0830 GMT - Haidilao International is likely to face challenges ahead amid weakness in the catering sector, Nomura analysts Jizhou Dong and Riley Jin say in a note. The Chinese hotpot-restaurant company's 1H results were mixed due to slower-than-expected store openings, a higher effective tax rate and nonoperating expenses, the analysts point out. They forecast Haidilao to deliver low-single-digit same-store sales growth in 2H, below than 1H's 15% growth, on a more difficult base and likely flattish operating margin in 2H. Nomura keeps a buy rating on the stock but cuts its target price to HK$15.10 from HK$20.20 due to ongoing weakness and intensified competition in the catering sector. Shares ended 5.7% higher at HK$13.04. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 29, 2024 04:30 ET (08:30 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Comments