闻泰科技(600745) Wingtech announced its preliminary FY24 results. The company expects a netloss to be around RMB3.5-4.55bn (vs. RMB1.1bn NP in FY23). Mgmt. attributedthe NL primarily to 1) impairment related to the sale of ODM business announcedin Dec (link), 2) a write-down on deferred tax assets, and 3) further goodwillimpairments (RMB600mn/RMB500mn in 2022/23, with RMB200mn to be fullyimpaired in 2024). Despite short-term financial setbacks, we believe Wingtech isbetter-positioned for LT value creation as it moves forward with a lighter load asit transforms itself to a predominately semiconductor-focused company. MaintainBUY with TP unchanged at RMB52. Net loss in FY24 due to one-off impairments from ODM spin-off. PerCounterpoint, the top three ODM players (Longcheer, Huaqin, Wingtech)accounted for 75% of total market in 1H24 in China. Wingtech ranked thirdwith 17% share, down 3ppts vs. 1H23. Despite a challenging 1H24, its ODMbusiness continued to improve in 4Q (after +46%/15% YoY/QoQ in 3Q), witha record revenue (est. double-digit YoY and single-digit QoQ). Excluding theimpairments (ODM business spin-off, write-down on DTA, and goodwill), thesegment turned profitable in 4Q as mgmt. expected. However, ODM is a lowmargin business, with the top three ODM players in China seeing <3% NPMon average in 9M24. We see No.2 player Huaqin (603296 CH, NR) is activelydiversifying its business portfolio towards higher-margin opportunities(recently acquired 75% of HCTRobot). We believe Wingtech is betterpositioned now as it moves forward with a lighter load. Semi business continued to show resilience amid seasonal slowdown.Semi business revenue grew sequentially in FY24 (2Q/3Q: 10/15% QoQ).While 4Q24 sales faced seasonal softness, the business still recorded singledigit YoY (~7%) and flattish QoQ growth, driven by strong demand inconsumer, data center, and auto sectors. Notably, China contributed ~40%of total semi revenue, offsetting weakness overseas resulting from continuedinventory correction. 4Q GPM was near 2Q level (1Q/2Q/3Q: 31.0%/38.7%/40.5%). Mgmt. expects overseas auto OEMs to resume restocking in2025, with auto revenue currently accounting for 60% of total semi revenue. Looking forward, we expect to see more upside in Wingtech’s valuation,lifted by 1) increasing semiconductor revenue share, 2) robust domestic autodemand with gradual recovery overseas, and 3) a re-rating opportunity givenits business transformation to being a semi-centric company. Maintain BUY,with TP unchanged at RMB52, corresponding to 24.8x FY25E P/E, basedon unchanged financial forecasts. Potential risks include heightened USChina trade relations, unfavourable exchange rates, and weaker-thanexpected overseas auto inventory correction.

     闻泰科技(600745) On December 31, 2024, Wingtech signed a “Letter of Intent for Sale” for ninewholly-owned ODM subsidiaries with Luxshare Limited in an all-cash deal. Thismove follows its recent addition to the US trade blacklist (news). According tomgmt., this transaction serves two primary purposes: (1) to align with the riskpreferences of certain ODM clients, and (2) to mitigate potential risks to itssemiconductor leg. The deal reflects a broader 2025 trend of event-driven M&Aopportunities in China's semiconductor sector amid strategic geopolitical shiftsand favourable policies, as indicated in our 2025 outlook report as a newinvestment theme (link). Maintain BUY on Wingtech, with TP unchanged atRMB52. The sale exclusively involves its Android-focused ODM business, aburden on the company’s financial performance and valuation.Together, these subsidiaries held a total asset value of RMB28.2bn as of9M24, representing 36.1% of the company’s total assets and over 50% oftotal revenue (triggering one of CSRC’s asset restructuring regulations) in3Q24. In 9M24, the ODM segment contributed ~79% of total revenue butrecorded a substantial net loss of RMB1.2bn. Wingtech will focus on its high-margin semiconductor business,Nexperia. In 9M24, semi segment generated RMB10.9bn in sales (~20%of total revenue), with GPM at 37% (RMB4bn) and NPM at 16%(RMB1.7bn), outperforming the company’s overall 9% GPM and 1% NPMduring the same period. In 2Q/3Q24, semi segment saw sequential growthof 6%/6%, driven by 1) strong domestic auto sales, recovering consumerelectronics and robust computing demand. We expect the company’s semisegment sales to grow by 11.8%/12.9% in FY25/26E, compared toBloomberg consensus of 9%/9%. Maintain BUY, with TP unchanged at RMB52, corresponding to 24.8xFY25E P/E. We expect this business transformation will lead to a highervaluation for Wingtech, as it has almost transformed into a predominatelysemi-focused company. The company currently trades at 17.7x/12.2xFY25/26E P/E, which is appealing comparing to its domestic peers thattrade at an average 25/26E P/E of 30.3x/23.8x. Potential risks include:heightened China-US trade relations, and unfavourable exchange rates.