Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" for both US and Hong Kong stocks [7]. Core Views - The company's 1Q25 performance met expectations with revenue of 46.9 billion RMB, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter increase of 4.7% and a year-on-year increase of 12.9%. The net profit attributable to shareholders was 18.0 billion RMB, which was slightly below the previous quarter but showed a significant year-on-year increase of 54.6% [1][4]. - The company is expected to maintain a cautious lending strategy, with a projected moderate growth in loan volume for 2025, supported by high-quality earnings and substantial shareholder returns [1][2]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - 1Q25 loan volume was 889 billion RMB, showing a slight quarter-on-quarter decrease of 1.1% but a year-on-year increase of 15.8%. The loan balance reached 1,403 billion RMB, with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.4% and a year-on-year increase of 5.5% [2]. - The net profit take rate for 1Q25 was 5.2%, down from 5.9% in the previous quarter, indicating a potential impact on short-term profitability [3]. Risk Indicators - The C-M2 ratio increased to 0.60% in 1Q25 from 0.57% in 4Q24, while the first-day overdue rate rose to 5.0%. However, these levels remain healthy compared to historical averages [3]. - The provision coverage ratio improved to 666% from 617% in the previous quarter, indicating strong earnings quality [3]. Earnings Forecast - The company’s net profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been slightly adjusted to 71 billion RMB, 77 billion RMB, and 82 billion RMB respectively, with target prices maintained at 55.6 USD for US stocks and 220.9 HKD for Hong Kong stocks [4][8].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" for both US and Hong Kong stocks [7]. Core Views - The company's 1Q25 performance met expectations with revenue of 46.9 billion RMB, reflecting a quarter-over-quarter increase of 4.7% and a year-over-year increase of 12.9%. The net profit attributable to shareholders was 18.0 billion RMB, which was slightly below the previous quarter but showed a year-over-year increase of 54.6% [1][4]. - The company is expected to maintain a cautious lending strategy, with a projected moderate growth in loan volume for 2025, supported by high-quality earnings and significant shareholder returns [1][2]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - 1Q25 loan volume was 889 billion RMB, showing a slight quarter-over-quarter decrease of 1.1% but a year-over-year increase of 15.8%. The loan balance reached 1,403 billion RMB, with a quarter-over-quarter increase of 2.4% and a year-over-year increase of 5.5% [2]. - The net profit take rate for 1Q25 was 5.2%, down from 5.9% in the previous quarter, indicating a potential impact on short-term profitability [3]. Risk Indicators - The C-M2 ratio increased to 0.60% in 1Q25 from 0.57% in 4Q24, while the first-day overdue rate rose to 5.0% from 4.8%. Despite these increases, the risk indicators remain at healthy levels, below the average of 0.62% from 1Q21 to 4Q24 [3]. - The provision coverage ratio improved to 666% from 617% in the previous quarter, indicating strong earnings quality [3]. Earnings Forecast - The company’s net profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been slightly adjusted to 71 billion RMB, 77 billion RMB, and 82 billion RMB respectively, with target prices maintained at 55.6 USD for US stocks and 220.9 HKD for Hong Kong stocks [4][8].

Core Viewpoint - CICC has raised the profit forecast for Qifu Technology-S (03660) for 2025 and 2026 by 2% and 4% respectively, due to optimized funding/credit costs and higher-than-expected loan disbursement in Q1 2025 [1] Financial Performance - Qifu Technology's Q1 2025 revenue increased by 13% year-on-year and 5% quarter-on-quarter to 4.69 billion yuan, while non-GAAP net profit rose by 60% year-on-year but decreased by 2% quarter-on-quarter to 1.93 billion yuan, exceeding previous expectations [2] - The company’s net service fee rate was approximately 5.6%, slightly down from 5.96% in Q4 2024, attributed to a decrease in average funding costs and stable asset quality [4] Loan Disbursement and Customer Acquisition - In Q1 2025, the company optimized customer acquisition channels, adding 7 embedded finance partners, with loan disbursement increasing by 16% year-on-year to 88.9 billion yuan, although the quarter-on-quarter growth rate slightly declined due to seasonal factors [3] - The company expects loan disbursement to grow by 5%-10% year-on-year in 2025, maintaining previous forecasts [3] Shareholder Returns - The company maintains a semi-annual dividend policy, planning to distribute cash dividends of $0.6 and $0.7 per ADS for the first and second halves of 2024 respectively [5] - As of May 19, 2025, the company has repurchased 9.1 million ADS for approximately $404.5 million, with an expected total repurchase amount of no less than $680 million for 2025 [5] Industry Development - The introduction of the "Loan Assistance New Regulations" on April 1 aims to enhance the regulatory framework of the industry, potentially eliminating unreasonable pricing and charging behaviors, which may benefit compliant and well-operating institutions like Qifu Technology [6]

Group 1: Company Developments - CATL officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 20, with a closing price of HKD 306.20 per share, representing a 16.43% increase from the offering price of HKD 263 [1] - Shandong Kuailu Technology submitted its listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 19, holding a 2.2% market share in China's short-distance green travel technology service market based on projected 2024 revenue [2] - Qifu Technology reported a revenue of CNY 4.691 billion for Q1, a year-on-year increase of 12.94%, with net profit reaching approximately CNY 1.8 billion, up from CNY 1.16 billion in the same period last year [3] - FWD Group, founded by Richard Li, submitted its prospectus to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 19, marking its continued efforts for market expansion and capital operation strategy [4] Group 2: Market Performance - The Hang Seng Index closed at 23,681.48, with a gain of 1.49% on May 20 [5] - The Hang Seng Tech Index reached 5,315.56, increasing by 1.15% [5] - The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index stood at 8,589.08, up by 1.52% [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, non-GAAP net income increased by 59.9% year over year to RMB 1.93 billion, while non-GAAP EPS on a fully diluted basis rose by 78.5% to RMB 13.5 [7][28] - Total revenue for Q1 was RMB 4.69 billion, compared to RMB 4.48 billion in Q4 and RMB 4.15 billion a year ago [22] - The take rate for the quarter reached 5.7%, up 2.2 percentage points year over year [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from credit-driven services was RMB 3.11 billion in Q1, up from RMB 2.89 billion in Q4 and RMB 3.02 billion a year ago [22] - Revenue from platform services was RMB 1.58 billion in Q1, slightly down from RMB 1.59 billion in Q4 but up from RMB 1.14 billion a year ago [23] - Loan facilitation and origination volume increased by 15.8% year over year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 1,540,000 new credit line users in Q1, up 6% year over year, with new borrowers increasing approximately 41% year over year to 1,130,000 [12] - The delinquency rate after thirty-day collections (C:M2) remained stable at 0.6% [11][26] - The average internal rate of return (IRR) of loans originated was 21.4%, compared to 21.3% in the prior quarter [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on an AI plus credit strategy, aiming to build the industry's first AI agent platform to enhance core credit processes [8] - Plans to recruit an additional 100 algorithm engineers by the end of the year to accelerate transformation into an AI-native organization [8] - The company expects to maintain high-quality growth in its core loan facilitation business while empowering financial institutions through technology solutions [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the macroeconomic environment, noting early signs of recovery in China's economy [6][18] - The company plans to enhance operational efficiency and optimize capital allocation while maintaining a prudent approach to risk management [18][66] - The outlook for Q2 2025 includes expected non-GAAP net income between RMB 1.75 billion and RMB 1.85 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 24-31% [32] Other Important Information - The company issued RMB 6.6 billion in asset-backed securities (ABS) in Q1, a year-over-year increase of approximately 25% [12] - The effective tax rate for Q1 was 18%, higher than the typical rate of approximately 15% due to withholding tax provisions [28] - The company has initiated a share repurchase program, expecting total repurchases this year to be no less than USD 680 million [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of new loan facilitation rules and credit quality trends - Management indicated that new regulations are a positive signal for the industry, promoting orderly development and recognizing the value of leading loan facilitation platforms [36] - Asset quality remains stable, with the C2M2 ratio at 0.6%, significantly better than previous periods [39] Question: Asset quality indicators and credit demand trends - The increase in day one delinquency was attributed to changes in loan mix, with a higher percentage from embedded finance channels [44] - Credit demand has shown early signs of recovery, but macro uncertainties persist [47] Question: Impact of US-China trade tensions and potential delisting risk - The direct impact of tariffs on the business is limited, with only a small percentage of loan volume related to exports [50] - The company has a clear plan to address potential ADR delisting risks, including a secondary listing in Hong Kong [54] Question: Customer acquisition costs and strategies - The increase in customer acquisition costs was driven by a change in business mix, with a focus on efficiency rather than just cost [60] - The company plans to adjust acquisition strategies based on macro conditions and customer demand [62] Question: Loan demand trends and funding liquidity - Recent policy measures to boost consumption have positively impacted credit demand, and funding costs are expected to decrease slightly [66] - The company will maintain a prudent lending strategy while pursuing sustainable growth [67]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Non-GAAP net income increased by 59.9% year over year to RMB 1.93 billion, while non-GAAP EPADS on a fully diluted basis rose by 78.5% to RMB 13.5 [6] - Total revenue for Q1 was RMB 4.69 billion, compared to RMB 4.48 billion in Q4 and RMB 4.15 billion a year ago [20] - Non-GAAP net profit was RMB 1.93 billion in Q1 compared to RMB 1.97 billion in Q4 [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from credit-driven services was RMB 3.11 billion in Q1, up from RMB 2.89 billion in Q4 [20] - Revenue from platform services was RMB 1.58 billion in Q1, slightly down from RMB 1.59 billion in Q4 [21] - Loan volume from embedded finance channels grew by 36% year over year, while loan volume surged by roughly 106% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 1,540,000 new credit line users in Q1, up 6% year over year [11] - Ninety-day delinquency rate was 2.02% in Q1, down from 2.09% in Q4 [23] - The overall ROA of embedded finance channels improved by 20% on a sequential basis [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is rolling out an AI plus credit strategy aimed at building the industry's first AI agent platform [7] - Plans to recruit an additional 100 algorithm engineers by the end of the year to accelerate transformation into an AI-native organization [7] - The company expects to maintain a low funding cost in the long run while adopting a prudent lending strategy [66] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains cautiously optimistic about the economy, supported by technological innovation and government measures to boost domestic demand [16] - The macroeconomic and policy landscape is showing signs of stabilization, which will provide a favorable environment for the consumer credit industry [16] - The company expects non-GAAP net income for Q2 to be between RMB 1.75 billion and RMB 1.85 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 24-31% [30] Other Important Information - The company issued RMB 6.6 billion in ABS, a year-over-year increase of approximately 25% [11] - The effective tax rate for Q1 was 18%, higher than the typical rate of approximately 15% due to withholding tax provisions [26] - The company has executed a share repurchase program with a total repurchase expected to be no less than USD 680 million this year [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of new loan facilitation rules and credit quality trends - Management views the new rules as a positive signal for the industry, promoting orderly development and recognizing the value of leading loan facilitation platforms [34] - Asset quality remains stable, with the C2M2 ratio at 0.6%, significantly better than previous periods [35][36] Question: Asset quality indicators and credit demand trends - The increase in day one delinquency was driven by a change in loan mix, with a higher percentage from embedded finance channels [42] - Credit demand has shown early signs of recovery, but macro uncertainties persist [37][45] Question: Assessment of tariff tensions and ADR delisting risk - The direct impact of tariffs on the business is limited, with only a small percentage of loan volume affected [48] - The company has a clear plan to respond to potential ADR delisting risks, including a secondary listing in Hong Kong [52][54] Question: Customer acquisition costs and strategy adjustments - The increase in customer acquisition cost was driven by a change in business mix, with a higher contribution from API channels [58] - The company will continue to monitor macro changes and adjust acquisition strategies accordingly [62] Question: Loan demand trends and funding liquidity - Recent government policies aimed at boosting consumption have positively impacted credit demand [65] - The company expects funding costs to decrease slightly from Q1 levels and plans to optimize its funding structure [66]

Core Insights - QFIN Technology reported its Q1 2025 financial results, demonstrating a strong performance driven by AI innovations and a commitment to prudent management strategies in a complex market environment [1] - The company is advancing its "AI + Finance" strategy, aiming to create the first intelligent system that empowers core lending operations, which has already begun to enhance business processes and efficiency [1][2] Financial Performance - As of the end of Q1, QFIN Technology connected with 163 financial institutions, providing digital credit services to over 58 million credit users, with a 6% year-on-year increase in new credit users and a 15.8% increase in loan facilitation volume [1] AI-Driven Innovations - The launch of the lending intelligent system integrates various smart modules covering data analysis, operations, compliance, risk strategies, and financial reconciliation, significantly transforming the company's business model [2] - The AI marketing module improved the conversion rate from new credit users to new loan users by 33% year-on-year [2] - The AI compliance module reduced the time required for regulatory document interpretation from 40 hours to 2 hours, with accuracy improving from 68% to 99.2% [2] Risk Control Enhancements - QFIN Technology has developed end-to-end risk control capabilities, achieving an AUC improvement to 0.64 through reinforcement learning on historical decision logs [3] - The user feature verification accuracy reached over 95% through advanced data mining capabilities [3] Strategic Partnerships and Growth - QFIN Technology's subsidiary, QFIN Digital Technology, signed contracts with three mid-to-large city commercial banks, with a 144% year-on-year increase in business scale [4] - The launch of the FocusPRO2.0 platform for digital inclusive credit solutions has led to rapid loan disbursement and exceeded risk control expectations [4] Social Responsibility Initiatives - The company launched the "QFIN Support Program" to assist rural revitalization through interest-free loans for small businesses and farmers, contributing to local economic development [6] - QFIN Technology has been recognized for its efforts in promoting financial technology development and social responsibility, with its CEO participating in high-level forums to discuss opportunities in AI and industry upgrades [6] Future Outlook - The CEO emphasized that AI technology is a core support for the generational leap in fintech, positioning the lending intelligent system as a new growth engine for long-term high-quality development [7] - The intelligent system is expected to facilitate the transition of traditional banks to smart banks, enhancing user experience and commercial efficiency [7]

Company Overview - Qifu Technology is a leading AI-empowered credit-tech platform in China with 584 million cumulative users with approved credit lines[13, 27] - The company has established partnerships with 163 financial institutions[13, 20] - Loan facilitation volume in 1Q25 reached RMB 889 billion, representing a 158% year-over-year increase[13] - Non-GAAP net income in 1Q25 was RMB 1926 million, a 599% year-over-year increase[13] - The company has repurchased US$905 million worth of ADSs cumulatively, leading to a 210% share count reduction[15] Financial Performance - Total net revenue for 1Q25 was RMB 4691 million[62] - Non-GAAP net income for 1Q25 was RMB 1926 million[64] - Platform services contributed 531% to the loan facilitation volume in 1Q25[57] - Platform services contributed 581% to the outstanding loan balance in 1Q25[59] Risk Management - The company maintains robust risk performance, as indicated by delinquency and collection rates[67, 68, 69]

User Growth and Engagement - As of March 31, 2025, the platform has connected with 163 financial institution partners and 268.2 million consumers with potential credit needs, an increase of 11.1% from 241.4 million a year ago[5] - The number of users with approved credit limits reached 58.4 million, up 11.6% from 52.3 million as of March 31, 2024[5] Loan Performance - The total loan volume facilitated reached RMB 88,883 million, a 15.8% increase from RMB 76,784 million in the same period last year[5] - The total outstanding loan balance was RMB 140,273 million, reflecting a 5.5% increase from RMB 132,964 million as of March 31, 2024[5] - The 90-day+ delinquency rate for loans was 2.02% as of March 31, 2025[5] - The first-day overdue rate was 5.0%, while the 30-day recovery rate was 88.1%, indicating stable risk performance despite macroeconomic fluctuations[10] - The weighted average contract term for loans initiated by financial institutions was approximately 10.17 months, slightly up from 10.10 months in the same period last year[5] Financial Performance - Total net revenue for the first quarter was RMB 4,690.7 million (USD 646.4 million), compared to RMB 4,482.3 million in the previous quarter[10] - Net profit for the first quarter was RMB 1,796.6 million (USD 247.6 million), down from RMB 1,912.7 million in the previous quarter[10] - Non-GAAP net profit was RMB 1,926.2 million (USD 265.4 million), compared to RMB 1,972.4 million in the previous quarter[10] - The company reported a diluted net income per American Depositary Share (ADS) of RMB 12.62 (USD 1.74), down from RMB 13.24 in the previous quarter[10] - Total revenue for Q1 2025 reached RMB 4.69 billion (USD 646.4 million), an increase from RMB 4.15 billion in Q1 2024 and RMB 4.48 billion in the previous quarter[13] - Net profit under non-GAAP was RMB 1.93 billion (USD 272.1 million), compared to RMB 1.41 billion in Q1 2024 and RMB 1.95 billion in the previous quarter[18] Operating Costs and Profitability - Operating costs totaled RMB 2.72 billion (USD 374.3 million), a decrease from RMB 2.79 billion in Q1 2024 and an increase from RMB 2.59 billion in the previous quarter[15] - Operating profit margin was 42.1%, with a non-GAAP operating profit margin of 44.9%[19] - The company reported a net profit attributable to the company of RMB 1,800.2 million ($248.1 million), compared to RMB 1,164.3 million in the same period of 2024[20] Future Outlook and Investments - The company plans to continue investing in AI technology to enhance its credit services and improve operational efficiency[10] - The company plans to generate net profit of RMB 1.65 billion to RMB 1.75 billion for Q2 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 24% to 31%[30] - The company plans to continue expanding its market presence and investing in new technologies to drive future growth[45] Share Repurchase and Financing - The board approved a share repurchase plan allowing the company to repurchase up to $450 million worth of American Depositary Shares or Class A ordinary shares[28] - The company issued USD 690 million in convertible notes to support its share repurchase plan, enhancing its financial foundation[18] - The company issued $690 million of convertible preferred notes due in 2030, with plans to use the net proceeds for additional share repurchases[29] Cash Flow and Assets - The company’s cash and cash equivalents increased to RMB 8,578,822 thousand as of March 31, 2025, up from RMB 4,452,416 thousand as of December 31, 2024, representing a growth of 93.5%[43] - The company reported a total asset value of RMB 55,627,168 thousand as of March 31, 2025, equivalent to approximately USD 7,665,629 thousand[43] - Operating cash flow for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was RMB 2,805,685, an increase of 43.4% compared to RMB 1,958,267 in 2024[48] Liabilities and Equity - Total liabilities increased to RMB 32,511,226 thousand as of March 31, 2025, compared to RMB 23,886,399 thousand as of December 31, 2024, indicating a rise of 36.5%[44] - The company’s equity totalled RMB 23,115,942 thousand as of March 31, 2025, down from RMB 24,246,219 thousand as of December 31, 2024, showing a decrease of 4.7%[44] - The company’s non-current liabilities surged to RMB 16,133,988 thousand as of March 31, 2025, from RMB 6,414,190 thousand as of December 31, 2024, reflecting a significant increase of 150.5%[44] Non-GAAP Financial Measures - The company emphasizes the importance of non-GAAP financial measures to enhance understanding of past performance and future outlook, despite potential differences in calculation methods compared to other companies[39] - The company’s financial data should be viewed as supplementary to GAAP results, not as a substitute or superior alternative[39] - The company’s net profit margin, calculated using non-GAAP measures, is expected to provide insights into operational performance trends, excluding stock-based compensation expenses[39] Comprehensive Income - The company reported a total comprehensive income of RMB 1,784,813 for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to RMB 1,166,297 in 2024, marking a significant increase[49] - Non-GAAP net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was RMB 1,929,789, up from RMB 1,208,932 in 2024, indicating a growth of 59.5%[51] Earnings Per Share - Basic earnings per share for ordinary shares increased to RMB 6.41 in 2025 from RMB 3.73 in 2024, reflecting a growth of 71.5%[46] - The diluted earnings per American Depositary Share under GAAP was RMB 12.62 ($1.74)[21] - The diluted non-GAAP earnings per American Depositary Share was RMB 13.53 ($1.86)[22]

Core Viewpoint - The internet financial information service industry in China is experiencing rapid growth driven by the high-quality development of the securities market and technological innovation, with a projected market size increase from 10.07 billion yuan in 2015 to 63.52 billion yuan in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of 22.71% [2][3]. Industry Overview - The internet financial information service industry has emerged alongside the development of the internet, effectively utilizing its convenience and speed to provide investors with enhanced information services. The industry can be segmented into three categories: financial information terminal services, value-added information services, and online financial information services [3]. - Despite the rapid growth and diversification of services, the industry remains relatively small compared to its domestic potential and the more mature international market, indicating significant growth opportunities [3]. Development History - The internet financial sector in China began to take shape before 2005, with traditional financial institutions initially moving their operations online. The introduction of e-commerce in 1993 marked the start of a fully electronic business era, prompting banks to innovate and adapt to the internet [5]. - From 2005 to 2012, the industry saw the emergence of third-party payment systems, P2P lending, and crowdfunding, marking a shift from mere technological integration to actual business models [6]. - The year 2013 is recognized as the starting point of rapid growth for internet finance in China, highlighted by the launch of "Yu'ebao," which led to the maturation of third-party payments and explosive growth in P2P lending [6]. Relevant Policies - The Chinese government has implemented various policies to support the healthy development of the internet financial information service industry. For instance, the State Council issued guidelines in March 2025 to enhance data security and promote technological innovation in the financial sector [8][9]. - In April 2025, a plan was introduced to accelerate the construction of a financial service system that aligns with technological innovation, aiming to improve the quality and efficiency of financial services [8][9]. Industry Chain - The internet financial information service industry chain has matured, encompassing areas such as financial information, third-party payments, and online lending. The upstream includes data providers, banks, and individual funders, while the downstream consists of individual consumers, merchants, and enterprises [10]. - The relationship between merchants and third-party payment institutions is crucial, as the attractiveness and conversion rates of merchants significantly influence transaction volumes [10].