Haier Smart Home has released its “2026 Corporate Value and Return Enhancement Action Plan,” detailing strategic, financial and governance targets aimed at reinforcing global expansion, accelerating AI transformation and improving shareholder returns.
Strategic priorities for 2026 • Revenue growth: The company will deepen its leadership in white goods, drive premiumisation in China and capture demand in India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East & Africa and Brazil. Large HVAC integration remains a core thrust, with coordinated R&D, supply-chain and channel resources positioned to enlarge overseas market share. Emerging businesses—smart-home solutions, small appliances, healthcare/elderly care and recycling—are expected to diversify revenue streams.
• Efficiency gains: Domestically, Haier is rolling out a unified warehousing model, boosting in-house component production and cutting procurement costs. Internationally, the group is focusing on localised manufacturing in South Asia, direct-to-market structures in Europe and supply-chain optimisation in North America to lift margins and cash efficiency.
• AI transformation: The company will embed AI agents across operations, pairing “lean, agile teams + intelligent agents” to streamline processes, elevate decision speed and sharpen cost control.
• Capital structure: As at 31 March 2026, cash stood at RMB 82.00 billion and the debt-to-asset ratio was 55.20%. Management plans to keep leverage within industry norms while selectively using debt for investments and M&A.
Technology & ESG focus The plan emphasises upgrades in AI vision, multimodal perception and embodied robotics to create proactive, energy-efficient products. Green manufacturing, expanded HVAC energy-saving solutions and an enhanced appliance-recycling network headline the company’s environmental roadmap.
Enhanced shareholder returns • Dividends: Since listing, cumulative cash dividends reach nearly RMB 57.00 billion, equating to a 38.60% average payout ratio. Payouts rose to 48% in 2024 and 55% in 2025. Management now targets a minimum dividend payout ratio of 58% for 2026 and at least 60% for 2027-2028.
• Share repurchase & cancellation: Between March 2021 and March 2026, Haier Smart Home executed four A-share buy-backs, acquiring about 270 million shares for RMB 6.79 billion. A new A-share programme launched on 27 March 2026 authorises RMB 3.00-6.00 billion of repurchases. In the H-share market, 60.77 million shares have been repurchased and cancelled for HKD 1.69 billion. The board is seeking a mandate to repurchase up to 81.04 million D-shares (30% of D-shares outstanding) and will cancel 74.54 million A-shares already in the repurchase account.
Investor relations & governance Haier Smart Home will expand voluntary disclosure, integrate AI tools into reporting, and maintain multi-channel communication—including roadshows, performance briefings and direct Q&A sessions—to improve transparency, particularly for small and medium-sized investors. Board composition was refreshed in 2025, adding expertise in global operations, AI and risk. A board-effectiveness review and director training are scheduled for 2026.
Incentive alignment A layered incentive framework—combining shareholding plans, equity options and overseas RSUs—underpins efforts to link employee and shareholder interests.
The plan’s implementation remains subject to market conditions and regulatory approvals.
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