Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage with a "Buy" rating for China Civil Aviation Information Network (0696.HK) [10] Core Insights - China Civil Aviation Information Network (China Aviation Information) is the only GDS system in China, dominating the airline ticket booking segment. The company has a strong and stable profitability with ROE and ROIC consistently around 15%. The current PE valuation is only 11-12 times, about half of its historical average, which supports a positive recommendation [2][6] - The company has a robust cash flow with limited capital expenditure, maintaining over 10 billion in cash and equivalents, while normal annual capital expenditure is less than 500 million. The dividend payout ratio has been adjusted to 35%-45% from 30%-40%, indicating potential for increased returns to shareholders [6][49] Company Overview - China Aviation Information originated from the Civil Aviation Administration's computer center and became an independent company in 1996. It was established as a joint venture with all domestic airlines in 2000 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2001. The company is controlled by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission [5][17] - The company has evolved its products and services over decades, expanding its client base from airlines to the entire aviation industry chain, becoming the leading supplier of information technology solutions in China's aviation tourism sector [5][27] Business Model - The company operates a light asset and low leverage model, with a stable net profit margin around 30%. Following the pandemic, profitability has been recovering, with a projected net profit margin of 24% in 2024 [6][52] - China Aviation Information's booking scale is the largest globally, with over 95% market share in domestic civil aviation passenger transport and approximately 80% in cross-border passenger transport. The pricing for bookings is lower than that of overseas GDS systems, contributing to a sustainable business model [7][30] Financial Performance - The company has shown steady revenue and profit growth, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 10.8% in revenue and 11.4% in net profit from 2011 to 2019. Despite the impact of the pandemic, revenue is expected to grow by 9.8% compared to 2019 levels by 2024 [39][40] - The average PE and PB ratios are 22 times and 2.3 times, respectively, reflecting the market's valuation of the company's stable and efficient business model [50][52] Future Prospects - The company is exploring auxiliary business opportunities through subsidiaries, focusing on travel finance and technology services, which have significant growth potential. The integration of AI technology may further transform the ticket agency business [8][30]