Core Viewpoint - Jiangbolong experienced a quarterly loss in Q1 2024 after achieving profitability in the previous year, with total revenue of 4.256 billion yuan, a slight decline of 4.41% year-on-year, and a net profit of -152 million yuan, a dramatic drop of 139.52% year-on-year [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q1 2024, Jiangbolong's sales gross margin further decreased to 10.35%, down 8.7 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and down 14.04 percentage points year-on-year [4]. - The company reported a significant increase in revenue for 2024, reaching 17.464 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 72.48%, and a net profit of 499 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 160.24% [2]. - The gross margin for Jiangbolong's sales declined sequentially throughout 2024, with figures of 24.39%, 23.51%, 21.54%, and 19.05% for Q1 to Q4 respectively [4]. Group 2: Business Segments - Jiangbolong's consumer storage segment, which includes the Lexar brand, accounted for 58% of revenue in 2024, despite a 5.3 percentage point decline in gross margin to 15.6% due to weak demand in consumer electronics [3]. - The automotive-grade storage segment is identified as a growth area, with revenue share increasing from 7% in 2023 to 12% in 2024, and expected to exceed 15% by 2025 [5]. - The enterprise storage segment saw explosive growth, with revenue reaching 922 million yuan in 2024, a staggering year-on-year increase of 666.30%, driven by the demand for AI computing [6][7]. Group 3: Market Conditions and Challenges - The global storage chip market is facing a downturn, with significant price declines in DRAM and NAND Flash products, impacting Jiangbolong's profitability [7][8]. - Jiangbolong's inventory reached 7.814 billion yuan, with a substantial increase in inventory impairment provisions, indicating significant inventory pressure [8]. - The company is investing heavily in R&D, with expenditures of 910 million yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 53.34%, which is expected to enhance technological capabilities but also increases cash flow pressure [9]. Group 4: Strategic Outlook - Jiangbolong is focusing on establishing a foothold in the automotive-grade storage market, with collaborations with over 20 major automotive manufacturers [5]. - The company has made significant advancements in self-developed high-end products, including the successful mass production of the UFS 4.1 controller chip, which is expected to support its entry into the mid-to-high-end market [8][9]. - Despite short-term losses, Jiangbolong's breakthroughs in automotive and enterprise storage markets, along with its commitment to self-research, lay the groundwork for long-term growth [10].