25 August 2025 | 3:47PM HKT China Spirits Tracker: Market sentiment recovering from low, demand still improving gradually; Moutai/Wuliangye wholesale price weakens We have recently observed market sentiment rotation to laggards as investors take a "worst is over" stance on the spirits space (ie. sequential normalization of anti-graft policy impact), with the spirits P/E gap vs. A-share P/E approaching a decade low at c.2-3x (18% premium vs. last decade average at 103%, see Exhibit 1) and Northbound fund flo ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the spirits industry or specific companies within it Core Insights - The spirits industry is currently experiencing a transition period, with companies focusing on stability, channel profits, and product quality rather than aggressive growth targets [3] - There is a noted weak trend in consumption around the Dragon Boat Festival, with only Moutai showing a slight increase in prepayment compared to the previous year [1][6] - Companies are increasingly targeting younger consumers and expanding their brand rejuvenation efforts to capture this demographic [3] Summary by Company Moutai - Moutai has introduced new promotional policies for residential and wedding banquets to stimulate demand, including cash rebates and complimentary honeymoon trips for larger events [13] - The wholesale price of original case Feitian Moutai decreased from Rmb2,165 to Rmb2,125, while unpacked Feitian Moutai's price fell from Rmb2,080 to Rmb2,060 [2][22] Wuliangye - Wuliangye's wholesale price remained stable at Rmb950, with prepayment rates in the first quarter of 2025 reported at 40%-50% [6][22] Guojiao 1573 - Guojiao 1573's wholesale price decreased from Rmb860 to Rmb855, with prepayment rates around 40%-45% [6][22] Yanghe - Yanghe reported a prepayment rate of approximately 45% and is focusing on expanding its sales network [6][8] Gujing - Gujing aims for nationwide expansion and a focus on sub-premium strategies, with a sales network covering over 70% of regions nationwide [7][8] Yingjia - Yingjia targets total sales of Rmb7.6 billion for 2025, reflecting a 3.5% year-on-year increase, and plans to improve dividend payout ratios [11][13] Market Trends - The retail sales of liquor and tobacco in China grew by 5.1% year-on-year in April 2025, indicating a gradual recovery in the market [13] - Spirits companies are focusing on improving retail sell-through, inventory destocking, and channel expansion amid industry-wide growth deceleration [13]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for Luzhou Lao Jiao Co. Ltd is Equal-weight [5] Core Insights - The company reported 1.8% sales growth and 0.4% net profit growth year-over-year in 1Q25, which aligns with estimates [8] - The dividend payout ratio increased to 65% in 2024 from 60% in 2023, with targets of 70% and 75% for 2025 and 2026 respectively [8] - The company aims for steady revenue growth in 2025, despite a challenging market environment [8] Revenue and Profitability - Mid-high end liquor sales rose 3% year-over-year, accounting for 88.4% of total liquor sales, while low-end liquor sales increased by 6% in 2024 [2] - Operating profit margin (OPM) declined by 1.0 percentage points year-over-year in 1Q25, with a narrowed gross profit margin (GPM) due to a lower product mix [2] - In 2024, OPM contracted by 0.7 percentage points, driven by a 2.8 percentage point decrease in GPM, partially offset by savings in operating expenses [2] Financial Position - Customer advances were Rmb3.1 billion in 1Q25, down from Rmb4.0 billion in 4Q24 and Rmb2.5 billion in 1Q24 [3] - The net cash position improved to Rmb31.4 billion in 1Q25 from Rmb29.0 billion in 4Q24 and Rmb21.4 billion in 1Q24 [3] - Cash from selling products decreased by 7% year-over-year in 1Q25 to Rmb9.9 billion [3] Future Projections - The company projects net profit growth of 1.7% year-over-year in 2024, which is 4% below consensus estimates [8] - The price target for the stock is set at Rmb122.00, indicating a downside of 3% from the closing price of Rmb125.36 on April 25, 2025 [5] - Earnings per share (EPS) estimates for the fiscal years ending in 2024, 2025, and 2026 are Rmb9.58, Rmb10.10, and Rmb10.74 respectively [5]