Margin headwinds persist from business model transition; Maintain HOLD

卓胜微(300782)
    Maxscend released2Q25results.Revenue was RMB948mn in2Q25,up25%QoQ from a low base in1Q but down13%YoY,reflecting continued softness inend-market demand and intensified competition.During the period,GPM fell to27%(-4ppt/-14ppt vs.1Q25/2Q24)in2Q25,missing BBG consensus estimatesof34%,due to1)ongoing price pressure,2)impact from depreciation,and3)lower-than-expected fab utilization.Net loss widened to RMB101mn in2Q(NLM:-11%)from-RMB47mn in1Q(NLM:-6%).We cut our2025/26E revenueforecasts by21%/22%to reflect weaker-than-expected demand and persistentpricing pressure.We also lower GPM projections by9ppts/7ppts to32%/37%in2025/26E,factoring in near-term margin headwinds from elevated depreciation.Maintain HOLD with TP of RMB81.5.
    Revenue declined on soft demand,while product developmentprogress stayed intact.China’s smartphone shipment grew3.3%YoY in1Q25on government subsidies but decreased4%/4%YoY/QoQ in2Q asdemand fell.The weak recovery in market demand(2025smartphoneshipment to grow by0.6%/1.9%YoY,per IDC/Counterpoint)and slower-than-expected industry consolidation weighed on Maxscend’s performance.1H25sales dropped25%YoY,although RF modules now accounted for44%of total revenue,up from36%/42%in FY23/24.This shift demonstrates thecompany’s progress in product development(i.e.,L-PAMiD,equipped within-house MAX-SAW,reflecting a fully localized supply chain).We expectmodule revenue to exceed50%of total sales in2027E,aligning with industrymodularization and localization trends.However,without a strong reboundin demand,we expect Maxscend’s overall revenue to decrease by9%in2025E.
    Margin headwinds persist.Maxscend booked a D&A expense ofRMB323mn in1H25,up22%YoY from RMB265mn in1H24.Althoughdepreciation growth may have peaked,absolute expense is expected toremain elevated in the near term as the company ramps up its12-inch IPDline(1H25capacity:5kwm).We think improved fab utilization across the6-inch and12-inch lines should help ease margin pressure over time.Weexpect overall GPM to be32%in2025,given ongoing margin erosion as fabramps up.
    Maintain HOLD.We see2025-26E as transitioning years for Maxscend.Ournew TP is based on45x2026E EV/EBITDA(vs.prior45x2026E P/E),slightly higher than0.5-SD below5-year historical avg.of44x,reflectingongoing business model shift toward fab-lite/IDM.While Maxscend is well-positioned in the RFFE market and China’s localization,we think its marginrecovery may take another year.Upside catalysts:stronger-than-expectedrecovery,accelerated localization.Potential downside risks:slower capacityramp-up,R&D delays.

Impressive growth amid uncertain environment

药明康德(603259)
    WuXi AppTec reported better-than-expected 1H25 results, with revenueincreasing by 20.6% YoY (including 24.2% YoY growth for continuing operations)and adj. non-IFRS net profit surging by 44.4% YoY. Revenue from continuingoperations and adj. non-IFRS net profit accounted for 47.5% and 54.4%,respectively, of our full-year forecasts, both higher than the historical ranges.WuXi AppTec delivered strong operational execution, despite ongoing macrouncertainties. As such, mgmt. raised its full-year guidance for 2025, expectingrevenue of continuing operations to grow by 13-17% (vs prior guidance of 10-15%) and adj. non-IFRS net profit margin to expand in 2025.
    Robust commercial demand drives CDMO outperformance. The robustdemand for late-stage clinical and commercial manufacturing has been a keygrowth driver for the global CXO industry in the post-COVID era. As a globalleader in the chemical drug CDMO sector, WuXi AppTec has substantiallybenefited from this trend. In 1H25, its TIDES revenue surged by 141.6% YoYthanks to faster-than-expected manufacturing capacity ramp-up. Mgmt raisedits full-year guidance for TIDEs revenue growth from 60% to 80%. Revenuefrom small molecule D&M grew by 17.5% YoY, marking a notable reboundfrom the negative growth seen in 2023/2024. In addition, the volatilities in USChina tariffs seemed to have limited impact to the Company’s first halfoperation, in our view. Despite ongoing volatility in the global macroenvironment, we believe that the sustained demand for commercial drugmanufacturing is likely to continue, supporting the growth of leading CDMOplayers like WuXi AppTec.
    Expanding global capacity to support long-term growth. As of end-1H25,WuXi AppTec’s backlog impressively grew by 37.2% YoY, with backlog ofTIDES increasing even more strongly at 48.8% YoY. The mgmt. reiteratedtheir plan to increase the Company’s peptide capacity to over 100k liters bythe end of 2025 to support the demand from both existing commercialprojects and growing pipelines. At the same time, capacity expansion effortsare underway at multiple sites, including Changzhou (China), Singapore, theUS and Switzerland. WuXi AppTec has reaffirmed its capex target of RMB7–8bn in 2025, and anticipated possible increases in capex in the coming years.
    Recovery in early-stage R&D still takes time. While revenue from earlystage R&D services showed sequential improvements in 1H25 over 2024,mgmt. viewed that a meaningful recovery in early-stage R&D demand willtake time. Early-stage R&D services contribute ~30% of the Company’s totalrevenue. The global biotech financing usually serves as an early indicator ofearly-stage R&D demand.
    Maintain BUY. We raise our DCF-based TP from RMB77.22 to RMB116.56(WACC: 9.42%, terminal growth: 2.00%; both unchanged), to factor in theupgraded guidance and the improved macro environment such as the USChina tariff. We now expect revenue from continuing operations to grow by16.0%/ 15.9%/ 15.8% YoY and adjusted non-IFRS net profit to grow by16.2%/ 17.6%/ 16.4% YoY in 2025E/ 26E/ 27E, respectively

2Q25 profit grew 19% YoY but largely on FX gains

浙江鼎力(603338)
    Zhejiang Dingli (Dingli) preannounced over the weekend the key financialfigures for 1H25. We calculate that revenue grew 1% YoY to RMB2.4bn in 2Q25,which we think is a resilient figure given the volatile tariff level during the quarter.Net profit in 2Q25 grew 19% YoY to RMB622mn, largely driven by FX gains(strong EUR and GBP) which made the results slightly better than ourexpectation. We slightly revise up our 2025E earnings forecast by 3% largely onhigher FX gains. Our TP is revised up from RMB44 to RMB48, to reflect theimproving progress on the Sino-US tariff talks. That said, we maintain ourcautious stance on Dingli as we think it will take time for the Company to adjustits strategy (i.e. high proportion of capacity in China serving the US market).Maintain HOLD.
    1H25 key financials. Revenue grew 12% YoY to RMB4.3bn. Net profit grew27% YoY to RMB1.05bn, which accounted for 55% of our new full-year netprofit forecast.
    Valuation. We revise up our TP from RMB44 to RMB48, based on 12.8x2025E P/E (up from 12x previously) which is derived from 0.5SD (1.0SDpreviously) below the three-year average P/E of 13.5x. Our narrowed targetdiscount is to reflect the improving progress on the Sino-US tariff talks.
    Upside risks: (1) Substantial reduction of proposed tariffs on China; (2)stronger-than-expected demand in other countries that offsets theweakness in the US.
    Downside risks: (1) Further increase in tariffs in the US; (2) furtherintensified competition in China’s AWP market; (3) weakness of overseasdemand.

2Q earnings reinforce AI infrastructure spend momentum

中际旭创(300308)
    Innolight announced1H25preliminary earnings.1H25NP is guided to beRMB3.6bn-RMB4.4bn,up53%-87%YoY.2Q NP alone is estimated to beRMB2.0bn-RMB2.8bn,up50%-107%YoY/27%-78%QoQ.2Q NP beatBloomberg consensus of RMB1.9bn by9%-52%.According to the company,thestrong results were driven by1)robust topline growth on sustained AI demand(report)and2)margin increases due to a favorable product mix(highercontribution from800G and silicon photonics products)and yield improvement.Reiterate BUY with TP raised to RMB225.
    Sequential revenue growth in recent quarters driven by robust AIinfrastructure spend.Innolight's revenue grew by38%YoY/2%QoQ in1Q.We expect2Q NP to grow QoQ again,driven by1)strong capex fromoverseas CSPs and new entrants,2)strong demand for400G/800Gtransceivers from ASIC/Ethernet datacenter needs.By data rate,revenuecontribution from800G/SiPh products continues to grow.Looking ahead,mgmt.expects AI-driven demand to remain elevated through2026with800Gvolumes continuing to rise and1.6T adoption accelerating.We noticed thatEoptolink(300502CH,NR)also preannounced significant2Q NP growth of293%-386%YoY/35%-67%QoQ.In addition,FII(601138CH,NR)pre-announced2Q NP growth of48%-52%YoY/29%-32%QoQ.FII’s mgmt.highlighted that AI server sales growth exceeded60%YoY in2Q,and800Gswitch sales alone nearly tripled full-year sales in2024.BBG consensusforecasts major overseas hyperscalers'(MSFT/AMZN/GOOG/META)capexto grow by43%YoY and domestic Big Three’s(Alibaba/Tencent/Baidu)capex to grow by44%YoY in2025E.As a key beneficiary riding the AItailwind,we forecast Innolight's revenue to increase by52.5%in2025E.
    Further margin expansion on favourable product mix and better yields.With higher800G sales and incremental contribution from1.6T,we expect(3Q24/4Q24/1Q25:33.6%/35.1%/36.7%).SiPh demand is growing,offsettingthe impact of EML shortage and contributing to GPM.Innolight will provideSiPh solutions for1.6T products as well,per mgmt.,and we estimate NPM toreach a historical high in2Q while remaining at a high level going forward(CMBI est.:25%+).We expect the company's GPM to reach38.7%in2025E(vs.prev.35.3%),due to better-than-expected GPM in2Q.We have alsorevised up2025E NP to RMB9.2bn(77%YoY vs.prev.49%YoY).
    Reiterate BUY with TP raised to RMB225,based on27x2025E P/E(peers’avg.2025E P/E is28.1x),close to0.5SD above its5-yr avg.hist.forward P/E(21.8x).We have raised our revenue/NP growth forecasts to52.5%/77.3%YoY in2025on1)higher800G shipment volume,2)milderannual ASP adjustments and3)an enhanced GPM.We lift our target P/E to27x vs.prior21.5x given little impact from earlier tariffs.Key risks includeslower-than-expected shipments,geopolitical uncertainties,supply chainshortage,etc.

Strong 1H25 results underscore AI-driven strength

生益科技(600183)
    Shengyi Tech announced its1H25preliminary earnings.The companyprojected1H25NP to surge by50%-56%YoY,reaching RMB1.40bn-RMB1.45bn.2Q NP alone is estimated to be RMB836mn-RMB886mn,implying55%-64%YoY/48%-57%QoQ growth,and exceeding Bloomberg consensus ofRMB611mn by37%-45%.The strong results were driven by1)volume growth ofCCL products,2)surging PCB sales(85%-97%YoY in1H25)and3)GPMincrease from a favorable product mix.Reiterate BUY on Shengyi Tech as thecompany is one of the key beneficiaries in the global AI supply chain(report).TPis revised up to RMB41.1.
    Surging PCB sales underscore AI-driven strength.The company’s PCBsubsidiary Shengyi Electronics(688183CH,NR)also released prelim.1H25results,projecting revenue growth of85%-97%YoY to RMB3.7bn-RMB3.9bn,and NP growth of432%-471%YoY to RMB511-549mn.ShengyiElectronics has showed sequential growth in2Q.Its latest quarterly salesare estimated to be RMB2.1bn-RMB2.3bn,showing90%-111%YoY/31%-46%QoQ growth(following5%QoQ growth in1Q).2Q NP is guided to beRMB311mn-RMB349mn,with346%-401%YoY and56%-75%QoQincreases.We believe that such strong performance is supported by resilientAI-driven demand and further product mix enhancement,which togetherdrove margin expansion and earnings acceleration.
    Margin continues to improve,which may offset the rising copper costheadwinds.Shengyi Tech’s mgmt.sees GPM increase in its CCL business,driven by optimization in product structure.In addition,NPM of Shengyi’sPCB segment continues to recover,with mid-point NPM rising to15.1%in2Q25vs.12.7%/6.4%in1Q25/2Q24.Meanwhile,we have observed thatrising copper price appears to be headwinds to its PCB segment.Copperprice remains at its high level at above US$9.6k/tonne during the month.Thematerial cost pressure may sustain in our view,primarily attributable to thetariffs and growing demand from AI/data centers,auto and etc.However,wethink Shengyi Elec.will manage the impact,as it focuses on high valueproducts and has strengthened its competitiveness in the mid-to high-endmarket.
    Reiterate BUY with TP raised to RMB41.1based on30x2025E P/E(vs.30.6x prev.),close to1-SD above its5-yr hist.forward P/E.We raise ourrevenue/NP growth forecasts to39%/92%YoY in2025on higher volumesales and better GPM.We think the valuation is justified as the company isexperiencing upcycle and robust growth(revenue/NP to grow).Key risksinclude:slower-than-expected capacity ramp-up,intensified competition,geopolitical uncertainties,etc.

数智化+流水化转型，打造增长新引擎

迈瑞医疗(300760)
    迈瑞医疗于近期举行投资者日，重点介绍了公司设备业务的数智化转型及流水型业务的拓展战略，致力于构建覆盖全科室的“设备+IT+AI”和“设备+耗材”整体解决方案。核心亮点包括：1）三大产线基于IT+AI技术构建数智医疗生态。2）持续拓展业务边界，丰富流水型业务布局，为长期增长提供支撑。
    生命信息与支持业务：公司以设备为载体，通过“瑞智联”设备数据中台整合信息，构建患者数字画像，并利用AI专科智能体赋能临床诊疗。未来还有望形成辅助决策与医疗设备的反馈回环。公司的AI医疗布局主要聚焦急诊、手术和重症，启元重症大模型已在24年12月发布，预计今年可完成超30家医院的装机。25年底，公司预计将发布麻醉垂类大模型，急诊、心血管、超声和检验的专科大模型也有望在未来1-2年内陆续发布。我们认为，IT+AI业务发展周期较长，短期内难以产生实质收入贡献，但长期将进一步提升产品性能，以更优质的解决方案赋能临床，从而增强产品粘性和竞争力。
    超声业务：公司的全栈全景超声AI智能解决方案可提升检查效率和诊断质量。以Neuwa A20的妇产智能解决方案为例，可覆盖孕期全周期筛查及产前诊断，通过1）自动测量等提升检查效率，2）图像自动获取、切面质量评分等赋能质控，3）远程解决方案和AI训练模型等功能可助力基层医生能力提升。展望未来，公司的超声垂类大模型将优化扫描策略和工作流，实现智能撰写与质控。
    体外诊断业务：自动化流水线是IVD业务高端突破的尖刀，2024年全球新增装机超200套。我们预计，2025年流水线新增装机将达到约300套。完善的IVD布局支持公司的多学科流水线全面自产，因此具备成本与迭代效率优势。例如，公司有望在25-26年相继推出MT8000迭代版本和面向基层/急诊的紧凑型流水线。化学发光试剂方面，通过整合海肽生物的SEMS和高亲和力抗体开发等技术，公司加速追赶进口品牌，计划年增至少15项化学发光项目，并在心肌（如心肌长肌钙蛋白复合物）、激素（如HCG、PRL和E2/Testo/Prog）检测项目实现突破。此外，公司持续拓宽IVD领域新业务。2025年6月，全自动核酸检测一体机MN2880发布，聚焦于门急诊场景，可与血球、生化等优势项目协同。公司的临床质谱也在研发中，未来或将与流水线业务融合创新。
    新兴业务：公司流水型业务主要聚焦于介入治疗、微创治疗和IVD。介入治疗领域方面，除心血管外，公司还将在呼吸、泌尿等领域全面布局治疗设备、导航设备及相应耗材，构建泛介入治疗生态。至于微创治疗领域方面，依托腔镜系统、能量平台、手术器械研发经验，公司将布局手术机器人，剑指世界一流水平。
    维持买入评级，目标价272.90元人民币。我们认为，数智化转型将助推公司的全球高端突破，而新兴业务的高速发展将驱动业绩增长。因此，我们小幅上调公司盈利预期，并基于9年的DCF模型，上调目标价至272.90元人民币（WACC：9.2%，永续增长率：3.0%）。