ZTO EXPRESS(ZTO)2023-11-17 06:43Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2023, ZTO's parcel volume increased by 18.1% to 7.52 billion, with an adjusted net profit of RMB2.34 billion, representing a 25% year-over-year growth [4][5][15] - Total revenue rose by 1.5% to RMB9.1 billion, while the average selling price (ASP) for the core express delivery business decreased by 13.5% [15][16] - Gross profit increased by 10.7% to RMB2.7 billion, with a gross profit margin of 29.8% [16][17] - Operating cash flow was RMB2.94 billion, and EBITDA was RMB3.45 billion [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total cost of revenue was RMB6.4 billion, which decreased by 2%, while the combined unit cost of sorting and transportation decreased by 11% [15][16] - The unit cost of line haul transportation decreased by 11.4% to RMB0.43, and unit sorting costs decreased by 10.4% to RMB0.25 [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - ZTO's market share rose slightly by 0.3 points to 22.4% [15] - The express delivery industry in China grew by 16.7% year-over-year [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - ZTO aims to maintain high service quality while focusing on long-term growth and operational effectiveness [5][12] - The company plans to enhance its network foundation, expand product offerings, and improve operational efficiency through digitization [9][10] - ZTO is committed to diversifying its services, including increasing non-e-commerce volume and enhancing last-mile delivery capabilities [10][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the competitive landscape and emphasized the importance of maintaining service quality and customer satisfaction to capture market share [22][23] - The company is optimistic about achieving a parcel volume of 29.27 billion to 30.24 billion for 2023, representing a 20% to 24% increase year-over-year [18] Other Important Information - During the Double 11 shopping festival, ZTO achieved a peak daily parcel volume of over 160 million [11] - The company is focused on improving reverse logistics capabilities and expanding last-mile facilities [40][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the competition strategy for 2024? - ZTO will continue to focus on long-term growth, maintaining a balance between profitability and market share, and will not engage in loss-making businesses [22][23] Question: What is the visibility on dividend payout? - ZTO intends to increase the dividend payout ratio gradually as the business operates optimally and generates healthy free cash flow [24] Question: How does ZTO view the competitive landscape moving forward? - ZTO believes that maintaining high-quality services and operational efficiency will strengthen its market position despite competitive pressures [28][30] Question: What is the current state of reverse logistics and last-mile facilities? - ZTO is actively improving its reverse logistics capabilities and currently operates over 10,000 last-mile facilities, with plans for further expansion [40][41]