Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage with an "Outperform" rating for the company [4] Core Insights - Lepu Medical, as a leading player in the cardiovascular sector, is experiencing stable growth in traditional business while exploring new growth avenues in aesthetic medicine and innovative drugs, which are expected to significantly enhance profits in the next 1-5 years and beyond [1][4] - The company has a diverse product matrix and is focusing on innovative drug development, particularly in the cardiovascular and metabolic disease sectors, with promising clinical trials underway [4][21] - The aesthetic medicine segment is rapidly expanding, with several key products recently approved, indicating a strong potential for market growth [4][24] Financial Summary - Total revenue is projected to decline from 79.8 billion in 2023 to 61.03 billion in 2024, followed by a gradual recovery to 87.67 billion by 2027, reflecting a CAGR of 12.8% from 2025 to 2027 [3][5] - Net profit is expected to drop significantly from 1.258 billion in 2023 to 247 million in 2024, before rebounding to 1.506 billion by 2027, indicating a strong recovery trajectory [3][5] - Earnings per share (EPS) is forecasted to increase from 0.57 in 2025 to 0.80 in 2027, reflecting the company's improving profitability [4][5] Business Segments Cardiovascular Sector - Lepu Medical is a comprehensive solution provider for cardiovascular diseases, with a strong focus on innovation and a robust product pipeline, including several "firsts" in the domestic market [9][17] - The company has seen a stable return to profitability in its traditional business, with a slight decline in revenue in the first half of 2025, indicating resilience in a competitive market [4][9] Innovative Drug Development - The company is strategically positioned in the innovative drug sector through its subsidiary, Minwei Biotech, which focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with several promising candidates in clinical trials [21][22] - Minwei Biotech's candidate drugs are leading in the domestic market, with significant advancements in clinical phases, particularly in obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments [22][23] Aesthetic Medicine - The aesthetic medicine segment is rapidly growing, with key products like the poly-L-lactic acid dermal filler and hyaluronic acid solutions receiving regulatory approval, indicating a strong market entry [24][25] - The company is actively expanding its non-insurance medical field, with high growth potential in the aesthetic sector [24]

Core Viewpoint - The company reported significant declines in revenue and profit for 2024, reflecting operational pressures and strategic adjustments in various business segments [1][2][3] Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved revenue of 6.103 billion yuan, a decrease of 23.52%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 247 million yuan, down 80.37% [1] - The first quarter of 2025 saw revenue of 1.736 billion yuan, a decline of 9.67%, with a net profit of 379 million yuan, down 21.44% [1] - The gross margin for 2024 decreased by 3.36 percentage points to 60.88% due to policy impacts on the pharmaceutical sector and strategic adjustments in the medical device segment [1] Business Segment Analysis - The pharmaceutical segment reported revenue of 3.49 billion yuan for raw materials, down 14.99%, and 1.409 billion yuan for formulations, down 46.50% [1] - The medical device segment generated revenue of 3.326 billion yuan, reflecting a strategic shift and operational challenges [1][2] - The medical services and health management segment achieved revenue of 1.019 billion yuan, down 19.24%, with notable growth in the Hefei Cardiovascular Hospital [3] Strategic Focus and Innovation - The company is focusing on innovation and internationalization, with new products in the interventional device field receiving approval [4] - The R&D pipeline includes various medical products expected to contribute significantly to future revenue [4] Future Outlook - The company is positioned as a leading player in the cardiovascular sector, with strategic adjustments in the pharmaceutical business and a focus on consumer healthcare expected to drive growth [5] - Projected net profits for 2025-2027 are 999 million yuan, 1.197 billion yuan, and 1.415 billion yuan, representing substantial growth rates [5]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, with a target price of 12.42 CNY based on a 23x P/E ratio for 2025 [2][6]. Core Insights - The company is expected to recover its performance throughout the year, with a projected EPS of 0.54 CNY for 2025, down from previous estimates of 0.75 CNY [2][10]. - The company’s revenue for 2024 is forecasted at 6.1 billion CNY, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 23.5%, but is expected to grow by 12.0% in 2025 [4][10]. - The medical device segment showed resilience, with structural heart disease revenue increasing by 44.0% in 2024, while the overall medical device revenue decreased by 9.5% [10]. Financial Performance Summary - **2023A**: Revenue of 7.98 billion CNY, net profit of 1.26 billion CNY, and EPS of 0.67 CNY. - **2024A**: Revenue expected to drop to 6.1 billion CNY, net profit to 247 million CNY, and EPS to 0.13 CNY. - **2025E**: Revenue projected to recover to 6.83 billion CNY, net profit to 1.01 billion CNY, and EPS to 0.54 CNY [4][10]. - The gross margin is expected to stabilize around 62.2% in 2025, with a net margin of 14.8% [4][10]. Business Strategy and Outlook - The company focuses on innovation, consumer engagement, and internationalization, particularly in the cardiovascular sector [10]. - New product approvals in the cardiovascular intervention space and ongoing clinical trials for innovative drugs indicate a strong pipeline for future growth [10].

Core Viewpoint - Lepu Medical's overall revenue declined by 23.52% in 2024, with significant impacts across multiple business segments, leading to a drastic drop in net profit by 80.37% [2][3] Group 1: 2024 Performance Overview - The medical device segment's revenue decreased by 9.47%, primarily due to a significant drop in the in vitro diagnostics business, although coronary intervention and structural heart disease businesses grew by 6.35% and 44.03% respectively [2] - The pharmaceutical segment experienced a notable decline, with raw material drug revenue down by 14.99% and formulation revenue down by 46.50%, largely due to the impact of the "Four Same" policy and price reductions from centralized procurement [2] - The medical services and health management segment saw a revenue decline of 19.24%, attributed to reduced demand for blood oxygen products [2] - The company reduced its workforce by 1,409 employees to optimize operations, focusing on R&D and marketing personnel in specific segments [2] Group 2: 2025 Outlook - Lepu Medical holds a cautiously optimistic view for 2025, anticipating a 30% year-on-year increase in pharmaceutical shipments, with formulation revenue expected to reach around 1.8 billion [3] - The medical device segment is projected to grow by approximately 10%, driven by cardiovascular intervention products, with expected growth rates of 10-15% for specific product lines [3] - The medical services and health management segment is expected to grow by 15%, supported by new business from specific hospitals and foreign trade [3] - The company is preparing for the approval of new dermatological injection products, which are anticipated to enhance revenue streams [3] Group 3: Investor Q&A Highlights - The company is focusing on controlling sales expenses and reducing ineffective R&D to improve profit margins [4] - Future profit growth is expected to come from structural heart, dermatology, and neuro-modulation businesses, although profit forecasts for 2026 remain uncertain [4] - The company is addressing the impact of centralized procurement policies, with expectations of moderate trends and varying implementations across provinces [4] - Key product sales targets include 20 million for TAVR, 50 million for peripheral intervention, and a total of 250 million for coronary and peripheral intervention products [4]