Core Viewpoint - CITIC Construction Investment maintains a "Buy" rating for Xtep International (01368), projecting revenue growth from 2025 to 2027 at 143.2 billion, 152.6 billion, and 163.7 billion CNY, with year-on-year increases of 5.5%, 6.6%, and 7.2% respectively, and net profit growth of 10.5%, 11.1%, and 10.0% over the same period [1] Group 1 - In Q3 2025, Xtep's main brand retail sales experienced low single-digit growth, with retail discount levels around 70-75% and inventory turnover of approximately 4-4.5 months [1][2] - The report indicates that online sales growth continues to outpace offline, with children's products growing faster than adult products [2] - The company is focusing on upgrading offline store images and expanding outlet layouts while continuing to push the full product line for running [2] Group 2 - The Saucony brand saw retail sales growth exceeding 20% in Q3 2025, with offline sales maintaining a strong growth momentum of over 30% [2] - As of the end of September, Saucony had over 170 stores, an increase of nearly 30 stores since the beginning of the year [2] - Looking ahead to Q4 2025, Xtep plans to reclaim distribution rights for approximately 400-500 Xtep stores in H2 2025 and 2026, with an expected short-term impact on revenue [2]

Core Viewpoint - CITIC Securities maintains a "Buy" rating for Xtep International (01368), projecting revenue growth from 2025 to 2027 at 143.2 billion, 152.6 billion, and 163.7 billion yuan, with year-on-year increases of 5.5%, 6.6%, and 7.2% respectively, and net profit growth of 10.5%, 11.1%, and 10.0% [1] Group 1 - In Q3 2025, Xtep's main brand retail sales experienced low single-digit growth, with retail discount levels around 70-75% and inventory turnover of approximately 4-4.5 months [2] - The report indicates that online sales growth continues to outpace offline, with children's products growing faster than adult products [2] - The company is focusing on enhancing its running product line and upgrading store images in offline channels while emphasizing outlet store expansion [2] Group 2 - The Saucony brand saw retail sales growth exceeding 20% in Q3 2025, with offline sales maintaining a strong growth rate of over 30% [2] - As of the end of September, Saucony had over 170 stores, an increase of nearly 30 stores since the beginning of the year [2] - Looking ahead to Q4 2025, Xtep plans to reclaim distribution rights for approximately 400-500 Xtep stores in H2 2025 and 2026, which is expected to have a short-term impact on revenue [2]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" (maintained) [1][3][7] Core Views - The company's main brand retail sales in Q3 showed low single-digit year-on-year growth, while the Saucony brand experienced over 20% growth [2][3] - The management maintains the annual guidance, indicating stable growth prospects for the main brand and strong performance for the professional sports brand [3][6] - The company focuses on the running category, leveraging its expertise to achieve steady sales growth, with Saucony and another brand, Maile, targeting specific consumer segments for faster growth [3][9] Summary by Sections Q3 Performance - The main brand's retail sales in Q3 grew low single digits year-on-year, with better performance in July and August compared to September [4] - Online sales outperformed offline sales, with children's products showing stronger growth than adult products, particularly in functional categories like running and outdoor [4] Retail Discounts and Inventory - Retail discounts for the main brand remained stable at 70-75%, with inventory turnover ratio stable at 4.0-4.5 months, indicating a healthy inventory level [5] Brand Growth - Saucony's sales grew over 20%, with strategic adjustments made to reduce low-priced products in e-commerce and tighten discounts [6] - The management expects Saucony's revenue growth to exceed 30% in 2025, with profits anticipated to grow over 10% [6] Financial Forecasts - The company forecasts net profits of 1.4 billion, 1.49 billion, and 1.6 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 13.2%, 5.9%, and 7.7% [3][10] - The reasonable valuation range is maintained at 6.1-6.6 HKD, corresponding to a PE ratio of 11-12x for 2025 [3][9]

Core Viewpoint - Xtep International is optimizing its multi-brand matrix by divesting its fashion sports brand in 2024, focusing on its core running business, and enhancing resource allocation. The company plans to initiate a DTC transformation in 2025, which is expected to solidify its position in the professional sports sector and maintain a "Buy" rating [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Xtep's main brand achieved a low single-digit year-on-year growth in total channel revenue, consistent with Q2's performance, with online sales showing double-digit growth and children's products outperforming adult categories [2] - The net profit forecasts for Xtep are projected at 1.37 billion, 1.49 billion, and 1.6 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, corresponding to PE ratios of 11, 10, and 9 [1] Group 2: Brand and Product Development - Saucony brand experienced over 20% year-on-year growth in total channel revenue in Q3, with offline revenue increasing by over 30%. The brand opened 16 new stores, primarily in first and second-tier city core business districts, maintaining an annual store opening target of 30-50 [3] - Saucony is focusing on the running scene and expanding its apparel and OG series, receiving positive market feedback, and is confident in achieving over 30% growth for the year [3] Group 3: Inventory and Discount Management - Xtep's main brand maintained a healthy inventory turnover ratio of 4-4.5 months and discount levels between 70-75%, indicating effective supply chain management and terminal sales efficiency [4] - Saucony's inventory and discount levels are also within controllable ranges, allowing flexibility for promotions in Q4 [4] Group 4: Channel Innovation and Expansion - Xtep is continuously optimizing its channel structure, with over 70% of its stores upgraded to the new 9th generation and leading stores. The company is accelerating its presence in shopping centers and outlet stores [5] - The outlet channel, represented by leading and selected outlets, is expected to expand to 70-100 stores by 2026, aligning with positive market trends in outlet traffic and sales [5] Group 5: DTC Transformation - Xtep plans to reclaim approximately 100 stores in Q4, with a total of 400 stores by the end of 2025, involving a capital expenditure of around 400 million yuan. This move is expected to enhance the company's long-term channel competitiveness [6]

Group 1: Xtep International Performance - Xtep's main brand retail revenue in 2Q25 achieved low single-digit year-on-year growth, with overall revenue growth in 1H25 also in single digits [1] - Offline sales remained stable with slight growth, while online sales outpaced offline; children's products grew faster than adult products, and footwear outperformed apparel [1] - Functional products accounted for over 60% of the main brand's offerings, with running and outdoor categories leading the growth [1] Group 2: Market Trends and Strategies - The sales performance in April and May was better than in June, attributed to the May Day holiday and the earlier start of the 618 shopping festival compared to the previous year [1] - The company maintained a discount rate of 70-75%, with expectations for the annual discount to remain at current levels due to healthy inventory [1] - The DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) strategy is set to launch in 2H25, with plans to recover approximately 500 stores, representing about 8% of the total store count [1] Group 3: Competitor Analysis - Saucony's revenue in 1H25 grew over 30%, with 1Q growth exceeding 40% and 2Q growth over 20%, maintaining a target of 30%-40% growth for the year [2] - Saucony focuses on high-end positioning and brand upgrades, tightening online discounts and reducing low-priced product offerings [2] - The brand aims to enhance its presence in high-tier cities with new store openings and plans to increase investment in trail running products [2] Group 4: Financial Projections - Xtep is projected to achieve revenues of 144.14 billion, 154.32 billion, and 165.17 billion RMB for 2025-2027, with year-on-year growth rates of 6.2%, 7.1%, and 7.0% respectively [3] - The expected net profit for Xtep for 2025-2027 is 13.8 billion, 15.1 billion, and 16.6 billion RMB, with growth rates of 11.3%, 9.7%, and 9.7% respectively [3] - The company maintains a valuation of 11.5X PE for 2025, with a target price of 6.1 HKD, indicating a potential upside of 15.0% [3]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" (maintained) [2][4][8] Core Views - The company's main brand saw low single-digit growth in retail sales for the second quarter, while the Saucony brand experienced over 30% growth [3][4] - The overall performance for the first half of the year aligns with the annual guidance, with stable discounts and inventory levels [4][5] - The management maintains the annual guidance, aiming for over 10% profit growth [6][8] Summary by Sections Sales Performance - In the second quarter, the main brand's retail sales growth was low single-digit year-on-year, with discounts ranging from 7.0 to 7.5 [3][5] - The Saucony brand's retail sales grew over 20% year-on-year, with a focus on reducing low-priced products in e-commerce to synchronize online and offline offerings [6][8] Financial Forecasts - The company expects net profits for 2025, 2026, and 2027 to be 1.4 billion, 1.5 billion, and 1.6 billion respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 13.2%, 5.9%, and 7.7% [4][9] - Revenue projections for 2025 are set at 14.3 billion, with a growth rate of 5.4% [9] Market Positioning - The company is focusing on the running category to leverage its professional advantages, with expectations for steady growth in the main brand and rapid growth in professional sports brands like Saucony and Maile [4][8] - The management anticipates that the main brand will achieve stable growth in the mass market, while Saucony and Maile will target specific elite groups and outdoor markets for faster growth [4][8]