution channels, including e-commerce and overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia [7] - Despite a slight decline in gross margin due to changes in channel structure, effective cost control is expected to enhance profitability [7] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved a total revenue of 5,303.93 million yuan, with a projected revenue of 6,803.74 million yuan for 2025, indicating a growth rate of 28.28% [5][8] - The net profit for 2024 is forecasted at 639.95 million yuan, with an expected increase to 846.85 million yuan in 2025, reflecting a growth rate of 32.33% [5][8] - Earnings per share (EPS) is projected to rise from 2.35 yuan in 2024 to 3.10 yuan in 2025 [5][8] Product and Market Strategy - The company is implementing a brand strategy focusing on key products like "Big Demon King" and "Egg Emperor," which have quickly gained market traction [7] - The konjac product line is expected to maintain high growth rates, contributing positively to the company's gross margin [7] Channel Development - The company has seen significant growth in its distribution channels, with e-commerce and overseas sales showing strong performance [7] - The company is strategically entering the Southeast Asian market with its konjac products under the brand "Mowon," achieving breakthroughs in Thailand [7] Cost Management - The gross margin for 2024 is reported at 30.69%, slightly down from the previous year, attributed to changes in channel structure [7] - The company has effectively managed sales and administrative expenses, with a decrease in expense ratios reported for both 2024 and Q1 2025 [7]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [4][6]. Core Views - The company achieved a revenue of 5.304 billion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 28.89%, and a net profit of 640 million yuan, up 26.53% year-on-year [1][4]. - The company continues to expand its product categories and channels, with significant growth in its major products, particularly in the spicy snacks and dried fruit segments [2][4]. - The company is focusing on optimizing its cost structure and improving operational efficiency, which has led to a decrease in expense ratios [3][4]. Revenue and Profitability - In 2024, the company reported revenues of 5.304 billion yuan, with a net profit of 640 million yuan, and a net profit margin of 12.07% [1][3]. - The revenue growth rates for major product categories in 2024 were as follows: spicy snacks at 32.36%, deep-sea snacks at 9.10%, baked potato products at 17.31%, and dried fruits and nuts at 81.50% [2]. Channel Expansion - The company is actively expanding its sales channels, with revenue from direct supermarkets, distribution, and e-commerce channels reported at 1.88 billion yuan, 3.956 billion yuan, and 1.159 billion yuan respectively in 2024 [2]. - The company is also entering high-end membership stores and overseas markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, to drive future growth [2]. Cost Structure and Efficiency - The gross margin for 2024 was reported at 30.69%, with a slight decline in Q1 2025 due to changes in channel structure [3]. - The company has successfully reduced its sales and management expense ratios, indicating improved operational efficiency [3]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - The profit forecasts for the company are maintained at 855 million yuan for 2025 and 1.225 billion yuan for 2027, with corresponding EPS estimates of 3.13 yuan and 4.49 yuan [4][10]. - The current P/E ratios are projected to be 29 for 2025, 24 for 2026, and 20 for 2027, reflecting a favorable valuation outlook [4][10].

Core Viewpoint - Salted Fish's financial performance shows strong growth in revenue and net profit for 2024 and Q1 2025, driven by successful product launches and strategic brand initiatives [1][2][4] Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved revenue of 5.304 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 28.89%, and a net profit of 640 million yuan, up 26.53% [1] - Q4 2024 revenue reached 1.443 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 29.96%, and net profit of 147 million yuan, increasing by 33.66% [1] - For Q1 2025, revenue was 1.537 billion yuan, up 25.69%, with net profit at 178 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11.64% [1] Product Categories and Growth Drivers - Key product categories such as spicy snacks, baked potato products, and konjac jelly showed significant revenue growth, with spicy snacks generating 1.962 billion yuan, up 32.4% [2] - The "Big Demon" sesame sauce and "Egg Emperor" quail eggs have become top-selling items, contributing to the company's growth [2] - The company initiated a brand strategy in 2024, leading to high sales performance during the Spring Festival [2] Channel Development and Structure - Revenue from direct supermarkets decreased by 43.72%, while e-commerce and other channels saw increases of 39.95% and 34.01%, respectively [3] - The company is expanding its overseas market presence, with overseas revenue reaching 62.74 million yuan in 2024, compared to 314,900 yuan in 2023 [3] - The channel structure is expected to improve, with high-growth channels anticipated to outpace overall company growth in 2025 [3] Profitability and Margin Analysis - The company's gross margin was 30.69% in 2024, down 2.85 percentage points, and 28.47% in Q1 2025, down 3.63 percentage points, primarily due to changes in channel structure [4] - Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased, influenced by brand-building efforts and stock compensation [4] - The net profit margin for 2024 and Q1 2025 was 12.07% and 11.59%, respectively, reflecting a decline compared to the previous year [4] Future Outlook and Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on strengthening its product lines and supply chain, particularly in the konjac category, with plans for production line expansion in China and Thailand [5] - The organization has established three product divisions based on flavor profiles to enhance product focus [5] - Revenue projections for 2025 to 2027 are set at 6.795 billion, 8.252 billion, and 9.539 billion yuan, with net profits expected to be 853 million, 1.053 billion, and 1.240 billion yuan, respectively [6]