Investment Ratings - The report provides a positive outlook on the new tobacco industry, indicating a steady upward trend, while the home furnishing and packaging sectors are stabilizing at the bottom [6][11][15]. Core Insights - The report highlights the marketing strategies around the Spring Festival and Valentine's Day for trendy toys, with companies like Pop Mart and Blok launching limited series to enhance IP value and collectability [7][8]. - In the new tobacco sector, the necessity for domestic development is emphasized, with major players increasing investments in heated tobacco products (HNB) and innovative marketing strategies [11][12]. - The home furnishing market is experiencing a contraction in sales, with significant declines in both new and second-hand property transactions, but there are signs of potential recovery driven by policy support [13][14]. - The packaging industry is expected to benefit from a steady recovery in downstream demand, supported by growth in consumer goods sectors [15][16]. - The pet food industry is facing increased competition, leading to higher sales expense ratios, but listed companies are leveraging their financial advantages for mergers and acquisitions [21]. Summary by Sections Trendy Toys - Focus on marketing strategies for key holidays, with companies like Pop Mart and Blok launching special editions to enhance brand value [7]. - The integration of AI in toys is gaining traction, with companies like Kid King and JD.com developing AI products to meet family needs [8][9]. New Tobacco - The report notes a projected decline in electronic cigarette exports, with a focus on the need for innovation in the domestic market [11]. - Major tobacco companies are increasing their investments in HNB products, indicating a significant growth potential in this segment [12]. Home Furnishing - The report indicates a significant drop in property transactions, with new home sales down 29.23% year-on-year and second-hand home sales down 8.94% [13]. - Despite current challenges, there is optimism for recovery in the home furnishing sector due to supportive policies [14]. Packaging - The packaging sector is expected to see a recovery in demand, with growth in consumer goods contributing positively to the industry [15][16]. - The report highlights price fluctuations in raw materials, particularly in the paper and aluminum sectors, which could impact packaging costs [15]. Pet Food - Increased competition in the pet food industry is leading to higher sales expenses, but established companies are positioned to benefit from consolidation opportunities [21]. - The report suggests focusing on companies with strong brand recognition and those actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions [21].

Core Viewpoint - The company demonstrates strong confidence in its future development by repurchasing 8.14 million shares at an average price of 12.26 HKD per share, totaling 99.77 million HKD [1] Business Analysis - The Hilo product's capabilities are being validated, with British American Tobacco (BAT) increasing promotional efforts. In the Japanese market, BAT is actively promoting online and offline marketing activities, achieving a retention rate of approximately 50% among traditional cigarette and heated tobacco consumers, which supports the strong product performance of Hilo [1] - Hilo has significantly increased promotional offers in the Polish market, with Hilo devices bundled with two packs of cartridges priced at only 1 Zloty, and Hilo Plus devices with two packs at 79 Zloty. This strategy, supported by BAT's extensive sales network and marketing resources, is expected to drive continued sales growth of Hilo cartridges, contributing to core profit increments for the company [1] - The core vaping business is recovering and is expected to benefit from the expansion of the European and American markets. In 2024, U.S. regulatory authorities are intensifying efforts against illegal e-cigarettes, which is severely squeezing the market for illegal products. The FDA has cautiously supported the expansion of flavored tobacco, indicating a potential for continued market growth [2] - The European market is transitioning from disposable to refillable and open-system products, with BAT's U.S. market revenue expected to rebound in the second half of 2025. The global core market share is projected to increase by 0.1 percentage points by the end of 2024, with the U.S. market alone expected to grow by 0.7 percentage points [2] - BAT plans to accelerate the global promotion of Hilo by 2026 to capture market share across various segments of heated tobacco, amidst increasing competition from products like IQOS and heated tobacco from Japan. The long-term trend of increasing penetration of new tobacco products overseas is confirmed, with the company leveraging its technological strength and production capacity to maintain a prominent position in the industry [2] - The upward trend in the company's vaping and heated non-burn (HNB) businesses remains unchanged, with positive signals emerging across various operations, suggesting a need for active attention [2] Profit Forecast, Valuation, and Rating - The company forecasts EPS for 2025, 2026, and 2027 to be 0.22, 0.37, and 0.59 CNY respectively, with current stock prices corresponding to PE ratios of 53, 31, and 20 times, maintaining a "buy" rating [3]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the report is that Smoore International (06969) is positioned to benefit from the expansion of the compliant vaping market in Europe and the US, supported by its strong technological capabilities and production capacity [1] - The company has announced a share buyback of 8.14 million shares at an average price of HKD 12.26, totaling HKD 99.77 million, reflecting confidence in its future development [1] Group 2 - Hilo's product strength is being validated, with British American Tobacco (BAT) increasing promotional efforts, leading to a retention rate of approximately 50% among traditional cigarette and heated tobacco consumers [2] - Hilo's sales are expected to increase significantly due to BAT's extensive sales network and marketing resources, contributing to Smoore's core profit growth [2] Group 3 - The core vaping business is recovering and is expected to benefit from the expansion of the compliant market in Europe and the US, with the FDA cautiously supporting the expansion of flavored tobacco products [3] - BAT anticipates that the US market will not hinder the overall growth of new tobacco business revenue, with a projected market share increase of 0.7 percentage points in the US by the end of 2024 [3] Group 4 - The company is projected to have earnings per share (EPS) of 0.22, 0.37, and 0.59 yuan for the years 2025 to 2027, with corresponding price-to-earnings (PE) ratios of 53, 31, and 20 times [4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, expecting a price increase of over 15% in the next 6-12 months [5]. Core Views - The company demonstrates confidence in its future development by repurchasing 8.14 million shares at an average price of 12.26 HKD, totaling 99.77 million HKD [2]. - The Hilo product line is gaining traction, with strong promotional efforts from British American Tobacco (BAT) leading to a 50% retention rate among traditional and heated tobacco consumers, which supports future sales growth [3]. - The core vaping business is recovering, benefiting from regulatory crackdowns on illegal e-cigarettes in the U.S. and a shift in European markets towards compliant products. BAT expects revenue recovery in the U.S. market by the second half of 2025, with a projected market share increase [4]. - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on the expanding compliant vaping market in Europe and the U.S., with a focus on accelerating the global promotion of Hilo products by 2026 [4]. Financial Summary - The company’s projected earnings per share (EPS) for 2025-2027 are 0.22, 0.37, and 0.59 CNY, respectively, with corresponding price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios of 53, 31, and 20 [5]. - Revenue is expected to grow from 11,168 million CNY in 2023 to 20,462 million CNY by 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 20.48% [10]. - The net profit is projected to recover from 1,303 million CNY in 2024 to 3,656 million CNY by 2027, indicating a significant growth trajectory [10].

Investment Rating - Industry rating is maintained as "Outperform the Market" [7] Core Insights - PMI reported a strong performance in the third quarter of 2025, with revenue reaching $30.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.5%, and gross profit of $20.5 billion, up 12.1% [1] - Smoore achieved record quarterly revenue of $4.197 billion in Q3 2025, marking a 27.2% year-on-year growth [3] - The strong growth in PMI's reduced-risk products, particularly Nicotine Pouches, is a key driver of performance, with shipments increasing by 25.8% year-on-year [2] - Smoore's HNB (Heated Not Burned) business has seen significant growth, supported by successful product launches in international markets [4] Summary by Sections PMI Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, PMI's revenue was $30.3 billion, with a gross profit of $20.5 billion, and an adjusted diluted EPS of $2.24, reflecting a 17.3% increase [1] - In Q3 alone, revenue was $10.8 billion, with an operating profit of $4.3 billion, showing a 16.7% increase [1] PMI Product Performance - PMI shipped 940 million cans of oral tobacco products in the first three quarters, a 25.8% increase, with Q3 shipments at 313 million cans, up 20.2% [2] - Nicotine Pouches shipments reached 663 million cans in the first three quarters, a 44.0% increase [2] Smoore Financial Performance - Smoore's revenue for the first three quarters was $10.21 billion, a 21.8% increase, with adjusted profit at $1.182 billion, a slight increase of 0.1% [3] - The third quarter revenue of Smoore was a record $4.197 billion, with adjusted profit of $444 million, reflecting a 4.0% year-on-year growth [3] Smoore Product Performance - Smoore's HNB and e-cigarette businesses showed healthy growth, with strategic support for clients leading to increased product launches and compliance with regulations [4] - The introduction of new products and localized marketing efforts have contributed to the growth of Smoore's proprietary brand business [4] Regulatory Environment - Customs authorities in Ningbo and Huangpu seized 265,140 boxes of infringing "ZYN" products, which is expected to strengthen the legitimate supply chain and benefit the compliant oral tobacco industry [5]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" [2] Core Viewpoints - The report highlights that British American Tobacco's (BAT) new tobacco products are showing signs of profitability recovery, particularly the HNB product Hilo, which is expected to drive future earnings growth [2][3] - For the first half of 2025, BAT reported revenues of £12.069 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.2%, but a 1.8% increase when adjusted for fixed exchange rates. New tobacco product revenues remained stable at £1.651 billion, accounting for 13.7% of total revenue [2][3] - The adjusted gross margin for new tobacco products increased by 2.5 percentage points to 59.6%, which is 10 percentage points higher than traditional cigarettes, indicating a potential for continued profitability improvement [2][3] Summary by Sections Revenue Performance - In H1 2025, BAT's revenue from new tobacco products was £1.651 billion, with a stable year-on-year performance and a 2.4% increase when adjusted for fixed exchange rates. This segment accounted for 13.7% of total revenue, up 0.3 percentage points year-on-year [2] - The overall tobacco market is expected to see a 2% decline in sales volume globally in 2025, while BAT anticipates its own growth to be between 1% and 2%, with new tobacco products expected to achieve mid-single-digit growth [2] Product Performance - The vaping segment saw revenues of £740 million in H1 2025, down 15.3% year-on-year, with a volume of 250 million units sold, a decrease of 12.9%. The decline in the US was attributed to illegal disposable products and inventory disruptions, while the European market is recovering due to improved regulatory conditions [2][3] - The HNB segment generated £440 million in revenue, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.8%. Sales volume was 10.1 billion units, up 1.6%. The APMEA region showed an 8.7% increase in HNB sales, driven by significant contributions from Japan and Kazakhstan [3] - The oral tobacco segment experienced a revenue increase of 38.1% year-on-year, reaching £470 million, with a global market share increase of 4.4 percentage points. The US market saw a remarkable revenue growth of 372% year-on-year, driven by the successful nationwide launch of Velo Plus [4] Market Outlook - The report emphasizes the potential for HNB products to continue driving growth, with a focus on product iteration and market expansion. Key companies to watch include Smoore International, China National Tobacco Corporation, and core suppliers like Xianhe Co. and Yingqu Technology [4]

Summary of Smoore International and the E-Cigarette Industry Update Company and Industry Overview - **Company**: Smoore International - **Industry**: E-Cigarette and Vapor Products Key Points and Arguments 1. **Revenue Performance**: Smoore International reported an 18% year-on-year increase in revenue for the first half of 2025, with both ODM business and free brand business showing strong growth, particularly among small clients [2][5] 2. **U.S. Market Recovery**: The enforcement of regulations against non-compliant disposable e-cigarettes in the U.S. is expected to clear the market of non-compliant products, creating a better environment for compliant products and aiding Smoore's business recovery [3][7] 3. **European Market Changes**: The implementation of a ban on disposable e-cigarettes in Europe starting June 1, 2025, is anticipated to increase the market share of compliant products, which is favorable for Smoore in the long term [4][7] 4. **Profit Decline Factors**: Smoore's profit decreased by 21% to 35% in the first half of 2025, primarily due to increased equity incentive costs and legal-related expenses, with equity incentive costs expected to rise by over 300 million yuan for the year [5][12] 5. **New Product Trials in Japan**: The new product Hilo, developed in collaboration with British American Tobacco, has shown optimistic trial results in Sendai, Japan, with a high user satisfaction rate and a significant conversion rate from traditional smokers [6][7] 6. **Future Growth Trends**: The HNB (Heat-Not-Burn) market is expected to grow, with favorable conditions in the U.S. and Europe, and successful product trials in Japan indicating a positive outlook for Smoore's future [7][10] 7. **Impact of Tariffs on Indonesian Factory**: The tariff issues related to the Indonesian factory are expected to have a limited impact on overall performance due to high product markup and low unit prices, as the products are considered addictive consumer goods [8][12] 8. **Sales Performance in Japan**: The overall sales situation in Japan is optimistic, with expectations of meeting annual performance guidance despite 2025 not being a high-profit year [9][10] 9. **Traditional E-Cigarette Market Trends**: The traditional e-cigarette market in the U.S. and Europe is showing marginal improvement, indicating a positive trend in both policy and operational aspects [10][12] 10. **THC and Medical Aesthetics Growth**: The THC vaporization products are stabilizing, and related fields such as medical aesthetics are showing promising growth prospects, potentially providing new growth opportunities for Smoore [11][12] Additional Important Insights - **Stock Volatility and Investment Value**: Despite lower profits in 2025, Smoore's long-term investment value remains significant, warranting close attention from investors [12]