Citigroup maintained a "Buy" rating on CHINA EAST EDU (00667) with a target price of HK$7.8. The company's fiscal year 2025 results confirmed a recovery, with adjusted net profit increasing 50.9% year-on-year to RMB 792 million. This figure was at the high end of the profit forecast range, though it came in 3.6% below the bank's projection of RMB 822 million. The variance was entirely attributable to non-operating items and unrelated to profitability margins. Revenue for the period reached RMB 4.616 billion, a 12.1% increase that surpassed both the bank's forecast of 10% and management's guidance. The gross profit margin rose by 3.9 percentage points to 55.3%, indicating an improvement in core profitability. The actual dividend payout ratio was approximately 76%. The increase in average selling price was driven by a three-pronged shift in the business mix. In terms of business segment optimization, the Information Technology division is reducing student intake while enhancing value per student by phasing out low-fee courses. Regarding new business expansion, the Beauty segment, which has the highest profit margin with a gross margin of 63%, saw a 58% increase in student enrollment from a low base. In terms of course duration extension, new student enrollments for one-to-two-year courses grew 66% to 23,691 students.