Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, total revenue reached $6.554 billion, a 6% increase year over year [3] - EBITDA was $786 million, reflecting a 16.6% increase compared to the previous year [3] - Operating profit stood at $598 million, up 19.4% year over year [3] - Profit attributable to owners was $364 million, a 20.9% increase from last year [3] - Basic earnings per share were $2.84, also a 20.9% increase year over year [3] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Packaged meats accounted for 49.5% of total revenue and 83.8% of operating profit in Q1 2025 [4] - The pork business contributed 42.9% of revenue and 21.9% of operating profit [4] - Other businesses contributed 7.6% of revenue but incurred a loss of $34 million [4] - In North America, operating profits increased by 72.8% to $330 million [9] - In China, operating profit was $250 million, down 14.3% year over year [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In China, the average hog price was RMB 15.99 per kilogram, up 7.3% year over year [6] - In the U.S., the average hog price was $1.44 per kilogram, up 14.1% year over year [6] - In Europe, the average hog price was $1.40 per kilogram, down 11.8% year over year [7] - The number of slaughter hogs in China increased by 0.1% year over year to 195 million heads [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to consolidate global resources, improve product mix, adjust pricing, and control costs [10] - Key business priorities include improving the pork business, expanding market networks, and optimizing the business portfolio [11] - The focus remains on industrialization, diversification, internalization, and digitalization to enhance market position [10] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer demand remains soft, impacting the packaged meat business [12] - The company is implementing eight measures to return the packaged meat business to growth, including specialized sales forces and enhanced marketing efforts [14][16] - Management expects the second quarter to show recovery in packaged meat volume and profit [16] Other Important Information - The hog production business is seen as a supporting business rather than a core focus, with strategies tailored to local market conditions [42][43] - The company plans to maintain a vertical integration level of 20% to 30% in hog production, focusing on fresh pork and packaged meat as core businesses [65] Q&A Session Summary Question: Reasons for decline in China packaged meat business - Management cited soft consumer demand, destocking by distributors, and slow adaptation to market channel changes as key reasons [12][13] Question: Outlook for packaged meat business in Q2 2025 - Management expects the packaged meat business to stop declining and gradually recover in Q2, with full-year growth anticipated [16] Question: Impact of tariffs on hog prices - Management believes tariffs will have limited short-term impact on hog prices, with supply and demand balance being the primary driver [34][35] Question: Hog production improvement drivers - The improvement in hog production is driven by reduced raising costs and improved KPIs rather than hog prices [21] Question: U.S. pork business outlook - Management expects profitability in the U.S. pork business to improve in Q2 and Q3, aligning with seasonal trends [67]
WH GROUP(00288) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript