Company Profile

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited ("CATL") is a global leader in the supply of power battery systems, focusing on the research and development, production, and sales of power battery systems and energy storage systems for new energy vehicles. Its main businesses include power battery systems, energy storage systems, and lithium battery material systems (mainly ternary precursors). Specifically, the power battery system comprises cells, modules, and battery packs, which are used in electric passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and other applications. In addition, CATL has entered the field of battery recycling through the acquisition of Brunp Recycling and invested in and held stakes in overseas lithium mines to secure ties with raw material suppliers, thereby achieving a closed-loop layout of the upstream and downstream industry chain. In 2024, the company ranked first in global power battery installations for the eighth consecutive year with a market share of 37.9%, and also ranked first for the fourth consecutive year in energy storage batteries with a market share of 36.5%.

Investment Summary

Strong Growth Maintained in Q3 Results, Further Net Profit Margin Expansion, and Stable Per Unit Profitability
In the first three quarters of 2025, the Company reported revenue of RMB283.072 billion (RMB, the same below), up 9.28% yoy; net profit attributable to the parent company was RMB49.034 billion, up 36.20% yoy; net profit attributable to the parent company excluding non-recurring items was RMB43.619 billion, up 35.56% yoy. The strong performance was mainly driven by robust demand in the power battery and energy storage battery sectors, as well as expansion in overseas markets.

Operating cash flow amounted to RMB80.66 billion, up 19.6% yoy. The Company maintained abundant cash reserves, with cash and trading financial assets exceeding RMB360 billion at the end of the period.

In Q3 2025, the Company reported revenue of RMB104.186 billion, up 12.90% yoy and 10.62% quarter-on-quarter; net profit attributable to the parent company was RMB18.549 billion, up 41.21% yoy and 12.26% quarter-on-quarter; net profit attributable to the parent company excluding non-recurring items was RMB16.422 billion, up 35.47% yoy and 6.85% quarter-on-quarter.

The Q3 gross margin was 25.8%, largely flat quarter-on-quarter; net profit margin was 19.1%, up 4.1 ppts yoy. The rise in lithium carbonate market prices led to a yoy decrease in impairment losses, significantly boosting performance. Per unit gross profit and net profit for batteries remained relatively stable quarter-on-quarter. In addition, revenue from technology licensing continued to increase, reflecting recognition of the Company's technologies and patents.

Rapid Growth in Production and Sales Volume, Stable Market Position, and Accelerated Global Capacity Deployment
In the third quarter, the Company's total shipment volume of power and energy storage batteries approached 180GWh, representing a yoy increase of nearly 40% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of nearly 20%. Energy storage accounted for approximately 20% of total shipments, while overseas exports also accounted for about 20%. Inventory at the end of Q3 increased by RMB8 billion quarter-on-quarter to exceed RMB80 billion, primarily due to products in transit resulting from business expansion and preparation for future deliveries. Inventory turnover days remained stable.

The Company's market position remains solid. According to data from SNEResearch, the Company accounted for 36.8% of global power battery installation volume from January to August 2025, maintaining its position as the global leader. According to data published by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, the Company's domestic market share of power battery installation volume was 42.75% from January to September 2025, continuing to lead the industry.

Q3 capital expenditure reached RMB9.875 billion, remaining at a high level. Full-year CAPEX is expected to increase compared to last year. With strong market demand, the Company's overall capacity utilisation remained high, and it plans to continue investing in R&D for new products and technologies as well as new equipment.

During this period of strong capital expenditure, the Company's global capacity deployment has accelerated. Its German plant commenced operations last year; construction of the Hungarian plant is progressing as planned, with Phase I exceeding 30GWh and expected to be completed, installed, and commissioned by the end of 2025, while Phase II is also advancing steadily. The Spanish plant has completed preliminary approvals, and the Indonesian plant is scheduled to commence operations in the first half of 2026.

Multi-Product Momentum Drives Continued Performance Improvement

Benefiting from the growing economic viability of commercial vehicle electrification and the improvement of infrastructure, the domestic new energy commercial vehicle sector is experiencing rapid growth, with an electrification rate reaching 23%. The Company's shipments of commercial power batteries have grown rapidly, with their share gradually increasing to approximately 20% of total shipments. The Company is actively building a battery-swapping ecosystem for heavy trucks to accelerate their electrification.

In the passenger vehicle segment, the Company has launched the second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery, the Xiaoyao dual-core battery, and the new sodium-ion power battery for passenger cars. The future product mix is expected to further improve.

In the energy storage sector, the rapid expansion of global AI data centres has driven significant power demand, resulting in surging energy storage needs. The Company's current energy storage capacity is fully utilised, and capacity expansion is being accelerated, especially the mass production of the 587Ah energy storage product to meet market demand. The Company's 587Ah dedicated energy storage cell has achieved an optimal balance among three key elements---energy density, safety margin, and long lifespan---marking a milestone. Shipments of the 587Ah product are expected to gradually increase.

In the solid-state battery sector, small-scale production of all-solid-state batteries is expected to be realised in 2027. These breakthroughs in new technologies and the mass production of new products will help the Company adapt to future market changes and further strengthen its competitive advantage and industry-leading position.

On 17 December, CATL's world-first PACK production line for new energy power batteries featuring large-scale deployment of humanoid embodied intelligent robots officially commenced operation. The humanoid robot "Xiao Mo" is now capable of accurately completing complex tasks such as battery plug insertion, marking a breakthrough in the application of embodied intelligence in smart manufacturing. Future production lines will become increasingly intelligent, with continuously improving efficiency.

Investment Thesis

According to EVtank, global lithium battery shipments are projected to reach approximately 1899GWh in 2025, representing a yoy growth of about 23%, and are expected to exceed 5000GWh by 2030, with a compound growth rate of around 22%. As an industry leader, the Company is well positioned to fully benefit from the rapid growth in downstream demand. Its long-term investments in ecosystem innovation businesses offer substantial growth potential, and its first-mover advantage is expected to remain significant.

As for valuation, we expected diluted EPS of the Company to RMB 15.0/19.0/22.9 for 2025/2026/2027. And we accordingly gave the target price to HKD 635, respectively 38/30/25x P/E for 2025/2026/2027. "BUY" rating. (Closing price as at 29 December)

Risk

Technical Iteration Risks
Raw material price fluctuation risk
The downturn in macroeconomics affects demand for end-use products
Geopolitics and Trade Policy Risks

P/E Band trend for its A share

Source: Wind, Company, Phillip Securities Hong Kong Research

Financials

(Closing price as at 29 December)

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