Core Viewpoint - The company, Yanghe Co., Ltd. (002304), is undergoing active adjustments in its operations while awaiting improvements in its business performance, as highlighted in the recent research report by Dongwu Securities [1]. Financial Performance - In 2024, the company reported a revenue of 28.876 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 12.83%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 6.673 billion yuan, down 33.37% year-on-year [2]. - For Q4 2024, revenue was 1.360 billion yuan, reflecting a significant decline of 52.17% year-on-year, with a net profit of -190.5 million yuan compared to -18.8 million yuan in the same period last year [2]. - In Q1 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 11.066 billion yuan, a decrease of 31.92% year-on-year, and a net profit of 3.637 billion yuan, down 39.93% year-on-year [2]. Strategic Adjustments - The company is actively adjusting its business strategy in response to the competitive pressures in the white liquor industry, particularly in the mid-range and premium segments [2]. - Revenue from mid-to-high-end liquor and ordinary liquor in 2024 decreased by 14.79% and 0.49% respectively, indicating a proactive adjustment in core product lines [2]. - The company plans to focus on the Jiangsu province and surrounding markets to strengthen its market position [2]. Profitability and Cost Structure - In 2024, the sales net profit margin decreased by 7.16 percentage points to 23.09%, with a gross profit margin down by 2.09 percentage points to 73.16% due to a decline in the proportion of mid-to-high-end liquor [3]. - The tax and additional rate increased by 0.81 percentage points to 16.71%, while the sales expense ratio rose by 2.84 percentage points to 19.10% and the management expense ratio increased by 1.34 percentage points to 6.67% [3]. Q1 2025 Performance Insights - In Q1 2025, the sales net profit margin decreased by 4.41 percentage points to 32.83%, with a gross profit margin of 75.59% [4]. - Sales collections in Q1 2025 amounted to 9.805 billion yuan, a decline of 24.03% year-on-year, with contract liabilities at 7.024 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1.209 billion yuan [4]. Future Outlook and Investment Rating - The company is expected to maintain strategic discipline and enhance management to return to a growth trajectory, with updated net profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 at 5.46 billion yuan, 5.66 billion yuan, and 5.90 billion yuan respectively [5]. - The current market capitalization corresponds to a price-to-earnings ratio (PE) of 18.9, 18.3, and 17.5 for 2025 to 2027, with a maintained "buy" rating [5].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company is undergoing proactive adjustments while awaiting operational improvements. The white liquor industry is entering a phase of stock competition, with significant pressure on mid-range and premium products. The company is actively adjusting its operational strategies and strengthening its management [7][8] - In 2024, the company reported total revenue of 28.76 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 12.83%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 6.67 billion yuan, down 33.37% year-on-year. The fourth quarter of 2024 saw revenue of 1.36 billion yuan, a decline of 52.17% year-on-year [7][8] - The company plans to focus on the Jiangsu and surrounding markets to build a solid foundation for growth, as revenue from both domestic and external markets declined [7][8] - The company is expected to maintain a cash dividend of no less than 70% of the net profit attributable to shareholders, with a projected total cash dividend of at least 7 billion yuan for 2024, corresponding to a dynamic dividend yield of over 6.5% [7][8] Financial Summary - The company's total revenue is projected to decline from 28.76 billion yuan in 2024 to 24.47 billion yuan in 2025, with a gradual recovery expected in subsequent years [1][8] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is forecasted to decrease from 6.67 billion yuan in 2024 to 5.46 billion yuan in 2025, with a slight recovery in 2026 and 2027 [1][8] - The earnings per share (EPS) is expected to drop from 4.43 yuan in 2024 to 3.62 yuan in 2025, with a gradual increase thereafter [1][8] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is projected to be 18.93 for 2025, 18.27 for 2026, and 17.52 for 2027, indicating a potential for value recovery in the coming years [1][8]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Strong Buy" rating for the company, expecting it to outperform the benchmark index by over 20% in the next six months [2][24]. Core Views - The company reported a total revenue of 28.88 billion yuan for 2024, a decrease of 12.8% year-on-year, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 6.67 billion yuan, down 33.4% year-on-year. The first quarter of 2025 also showed a decline in revenue and profit, indicating ongoing challenges in the market [2][4][8]. - The report highlights that the company is undergoing a deep clearing of its financial statements, with a commitment to dividends providing a safety net for investors. The total dividend for 2024 is set at 7 billion yuan, corresponding to a dividend yield of 6.5% [2][8]. Financial Performance Summary - **2024 Financials**: - Total revenue: 28.88 billion yuan, down 12.8% YoY - Net profit: 6.67 billion yuan, down 33.4% YoY - Earnings per share (EPS): 4.43 yuan [4][8]. - **2025 Projections**: - Expected total revenue: 23.41 billion yuan, down 18.9% YoY - Expected net profit: 5.59 billion yuan, down 16.3% YoY - Projected EPS: 3.71 yuan [4][8]. - **Market Position**: - The company is focusing on inventory clearance and maintaining price stability for its main products, particularly in the Jiangsu region. The strategy includes managing quotas and enhancing marketing efforts to support sales [2][8]. - **Valuation Metrics**: - Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for 2025 is projected at 19 times, with a target price of 82 yuan based on a 22 times P/E ratio [4][8]. - **Cash Flow and Debt**: - The company reported a significant increase in contract liabilities, indicating a focus on managing cash flow amidst declining sales [2][8]. - **Market Trends**: - The report notes a challenging market environment with a decline in both volume and price for the company's products, particularly in the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 [2][8]. - **Future Outlook**: - The company is expected to stabilize in the second half of 2025, driven by new product launches and a lower base from the previous year [2][8].