Summary of Key Points from the Expert Call on China's Ophthalmology Market Industry Overview - **Industry**: China's Ophthalmology Market - **Key Event**: Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society (CCOS) held in September 2025 Core Insights 1. **Market Dynamics**: The expert highlighted several key topics discussed during the CCOS, including the launch of new technologies and the current state of various ophthalmology segments [1][2][7] 2. **Business Pressure**: The ophthalmology segment faced significant pressure in Q3, with salary cuts and declining surgery volumes being major concerns among ophthalmologists [2][7] 3. **Refractive Surgery Trends**: - Surgery volume saw a decline in July and August after decent demand in June - Prices for refractive surgeries, particularly SMILE, are on a downward trend due to increased competition and new technology [2][10][20] 4. **Cataract Surgery**: - Q3 typically experiences low surgery volumes, exacerbated by hot weather and strict market screening controls by private hospitals [2][8] 5. **Optometry Demand**: Demand for optometry services was strong only during specific periods, such as the start of summer holidays and the new semester [2][9] Pricing and Competition 6. **Pricing Trends**: - The price of SMILE 3.0 has been reduced to RMB 9,800, while the price for SMILE 4.0 is set at RMB 16,800 but has not been firmly established in hospitals [7][10] - Public hospitals are expected to cut prices for OK lenses due to competition [20] 7. **High-End Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)**: - The market for high-end IOLs is limited, with concerns over the materials used in newer products [11][14] - Eyebright's EDOF IOL was recently approved, but its market potential remains uncertain [13] Industry Challenges 8. **Insurance Funding Control**: Tighter control over basic medical insurance (BMI) funding has been noted, with stricter requirements compared to the previous year [21] 9. **Hospital Closures**: Approximately 50% of eye hospitals have closed in recent years, with another 30% expected to close in the next three to five years [16] 10. **Competitive Landscape**: Large hospital chains are becoming more competitive, leveraging procurement advantages over smaller hospitals [17] Alcon's Acquisition of STAAR 11. **Acquisition Challenges**: Alcon's proposed acquisition of STAAR is viewed as challenging, with major shareholders expressing concerns over the low offering price [3][18] 12. **Potential Impact**: If successful, Alcon may enhance doctor training and marketing efforts for ICL, although it faces challenges in marketing compared to competitors like Carl Zeiss [19] Future Outlook 13. **Market Potential**: The potential launch of new SMILE equipment by domestic companies in 2026 could lead to significant price reductions through group purchasing organizations (GPOs) [22] 14. **Regulatory Risks**: The healthcare industry faces risks including unexpected price cuts from GPO programs, intensified competition, and stricter regulatory measures [24] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the expert call regarding the current state and future outlook of China's ophthalmology market, highlighting both opportunities and challenges within the industry.

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [2][17] Core Views - The company reported a significant decline in revenue and net profit for the first half of 2025, with revenue at 4.936 billion yuan, down 20.61% year-on-year, and a net profit of 10 million yuan, down 85.68% year-on-year [2][3] - The company is focusing on high-quality development with improved operating cash flow, reducing accounts receivable by 329 million yuan to 6.930 billion yuan as of mid-2025, and achieving a net operating cash flow of 278 million yuan, an increase of 199.56% year-on-year [6][3] - The company is optimistic about recovering profitability as the risks associated with COVID-19 receivables are gradually cleared [6][3] Financial Performance Summary - For 2023A, the company reported a revenue of 13.408 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of -34% [2] - The projected revenue for 2025E is 10.033 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth rate of -18% [2] - The projected net profit for 2025E is 125 million yuan, with a significant recovery expected in subsequent years [2] - The company’s gross margin for the first half of 2025 was 27.59%, a slight decline of 0.10 percentage points year-on-year [6] - The company’s net profit margin for the first half of 2025 was 1.67%, down 1.11 percentage points year-on-year [6] Business Segment Analysis - The diagnostic services revenue for the first half of 2025 was 1.715 billion yuan, down 27.38% year-on-year, while the ICL segment revenue was 1.627 billion yuan, down 26% [6] - The proportion of revenue from special inspections increased significantly, with special inspection revenue at 817 million yuan, accounting for 47.63% of total revenue [6] - The company has increased its focus on regional leading hospitals, with the proportion of revenue from tertiary hospitals rising from 41% to 49.28% [6] Future Outlook - The company expects to clear COVID-19 receivable risks and anticipates a revenue of 10.033 billion yuan in 2025, with a projected growth of 2.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027 [6] - The projected net profit for 2026E is 469 million yuan and for 2027E is 604 million yuan, indicating a strong recovery trajectory [2] - The current stock price corresponds to a P/E ratio of 81 for 2025E, 21.6 for 2026E, and 16.8 for 2027E, suggesting potential upside [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive investment outlook on innovative drugs and medical devices, highlighting them as key investment themes in the current market environment [2][4][43]. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the ongoing support from the government for innovative medical drugs and devices, particularly in the brain-computer interface (BCI) sector, which is expected to see significant advancements by 2027 and 2030 [1][51]. - The innovative drug sector remains a primary investment focus, with a recommendation to pay attention to leading pharmaceutical companies' transformation results and their opportunities for international expansion [2][43]. - The report identifies a growing interest in innovative medical devices, driven by favorable policies and a recovery in medical equipment procurement trends, suggesting a potential performance turnaround in the second half of the year [4][12]. Summary by Sections Innovative Drugs - The innovative drug sector is highlighted as a key investment line, with a focus on potential blockbuster drugs and collaborations for innovative drug development [2][43]. - The report notes that after multiple rounds of generic drug procurement, risks for leading pharmaceutical companies are gradually being alleviated, revealing competitive innovative drug pipelines [2][43]. Biological Products - Anke Biotech's subsidiary has received approval for a shingles mRNA vaccine, indicating progress in the mRNA drug development space [2][45]. - The report suggests continued monitoring of Anke Biotech's collaboration with its subsidiary and the advancements in mRNA drug development [2][50]. Medical Devices - The report discusses the government's support for the BCI industry, which is expected to accelerate commercialization and product development [1][3]. - It highlights the recovery trend in medical device procurement and the increasing market share of leading companies, indicating a strong performance outlook for the sector [4][12]. Traditional Chinese Medicine - Some traditional Chinese medicine companies are in a good cash flow position and are expected to see growth through innovative product pipelines and strategic investments [3][19]. Medical Services and Consumer Healthcare - The report notes a series of positive earnings announcements from high-growth stocks in the medical services sector, indicating a robust growth outlook [3][4].