Core Viewpoint - The company has experienced a decline in valuation since being short-sold, with its performance lagging behind the market despite a slight increase over the past three years. The fundamentals driving the business have weakened, and the company is awaiting a valuation anchor [1]. Financial Performance - For the first half of 2025, the company reported revenue of $7.833 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.13%, and a net profit of $628 million, up 14.17%. The gross margin improved by 34 basis points to 40.3%, leading to a net profit margin of 8.17% [1]. - Earnings per share were $0.3437, with an interim dividend proposed at HKD 1.25 (approximately $0.1609), resulting in a payout ratio of 46.81% [1]. Business Segments - The electric tools segment showed robust performance, generating $7.425 billion in revenue, a 7.85% increase, accounting for 94.8% of total revenue. The two main brands, MILWAUKEE and RYOBI, contributed significantly to this growth, with MILWAUKEE sales increasing by 11.9% and RYOBI by 8.7% [2][4]. - The floor care segment saw a revenue decline of 6%, reducing its market share to 5.2%, but it remained profitable with a segment profit of $10 million [5]. Market Dynamics - The global electric tools market has shown stable but modest growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.03% from 2018 to 2023. The cordless tools segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2020 to 2025, with cordless products projected to account for 56.12% of the market by 2025 [6]. - The company has maintained a strong market presence in North America and Europe, with revenues of $5.872 billion and $1.4 billion respectively, reflecting year-on-year growth of 7.52% and 11.9% [6]. Financial Health - The company has a healthy financial position, with a debt-to-asset ratio of 52.1% and a net cash position of $1.608 billion, covering its interest-bearing debt of $1.122 billion. The average operating cash flow over the past three years has been $1.87 billion [7]. - The company has consistently returned value to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, with a total of 54 dividends paid since 2000 and a cumulative payout ratio of 38.14% [8]. Market Sentiment - Despite a general market rebound since 2022, the company's stock performance has been lackluster, with an average annual increase of only about 10%. The market is currently awaiting a catalyst for valuation recovery [8].