CICC Reports: CHOW TAI FOOK (01929.HK) Delivers Strong Sales Results and Upgrades Full-Year Forecast
Operational Performance: CHOW TAI FOOK reported an 18% year-over-year increase in retail value for 3FQ26, with same-store sales in mainland China growing by 21% and 26% for direct sales and wholesale, respectively, while Hong Kong and Macau saw a 14% increase.
Revised Financial Guidance: The company raised its full-year guidance for FY2026, projecting mid to low single-digit revenue growth and improved gross profit margins of 31.5-32.5%, alongside an operating profit margin nearing 20%.
Earnings Forecast Adjustment: CICC increased its EPS forecasts for CHOW TAI FOOK by 3% for FY2026 and FY2027, maintaining an Outperform rating and raising the target price by 6% to $17.85, indicating a potential 30% upside.
Gold Lending Losses: The company anticipates that gold lending losses will remain consistent with those experienced in FY2025, despite the positive sales performance.
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Market Performance: The HSI dropped 109 points (0.4%) to 26,656, while the HSTI and HSCEI also saw declines of 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively.
Active Heavyweights: Notable declines were observed in major stocks like PING AN (-3.0%), BABA (-2.1%), and TENCENT (-0.8%), with significant short selling activity reported.
Constituents on the Move: ZHONGSHENG HLDG experienced a sharp decline of 9.7%, while CKI HOLDINGS and POWER ASSETS both hit new highs with increases of 5.5% and 5.3%, respectively.
Short Selling Trends: High short selling ratios were noted across various stocks, with HSBC HOLDINGS and BOC HONG KONG showing positive movements despite the overall market downturn.

CNY Holiday Spending: Preliminary data indicates positive overall spending in China during the Chinese New Year holiday, with strong tourism and travel activity reported by CLSA.
Hainan Duty-Free Resilience: Hainan's duty-free spending showed resilience due to effective promotions and policy-driven demand, although this was largely anticipated in the market.
Stock Recommendations: CLSA highlighted top stock picks benefiting from robust travel and high-end spending, including SAMSONITE and ANTA SPORTS, with respective target prices set.
Market Performance: The report also noted significant short selling activity in various stocks, indicating market volatility and investor caution.
Daiwa's Meeting with CHOW TAI FOOK: Daiwa's research report indicates that management of CHOW TAI FOOK believes consumer demand for gold jewelry will remain strong despite gold price fluctuations.
Consumer Purchasing Behavior: Management's insights align with industry trends, suggesting consumers are likely to purchase gold jewelry during price rallies rather than waiting for potential price drops.
Earnings Forecast Adjustment: Daiwa has raised its FY27 EPS forecast for CHOW TAI FOOK by 6%, anticipating increased sales in Hong Kong and Macau due to a widening retail price gap and stable gold prices.
Stock Rating and Target Price: CHOW TAI FOOK's stock rating has been reiterated as Buy, with the target price increased from HKD15.5 to HKD17.

Price Adjustment Announcement: CHOW TAI FOOK plans to adjust the prices of gold products in its mainland stores after the Spring Festival, with changes expected to be implemented in mid-March.
Operational Policy: The company confirmed the price increase is part of its routine operational policy, which will be based on market conditions and product demand while maintaining quality and craftsmanship.

Sales Performance: Chow Tai Fook reported strong same-store sales growth of 21.4% in mainland China and 14.3% in Hong Kong & Macau for 3FQ26, prompting a slight adjustment in sales and profit margin guidance for FY2026.
Future Projections: The company anticipates low- to mid-single-digit YoY growth in same-store sales during the Lunar New Year, while tightening January discounts and increasing marketing expenditures to boost February promotions.

Stock Performance: Chow Tai Fook's stock increased by 1.933%, with a short selling value of $80.14 million and a short selling ratio of 41.582%.
Retail Sales Growth: For the third fiscal quarter ending December 2025, the company reported a 17.8% year-over-year growth in retail sales value (RSV).
Mainland Contribution: The Chinese Mainland accounted for a 16.9% increase in retail sales, indicating strong domestic demand.
Other Markets Performance: Retail sales in Hong Kong, Macau, and other markets saw a significant rise of 22.9%, highlighting robust performance outside the Mainland.






