2025-09-28 14:57Summary of Zhongsheng Holdings Conference Call Company Overview - Company: Zhongsheng Holdings - Date: September 26, 2025 Industry Insights - Impact of Price Wars: Traditional brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and Toyota are experiencing increased losses due to price wars. However, there are signs of recovery in industry discount rates, with the average price drop for domestic passenger cars in August rising by 0.1% to 20.2% compared to the previous month, which may improve Zhongsheng's new car business margins [2][4]. Key Points - New Car Business Performance: - New car sales in the first half of the year were approximately 210,000 units, a year-on-year decrease of 5%. - The gross margin per vehicle was negative 11,300 yuan, worsening from negative 8,900 yuan in the previous year [4]. - The company expects an improvement in new car business margins due to a faster payment schedule from dealers and a decrease in fuel vehicle discount rates [4][2]. - Huawei Seres Brand Development: - Zhongsheng has established 36 stores for the Seres brand, achieving a market share of 8%. - In major cities, the market share reaches 18%, double the national average. - Although sales were only about 20,000 units in the first half, growth in sales and profitability is anticipated as the store ramp-up phase concludes [5][2]. - After-sales Maintenance and Services: - The after-sales maintenance business is performing robustly, with approximately 8 million visits annually, and 4 million visits in the first half of the year. - The average gross profit per visit is around 1,580 yuan, maintaining a gross margin of about 47%. - This segment has not been negatively impacted by the decline in new car sales and contributed 6.3 billion yuan in gross profit in the first half, accounting for a significant portion of the total gross profit of 4.2 billion yuan [6][2]. - Profit Forecast: - The company expects a total profit of approximately 3 billion yuan for the year, with significant improvement in the second half. - Profits are projected to approach 4 billion yuan next year. The current valuation is around 10 times earnings, expected to drop below 8 times next year, coupled with a high dividend yield, indicating strong value [7][2]. Risks - Key Risks: - The main risks facing Zhongsheng include lower-than-expected automotive consumption and significant increases in raw material prices, which could adversely affect the company's performance [3][8]. Additional Insights - Market Trends: The penetration rate of new energy vehicles is high, but the existing stock remains low, limiting the impact on after-sales maintenance services. The company's focus on major cities is expected to drive overall growth due to favorable foot traffic trends [6][2].