Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the articles highlights Tencent's strong performance in various segments, with significant growth in value-added services and marketing services, alongside stable financial technology and enterprise services revenue [1][2] Group 2 - In Q3 2024, Tencent reported total revenue of 167.2 billion yuan, an 8% year-on-year increase [1] - Value-added services revenue reached 82.7 billion yuan, growing by 9% year-on-year [1] - Marketing services revenue was 30 billion yuan, driven by strong demand for advertising inventory in WeChat's ecosystem, including video accounts and mini-programs [1] - The transaction volume for mini-programs exceeded 2 trillion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of over ten percentage points [1] Group 3 - Financial technology and enterprise services revenue amounted to 53.1 billion yuan, with a 2% year-on-year increase [1] - Payment revenue saw a decline, attributed to a decrease in average transaction amounts, although transaction volume grew by 10% year-on-year [1] - Tencent Cloud's international revenue experienced significant year-on-year growth, contributing to the increase in enterprise service revenue and gross profit [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Tencent Holdings with a target price of HKD 513, representing a potential upside of 27.0% from the current price of HKD 403.80 [1][3]. Core Insights - Tencent's Q3 2024 performance showed robust revenue growth of RMB 167.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year and 4% quarter-on-quarter, aligning with market expectations. Key revenue drivers included gaming, social networks, and advertising, with respective growth rates of 13%, 4%, and 17% [1][2][3]. - The adjusted net profit for Q3 2024 reached RMB 59.8 billion, a 33% increase year-on-year, benefiting from high-margin businesses such as domestic gaming and video services [1][3]. - The report anticipates continued growth in Q4 2024, projecting an 8.2% year-on-year revenue increase, driven by domestic gaming and advertising [3]. Revenue and Profitability - Total revenue for Tencent is projected to grow from RMB 609.0 billion in 2023 to RMB 766.8 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.6% [4]. - The adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is expected to rise from RMB 16.33 in 2023 to RMB 28.35 in 2026, reflecting a strong growth trajectory [4]. - The report highlights a significant improvement in gross margin, which increased to 53% in Q3 2024, driven by cost optimization in cloud services and high-margin business growth [1][3][10]. Segment Performance - The gaming segment saw a 13% year-on-year revenue increase, with domestic games growing by 14% due to the successful launch of new titles and the recovery of existing games [2][6]. - Advertising revenue surged by 17%, fueled by strong demand for video ads and increased spending from the gaming and e-commerce sectors [2][3][15]. - Financial technology and enterprise services remained stable, with slight growth in enterprise service revenue, while payment services faced challenges due to consumer spending impacts [2][14]. Valuation Metrics - The current price corresponds to a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.3 times for 2025, which is considered low compared to historical averages [3][4]. - The report suggests that Tencent's strong performance and shareholder returns exceeding RMB 100 billion annually justify the target price of HKD 513, based on a 20 times P/E ratio for 2025 [3][4].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Tencent Holdings Limited (00700.HK) [1][10]. Core Insights - Tencent's net profit showed strong performance in Q3 2024, with revenue reaching 167.2 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 8%, aligning with Factset consensus expectations. Gross margin improved from 49% to 53%, driven by a higher proportion of high-margin businesses and enhanced profitability in cloud services [1]. - Non-IFRS net profit attributable to shareholders was 59.8 billion RMB, up 33% year-on-year, exceeding Factset consensus by 12%, primarily due to a 19% decrease in income tax expenses compared to the previous year [1]. - Domestic gaming business growth accelerated, with value-added services revenue at 82.7 billion RMB (up 9% year-on-year), and domestic game revenue reaching 37.3 billion RMB (up 14% year-on-year), supported by strong performances from established games and new releases [1]. - AI-driven advertising continues to empower growth, with marketing services revenue at 30 billion RMB (up 17% year-on-year), and search revenue more than doubling, benefiting from improved ad targeting through AI models [1]. - The mini-program ecosystem is expanding, with transaction volume reaching 2 trillion RMB in Q3 2024, and the recent upgrade of WeChat mini-stores is expected to enhance e-commerce capabilities [1]. - The company repurchased approximately 35.9 billion HKD worth of shares in Q3 2024, with plans to exceed 100 billion HKD in buybacks for the year [1]. Financial Summary - Revenue projections for 2024, 2025, and 2026 are 653.2 billion RMB, 721.4 billion RMB, and 791.8 billion RMB, respectively. Non-IFRS net profit estimates for the same years are 221.3 billion RMB, 240.7 billion RMB, and 264.9 billion RMB [2][5]. - Key financial metrics include a gross margin of 53% for 2024, with a projected increase to 54.7% in 2025 and 54.9% in 2026. Non-IFRS net profit margin is expected to be 33.9% in 2024, slightly decreasing in subsequent years [2][8]. - The company’s cash flow from operating activities is projected to be 308.4 billion RMB in 2024, increasing to 376.0 billion RMB by 2026 [6].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommend" rating for Tencent Holdings (0700 HK) [6] Core Views - Tencent's Q3 2024 revenue reached RMB 1672 billion, up 8% YoY, with gross profit of RMB 888 billion, up 16% YoY, and a gross margin of 53%, up 4 percentage points YoY [1] - Non-IFRS operating profit was RMB 613 billion, up 19% YoY, and Non-IFRS net profit was RMB 598 billion, up 33% YoY, with an adjusted net margin of 35 8%, up 7 percentage points YoY [1] - The report forecasts 2024 2025 2026 revenues of RMB 6586 7123 7702 billion, and Non-IFRS net profits of RMB 2230 2403 2583 billion, with adjusted P E ratios of 16X 14X 13X based on the closing price on November 14, 2024 [4] Value-Added Services - Value-added services revenue in Q3 2024 was RMB 827 billion, up 9% YoY [2] - Domestic games revenue was RMB 373 billion, up 14% YoY, with flagship games like "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite" showing steady growth [2] - International games revenue was RMB 145 billion, up 9% YoY, with "PUBG M" and "Brawl Stars" performing well, and "VALORANT" seeing over 30% YoY growth in key overseas markets [2] - Social networks revenue was RMB 309 billion, up 4% YoY, with music subscription revenue up 20% YoY and paid members reaching 119 million, up 16% YoY [2] Marketing Services - Marketing services revenue in Q3 2024 was RMB 300 billion, up 17% YoY, driven by strong demand for video accounts, mini-programs, and WeChat Search ads [3] - Video accounts marketing revenue grew over 60% YoY in Q3 2024, with long-term potential from increased ad load rates, AI-powered ad creation, and WeChat's internal ad ecosystem [3] - Mini-program transaction volume exceeded RMB 2 trillion in Q3 2024, up by double-digit percentages YoY [3] FinTech and Business Services - FinTech and business services revenue in Q3 2024 was RMB 531 billion, up 2% YoY [4] - FinTech revenue was flat YoY, with payment transaction volume up 10% YoY despite a decline in average transaction value [4] - Business services revenue and gross profit grew YoY, driven by increased cloud services revenue and higher e-commerce transaction volumes [4] - Tencent released an upgraded version of its foundational model, Tencent Hunyuan Turbo, in Q3 2024, which doubled training and inference efficiency while halving inference costs [4] Financial Projections - The report forecasts 2024 2025 2026 revenues of RMB 6586 7123 7702 billion, with growth rates of 8 1% 8 2% 8 1% respectively [5] - Adjusted net profits are projected to be RMB 222971 240262 258316 billion for 2024 2025 2026, with growth rates of 41% 8% 8% respectively [5] - EPS based on adjusted net profit is forecasted to be RMB 24 06 25 93 27 87 for 2024 2025 2026, with P E ratios of 16X 14X 13X [5] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - Total assets are projected to grow from RMB 1756788 billion in 2024E to RMB 2128540 billion in 2026E, with cash and cash equivalents increasing from RMB 259882 billion to RMB 457531 billion over the same period [8] - Operating cash flow is forecasted to grow from RMB 232365 billion in 2024E to RMB 278297 billion in 2026E, driven by increased net profit and stable depreciation and amortization [9] - Net cash flow is expected to increase from RMB 87562 billion in 2024E to RMB 110957 billion in 2026E [9] Profitability and Valuation - Gross margin is projected to increase from 53 08% in 2024E to 54 74% in 2026E, with net margin remaining stable around 28 7% [10] - ROE is forecasted to decline slightly from 19 63% in 2024E to 17 12% in 2026E, while ROIC remains stable around 13% [10] - P B ratio is expected to decrease from 3 6X in 2024E to 2 7X in 2026E, reflecting improved valuation metrics [10]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for Tencent Holdings is maintained at "Buy" with a target price of HKD 505.43 [3][6]. Core Insights - Tencent's Q3 revenue grew by 8.1% year-on-year to RMB 167.2 billion, aligning with consensus expectations. The adjusted net profit increased by 33.2% year-on-year to RMB 59.8 billion, exceeding expectations by 11.4% due to improved investment income and tax rate [2][4]. - The company anticipates accelerated growth in gaming revenue for Q4, with the upcoming launch of the mobile game "DnF" during the Spring Festival in 2025 expected to act as a catalyst [2][4]. - Despite short-term macroeconomic factors potentially impacting Q4 advertising revenue, the growth of the video account feature is expected to help expand Tencent's market share [2][5]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - Q3 value-added services revenue increased by 9.2% year-on-year to RMB 82.7 billion, surpassing market expectations. Online advertising revenue grew by 16.6% year-on-year, while fintech revenue saw a modest increase of 2.0% [4][5]. - The gross profit margin for value-added services, online advertising, and fintech improved by 1.9, 0.7, and 6.8 percentage points respectively [2][4]. Advertising Business - The advertising business is expected to face pressure in Q4 due to weak consumer spending, but the video account feature is anticipated to mitigate some of the negative impacts [5]. - Q3 advertising revenue grew by 16.6% year-on-year, exceeding consensus expectations, with a gross margin increase of 0.7 percentage points [5]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - Revenue forecasts for 2024-2026 have been adjusted downwards by 0.4%, 0.9%, and 0.9% respectively, primarily due to macroeconomic factors affecting advertising and payment revenue growth [6][22]. - Adjusted net profit estimates for 2024, 2025, and 2026 are revised to RMB 221.8 billion, RMB 250.8 billion, and RMB 285.9 billion, reflecting improvements in tax rates and strong performance in investment business [6][22]. Gaming Performance - Q3 gaming revenue continued to accelerate, with strong performances in both domestic and overseas markets. Upcoming game launches are expected to act as catalysts for future growth [4][14]. - The mobile game "Pokémon Unite" launched in November is anticipated to leverage Tencent's long-term operational capabilities in mobile gaming [17][18].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Tencent Holdings (00700.HK) [2] Core Views - The company's business shows resilience with impressive growth in gaming and advertising sectors [2] - The WeChat ecosystem is thriving, with significant advancements in AI deployment and commercial capabilities [2] - The gaming segment continues to grow healthily, with both domestic and international revenues showing positive trends [2] - Advertising revenue, particularly from video accounts, is experiencing high growth rates [2] - Financial technology and enterprise services are stable, with potential for recovery in the future [2] Summary by Sections Performance Overview - In Q3 2024, Tencent reported revenue of 167.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8%, and a NON-IFRS net profit of 59.8 billion yuan, up 33% year-on-year [2] Business Analysis - WeChat's mini-program transaction volume exceeded 2 trillion yuan, reflecting a growth of over 10% year-on-year [2] - The gaming revenue reached 51.8 billion yuan in Q3 2024, marking a 13% increase year-on-year, with domestic game revenue at 37.3 billion yuan, up 14% [2] - Advertising revenue was 30 billion yuan, growing 17% year-on-year, with video account ads increasing by over 60% [2] - Financial technology and enterprise services revenue reached 53.1 billion yuan, a 2% increase year-on-year [2] Financial Forecasts and Valuation - Projected NON-IFRS net profits for 2024, 2025, and 2026 are 222.5 billion yuan, 252.6 billion yuan, and 275.2 billion yuan respectively [2] - The current stock price corresponds to a PE ratio of 15.57 for 2024, 13.71 for 2025, and 12.58 for 2026 [2]

14 Nov 2024 CMB International Global Markets | Equity Research | Company Update Tencent (700 HK) Higher consumer internet revenue contribution boosted margin Tencent announced inline 3Q24 results: total revenue was up by 8% YoY to RMB167.2bn, in line with our/Bloomberg consensus estimate of RMB166.8/167.9bn; non-IFRS operating profit grew by 19% YoY to RMB61.3bn, in line with our estimate of RMB61.4bn. Looking ahead, we remain positive on earnings growth in 4Q24E driven by the acceleration in games revenue ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics - Total revenue for Q3 2024 was RMB 1671.93 billion, an 8% YoY growth [3] - Return on investment was 4% for the quarter [3] - Gross margin increased from 49% to 53% YoY [15] - VAS (Value-Added Services) revenue grew 9% YoY to RMB 827 billion [15] - International games revenue increased 9% YoY to RMB 145 billion [15] - Domestic games revenue grew 14% YoY to RMB 373 billion [15] Business Line Performance - Game business achieved strong income growth, driven by long-term tree games and new game launches [3] - WeChat and WeChat reached 13.82 billion users, while QQ Mobile reached 5.62 billion users [4] - Music subscription revenue grew 20% YoY, with 119 million subscribers [6] - Long video subscription revenue increased 4% YoY, with total video subscriptions reaching 116 million [6] - Mini programs achieved GMV exceeding RMB 2 trillion [7] Market Performance - International games revenue growth lagged behind total revenue growth due to extended revenue deferral periods [15] - PUBG Mobile and Brawl Stars drove strong performance in international markets [7] - Domestic games like Peacekeeper Elite and Valorant set new revenue records [6] Strategy and Industry Competition - Company is upgrading its e-commerce strategy through the WeChat ecosystem [3] - Continued investment in AI technology, tools, and solutions to enhance user and partner experiences [3] - Focus on developing long-term tree games and identifying new games with potential [18] - Emphasis on standardizing and indexing the WeChat Shop platform to improve user experience [19] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the long-term economic outlook despite current challenges [26] - Company is actively adapting to regulatory changes and focusing on compliance [27] - AI is seen as a key driver for future growth, particularly in content recommendation and advertising [37] - Company is cautious in its lending practices and selective in its loan approvals [44] Other Important Information - Company launched two new games, DNA mobile game and Delta Force, which show potential to become long-term games [4] - WeChat Shop is being integrated into the WeChat ecosystem, with a focus on improving logistics and customer service [19] - Company is leveraging its expertise in gaming and live streaming to strengthen its cloud services [4] Q&A Summary Question: Impact of macro environment on business strategy - Company remains optimistic about long-term economic growth and is focused on executing its current strategy [26][27] Question: Future of gaming industry and company's strategy - Company sees a structural trend in the success of Chinese games globally and is investing in new tools and technologies [17][18] Question: E-commerce strategy and WeChat Shop - Company aims to build a unified and trustworthy e-commerce experience through WeChat Shop, with a focus on standardization and indexing [19][20] Question: AI integration and revenue potential - AI is expected to significantly enhance content recommendation and advertising efficiency, with substantial revenue potential [37][38] Question: Payment and wealth management strategy - Company is cautious in its lending practices and is focusing on building a robust wealth management platform [43][44] Question: Advertising and video integration - Video integration is a key driver for advertising growth, with potential for further ad load rate increases [48][49] Question: Collaboration with Taobao - Collaboration with Taobao is seen as beneficial for users and both companies, with a focus on compliance and user experience [50][51]

Revenue and Profit Growth - Revenue for Q3 2024 reached RMB 167.193 billion, an 8% YoY increase[1] - Net profit attributable to equity holders surged 47% YoY to RMB 53.230 billion in Q3 2024[1] - Operating profit increased 20% YoY to RMB 53.333 billion in Q3 2024[1] - Revenue for Q3 2024 increased by 8% YoY to RMB 167.2 billion, with value-added services growing by 9% to RMB 82.7 billion, marketing services by 17% to RMB 30.0 billion, and fintech and business services by 2% to RMB 53.1 billion[8] - Net profit attributable to equity holders of the company grew by 47% YoY to RMB 53.2 billion, with non-IFRS net profit increasing by 33% to RMB 59.8 billion[13] - Revenue for Q3 2024 increased by 4% quarter-over-quarter to RMB 167.2 billion, with value-added services revenue growing by 5% to RMB 82.7 billion[15] - Net profit attributable to equity holders of the company rose by 12% quarter-over-quarter to RMB 53.2 billion, with non-IFRS net profit increasing by 4% to RMB 59.8 billion[17] - Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 487,811 million, with value-added services contributing RMB 240,146 million and fintech and business services contributing RMB 155,831 million[33] - Net profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 145,000 million, up from RMB 90,198 million in the same period of 2023[33] - Net profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 145,000 million, a significant increase from RMB 90,198 million in the same period last year[35] - The company's profit attributable to equity holders for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 142,749 million, a significant increase from RMB 88,191 million in the same period in 2023[66] User and Subscription Growth - WeChat and WeChat combined MAUs grew 3% YoY to 1.382 billion in Q3 2024[3] - Mini Program transaction volume exceeded RMB 2 trillion in Q3 2024, with double-digit YoY growth[4] - Music paid subscriptions increased 16% YoY to 119 million in Q3 2024[5] - Video paid memberships grew 6% YoY to 116 million in Q3 2024[5] Gaming Performance - International game VALORANT revenue increased over 30% YoY in Q3 2024[5] - International market gaming revenue grew by 5% to RMB 14.5 billion, driven by games like *PUBG MOBILE*, while domestic market gaming revenue increased by 8% to RMB 37.3 billion, supported by games like *Peacekeeper Elite* and *Dungeon & Fighter: Origin*[15] - Local market games refer to the company's gaming business in the Chinese market (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)[103] - International market games refer to the company's gaming business outside the local market[103] - The company's gaming business includes titles such as PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds)[104] Gross Profit and Margin - Gross profit margin expanded to 53.1% in Q3 2024, up from 49.5% in Q3 2023[1] - Gross profit for Q3 2024 rose by 16% YoY to RMB 88.8 billion, with the gross margin improving from 49% to 53%[10] - Value-added services gross profit increased by 13% YoY to RMB 47.5 billion, with the gross margin improving from 56% to 57%[10] - Marketing services gross profit grew by 18% YoY to RMB 15.9 billion, with the gross margin slightly improving from 52% to 53%[11] - Fintech and business services gross profit surged by 19% YoY to RMB 25.4 billion, with the gross margin improving significantly from 41% to 48%[12] - Gross profit for Q3 2024 increased by 3% to RMB 88.8 billion, with a stable gross margin of 53%[15] - Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 258,593 million, with a gross margin of 53%[33] Expenses and Costs - Sales and marketing expenses increased by 19% YoY to RMB 9.4 billion, accounting for 6% of revenue compared to 5% in the same period last year[12] - General and administrative expenses rose by 11% YoY to RMB 29.1 billion, driven by increased R&D and employee costs[12] - Sales and marketing expenses grew by 3% to RMB 9.4 billion, while general and administrative expenses increased by 6% to RMB 29.1 billion, driven by higher R&D and employee costs[16] - Employee benefits expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 29,636 million, compared to RMB 27,812 million in the same period in 2023[50] - Content costs (excluding intangible asset amortization) for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 17,232 million, compared to RMB 15,812 million in the same period in 2023[50] - Promotion and advertising expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 6,659 million, compared to RMB 4,981 million in the same period in 2023[50] - R&D expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 17.89 billion and RMB 50.845 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 16.454 billion and RMB 47.645 billion for the same periods in 2023[52] - Employee benefits expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 14.5 billion and RMB 41.668 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 13.667 billion and RMB 39.951 billion for the same periods in 2023[52] - Media content amortization for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 6.584 billion and RMB 19.286 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 6.473 billion and RMB 22.864 billion for the same periods in 2023[53] - Intangible assets amortization related to acquisitions for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 1.324 billion and RMB 3.878 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 1.434 billion and RMB 3.455 billion for the same periods in 2023[53] - SSV and CPP related expenses (excluding share-based compensation) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 240 million and RMB 550 million, respectively, compared to RMB 231 million and RMB 561 million for the same periods in 2023[53] - Non-recurring compliance-related costs and litigation settlement expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 3 million, compared to RMB 17 million for the same period in 2023[54] - Subsidies and tax refunds for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 2.631 billion and RMB 6.048 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 2.546 billion and RMB 8.14 billion for the same periods in 2023[55] - The company's total employee compensation cost for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 29.6 billion, compared to RMB 27.8 billion in the same period last year[95] Investments and Financial Assets - Share of profits from associates and joint ventures increased to RMB 6.0 billion in Q3 2024, up from RMB 2.1 billion in the same period last year[13] - The fair value of the company's equity interests in listed investee companies (excluding subsidiaries) as of September 30, 2024, was RMB 612,500 million[31] - The company's equity interests in unlisted investee companies (excluding subsidiaries) had a carrying value of RMB 327,700 million as of September 30, 2024[31] - The company's investment in associates as of September 30, 2024, was RMB 266,057 million, up from RMB 253,696 million as of December 31, 2023[70] - The fair value of the company's investment in listed associates as of September 30, 2024, was RMB 341.464 billion, compared to RMB 351.594 billion as of December 31, 2023[70] - The company's investment in associates increased by RMB 2,242 million in the first nine months of 2024, compared to RMB 6,301 million in the same period in 2023[71] - The company recognized a significant impairment provision of RMB 7,831 million for investments in associates with signs of impairment in the first nine months of 2024, compared to RMB 1,396 million in the same period in 2023[72] - The fair value of financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss decreased to RMB 218,973 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 226,048 million as of December 31, 2023[73] - The company made new and additional investments totaling RMB 42,572 million in financial investments, investment companies, and others in the first nine months of 2024[75] - The fair value of financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income increased to RMB 285,764 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 213,951 million as of December 31, 2023[76] - The company made new and additional investments totaling RMB 4,864 million in investment companies primarily engaged in social media platforms, sports equipment, e-commerce, and other internet-related businesses in the first nine months of 2024[78] - Net gains from disposal and deemed disposal of investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 10.621 billion, compared to RMB 3.929 billion for the same period in 2023[56] - Fair value gains/(losses) on financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 3.788 billion and RMB 1.565 billion, respectively, compared to RMB 2.258 billion and RMB -754 million for the same periods in 2023[56] Cash Flow and Financial Position - EBITDA for Q3 2024 was RMB 64.4 billion, up from RMB 62.9 billion in Q2 2024, with adjusted EBITDA reaching RMB 69.7 billion[18] - Net cash position as of September 30, 2024, was RMB 95.5 billion, a significant increase from RMB 71.8 billion at the end of Q2 2024[18] - Capital expenditures for Q3 2024 were RMB 17.1 billion, nearly double the RMB 8.7 billion spent in Q2 2024[18] - Free cash flow generated in Q3 2024 was RMB 58,500 million, driven by net cash from operating activities of RMB 78,100 million, partially offset by capital expenditures of RMB 12,000 million[31] - The company's cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024, were RMB 145,468 million, with a net cash position of RMB 95,462 million, up from RMB 71,757 million as of June 30, 2024[30] - Net cash flow from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 204.475 billion, an increase from RMB 168.008 billion in the same period in 2023[41] - Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 79.243 billion, a decrease from RMB 117.157 billion in the same period in 2023[41] - Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 151.330 billion, an increase from RMB 62.806 billion in the same period in 2023[41] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were RMB 145.468 billion, compared to RMB 146.476 billion at the end of the same period in 2023[41] Non-IFRS Metrics - Non-IFRS operating profit for Q3 2024 was RMB 61,274 million, up from RMB 53,333 million reported under IFRS[23] - Non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders for Q3 2024 was RMB 59,813 million, compared to RMB 53,230 million under IFRS[23] - Non-IFRS operating profit margin for Q3 2024 was 37%, up from 32% under IFRS[23] - Non-IFRS operating profit for Q2 2024 was RMB 58,443 million, up from RMB 50,732 million reported under IFRS[25] - Non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders for Q2 2024 was RMB 57,313 million, compared to RMB 47,630 million under IFRS[25] - Non-IFRS operating profit margin for Q2 2024 was 36%, up from 31% under IFRS[25] - Non-IFRS operating profit for the first nine months of 2024 was RMB 178,336 million, up from RMB 156,621 million reported under IFRS[27] - Non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders for the first nine months of 2024 was RMB 167,391 million, compared to RMB 142,749 million under IFRS[27] - Non-IFRS operating profit margin for the first nine months of 2024 was 37%, up from 32% under IFRS[27] Earnings Per Share and Dividends - Basic earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 15.346, compared to RMB 9.312 in the same period of 2023[33] - Basic earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 15.346, up from RMB 9.312 in the same period in 2023[66] - Diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were RMB 15.008, compared to RMB 9.075 in the same period in 2023[68] - The company paid a final dividend of HKD 31.743 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase from HKD 22.762 billion in the previous year[69] Assets and Liabilities - Property, plant, and equipment increased to RMB 69,583 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 53,232 million as of December 31, 2023[36] - Intangible assets slightly increased to RMB 178,773 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 177,727 million as of December 31, 2023[36] - Investments in associates and joint ventures increased to RMB 266,057 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 253,696 million as of December 31, 2023[36] - Total assets increased to RMB 1,723,357 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 1,577,246 million as of December 31, 2023[36] - Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company increased to RMB 912,586 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 808,591 million as of December 31, 2023[38] - Non-current liabilities decreased to RMB 335,073 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 351,408 million as of December 31, 2023[38] - Current liabilities increased to RMB 407,777 million as of September 30, 2024, from RMB 352,157 million as of December 31, 2023[38] - Total equity as of September 30, 2024, amounted to RMB 980.507 billion, an increase from RMB 873.681 billion at the beginning of the year[39] - Retained earnings increased to RMB 861.819 billion, up from RMB 813.911 billion at the start of the year[39] - Comprehensive income for the period was RMB 209.832 billion, driven by a net profit of RMB 142.749 billion and other comprehensive income of RMB 62.806 billion[39] - The company repurchased shares worth RMB 13.681 billion, which were subsequently canceled[39] - Cash dividends paid during the period totaled RMB 68.797 billion[39] - Non-controlling interests increased to RMB 67.921 billion, up from RMB 65.090 billion at the beginning of the year[39] - The company recorded a gain of RMB 72.902 billion from the fair value changes of financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income[39] - Foreign currency translation differences resulted in a loss of RMB 7.064 billion[39] - The company allocated RMB 28.924 billion to statutory reserves[39] - The company's equity attributable to shareholders increased to RMB 912.586 billion, up from RMB 808.591 billion at the start of the year[39] - Total equity as of January 1, 2023, was RMB 782.86 billion, with retained earnings of RMB 705.981 billion[40] - Comprehensive income for the period was RMB 90.198 billion, with a net profit of RMB 88.191 billion[40] Employee and Compensation - The company had 108,823 employees as of September 30, 2024, an increase from 105,309 employees as of September 30, 2023[95] - The company's total employee compensation cost for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was RMB 29.6 billion, compared to RMB 27.8 billion in the same period last year[95] Debt and Notes Payable - The non-current portion of long-term USD notes payable was RMB 127.

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly mention an investment rating for the company [1] Core Views - Tencent Holdings (700) is expected to announce its Q3 2024 financial results on November 13, 2024, with a subsequent earnings call at 20:00 Beijing time [1] - Visible Alpha consensus estimates Q3 2024 revenue at 167 billion RMB, an 8% YoY increase [1] - Value-added services are expected to contribute 82.3 billion RMB, up 8.71% YoY [1] - Advertising revenue is projected to rise 15.18% YoY to 29.6 billion RMB, driven by video accounts [1] - Cloud and fintech revenues are anticipated to reach 53.5 billion RMB, a 2.75% YoY increase [1] - Non-GAAP net profit is forecasted to grow 19.55% YoY to approximately 53.7 billion RMB [1] Revenue Breakdown - Value-added services: 82.3 billion RMB, +8.71% YoY [1] - Advertising: 29.6 billion RMB, +15.18% YoY [1] - Cloud and fintech: 53.5 billion RMB, +2.75% YoY [1] Gaming Segment - Tencent's evergreen gaming strategy continues to drive growth, with AI enhancing monetization efficiency [1] - Domestic games like Peacekeeper Elite maintain 100 million users, while DNF remains stable on the game bestseller list [1] - Overseas games, including the overseas version of Honor of Kings, performed well, ranking in the top three on Sensor Tower's China mobile game overseas market download list in July [1] - New game Delta Action reached 25 million registered users within a week of its launch in late September [1] Advertising Business - Advertising revenue is expected to benefit from the rapid development and operational optimization of video accounts [1] - AI technology is enhancing the efficiency of Tencent's advertising 3.0 platform, supporting high gross margins in the advertising business [1] Cloud and Fintech - Cloud business is focusing on operational efficiency and cost reduction while pursuing high-quality growth [1] - Fintech is expected to see increased demand due to the rising market environment for large models and the commercialization progress of projects like mini-programs [1] - The interconnection between WeChat Pay and Taobao Tmall starting in September is anticipated to significantly boost Q4 2024 and 2025 technical service fees [1] Overall Outlook - The company's overall revenue is expected to improve, with continued cost reduction and efficiency improvements [1] - Sales and management expense ratios are lower than expected, with promising data from video accounts anticipated [1] - Management is expected to provide further insights during the earnings call regarding new game releases and future commercialization strategies [1]