Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Biological (688363.SH) is under increasing performance pressure, leading to heightened market scrutiny of its actions [1] Group 1: Headquarters and Brand Operations - Recent market rumors suggested that Huaxi Biological plans to relocate its headquarters from Beijing to Hangzhou, which the company denied, stating it is adjusting its brand operation locations [2] - The company aims to leverage the brand operation ecosystem advantages in East China by consolidating some brand operation centers in the region [2] - Several beauty companies are indeed concentrated in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area, such as Proya (603605.SH) and Beitaini (300957.SZ) [2] Group 2: Management Changes - Huaxi Biological has undergone significant changes in its board of directors, with key figures like Fan Yuan and Zou Songyan not re-elected [4] - Fan Yuan was notably responsible for the company's functional skincare business [3] Group 3: Product and Marketing Strategy - The company has closed its smaller revenue-generating skincare brand, Runxiquan, while increasing marketing investments in its main brand, Runbaiyan [4] - In August, Runbaiyan announced Zhang Yixing as its first global brand ambassador, which represents a significant marketing expenditure for Huaxi Biological, especially as the company has reduced its sales expenses [5] - For the first half of 2025, sales expenses were reported at 808 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 31.44%, accounting for 35.74% of revenue, down over 6 percentage points year-on-year [5] Group 4: Performance Outlook - The effectiveness of these adjustments in boosting Huaxi Biological's skincare product performance is currently under scrutiny [6]

Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Biological is continuously downsizing its C-end functional skincare business, specifically shutting down the Runxiquan brand, which was not a major contributor to its revenue and profit [1][2]. Group 1: Business Strategy and Focus - The closure of Runxiquan is part of Huaxi Biological's strategy to focus on its core business and main brands, emphasizing that collagen is not a strategic focus for the company [1][2]. - The company has faced significant pressure from a sharp decline in the performance of its C-end functional skincare brands, with revenue from this segment dropping from over 70% to 40.36% of total revenue by mid-2025 [3]. - Huaxi Biological's chairman has publicly stated the need for corporate restructuring and a return to a startup mentality, highlighting issues with over-reliance on external marketing resources [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Challenges - The company positions itself as a "synthetic biotechnology company," differentiating itself from other domestic beauty brands that rely heavily on consumer sales [4]. - Despite the challenges in the C-end market, Huaxi Biological maintains a competitive edge through its B-end raw materials and medical terminal segments [4]. - The company has diversified its raw material offerings beyond hyaluronic acid, including ingredients like Ectoin and PDRN, but hyaluronic acid remains its core product [6]. Group 3: Brand Management and Market Perception - Huaxi Biological's main brands, including Runbaiyan and Kuadi, have overlapping market positions and unclear differentiation in consumer perception, which complicates their market strategies [9][10]. - The company has shifted from a strategy of aggressive brand expansion to a more focused approach, indicating a need to clarify which brands are core and which are experimental [10][11]. - The overall trend in the domestic beauty industry reflects a shift towards brand structure rebalancing, as companies seek to maintain main brand advantages while managing the performance of sub-brands [11].

Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Biological is accelerating its transformation by shutting down the Runxiquan brand, which has not significantly contributed to its revenue and profit, as part of a strategy to focus on its main business and key brands [2][5][6]. Brand Adjustment - The closure of the Runxiquan brand has been confirmed, with its official stores on platforms like Taobao no longer searchable and its products cleared from its Douyin flagship store [4][6]. - Huaxi Biological emphasized that Runxiquan was never a major brand for the company and its existence did not meaningfully impact revenue or profit [4][7]. Financial Performance - In 2024, Huaxi Biological's functional skincare business generated revenue of 2.569 billion yuan, a year-on-year decline of 31.62% [8]. - The revenue contributions from the four main brands—Runbaiyan (922 million yuan), Kuaidi (649 million yuan), Mibeier (290 million yuan), and BM Jihuo (279 million yuan)—showed significant declines, with year-on-year drops of 22.63%, 41.69%, 31.76%, and 52.06% respectively [8][9]. - Overall, Huaxi Biological's revenue and net profit decreased by 19.57% and 35.38% respectively in the first half of 2025, following an 11.61% and 70.59% decline in 2024 [8][9]. Market Challenges - The functional skincare sector is facing a development bottleneck, with increasing competition and a saturated market limiting growth opportunities for brands like Runxiquan [7][12]. - Huaxi Biological's past success was heavily reliant on "traffic operation," and rising traffic costs have led to a stagnation in performance growth [9][12]. Strategic Transformation - The company is undergoing a significant internal transformation, particularly in its core business of skin science innovation, which involves changes in operations, products, channels, organization, and branding [10][11]. - The shift from a traffic-driven sales model to a science-based brand communication strategy aims to provide scientifically validated skincare solutions [11]. - Huaxi Biological is focusing on optimizing team structures and improving operational efficiency to enhance overall business quality [11].

Core Viewpoint - The competition between Huaxi Biological and Juzhi Biological in the skincare industry has intensified, with Huaxi experiencing a significant decline in performance while Juzhi shows robust growth, indicating a shift in market dynamics and consumer preferences [2][3][4]. Financial Performance Comparison - Huaxi Biological reported revenue of 2.261 billion, net profit of 221 million, and gross profit of 1.605 billion for the first half of 2025, with year-on-year declines of 19.57%, 35.38%, and 23.35% respectively [4]. - In contrast, Juzhi Biological achieved revenue of 3.113 billion, net profit of 1.182 billion, and gross profit of 2.542 billion, with all metrics showing over 20% year-on-year growth [4]. - From 2022 to 2024, Juzhi's revenue growth averaged around 50%, while Huaxi's revenue growth has been declining since 2022, with significant reductions continuing into 2023 and 2024 [4]. Brand Performance and Market Dynamics - Huaxi's skincare business, led by the "Runbaiyan" brand, generated 4.607 billion in functional skincare revenue in 2022, accounting for over 70% of total revenue, but is projected to decline to 2.569 billion by 2024, a drop of over 44% [8][10]. - Juzhi's functional skincare revenue, primarily from the "Kefumei" brand, is expected to rise from 1.562 billion in 2022 to 4.3 billion in 2024, marking an increase of over 175% [10]. - The competition reflects a shift in the narrative of effective skincare from "hyaluronic acid hydration" to "recombinant collagen + medical aesthetics synergy" [14]. Marketing and Strategic Responses - Huaxi Biological has initiated a "three-pronged attack" in response to market challenges, including public statements against perceived misinformation regarding its products and the efficacy of hyaluronic acid [15][21]. - The company has faced criticism for its reliance on hyaluronic acid, with analysts noting that its product lines exhibit significant overlap and homogeneity, which may dilute brand differentiation [25][27]. - Juzhi Biological's heavy reliance on its flagship product, "Kefumei," poses risks, as any quality issues could severely impact overall performance [11][13]. Future Outlook and Strategic Recommendations - Huaxi's path to recovery lies in rebuilding its growth mechanisms, focusing on channel efficiency, pricing discipline, and new product positioning [28]. - The market's evolving preferences indicate that simply reiterating the benefits of hyaluronic acid may not suffice; a more diversified and innovative approach is necessary to regain market share [27][28].

Core Viewpoint - The functional skincare industry in China is experiencing a rise of domestic brands, with various listed companies involved across the supply chain, including raw materials, packaging, and sales channels [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Overview - Functional skincare products are designed to address specific skin issues and possess certain pharmacological effects, indicating a growing market for targeted skincare solutions [1]. - The industry is characterized by a diverse range of companies, from raw material suppliers to online and offline sales channels [2]. Group 2: Company Distribution - Key companies in the raw materials segment include Kesheng Co., Qingsong Co., and Xinhang New Materials, while packaging material companies include Jiaheng Household and Jinsong New Materials [2][3]. - Major players in the functional skincare segment include Betaini, Huaxi Biological, Shanghai Jahwa, and Chuang'er Biological, with significant online sales channels represented by Alibaba, JD.com, and Pinduoduo [2][4]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Betaini leads the industry with a revenue of 57.36 billion yuan in 2024, followed by Huaxi Biological with 53.71 billion yuan and Shanghai Jahwa with 56.79 billion yuan [6][18]. - The gross profit margins for most companies in the functional skincare sector range from 70% to 85%, with Juzhi Biological achieving the highest margin at 82.09% [17][18]. Group 4: Business Strategies - Companies are focusing on R&D innovation, brand enhancement, and channel optimization to capture more market share and adapt to competitive pressures [19]. - Betaini plans to enhance its product offerings in the baby skincare segment and expand its online and offline presence, while Huaxi Biological is shifting towards anti-aging strategies and enhancing its technological capabilities [20][19]. Group 5: Market Positioning - Betaini has a dominant market position with 99.49% of its business in functional skincare, primarily targeting the Chinese market [16]. - Huaxi Biological and Shanghai Jahwa have also established strong brand identities with competitive product lines, while Chuang'er Biological focuses on collagen products [14][16].

"玻尿酸巨头"华熙生物科技股份有限公司（简称"华熙生物"）近日交出了一份上市以来"最差中报"。半 年报显示，华熙生物上半年实现营业收入22.61亿元，同比下降19.57%；归母净利润2.21亿元，同比下 降35.38%。面对三大业务齐下滑的窘境，创始人赵燕重回业务一线后，其正在进行的内部改革能否扭 转业绩颓势？ 三大业务板块同步下滑 半年报显示，除核心的护肤品业务外，华熙生物另外两大业务板块——原料业务与医疗终端业务上半年 也出现了不同程度的下降。其中，原料业务上半年实现收入6.26亿元，同比微降0.58%，占主营业务收 入的27.7%；医疗终端业务实现收入6.73亿元，占主营业务收入的29.77%，同比下降9.44%。三大业务板 块同步下滑的局面，加剧了华熙生物的业绩压力。 导致华熙生物半年度利润下滑的原因，除了业务因素外，还包括计提信用减值、资产减值以及人事优 化。半年报显示，华熙生物二季度计提信用减值及资产减值损失4837万元，"组织架构升级"产生管理费 用2900万元。 业绩承压，管理问题暴露 资料显示，华熙生物成立于2000年1月3日，于2019年11月6日正式登陆A股，主营业务涉及微生物发酵 和交 ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [1]. Core Views - The company has shown significant improvement in profits in Q2 2025, with a notable recovery in net profit compared to Q1 2025 [1][10]. - The chairman's active involvement in management is expected to drive positive changes in the company's performance in the second half of the year [10]. - The company is undergoing a transformation towards an "efficiency-oriented" approach, which has led to a significant reduction in sales expense ratios [9][10]. Financial Performance Summary - For the first half of 2025, the company reported revenues and net profits of 2.26 billion and 220 million yuan, respectively, reflecting year-on-year declines of 19.6% and 35.4% [4]. - Q2 2025 saw revenues and net profits of 1.18 billion and 120 million yuan, with a year-on-year decline of 18.4% in revenue but a 20.9% increase in net profit [4]. - The company's gross margin for the first half of 2025 was 71.0%, down 3.5 percentage points year-on-year [8]. Business Segment Performance - The raw materials segment showed resilience, with revenue of 630 million yuan, a slight decline of 0.6% year-on-year, while the medical terminal products segment generated 670 million yuan, down 9.4% [5]. - The skin science innovation transformation business experienced a significant decline of 34.0% in revenue, totaling 910 million yuan, while the nutrition science innovation transformation business grew by 32.4% to 40 million yuan [5]. - The company launched several new medical aesthetic products in 2025, contributing to a diversified product matrix [6]. Market Outlook - The company is expected to return to a positive growth trajectory, with revenue forecasts adjusted to 4.825 billion, 5.631 billion, and 6.735 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively [11]. - The report anticipates that the company's earnings per share (EPS) will be 0.98, 1.23, and 1.66 yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively [11]. - The chairman's plan to increase shareholding by 200 to 300 million yuan within six months reflects confidence in the company's future development [11].

Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Biological, a leading hyaluronic acid company, continues to face pressure on its performance, with significant declines in revenue and net profit in the first half of 2025 [1] Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Huaxi Biological reported revenue of 2.261 billion yuan and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 221 million yuan, representing year-on-year declines of 19.57% and 35.38% respectively [1] - In the second quarter, the company's revenue was 1.183 billion yuan, down nearly 20% year-on-year [2] - The skincare innovation business, a key revenue driver, generated 912 million yuan, experiencing a decline of over 30% year-on-year [2] Industry Comparison - The company's performance significantly lags behind the industry, with China's cosmetic retail sales reaching 229.1 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year growth of 2.9% [3] - Competitors such as Proya and Shuiyang reported nearly 10% year-on-year revenue growth during the same period [3] Cost Management - Huaxi Biological has significantly reduced its sales expenses, which amounted to 808 million yuan in the first half of 2025, down 31.44% year-on-year, accounting for 35.74% of revenue, a decrease of over 6 percentage points [3] - The company has ceased price promotion campaigns on various platforms, aiming to restructure its brand's technical foundation for better customer acquisition models [3] Business Strategy - The company is adopting a "price-for-volume" strategy to boost sales of its medical beauty products, with medical product revenue at 467 million yuan, down 1.8% year-on-year, while sales of three types of medical devices increased by 20% [3] - Huaxi Biological plans to optimize its product structure and channel layout to adapt to market changes [4] Brand Development - The medical beauty brands "Run Bai Yan" and "Run Zhi" have been launched on the Meituan medical beauty platform to enhance user reach [6] - The chairman of Huaxi Biological, Zhao Yan, has returned to frontline operations to boost performance, although the effectiveness of these reforms may take more time to manifest [6]

Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Biological's performance continues to decline, with significant drops in revenue and net profit in the first half of 2025, indicating ongoing pressure on the company's operations [2][5]. Financial Performance - The company's revenue for the first half of 2025 was 2.261 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 19.57% [2][4]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders was 220 million yuan, down 35.38% year-on-year [2]. - The skin science innovation transformation business, which accounts for 40.36% of total revenue, saw a revenue decline of 33.97% to 912 million yuan [5][6]. Business Segments - The skin science innovation transformation business is the most severely affected segment, with a significant drop in revenue [5]. - The raw material business generated 626 million yuan, with a slight decline of 0.58%, while the medical terminal business brought in 673 million yuan, down 9.44% [6]. - The medical products in the terminal business achieved 467 million yuan in revenue, a decrease of 1.8% [6]. Reform Measures - The company has implemented significant reforms, including the return of the general manager to frontline operations to drive change [7]. - Sales expenses decreased by 31.44% year-on-year, attributed to reduced promotional costs in the skin science innovation transformation business [7]. - Research and development investment increased to 10.22% of total revenue, up from 7.13% in the previous year, indicating a strong commitment to innovation despite poor performance [7]. Quarterly Insights - In the second quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue of 1.183 billion yuan, a decline of 18.44% year-on-year, but net profit increased by 20.89% to 119 million yuan [8]. - The net profit margin rose for the first time since the first quarter of 2024, suggesting that reform measures may be starting to yield positive results [8].

Core Viewpoint - Huaxi Bio's performance in the first half of 2025 showed significant declines in revenue and profit, but there are signs of recovery in the second quarter, indicating potential for future growth [1][4][14]. Financial Performance Summary - In the first half of 2025, Huaxi Bio reported revenue of 2.26 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 19.57% [1][3]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders was 221 million yuan, down 35.38% year-on-year, while the net profit after deducting non-recurring gains and losses fell by 45% to 218 million yuan [1][3]. - Operating cash flow was 218 million yuan, a decline of 17.49% compared to the previous year [1][3]. - In the second quarter, revenue was 1.18 billion yuan, a decrease of 18.44% year-on-year, but net profit increased by 20.89% to 119 million yuan, marking a return to growth [4][14]. Operational Changes and Strategies - Founder Zhao Yan returned to the frontline in March 2025, implementing significant reforms including management restructuring and cost-cutting measures [4][8]. - Sales expenses decreased by 31.44% to 808 million yuan in the first half of 2025, with a sales expense ratio of 35.74%, the lowest in five years [10][12]. - The company is shifting its marketing strategy from a scale-oriented approach to an efficiency-oriented model, focusing on brand efficacy [12][13]. Inventory and Efficiency - The inventory turnover days improved from 391 days in the first quarter to 321 days in the second quarter, indicating enhanced operational efficiency [4][14]. - Despite a reduction in inventory balance to 1.168 billion yuan, it remains at historically high levels, suggesting further optimization is needed [4][14]. Business Segment Performance - The revenue from the raw materials segment was 626 million yuan, down 0.58%, while the medical terminal business generated 673 million yuan, down 9.44% [15]. - The skin science innovation segment saw a significant decline, with revenue of 912 million yuan, down 33.97%, while the nutrition science segment grew by 32.4% to 38 million yuan [15][16]. - The skin science segment remains the largest, accounting for 40.34% of total revenue, despite being the most affected by declines [16]. Company Culture and Market Position - The return of Zhao Yan has led to a shift in the company's culture, characterized by a more aggressive stance in addressing market challenges and public relations issues [17][18]. - The company has actively engaged in industry discussions, particularly regarding the comparison of its products with competitors, showcasing a strong commitment to market leadership [18][19].