Core Viewpoint - The incident involving a hotel room pillowcase printed with a hospital logo has raised public concerns about hygiene management at Atour, a well-known mid-to-high-end hotel chain in China. The company has since issued apologies and taken corrective actions to address the issue [1][4]. Group 1: Incident and Response - On June 3, a social media post revealed that a pillowcase in an Atour hotel in Hangzhou bore the logo of "Hangzhou Yuxiang Lake Future Hospital," leading to public scrutiny over hygiene practices [1][4]. - The hotel involved issued an apology and confirmed that the issue stemmed from a sorting error by their laundry supplier, resulting in a temporary closure for thorough rectification and replacement of all 4,440 pieces of linen [1][4]. - Atour's investigation concluded that the incident was an isolated case, with no other similar issues found during a comprehensive inspection [4]. Group 2: Company Overview and Performance - As of the end of Q1 2024, Atour operates 1,727 hotels with approximately 194,559 rooms, marking a year-on-year increase of 32.6% and 31.3% respectively [6][7]. - Atour is the fourth largest hotel group in China, following Huazhu, Jinjiang, and Shoulv, and has a strong market presence in the mid-to-high-end hotel segment [5][8]. - The company has adopted a light-asset expansion model, with over 98% of its hotels being franchise operations, totaling 1,593 franchise hotels by the end of 2024 [9]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In 2024, Atour reported a revenue of 7.248 billion yuan and a net profit of 1.275 billion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth of approximately 55% and 73% respectively [3][11]. - The retail business has significantly contributed to Atour's revenue growth, with sales from pillows and quilts reaching approximately 2.2 billion yuan in 2024, doubling compared to the previous year [3][13]. - Despite impressive overall revenue growth, the hotel segment has faced challenges, with declines in average room revenue, daily room rates, and occupancy rates in 2024 [13].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, with a target price of 20.58 CNY based on a 14x PE valuation for 2025 [2][7]. Core Insights - The company is expected to see earnings per share (EPS) of 1.47, 1.57, and 1.68 CNY for the years 2025 to 2027, respectively, reflecting an upward adjustment from previous estimates [2][7]. - The company achieved a revenue of 4.211 billion CNY in 2023, with a projected revenue of 4.417 billion CNY in 2025, indicating a growth rate of 5.3% [5][6]. - The gross margin is expected to improve to 42.5% by 2025, up from 40.0% in 2023, showcasing a positive trend in profitability [5][6]. Financial Performance Summary - In 2023, the company reported a net profit of 379 million CNY, with a forecasted net profit of 385 million CNY for 2025, reflecting a growth of 5.0% [5][6]. - The company’s revenue for 2024 is projected to be 4.193 billion CNY, a slight decrease of 0.4% year-on-year, but with a recovery expected in subsequent quarters [6]. - The company maintains a high dividend payout ratio of 63.6% for 2024, indicating strong shareholder returns [6]. Market Position and Strategy - The company is focusing on deepening its presence in lower-tier cities, leveraging consumer insights and e-commerce channels to adapt to current market trends [6]. - The report highlights the successful implementation of a major product strategy, which has contributed to improved performance in Q4 2024 [6].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [2][7]. Core Views - The company is expected to achieve earnings per share (EPS) of 1.47, 1.57, and 1.68 yuan for the years 2025 to 2027, respectively, with a target price of 20.58 yuan based on a 14x PE valuation for 2025 [2][7]. - The company has demonstrated a significant improvement in Q4 performance, with a notable increase in net profit driven by operational leverage and cost control [6]. Financial Performance Summary - For 2023, the company reported a revenue of 4,211 million yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 14.9%. However, in 2024, revenue is projected to decline slightly to 4,193 million yuan, a decrease of 0.4% [4][6]. - The net profit attributable to the parent company for 2023 was 379 million yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 36.2%. In 2024, it is expected to decrease to 367 million yuan, a decline of 3.3% [4][6]. - The gross margin for 2024 is expected to improve to 41.4%, up from 40.0% in 2023, indicating a positive trend in profitability [4][6]. Earnings Forecast - The company’s earnings forecasts have been adjusted, with the EPS estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 being 1.47, 1.57, and 1.68 yuan, respectively [2][7]. - The projected revenue for 2025 is 4,417 million yuan, with a growth rate of 5.3% compared to 2024 [4][6]. Market Position and Strategy - The company is focusing on deepening its presence in lower-tier cities and leveraging its e-commerce channels, which aligns with current consumer trends amid macroeconomic uncertainties [6]. - The company has successfully implemented a big product strategy, which has contributed to improved performance in Q4 [6].

Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of 4.193 billion and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 367 million for 2024, showing a slight decline in revenue and net profit compared to the previous year, while the non-recurring net profit increased by 1.77% [1] - In Q4 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 1.51 billion, with a significant increase in net profit attributable to shareholders by 23.56% and a non-recurring net profit increase of 30.98%, attributed to home textile subsidies and internal adjustments [1] - For Q1 2025, the company reported a revenue of 926 million, with a decline in net profit attributable to shareholders by 3.79% and a non-recurring net profit decrease of 9.84% [1] Revenue and Profit Analysis - The online channel generated a revenue of 2.299 billion in 2024, a decrease of 3.75%, but the gross margin improved by 3.19 percentage points to 42.96% due to product structure optimization and reduced promotional efforts [2] - Offline revenue from franchise and direct sales was 1.333 billion and 325 million respectively, with franchise revenue increasing by 1.46% while direct sales declined by 6.51% [2] - The company’s core product category, bedding, maintained stable revenue of 2.029 billion, while pillow sales grew by 8.18% to 316 million [2] Margin and Expense Overview - The overall gross margin for 2024 was 41.4%, an increase of 1.36 percentage points, benefiting from improved online channel margins and product structure optimization [3] - The company’s expense ratios for sales, management, R&D, and financial expenses were 24.43%, 4.47%, 1.96%, and 0.17% respectively, with increases attributed to higher wage expenses and reduced interest income [3] - By Q1 2025, the gross margin rose to 43.9%, while the net profit margin was 9.7%, reflecting a slight decline of 0.5 percentage points year-on-year [3] Inventory and Cash Position - The company’s inventory at the end of 2024 was 1.012 billion, an increase of 5.21%, with inventory turnover days rising by 3.3 days to 144.62 days [3] - As of Q1 2025, inventory grew to 1.080 billion, a 6.72% increase from the beginning of the year, indicating a need to monitor inventory clearance [3] - The company had a strong cash position with monetary funds reaching 835 million by the end of Q1 2025 [3] Market Position and Future Outlook - The company is recognized as a leading player in the domestic home textile industry, continuing to deepen its "Good Bedding, Choose Mercury" strategy, with an increasing market share [4] - Despite a soft demand in the home textile industry since Q2 2024, Q4 saw a sales recovery due to regional home textile subsidy policies, with expectations for continued support in 2025 [4] - Profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 are 384 million, 410 million, and 435 million respectively, with a maintained "buy" rating [4]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" [1] Core Views - The report highlights that the company's gross margin has improved, driven by the e-commerce sector and the ongoing development in smart home textiles [6][7] - The company has faced challenges in revenue growth, with a slight decline in overall income and net profit in 2024 compared to the previous year [2][3] - The company is actively upgrading its product lines and expanding into the smart home textile market, which is expected to contribute to future revenue growth [6][7] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 2024, the company's revenue was 4.193 billion, with a net profit of 367 million, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 0.42% and 3.28% respectively [2] - The operating cash flow for 2024 was 516 million, showing a year-on-year increase of 4.58% [2] - For Q1 2025, the revenue was 926 million, with a net profit of 90 million, indicating a year-on-year growth of 1.20% but a decline in net profit compared to the previous year [2] Product and Revenue Breakdown - In 2024, revenue from different product categories showed mixed results, with bedding and quilts experiencing a decline, while other categories like pillows saw growth [3] - E-commerce revenue decreased by 3.75%, while other channels like franchises and direct sales also faced challenges [3] - Regional performance indicated strong growth in Northeast and Central China, with international sales also showing a significant increase [3] Margin Analysis - The gross margin for 2024 was 41.40%, an increase of 1.36 percentage points year-on-year, while the net margin decreased to 8.74% [4] - In Q1 2025, the gross margin improved to 43.9%, but the net margin fell to 9.7% due to increased sales expenses [4] Inventory and Cash Flow - As of the end of 2024, inventory increased to 1.012 billion, with a turnover period of 145 days [5] - Accounts receivable and payable showed a decline, indicating improved cash flow management [5] Investment Recommendations - The company is expected to continue its "big product" strategy, enhancing product structure and investing in new materials, which should support margin improvement [6] - The introduction of smart home textile products is anticipated to create new revenue streams [7] - The revenue forecasts for 2025 and 2026 have been adjusted downwards, but the long-term outlook remains positive with expected EPS growth [7]