2026 Volume & Profit to Rise Driven by Anti-Involution
发布时间:2026-05-25 来源:华泰证券
STO Express’s 2025 and 1Q26 results:1)For 2025,revenue came in at RMB55,586mn(+17.84%YoY),with attributable net profit of RMB1,369mn(+31.61%YoY).For 4Q25,revenue was RMB17,016mn(+24.40%YoY)with attributable net profit of RMB613mn(+58.19%YoY).2)For 1Q26,revenue reached RMB15,686mn(+30.74%YoY),with attributable net profit of RMB459mn(+94.29%YoY).2025 attributable net profit was broadly in line with our forecast(RMB1,323mn),while 1Q26 beat our estimate(RMB440mn),driven by:1)the“anti-involution”campaign,which drive revenue per parcel above our expectations;and 2)improved operating efficiency and resumed shipments from some clients,lifting 1Q26 parcel volume growth ahead of our forecast.For 2026,we expect the“anti-involution”campaign to persist.STO should continue to optimize costs through lean management,delivering sustained volume growth and higher profit per parcel.Maintain BUY.
Volume and pricing outperformed after Danniao consolidation
In 4Q25,STO handled 7.28bn parcels,up 9.9%YoY(sector:5.0%).Average price per parcel rose 13.3%YoY to RMB2.31(sector:-4.4%).The outperformance largely reflects the consolidation of quality express player Danniao Logistics from November 2025.By end-2025,STO's normalized throughput capacity reached 90mn parcels/day.STO continues to optimize its core hub layout:it completed the acquisition of the Yiwu transit operations asset group in 2025,and in March 2026 announced plans to acquire two customized warehousing and logistics centers in Jieyang and Chengdu,strengthening network capacity and operating efficiency.
Cost per parcel rose less than revenue per parcel,lifting GP
In 2025,express delivery cost per parcel was RMB1.98,up 2.1%YoY or RMB0.04.The increase mainly reflects the consolidation of Danniao Logistics and the insourcing of the Yiwu transit center.Within this,collection and delivery cost per parcel was RMB1.27(+RMB0.02 YoY),sorting cost per parcel RMB0.31(+RMB0.01 YoY),and transport cost per parcel RMB0.38(+RMB0.01 YoY).However,the“anti-involution”campaign significantly boosted revenue per parcel,and together with better management and scale effects,gross profit per parcel reached RMB0.12 in 2025,up 18.6%YoY or RMB0.02,while attributable net profit per parcel came to RMB0.05,up 14.4%YoY or RMB0.01.
Strong 1Q26 volume and pricing
In 1Q26,STO handled 6.64bn parcels,up 14.4%YoY(sector:+5.8%),with revenue per parcel of RMB2.33,up 14.4%YoY(sector:+1.0%)and up RMB0.02 QoQ from 4Q25.Beyond the Danniao consolidation effect,we attribute above-sector volume growth to:1)expanded capacity and improved operating efficiency,which strengthened customer stickiness;2)some clients completing strategic adjustments following the“anti-involution”policy and e-commerce tax enforcement,leading to apartial resumption of shipments;and 3)a low base in the year-earlier period.Per company guidance,excluding the Danniao impact,attributable net profit per express parcel in 1Q26 was c.RMB0.08-0.09,a marked recovery from 2025(Source:State Post Bureau,company filings).
Earnings forecasts and valuation
Given the improved pricing environment amid the sector’s“anti-involution”push and STO’s commitment to lean management,profit sensitivity is rising.We lift our 2026-2027 revenue per parcel and gross margin assumptions,raising attributable net profit to RMB2,191mn for 2026E(+30%vs previous)and RMB2,513mn for 2027E(+25%vs previous),and introduce a2028E forecast of RMB3,000mn.This implies EPS of RMB1.43,RMB1.64 and RMB1.96,respectively.We assign a17.9x 2026E PE,above its peers’12.8x PE average on Wind consensus,in light of STO's stronger profit sensitivity under the“anti-involution”backdrop,alongside consistent delivery on refined management,cost optimization and share gains.We derive atarget price of RMB25.63(previous:RMB21.02,based on 19.1x PE).Maintain BUY.
Risks:Weaker sector growth than we expect,worsening price competition,softer peak-season demand than we expect.