Citi Research: Chinese Consumption Sector Prioritizes Sustainable Profit Growth; Recommended Stocks Include ANTA SPORTS, HAIDILAO, POP MART, and More
Citi Research Forecast: Citi Research predicts a shift in investor portfolios between 'value' and 'growth' in China's consumption sector, emphasizing a cautious outlook on immediate government consumption stimulation in a low-inflation environment.
Top Stock Picks: In the consumer discretionary sector, Citi's top picks include ANTA SPORTS, POP MART, HAIDILAO, Atour Lifestyle, and MIDEA GROUP, while in consumer staples, they favor CHINA RES BEER, EASTROC BEVERAGE, and MAO GEPING.
Potential Outperformance: If China's consumption recovery surpasses expectations, stocks like LI NING, CTG DUTY-FREE, and HAITIAN FLAV are anticipated to outperform the market.
Short Selling Data: The report includes short selling data for various stocks, indicating market sentiment and potential risks associated with these investments.
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Market Performance: Hong Kong stocks rose on the settlement date, with the HSI increasing by 141 points (0.5%) to close at 27,968, while the HSCEI gained 40 points (0.4%) to finish at 9,552. The HSTECH, however, fell by 59 points (1%) to close at 5,841.
Chinese Developers Surge: Significant gains were observed among Chinese developers, attributed to reports that they are no longer required to report the "Three Red Lines" metrics monthly. Notable increases included KWG GROUP (+40.96%), CHINA AOYUAN (+32.88%), and SUNAC (+29.13%).
Short Selling Activity: The short selling activity was notable, with various developers experiencing high ratios, such as SHIMAO GROUP (6.765%) and CIFI HOLD GP (1.472%), indicating a mix of investor sentiment in the market.
Consumer Stocks Rise: Consumer stocks also saw increases, with ZJLD surging by 12.35% and CTG DUTY-FREE by 7.98%, alongside other notable gains in companies like TSINGTAO BREW (+5.63%) and ANTA SPORTS (+4.80%).

Stock Performance Overview: Tencent and Alibaba experienced slight declines and gains respectively, with Tencent down 0.084% and Alibaba up 2.549%. Other notable stocks include Ping An and CCB, which also saw minor increases.
Short Selling Activity: Significant short selling was observed in several stocks, with Alibaba leading at a ratio of 11.929%, followed by Ping An at 20.491% and China Life at 28.152%.
Market Trends: The overall market shows mixed performance with some stocks like Trip.com and Xiaomi gaining, while others like NTES and BYD faced declines.
Analyst Updates: Morgan Stanley raised Baidu's target price, anticipating a dip in its non-GAAP operating profit for the last quarter, indicating ongoing volatility in the tech sector.

Market Performance: The Hang Seng Index (HSI) fell by 76 points (0.3%) to close at 26,487, while the Hang Seng Tech Index (HSTI) and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) also experienced declines.
Active Heavyweights: Major stocks like Xiaomi, Tencent, and Meituan saw declines, with Xiaomi dropping 2.7% and Tencent down 1.5%, while Ping An was the only heavyweight to gain, increasing by 0.9%.
Notable Movers: Pop Mart and China Life were among the top gainers, with Pop Mart rising 9.1% and China Life up 4.3%, while Wuxi Apptec and BYD Company faced significant losses, dropping 4.1% and 3.7%, respectively.
Short Selling Activity: The short selling ratios for several stocks were notable, with BYD Company having a ratio of 21.25% and Sunny Optical at 23.49%, indicating high investor skepticism towards these stocks.

Citi's Sales Forecast Adjustment: Citi has reduced its 2025-27 sales forecasts for BUD APAC by 3% to 4% due to a less favorable outlook for its China business, particularly for 4Q25 sales impacted by the timing of the Lunar New Year in 2026.
Core Net Profit Forecasts Cut: The bank has also lowered its core net profit forecasts for BUD APAC by 10% for 2025 and 2026, and by 9% for 2027, reflecting weakened operating leverage.
Target Price Revision: BUD APAC's target price has been decreased from HKD12.4 to HKD11.4, although Citi maintains a Buy rating on the stock.
Preference for Chinese Beer Makers: Citi's ranking of Chinese beer makers remains unchanged, with BUD APAC positioned below CHINA RES BEER and TSINGTAO BREW in their preference order.

Citi Research Forecast: Citi Research predicts a shift in investor portfolios between 'value' and 'growth' in China's consumption sector, emphasizing a cautious outlook on immediate government consumption stimulation in a low-inflation environment.
Top Stock Picks: In the consumer discretionary sector, Citi's top picks include ANTA SPORTS, POP MART, HAIDILAO, Atour Lifestyle, and MIDEA GROUP, while in consumer staples, they favor CHINA RES BEER, EASTROC BEVERAGE, and MAO GEPING.
Potential Outperformance: If China's consumption recovery surpasses expectations, stocks like LI NING, CTG DUTY-FREE, and HAITIAN FLAV are anticipated to outperform the market.
Short Selling Data: The report includes short selling data for various stocks, indicating market sentiment and potential risks associated with these investments.
Stock Performance: Several stocks experienced declines, with CATL dropping 3.44% and BABA-W down 1.57%, while some stocks like WUXI APPTEC and Luckin Coffee saw gains.
Short Selling Activity: High short selling ratios were noted for multiple companies, including NETEASE MUSIC at 32.83% and SHENZHOU INTL at 34.31%, indicating significant bearish sentiment.
Market Predictions: Analysts from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley provided forecasts, predicting weak construction activity in China's housing market and potential upside for metal stocks driven by ESS demand.
Overall Market Trends: The overall market showed mixed results, with some stocks facing pressure while others managed to gain, reflecting a volatile trading environment.






