Upbeat On Volume Ramp of New High-Speed Cable Modules
发布时间:2026-05-10 来源:华泰证券
Huafeng Technology has reported 1Q26 revenue of RMB633mn (+56.15% YoY, -27.09% QoQ) and attributable net profit of RMB105mn (+230.43% YoY, -22.42% QoQ). The sequential decline reflects transitionary challenges in its high-speed cable module business, where 1Q shipment was dominated by 910C modules ahead of the phased ramp-up of next-gen 950 series products from 2Q26 onward, creating temporary demand volatility. We remain positive on the company’s growth prospects as: 1) upgraded high-speed cable modules (featuring enhanced speed and architecture) should drive replacement demand with potential ASP uplift; and 2) continued customer diversification beyond current CSPs into additional server OEMs could accelerate its scaling. Maintain OVERWEIGHT.
1Q26 inventory/prepayment rose QoQ
For 1Q26, inventory/prepayment reached RMB628/8mn, up 18.7/229.5% QoQ, driven by growing demand for high-speed cable modules amid the supernode boom in China, where Huafeng built inventory in advance for order fulfillment. Additionally, its private placement project has been on track, with planned future investment of RMB388mn dedicated to high-speed cable module production scaling. Huafeng has been making technological breakthroughs in high-speed cable modules, having achieved mass production of 112Gbp products in 2025. It now focuses on accelerating commercialization of 224Gbp solutions using its self-developed micro-platform across cable modules, PCB connectors, and high-density board connectors, while advancing R&D and patent applications for its 448Gbp product.
1Q26 gross margin faced short-term QoQ pressure
The company reported 1Q26 gross margin of 30.34%, up 2.44pp YoY but down 2.38pp QoQ, with the sequential decline mainly attributable to product mix changes (lower proportion of high-margin high-speed cable modules). Benefiting from batch shipment of high-speed cable modules, expense ratios improved on economies of scale: the sales/administrative/R&D expense ratio for 1Q26 stood at 2.41/6.51/7.49% (-0.99/-2.32/+0.95pp YoY). We expect continued optimization of expense ratios in 2026 as sales of high-speed cable modules expand.
Earnings forecasts and valuation
We view 2026 as the inaugural year for scaled supernode deployments, with clearer demand visibility from key clients likely driving growth in cable module business. We maintain our 2026/2027/2028 attributable net profit forecast at RMB1,225/2,102/ 2,748mn. Given divergent growth across segments, we apply SOTP valuation: 1) For communications (high-speed cable modules), we project 2026E attributable net profit of RMB1,046mn (unchanged), assigning 69x 2026E PE (unchanged), vs peers’ average of 64x on Wind consensus given the company’s strategic supplier status and potential CSP client expansion; 2) For defense/industrial/other segments, we estimate 2026E attributable net profit of RMB179mn (unchanged), valuing it at 47.31x (previous: 47.18x) 2026E PE (in line with peers’ average, Wind). We raise our target price to RMB174.93 (previous: RMB174.88, on 65.81x 2026E PE) based on 65.83x 2026E PE. Maintain OVERWEIGHT.
Risks: 1) Weaker demand for high-speed cable modules than we expect, 2) defense order delays, 3) intensifying competition, 4) model estimation risks.