Although the COVID-19 epidemic has brought an unprecedented impact on the global economy, the performance of A-share technology stocks is still eye-catching, and the share prices of many leading technology companies have reached record highs, with amazing increases. China is currently in a critical period of transition from infrastructure, real estate, and export-driven to technological innovation and domestic demand-driven. Industries such as 5G, biomedicine, new energy vehicles, and photovoltaics are supported by policies, and fundamentals and prosperity continue to improve.
Although the trade frictions provoked by the United States to contain China’s development are still increasing, and gradually revealing the nature of the “technical war,” the performance of domestic technology companies represented by Huawei is still under the background of continuous chip supply and technology blockade in the United States. Maintained steady growth. In the first three quarters of 2020, Huawei achieved sales revenue of 671.3 billion yuan, an increase of 9.9% year-on-year, and a net profit margin of 8.0%.
The reason why Huawei’s performance can grow against the trend is related to its continuous high R&D investment. According to the announced list of enterprise R&D investment in 2020, Huawei once again ranked first among domestic TMT companies with R&D expenditure of 131.7 billion yuan.
Technological progress is the fundamental driving force of economic development, and the times have also given the greatest rewards to companies that are deeply engaged in technology. This is the internal reason why the stock prices of many star technology stocks continue to rise. In addition to Huawei, what other hard-core technology companies are there in China? “Litstone Business Review” takes stock of the top 10 technology companies in 2020 from the two dimensions of market value and growth, and analyzes the technological driving factors behind their stock price rise.
- #1 CATL
- #2 Midea Group
- #3 BYD
- #4 Hengrui Medicine
- $5 Mindray Medical
- #6 Hikvision
- #7 Luxshare Precision
- #8 Longi shares
- #9 SANY Heavy Industry
- #10 Wanhua Chemical
China’s Top Ten Technology Companies are these:
1. CATL
World-class power battery giant
Latest market value: 942.3 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 230%, industry: power battery
The predecessor of CATL was the power battery division of ATL (New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.). The core executives are all from ATL, and ATL is the main battery supplier for Apple mobile phones and has a solid technical foundation in the field of lithium batteries. As early as 2012, CATL won an order for the power battery of BMW’s first pure electric vehicle, Zino 1E. Subsequently, the company caught up with the golden age of China’s vigorous development of new energy vehicles, and has grown into the absolute hegemon of the power battery industry.
In the past three years, CATL’s R&D investment was 1.632 billion yuan, 1.99 billion yuan and 2.992 billion yuan. Up to now, CATL has a number of core technologies in various sub-fields such as batteries, modules, battery packs, and BMS, and each technology is at the leading level in the industry. In 2019, CATL achieved 32.91GWh of installed battery power, a year-on-year increase of 37%, and the domestic market share exceeded 50%.
From 2018 to 2019, CATL has forced Japanese and Korean battery giants such as Panasonic and LG Chem to become the global power battery installed capacity for two consecutive years. As of September 2020, the installed capacity reached 19.2GWh.
CATL has continuously improved the automation level of equipment, production lines and logistics, and successively introduced application software such as management system (ERP), supplier relationship management (SRM), product life cycle management (PLM) and so on. Advanced intelligent manufacturing equipment and advanced digital layout also ensure the high quality and high efficiency of the company’s battery production, which is another core competitive advantage of the Ningde era.
2. Midea Group
China’s first home appliance company with R&D investment exceeding 10 billion
Latest market value: 724.2 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 73%, industry: household appliances
In fact, unlike Gree’s own traffic, Dong Mingzhu frequently appeared in high-profile, Midea Group has always shown a low-key image. Since its transformation in 2011, Midea Group has continued to increase R&D investment, focus on new product development, and focus on R&D innovation. “Product leadership” has become the first of the company’s three major strategies.
In 2016, Midea Group acquired 94.55% of the shares of KUKA, one of the world’s four largest robot manufacturers, at a price of 29.2 billion yuan, making the world feel the strength and appetite of the “elephant in the invisible room”. In 2019, Midea Group’s R&D investment exceeded 10 billion, and it was also the first domestic appliance company to invest more than 10 billion in R&D.
Similar to Huawei, Midea Group not only attaches importance to practical technology research and development, but also pays more attention to investment in basic research. At present, with the Academia Sinica as the core, the company has established a four-level R&D system from advanced research to product development. In 2018, the company was selected as one of the top ten Chinese brands in the “Global 100 Most Valuable Technology Brand List”. The manufacturing enterprise successfully transformed into a global technological innovation enterprise.
3. BYD
Power battery + new energy vehicle doubles king
Latest market value: 620.7 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 308%, industry: new energy vehicles
Since the beginning of 2020, BYD has made a high-profile sacrifice of the “blade battery”, announcing the return of the king. There have always been two main technical routes in the field of power batteries: lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium batteries. Relatively speaking, lithium iron phosphate batteries are safer, but have lower energy density and less battery life than ternary lithium batteries. As mileage anxiety is still the main pain point of new energy vehicles, ternary lithium batteries have gradually become the mainstream technology route for power batteries.
Through the new lamination process, the volume ratio and energy density of BYD blade batteries are increased by 50% compared with traditional lithium iron batteries, and the cost is reduced by 30%. Due to the cancellation of the module design, the size of the battery cell is no longer restricted. The battery length can reach up to 2500mm, which is more than 10 times that of the traditional lithium iron phosphate battery. Because the single cell is longer and flat, it is named “blade battery”.
In addition to the energy density reaching the same level as the mainstream ternary lithium battery, the blade battery also maintains the advantages of the lithium iron phosphate battery with good heat dissipation effect, high safety, long service life, and travel life of more than 8 years and million kilometers.
After the launch of the new generation flagship model “Han”, the popularity of the “blade battery” has been pushed to a new level. The facts have proved that BYD Han with new battery technology is getting more and more courageous. The latest data shows that in December 2020, BYD Han sold 12,089 units, which has sold more than 10,000 for two consecutive months, which is close to the combined sales of two of Weilai, Xiaopeng and Ideal. With the launch of several new products such as Qin plus and Song plus, BYD in 2021 should create even greater surprises.
4. Hengrui Medicine
A benchmark and model for domestic innovative drug research and development
Latest market value: 603.7 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 53%, industry: medicine
With the continuous advancement of the commercialization of the aforementioned new drugs, the company’s future revenue is still in a period of rapid growth. According to the performance requirements of the company’s equity incentives, Hengrui Medicine’s net profit growth rate in 2020, 2021, and 2022 will not be less than 20%, 42%, and 67%.
While maintaining the domestic leading advantage, Hengrui Pharmaceuticals is also continuing to promote its international layout. More than 10 popular targets such as PD-L1/TGF-β, URAT, JAK1, AR, etc. have been applied for FDA clinical trials, and the research and development progress is at the forefront of the industry. It has injected new impetus into the company’s subsequent performance growth.
In the first three quarters of 2020, Hengrui Pharmaceutical’s R&D expenses reached 3.344 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.25%, accounting for 17.23% of sales, which is far ahead of domestic pharmaceutical companies. In fact, Hengrui Medicine has become a benchmark and model for domestic innovative drug research and development, which is also an important reason why the company continues to obtain a valuation premium.
5.Mindray Medical
The giant of medical equipment dancing elephants
Latest market value: 546.9 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 126%, industry: medical equipment
In 2019, Mindray Medical’s global operating revenue was 16.5 billion yuan, domestic revenue was 9.5 billion yuan, the global market share is about 3%, and the domestic market share is about 9%. It is Asia’s third and China’s first medical device company. In fact, Mindray Medical’s position in domestic medical devices even surpasses Hengrui Pharmaceutical’s leading advantage in the field of innovative drugs. Both the scale of revenue and the level of net profit far exceed the second place in the industry. In 2020, Mindray Medical’s share price has risen by 126%, making it the only medical device company whose market value has exceeded 500 billion yuan.
This achievement is also inseparable from the company’s technological leadership and emphasis on research and development. In the past three years, Mindray Medical’s R&D investment has reached 4.2 billion yuan, and the R&D investment has remained above 10%, which is far higher than the industry average. In addition, in view of the characteristics of the medical device industry, the company has conducted more than 10 international mergers and acquisitions, further strengthening the company’s product line advantages.
Up to now, Mindray Medical ranks third in the world in the field of monitors and anesthetics, and ranks first in the domestic market. At the same time, the company’s in vitro diagnostic business and medical imaging business are also in a rapid growth trend, and the future domestic substitution space is broad. During the 2020 epidemic, the company launched the MX and ME series of high-end portable color ultrasound products, which have been widely welcomed by domestic high-end hospitals and hospital chain groups, and their penetration and coverage have increased significantly. Up to now, Mindray medical products have covered more than 99% of the top three hospitals in China.
In the international market, the company’s products basically cover large American hospitals with more than 500 beds in the United States, realizing the coverage of 10,000 terminal medical institutions in North America; in Europe and India, the company’s product coverage reached 45% and 70% respectively. Only by truly going abroad can we quickly narrow the gap with internationally developed countries. Domestic substitution and internationalization will be the two main points of Mindray Medical’s future development.
6. Hikvision
The world’s number one security giant
Latest market value: 535.8 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 51%, industry: security
In terms of software, Hikvision continues to promote a unified software research and development system to improve compatibility between software. Currently, there are more than 60 industry application software based on a unified software architecture platform, and the application of AI Cloud+ industry solutions has been launched. At the same time, the company is actively deploying eight innovative businesses including the Internet of Things, smart home, automotive electronics, and storage. In the first half of 2020, Hikvision’s software added value accounted for 32.31%, a new high.
From following the analog era to completing the transcendence in the digital era, the technological leadership brought by high R&D investment is an important weapon of Hikvision. The core founding team of the company is from the 52nd Institute of China Electric Power Corporation. The engineer team with technical background makes the company possess R&D and innovation genes. From 2017 to 2019, Hikvision’s R&D expense ratio increased from 7.62% to 9.51%, and further increased to 11.28% in the first three quarters of 2020.
For the entire year of 2020, Hikvision’s share price has risen by 51%, and its market value has exceeded the 500 billion mark. The US export control has not caused a serious impact on Hikvision, which reflects the company’s core technology control and comprehensive product competitiveness. With the continuous substitution of US materials and the continuous improvement of software business, the impact of US sanctions on Hikvision is becoming weaker and weaker.
7. Luxshare Precision
New foundry that attaches great importance to research and development
Latest market value: 420.1 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 100%, industry: electronics manufacturing
In 2020, the story of migrant girl Wang Laichun’s counterattack against the richest man Guo Taiming has become a hot topic among investors. Behind it is the market value of Luxshare Precision over Foxconn parent company Hon Hai Group. As one of the first 150 employees recruited by the Foxconn Shenzhen factory in 1998, Wang Laichun is worth 91 billion yuan in 2020.
At the same time, Luxshare Precision, founded by Wang Laichun in 2004, is currently the world’s largest foundry for AirPods. It entered the iPhone assembly field through the acquisition of Wistron and became a major rival of Foxconn Group.
As a rising star, Luxshare Precision can successfully break through the fierce competition and meager profit in the foundry field, and R&D investment is still an important reason. In the past three years, Luxshare Precision’s R&D expense ratio has remained at around 7%, far exceeding Foxconn’s average R&D expense ratio of approximately 2%. In a sense, Luxshare Precision has broken the traditional foundry’s tradition of focusing on manufacturing and neglecting research and development, and has become a new foundry with more innovative spirit and stronger competitiveness.
Opportunity awaits those who are prepared. After Apple launched the AirPods product, its main foundry Inventec has been facing the problem of low yield rate, which has become a bottleneck that severely restricts the supply of AirPods. In desperation, Apple handed some orders to Luxshare Precision for production. After receiving the AirPods order, Luxshare Precision demonstrated a very high technical level, the overall yield reached a very high level, and the delivery level continued to exceed Apple’s expectations. In 2019, Apple launched a new generation of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset AirPods Pro, 100% foundry by Luxshare Precision.
From 2017 to 2019, Luxshare Precision’s net profit growth rate reached 46.18%, 61.05% and 73.13%, respectively, and performance growth continued to accelerate. With the introduction of iPhone assembly, Luxshare Precision’s future development is worth looking forward to.
8. Longi shares
The rapidly developing global photovoltaic king
Latest market value: 416.4 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 277%, industry: photovoltaic
Since 2020, many industries have suffered a cold winter due to the COVID-19 epidemic, and the photovoltaic industry has “unique scenery”. From January to September 2020, Longji shares achieved operating income of 33.832 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 49.08%; net profit attributable to the parent company was 6.357 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 82.44%, once again proving the strength of its “Moutai” in the photovoltaic industry.
Adhering to the monocrystalline silicon route, the diamond wire revolution, and the expansion of the entire photovoltaic industry chain have made Longji the last laugh in the fierce industry competition. The company’s current scale advantages and the characteristics of heavy asset investment in the photovoltaic industry have effectively prevented potential latecomers. Competitive pressure brought by.
As of the end of 2019, LONGi’s monocrystalline silicon wafer market share has risen to 62%, and its global market share has reached 24.3% (including polycrystalline silicon wafers). In the downstream module field, LONGi’s module production capacity has surpassed the traditional JA and Canadian module manufacturers, becoming the absolute leader in monocrystalline modules.
Unlike most capital players in the industry, the founders and core executives of Longji are all technically backgrounded, which enables the company to determine the monocrystalline technology route and drive the monocrystalline silicon to overtake the polycrystalline silicon route through diamond wire cutting. In a sense, LONGi used its own efforts to promote the advancement of the era of photovoltaic parity, and also achieved the company’s current dominant position in the global photovoltaic industry.
9. SANY Heavy Industry
Digital-driven global construction machinery giant
Latest market value: 387.5 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 110%, industry: construction machinery
If SANY Heavy Industries is regarded as a traditional construction machinery company, it is likely to miss an excellent investment opportunity. For the whole year of 2020, the share price of SANY Heavy Industries rose by 110%, and after 2019 (increased by 117% in 2019), it topped again.
The strong stock price performance firstly stems from the rapid growth of the company’s performance. From 2018 to 2019, the growth rates of SANY’s main operating income were 45.61% and 35.55%, and the net profit growth rates reached 192.33% and 83.23%. In the first three quarters of 2020, the company achieved a net profit of 12.45 billion yuan, exceeding the net profit level of 11.207 billion yuan for the entire year of 2019. Under the impact of the epidemic, it still maintained a high growth rate of 35%.
In fact, the construction machinery industry has entered the stage of stock competition. The rapid growth of SANY Heavy Industries’ net profit is mainly due to the continuous improvement of the company’s profitability. The strong R&D investment ensures the continuous advancement of the company’s digital and intelligent strategy, which in turn brings the company Continuous improvement in operating dimensions such as cost reduction and efficiency enhancement.
Data show that from 2016 to 2019, SANY Heavy Industries’ cumulative R&D investment reached 10.741 billion yuan. As of the end of 2019, the company has 3204 R&D personnel, accounting for 17.37% of the total number of employees. Through long-term R&D accumulation and independent innovation, SANY concrete pump truck set the world record of long-boom pump truck three times, and the high-pressure concrete pump has repeatedly created a world record for single-pump vertical pumping. The output of SANY heavy industry excavators, concrete trucks, concrete pumps and full hydraulic rollers ranks first in China, and the output of pump trucks ranks first in the world.
The well-known Changsha SANY Heavy Industry “Factory No. 18” is currently the largest intelligent production workshop in Asia. Its production cycle is reduced by 40% compared with ordinary workshops, its production capacity is increased by 50%, and the automation rate is increased by 80%. With the improvement of intelligence, the average output value of SANY heavy workers in 2019 exceeded 4 million yuan, which greatly exceeded the level of global construction machinery giants such as Sweden’s Sandvik and Japan’s Komatsu. The efficiency improvement brought by scientific and technological investment has become SANY’s Another big competitive advantage.
10. Wanhua Chemical
King of China’s chemical industry going to the world
Latest market value: 341.2 billion yuan, increase in 2020: 66%, industry: chemical
As a rare global leader in China’s chemical industry, Wanhua Chemical is the world’s largest manufacturer of MDI and a major supplier of TDI, ADI, polyether, TPU and other products. As of the end of 2019, Wanhua Chemical’s MDI production capacity reached 2.1 million tons, accounting for 23% of the world, ranking first in the industry.
The breakthrough of MDI core technology has become the most critical link in the development history of Wanhua Chemical, and has allowed the company to grow from the close-down Yantai Synthetic Leather Factory to the world’s largest MDI manufacturer. The MDI manufacturing process is complex, the production process will produce a large amount of high-risk poisonous gas, and the technical barrier is extremely high. By absorbing and learning Japanese technology and after nearly ten years of independent research and development, Yantai Wanhua finally mastered all the technology for producing MDI, breaking through the long-term technological blockade of Western countries.
As a latecomer in the industry, Wanhua Chemical has become the company with the lowest cost and the most comprehensive product competitiveness in this field through continuous technological innovation. In the past few years, the gross profit margin of Wanhua Chemical’s MDI business has remained above 40%, which is much higher than that of competitors such as Covestro and Huntsman. The cost advantage is that Wanhua Chemical can significantly expand production globally and maintain its market share. A key factor for improvement. It is worth mentioning that Wanhua Chemical’s overseas market revenue has maintained at around 50% in recent years.
At the same time, Wanhua Chemical continues to expand to the upstream and downstream ends of the industry chain with the help of its core business MDI competitive advantage. With the continuous expansion of petrochemical industry clusters dominated by propylene and ethylene industries and new materials industry clusters dominated by super absorbent resins and ternary lithium battery materials, Wanhua Chemical is rapidly growing into China’s important olefins and derivatives Suppliers and core suppliers of new materials.
Data show that from 2009 to 2019, Wanhua Chemical’s operating income increased from 6.493 billion yuan to 68.51 billion yuan, and its net profit increased from 1.066 billion yuan to 10.13 billion yuan. The integrated layout of the industrial chain and continuous breakthroughs in the international market allowed the company to In the strong cycle of the chemical industry, sustained and stable performance growth has been maintained. Obviously, Wanhua’s ten-fold growth in performance over the past ten years is comparable to any consumer company. This is the fundamental reason why the company’s stock price continues to be sought after.