Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the retail industry [1] Core Insights - The introduction of the new heated non-combustible (HNB) products, Glo Hilo and Glo Hilo Plus, by British American Tobacco (BAT) in Japan is expected to drive growth in the HNB market, which is projected to reach a retail value of $389 billion by 2024 [4][11] - The Hilo product has received positive feedback during its trial phase, indicating a potential for rapid sales growth as it enters the broader Japanese market [10] - The global tobacco industry is nearing a trillion-dollar valuation, with new tobacco products expected to capture a larger market share as companies pivot towards harm reduction strategies [11] Industry Trends - The HNB market is anticipated to grow significantly, with BAT and other major tobacco companies increasing their focus on HNB products to facilitate a transition to smoke-free alternatives [11] - The market share for HNB products is currently dominated by Philip Morris International (71%), followed by British American Tobacco (16%) and Japan Tobacco (6%) [11] - The report suggests monitoring companies linked to BAT's HNB products, such as Smoore International, and other key players in the new tobacco product space [11] Market Performance - The report notes that the retail index increased by 4.56% during the week of June 23 to June 27, 2025, while the overall market indices also showed positive performance [12][14] - Year-to-date performance for the retail index stands at a 9.49% increase, indicating a favorable market environment for the retail sector [12][16] Company Valuation - The report includes a valuation table for various companies within the industry, highlighting their market capitalization, earnings projections, and investment ratings [18] - Notable companies such as Proya (P/E of 21), Betaini (P/E of 37), and Marubi (P/E of 48) are recommended for investment, indicating strong growth potential [18]

Core Viewpoint - The strong performance of Philip Morris International's (PMI) Q1 2025 results indicates significant growth potential for the heated tobacco product (HNB) market, which is relevant for Smoore International as a key supplier in this sector [1][2] Group 1: Company Performance - Smoore International's stock rose over 3%, currently trading at 13 HKD with a transaction volume of 73.1681 million HKD [1] - PMI's Smoke-Free Products (SFP) revenue increased by 20.4% year-on-year, with gross profit rising by 33.1% and a gross margin exceeding 70%, up by 6.7 percentage points [1] - The shipment volume for PMI's products grew by 14.4% year-on-year, with HNB, oral tobacco, and e-cigarettes increasing by 12%, 27%, and 107% respectively [1] Group 2: Market Insights - The international tobacco giants are advancing their smoke-free strategies, with PMI's Q1 performance aligning with expectations for HNB growth, particularly in the U.S. market [2] - The HNB market has substantial growth potential, with regulatory advantages over vaping products, including lower appeal to youth and easier harm reduction validation [2] - The competitive landscape for HNB is favorable due to fewer participating manufacturers, and British American Tobacco's new Glo Hilo product shows significant improvements in performance and user experience compared to both leading products and previous generations [2]