19 August 2025 Equity Research Report China Express Delivery Equities Expert call takeaways: Supply side reform 2.0 China On 13 August 2025, we hosted a conference call with China express delivery industry experts, and invited Mr. Lai Songqian, co-founder of Hangzhou Tonglubang Tongda Business Information Consulting, to discuss 'anti-involution' policies in China's express delivery industry. Below are our key takeaways: Express delivery prices in key regions picking up, but some franchisees likely still gen ...

Key Takeaways ZTO Express Q2 EPS of 35 cents fell year over year, while revenues of $1.65 billion rose.ZTO cut 2025 parcel volume forecast to 38.8-40.1 billion from the prior 40.8-42.2 billion.ZTO's second-quarter 2025 gross margin rate fell to 24.9% from 33.8% in the year-ago period.ZTO Express (ZTO) reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of 35 cents per share, which declined from the year-ago quarter. Total revenues of $1.65 billion improved year over year.Based on current market and operating conditions, ...

Summary of ZTO Express 2Q25 Earnings Call Company Overview - **Company**: ZTO Express (ZTO.N) - **Industry**: Transportation & Infrastructure - **Market**: Hong Kong/China Key Financial Metrics - **2Q25 Non-GAAP Net Income**: Rmb2.05 billion, down 27% YoY, compared to market expectations of Rmb2.29 billion [2] - **Operating Cash Flow**: Rmb4.5 billion in 1H25, down from Rmb5.5 billion in 1H24 [3] - **Capital Expenditures (Capex)**: Rmb3.1 billion in 1H25 [3] - **Total Revenue for 2Q25**: Rmb11.83 billion, up 10.3% YoY [9] - **Gross Profit Margin**: 24.9%, down from 33.8% YoY [9] - **Operating Profit Margin**: 20.9%, down from 30.0% YoY [9] - **Net Income**: Rmb1.94 billion reported, with a YoY decrease of 26.8% [9] Market Performance - **Market Share**: 19.5%, a slight decrease of 0.1 percentage points YoY [3] - **Parcel Volume Outlook for 2025**: Revised to 38.8-40.1 billion parcels, down from 40.8 billion, representing a growth of 14-18% YoY [3] Revenue and Cost Analysis - **Parcel Revenue Growth**: 11% YoY to Rmb11.7 billion, driven by a 16.5% YoY increase in volume [7] - **Average Selling Price (ASP)**: Core ASP decreased by 4.7% YoY [7] - **Unit Cost**: Increased by Rmb0.07 YoY, primarily due to higher KA costs [7] - **Gross Profit (GP)**: Decreased by 19% YoY, indicating higher costs than expected [7] - **Operating Profit (OP)**: Decreased by 23% YoY [7] Strategic Insights - **Management Discussion**: Focused on market outlook, competition strategy, and profitability [7] - **Interim Payout Ratio**: Remained at 40%, in line with expectations [7] - **Risks**: Potential upside from anti-involution initiatives, but full-year estimates are lower than consensus [7] Valuation and Price Target - **Current Stock Price**: US$19.74 as of August 19, 2025 [5] - **Price Target**: US$24.60, indicating a potential upside of 25% [5] - **Market Capitalization**: Rmb112.32 billion [5] - **Estimated EPS**: Expected to be Rmb10.54 for FY25 [5] Conclusion ZTO Express reported a significant decline in profits for 2Q25, leading to a downward revision of its full-year volume targets. Despite a modest revenue growth, the company faces challenges with rising costs and competitive pressures. The management's focus on strategic initiatives and market outlook will be crucial for navigating these challenges moving forward.

Company Overview - ZTO is a leading express delivery company in China, holding the 1 market share by parcel volume since 2016[12] - In 2Q25, ZTO delivered 98 billion parcels, capturing a 195% market share[12] - ZTO's network covers >99% of county-level cities in China[12] Competitive Advantages - ZTO operates 94 sorting hubs and has deployed 690 automation lines[12,69] - The company has a self-owned line-haul fleet of over 10,000 vehicles and operates approximately 3,900 line-haul routes[12] - ZTO's Network Partner Model (NPM) has increased its market share from 66% in 2011 to 73% in 2024, compared to the Direct Model[21] Financial Performance (Q2 2025) - ZTO's quarterly revenue reached RMB 11832 million, representing a 10% year-over-year growth[157] - The company's adjusted EBITDA margin was 299%[161] - Adjusted Net Income margin was 173%[166] ESG Initiatives - The company aims for a 20% reduction in GHG emissions intensity per parcel by 2028, using 2023 as the base year[120] - ZTO is increasing the proportion of women in management positions to 39% by 2030[123] - The company is actively involved in community and rural revitalization programs[123]

Key Takeaways from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **China Express** industry, specifically analyzing the performance of major express delivery companies in the Asia Pacific region for **June 2025** [1] Core Insights - **Volume Growth**: - SF Express led the market with a **32% YoY volume growth**, followed by YTO at **19% YoY**. - Both STO and Yunda experienced lower growth rates at **11%** and **7% YoY**, respectively, resulting in a loss of market share of **0.5ppt** and **1.0ppt** [2] - **Revenue Performance**: - SF Express achieved a **14% YoY revenue growth**, outperforming YTO and STO, which recorded **11%** and **10% YoY growth**, respectively. - Yunda's revenue growth slowed significantly to **3% YoY**, down from **9% YoY** for the industry, marking a decline from **7% YoY** in May [3] - **Average Selling Price (ASP)**: - SF's ASP decreased by **13% YoY**, while YTO, Yunda, and STO saw decreases of **7%**, **4%**, and **1%**, respectively. - On a month-over-month basis, SF and STO's ASPs improved by **4%** and **2%**, while YTO and Yunda's ASPs fell to new lows in 2025 [4] Financial Metrics - **June 2025 Financials**: - SF Express: Revenue of **Rmb 19,962 million**, YoY growth of **14.2%**, volume of **1,460 million**, YoY growth of **31.8%**, ASP of **Rmb 13.67** [5] - Yunda: Revenue of **Rmb 4,149 million**, YoY growth of **2.8%**, volume of **2,173 million**, YoY growth of **7.4%**, ASP of **Rmb 1.91** [5] - STO: Revenue of **Rmb 4,341 million**, YoY growth of **10.1%**, volume of **2,184 million**, YoY growth of **11.1%**, ASP of **Rmb 1.99** [5] - YTO: Revenue of **Rmb 5,527 million**, YoY growth of **11.4%**, volume of **2,627 million**, YoY growth of **19.3%**, ASP of **Rmb 2.10** [5] Market Share Dynamics - SF Express's market share increased by **1.1ppt** to **8.7%**, while Yunda's market share decreased by **1.0ppt** to **12.9%**. - STO's market share remained stable at **12.9%**, and YTO's increased by **0.5ppt** to **15.6%** [5] Strategic Insights - SF Express's strong performance is attributed to robust intra-city delivery demand and the implementation of the "Activating Operations" strategy. - The company achieved **10% YoY revenue growth in 1H25**, aligning with its guidance [12] Additional Observations - The report indicates that ZTO and YTO gained a total of **0.7ppt** in market share in **2Q25**, compared to a **0.4ppt** drop in **1Q25**, suggesting a trend of accelerated segment consolidation [12] Conclusion - The express delivery industry in China is experiencing significant shifts, with SF Express maintaining a strong lead in both volume and revenue growth, while Yunda faces challenges in sustaining its market position. The overall market dynamics indicate a consolidation trend among the major players, which could present both opportunities and risks for investors in the sector.

Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to J&T, STO, ZTO, and YTO, while Yunda is rated as "Sell" [5]. Core Viewpoints - The report suggests that pricing dynamics in China's parcel industry are stabilizing, with expectations of a 12% earnings CAGR for the sector from 2024 to 2027, driven by a 14% volume CAGR and a 3% annual drop in average selling price (ASP) [2][8]. - Smaller companies like J&T and STO are expected to outperform larger competitors in terms of market share and margin expansion due to their cheaper offerings and operational leverage [2][4]. Summary by Sections Pricing Dynamics - Delivery prices are believed to have bottomed out, with many franchisees reporting losses and expecting price hikes in the latter half of the year [3][11]. - The average ASP for Tongda companies fell approximately 7% year-over-year from January to May, but a stabilization is anticipated [8][11]. Earnings Forecasts - The report forecasts significant earnings growth for J&T and STO, with expected EPS CAGRs of 92% and 15% respectively from 2024 to 2027 [2][4]. - Adjustments to earnings estimates for 2025-2027 reflect a reduction of 0%-54% across Tongda companies, primarily due to pricing pressures [4]. Market Share and Competitive Landscape - J&T and STO are projected to gain a total of 4 percentage points in market share from 2025 to 2027, while other Tongda companies are expected to lose 2 percentage points [4][8]. - The report indicates that lower-tier firms are likely to capture more market share as they improve unit economics and pricing strategies [8][94]. Valuation Insights - Current PE multiples for J&T and STO are considered undervalued at 9x and 12x for 2026E, respectively, compared to the expected industry average of 15x [2][5]. - The report highlights that Tongda firms are trading near historical lows, suggesting that a stabilizing pricing environment could lead to a re-rating of multiples [8][110]. Demand Drivers - The parcel volume in China is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% from 2024 to 2029, driven by consumption downtrading and government initiatives to stimulate domestic consumption [62][84]. - The report anticipates a 16.5% year-over-year growth in parcel volume for the current year, with strong growth momentum continuing [62][63].

Core Insights - FedEx is facing challenges but is at the bottom of its decline as its turnaround and optimization strategy gains traction [1] - The planned spin-off of the freight segment is progressing well, with increasing package volume in the core Express segment and improved profitability [2] - The company has a robust capital return outlook, trading at a low valuation with a reliable dividend yield [3] Financial Performance - In fiscal Q4 2025, FedEx reported revenue of $22.2 billion, a 0.5% increase year-over-year, driven by the core Express segment [5] - The Freight segment saw a 3.8% decline, representing about 10% of total business [5] - The company achieved $2.2 billion in DRIVE-related savings and a 5.2% increase in operating income, with adjusted earnings of $6.07, up 12% year-over-year [6] Guidance and Market Sentiment - FedEx issued mixed guidance for Q2, forecasting flat to 2% revenue growth but a weaker earnings forecast of $3.70, which is $0.35 below consensus [7] - Despite the weak earnings forecast, growth is expected to accelerate compared to revenue, with capital return remaining safe [8] - Analysts have mixed responses to FedEx's Q4 results, with a 12-month stock price forecast averaging $285.75, indicating a potential upside of 28.68% [10] Shareholder Returns - FedEx has consistently increased its dividend payments, with a payout ratio suggesting sustainable double-digit growth [4] - Share buybacks have reduced the share count by 4.5% in F2025, enhancing per-share distribution [4] - Institutions own about 85% of FedEx stock, providing a strong support base as they continue to buy [11]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for integrated players such as SF Holding, JD Logistics (JDL), and the leader ZTO, while adopting a "Neutral" rating for others like STO, Yunda, and J&T, and a "Sell" rating for YTO and Sinotrans-A/H [7][21]. Core Insights - The express delivery sector in China is experiencing intense price competition, leading to a decline in average selling prices (ASPs) and profitability across franchise-based players, while integrated logistics providers show resilience [1][21]. - The report revises the expected industry volume growth for 2025E from 18% to 20% year-on-year, driven by a shift towards lightweight and small parcels, and the growth of emerging eCommerce platforms [2][21]. - The report highlights that the competitive landscape will depend on strategic adjustments by incumbents and potential policy interventions to stabilize pricing [1][21]. Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The express delivery sector concluded 1Q25 with a 22% year-on-year volume growth but faced a 6-10% decline in ASPs across major players [21][22]. - The ongoing price competition is attributed to a trade-down trend in eCommerce goods and the need for express players to maintain capacity utilization [22][23]. Financial Performance - The report indicates that the group operating profit for Tongda players is expected to decline by approximately 12% year-on-year in 2025E, with SF being the only player projected to see double-digit profit growth [6][7]. - Adjusted net profit forecasts for franchise-based players are revised downwards by 9% to 19% below Bloomberg consensus [7][21]. Company-Specific Insights - SF Holding is noted for its strong performance, with a 20% year-on-year EBIT growth in 1Q25, benefiting from cost optimization and a diversified revenue stream [1][40]. - ZTO is highlighted as the only Buy-rated franchise-based express delivery name, expected to stabilize its market share despite near-term earnings weakness [7][21]. - Yunda and YTO are projected to experience low-to-mid teens year-on-year profit declines, while STO and J&T China are expected to see flat earnings [6][7]. Market Dynamics - The report anticipates continued competition in 2Q-3Q25, with potential for strategic adjustments or industry consolidation to mitigate pricing pressures [1][21]. - The ASP for express delivery services is forecasted to decline by 6% to 8% across major players in 2Q25E, reflecting a slightly easier base compared to 1Q [22][23]. Volume and Revenue Estimates - The report raises the industry volume estimate for 2025E to 20% year-on-year, factoring in strong growth momentum and a shift in parcel mix [2][21]. - Revenue estimates for ZTO are cut by 6% due to less-than-expected impacts from gross revenue bookings, while Yunda and YTO see slight revenue increases [2][6]. Valuation - The report continues to value China express delivery companies based on a 1-year forward EV/EBITDA multiple, which remains unchanged at an average of 7X [13][15].

Core Insights - ZTO Express reported first-quarter 2025 earnings of 37 cents per share, matching the previous year's quarter, while total revenues of $1.50 billion fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.67 billion but showed year-over-year improvement [1] Financial Performance - The core express delivery business revenue increased by 9.8% year over year, driven by a 19.1% growth in parcel volume, despite a 7.8% decrease in parcel unit price [3] - Adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.3 billion, with retail volume increasing by 46% year over year [2] - Gross profit decreased by 10.4% from the year-ago quarter, with gross margin falling to 24.7% from 30.1% [4] Operational Highlights - ZTO achieved a parcel volume of 8.5 billion during the first quarter [2] - KA revenues, generated by direct sales organizations, surged by 129.3%, attributed to an increase in e-commerce return parcels [3] - Revenue from freight forwarding services declined by 11.6% year over year due to falling cross-border e-commerce pricing [3] Cash and Share Repurchase Program - As of the end of the first quarter, ZTO had cash and cash equivalents of $1.71 billion, down from $1.84 billion at the end of the previous quarter [5] - The board approved an increase in the share repurchase program to $2 billion, extending the effective period through June 30, 2025 [5][6] Guidance - ZTO reaffirms its 2025 parcel volume guidance of 40.8 billion to 42.2 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 20-24% [7]

Core Insights - ZTO Express reported a 19.1% year-over-year increase in parcel volume, reaching 8.5 billion parcels in Q1 2025, while adjusted net income grew by 1.6% to RMB2.3 billion [1][6][7] - The company reiterated its annual volume guidance, expecting a growth of 20% to 24% for 2025 [1][26] Financial Highlights - Total revenues for Q1 2025 were RMB10,891.5 million (US$1,500.9 million), a 9.4% increase from RMB9,960.0 million in Q1 2024 [7][9] - Gross profit decreased by 10.4% to RMB2,689.2 million (US$370.6 million), resulting in a gross margin of 24.7% compared to 30.1% in the same period last year [14][19] - Net income increased by 40.9% to RMB2,039.2 million (US$281.0 million) from RMB1,447.7 million in Q1 2024 [19][20] Operational Highlights - Retail volume surged by 46% year-over-year, driven by deeper penetration into reverse logistics and collaboration with e-commerce platforms [6] - The number of pickup/delivery outlets exceeded 31,000, with approximately 6,000 direct network partners and over 10,000 self-owned line-haul vehicles as of March 31, 2025 [7][9] Cost Structure - Total cost of revenues increased by 17.9% to RMB8,202.2 million (US$1,130.3 million) [10] - Line-haul transportation costs rose by 3.3% to RMB3,483.1 million (US$480.0 million), while sorting hub operating costs increased by 6.8% to RMB2,314.6 million (US$319.0 million) [11][12] Share Repurchase Program - The company has extended its share repurchase program to June 30, 2026, with a total of US$2.0 billion authorized for repurchase [24][25] Business Outlook - ZTO Express maintains its parcel volume guidance for 2025 at 40.8 billion to 42.2 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 20% to 24% [26]