6 August 2025 | 5:52PM HKT China Pet Foods (002891.SZ) Earnings review: own-brand sales target raised for domestic and overseas; Buy 002891.SZ 12m Price Target: Rmb63.00 Price: Rmb58.72 Upside: 7.3% China Pet Foods reported 2Q25 results (first take) with OP lower but sales stayed strong. In the briefing, key highlights include: 1) domestic: sales increased by 35%+ yoy mainly driven by strong Wanpy and Toptrees at 30%+/70% yoy growth in 2Q25. With better than expected momentum, the mgmt raised domestic sales ...

Summary of the China Pet Food Sector Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the **China Pet Food Sector**, discussing earnings previews and market dynamics for Q225. Key Companies Discussed 1. **Gambol** 2. **China Pet Foods (CPF)** 3. **Petpal** Core Insights and Arguments Market Performance - **Gambol** shares dropped over **15%** recently, while **China Pet Foods** fell more than **10%** due to: - **Overseas sales deceleration** attributed to tariffs, with pet food exports to the U.S. declining by **42% YoY** in April-May [2][3] - **Increased domestic competition** during the 618 festival, leading to deeper promotions and margin pressure [2] Earnings Expectations - **Gambol**: - Expected **Q225 overseas sales** to decline by **25% YoY** due to tariffs, while domestic sales are projected to grow by **30-35% YoY** [3] - Estimated **net profit** to remain flat YoY at **Rmb162 million** [3] - **China Pet Foods (CPF)**: - Anticipated **Q225 sales growth** of **13.5%**, with domestic sales up **30% YoY** and overseas sales up **10%** [4] - Projected **net profit** increase of **33% YoY** to **Rmb115 million** [4] - **Petpal**: - Expected **Q225 sales decline** of **9%**, with domestic sales down **11%** and overseas sales down **8%** due to tariffs [5] - Estimated **net profit** decrease of **11%** to **Rmb50 million** [5] Revisions and Valuations - **Gambol**: - Revenue estimates for **2025-27** revised down by **3.8-4.3%** and EPS cut by **13-14%** due to tariff uncertainties and increased promotions [6] - Price target reduced to **Rmb96.5** from **Rmb113.1**, implying a **53.5x 2025E PE** [6] - **Petpal**: - EPS for **2025-27** revised down by **6-7%** due to tariff pressures [6] - Price target lowered to **Rmb17.0** from **Rmb18.5**, implying a **30x 2025E PE** [6] Ratings - **China Pet Foods (CPF)**: Rated as **Buy** due to strong brand growth and North American capacity expansion [7] - **Gambol** and **Petpal**: Rated as **Neutral**, reflecting fair valuations and ongoing U.S. tariff uncertainty [7] Additional Important Points - Potential risks for the pet sector include: - Slower-than-expected expansion of domestic brands - Pet food safety issues - Profitability challenges due to price wars and rising raw material costs [23][24][25][26] - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring tariff impacts and competitive dynamics in the pet food market [23][24][25][26]

Investment Rating - The report upgrades Gambol from Neutral to Buy, with a revised target price (TP) of Rmb120, indicating a 25% upside from the closing price on July 10 [9][33]. Core Insights - The pet food industry is experiencing significant growth, with Gambol's domestic sales expected to rise by 32% year-on-year in 2Q25, while the overall market remains fragmented, presenting opportunities for market share gains [2][9]. - The report anticipates a 19% year-on-year growth in Gambol's topline for 2Q25, driven by strong domestic performance despite challenges in overseas markets due to tariffs [1][11]. - New product development and domestic margin expansion are critical for future growth, with Gambol's innovative product offerings expected to capture market share from long-tail brands [3][8]. Summary by Sections Company Performance - Gambol's stock price has declined by 25% since the downgrade to Neutral, but the report suggests this correction is overdone, providing a favorable entry point for investors [2]. - The company is expected to achieve a net profit (NP) growth of -2% year-on-year in 2Q25, primarily due to increased expenses related to staff incentives and new factory depreciation [1][11]. Market Dynamics - The pet food market is characterized by a trend towards premiumization, with established brands like Gambol and China Pet Foods leading in sales growth [8][13]. - The report notes that long-tail brands represent 70% of the market share, indicating a potential for consolidation as consumers increasingly focus on food quality and functionality [2][9]. Financial Projections - For 2025E, Gambol's domestic revenue is projected to grow by 34% year-on-year, with a domestic net profit margin (NPM) expansion of 1.2 percentage points [32]. - The report revises the net income estimates for covered pet food companies by 0-5% to account for tariff impacts, while maintaining a positive outlook on Gambol and China Pet Foods [9][32].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the pet food industry in China Core Insights - The pet food market in China is experiencing robust growth, with online GMV across major platforms increasing by 18% YoY in May 2025, driven by a 22% rise in volume despite a 4.3% decline in average selling price [2] - Douyin is leading the growth in the market, with a 54% YoY increase in GMV, significantly outperforming JD and Tmall [2] - The top 10 pet food brands accounted for 39.7% of the market share in May, showing an increase of 1.7 percentage points MoM and 3.2 percentage points YoY [3] Sales Trends - Gambol's online retail sales increased by 42% YoY in May, with its premium cat food brand, Fregate, surging by 147% YoY [4] - China Pet Foods (CPF) recorded an 18% YoY growth in online sales in May, with its brand Toptrees growing by 50% [5] - Petpal's core brand, Meatyway, saw a 14% YoY increase in online sales in May and a 38% YoY rise for the January–May period [5] Cost Trends - The average cost of raw materials for pet treats and staple food declined by 7% and 2% YoY, respectively, in May 2025, primarily due to lower prices for chicken, duck, and soybean meal [6] Market Share Dynamics - The market share for Myfoodie and Fregate increased by 0.5 percentage points and 1.6 percentage points YoY, respectively [4] - CPF's aggregate online sales for January–May were up 24% YoY, with Toptrees' market share increasing to 1.1% [5] Online Sales Channels - Online channels for pet food are showing significant growth, with Tmall, JD, and Douyin all contributing to the overall increase in GMV [27][29]