ESTUN AUTOMATION CO., LTD. released its unaudited first-quarter results for 2026, showing a sharp rebound in profitability driven by equity revaluation gains and solid underlying operations, although operating cash flow turned negative. Key highlights are as follows:

• Profitability: Net profit attributable to shareholders surged 674.64% year-on-year to RMB 97.84 million (USD 13.71 million), lifting basic EPS to RMB 0.1128. Excluding non-recurring items—mainly an RMB 86.54 million fair-value gain linked to the swap of a 3% stake in Nanjing Technical Equipment for shares in Nanjing Chemical Fibre—core net profit rose 364.53% to RMB 19.36 million.

• Revenue: Operating revenue slipped 2.22% to RMB 1.22 billion due to softer demand in the robotics and industrial automation segments. Gross operating costs declined 5.12% to RMB 846.80 million, partially offsetting the top-line pressure.

• Expenses: R&D investment remained sizable at RMB 98.50 million, or 8.10% of revenue, underscoring management’s commitment to technology development. Selling and administrative expenses fell 4.13% and 9.14% respectively, reflecting ongoing cost-control efforts.

• Balance sheet: Total assets expanded 13.53% to RMB 10.69 billion following the March listing of 96.78 million H shares in Hong Kong, which injected RMB 1.28 billion in fresh capital. Owners’ equity climbed 65.08% to RMB 3.24 billion, pushing the equity ratio to 30.8% from 20.8% at year-end 2025. Cash and cash equivalents more than doubled to RMB 1.81 billion.

• Cash flow: Operating activities consumed RMB 146.69 million versus a RMB 47.52 million inflow a year earlier, pressured by a 33.96% jump in cash payments for inventories and outsourced services. Overall net cash increased RMB 924.81 million, supported by the H-share proceeds and moderated debt repayments.

• Capital structure: Short-term borrowings rose 14.60% to RMB 1.46 billion, while long-term borrowings declined 19.46% to RMB 979.20 million, improving the maturity profile. Capital reserve doubled to RMB 2.17 billion on share-premium recognition.

• Corporate actions: 1) The company’s H-share IPO commenced trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 9 March 2026, enhancing global funding access. 2) Completion of the asset swap with Nanjing Chemical Fibre resulted in ESTUN holding a 1.89% stake in the Shanghai-listed entity; the 10.55 million new shares received are subject to a 12-month lock-up.

Overall, ESTUN entered 2026 with strengthened capitalisation and improved underlying profitability, although near-term cash conversion remains under pressure from higher working-capital needs.