Financial Performance - The company's revenue for 2024 reached RMB 2,929.27 million, a 9% increase from RMB 2,680.92 million in 2023[11] - The gross profit for 2024 was RMB 2,141.71 million, with a consistent gross margin of 73%[11] - Operating profit decreased by 18% to RMB 285.23 million, resulting in an operating profit margin of 10%[11] - Net profit for the year was RMB 266.03 million, down 21% from the previous year, with a net profit margin of 9%[11] - Non-IFRS profit for 2024 was RMB 376.05 million, with a non-IFRS profit margin of 13%[12] - The core customer revenue decreased by 4% year-on-year to RMB 711.33 million[29] - Net profit declined by 21% from RMB 335.26 million in 2023 to RMB 266.03 million in 2024[58] - Non-IFRS EBITDA for the year was RMB 486,176 thousand, an increase of 4.9% from RMB 463,782 thousand in 2023, with a non-IFRS EBITDA margin of 17%[62] - The total cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024, were RMB 3,176.39 million, a decrease from RMB 3,301.84 million as of December 31, 2023[65] Business Segments - The BaaS segment, particularly in the financial industry cloud, saw a revenue increase of 19% to RMB 1,410.70 million[11] - The company's MaaS (Model as a Service) business recorded a revenue increase of 5% year-on-year to RMB 932.47 million for the year ended December 31, 2024[28] - BaaS financial cloud revenue for 2024 reached RMB 1,410.70 million, a 19% increase compared to RMB 1,184.73 million for the year ended December 31, 2023[37] - MaaS revenue rose by 5% from RMB 891.25 million in 2023 to RMB 932.47 million in 2024, attributed to expanded application areas and improved product competitiveness through AI optimization[50] - The BaaS model demonstrated strong market adaptability, facilitating precise marketing of financial products to C-end customers through partnerships with well-known companies in various industries[38] Product Development and Innovation - The company launched the CybotStar enterprise-level intelligent platform, enhancing operational efficiency and customer interaction capabilities[14] - VoiceGPT, the company's intelligent voice product, has made significant advancements in technology and application, supporting multiple dialects and emotional interaction[14] - The company plans to expand VoiceGPT's application scenarios into the broader financial sector, focusing on specific training directions for rapid deployment[14] - The AI VoiceGPT technology can simulate human voice for smooth multi-turn conversations, with a response time of less than 500 milliseconds and a semantic understanding accuracy of over 99%[34] - The company plans to increase R&D investment in AI technologies, focusing on generative AI and decision-making AI to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience[46] Client Base and Market Reach - The company serves over 7,000 institutional clients, including major state-owned banks and numerous internet technology companies[16] - The company has served over 7,000 clients, leveraging over ten years of user profiling assets to enhance decision-making capabilities[24] - The company has expanded its services to non-financial sectors, including e-commerce and human resources, enhancing its market reach[25] - The company is actively exploring applications of the BaaS model in non-financial sectors such as travel, social networking, and e-commerce[38] - As of December 31, 2024, the company has served over 7,000 well-known banks, insurance companies, wealth management firms, and various internet technology companies in China[116] Research and Development - R&D expenses surged by 34% from RMB 378.79 million in 2023 to RMB 509.29 million in 2024, representing 17% of total revenue, an increase of 3 percentage points[53] - The company has obtained 319 patents and software copyrights covering key areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning as of December 31, 2024[19] Governance and Compliance - The company has complied with relevant laws and regulations that significantly impact its operations during the reporting period[87] - The board has a strong emphasis on governance and compliance, with independent directors bringing extensive industry experience to oversee company operations[172][177] - The company has established a remuneration committee to determine the compensation policies for directors and senior management[143] - The company has not disclosed any additional continuous disclosure obligations under the listing rules[149] Shareholder and Management Information - The company repurchased a total of 25,490,000 Class B shares at a total cost of approximately HKD 237.51 million during the reporting period[151] - As of December 31, 2024, Mr. Zhang holds approximately 65.08% of the voting rights through 77,208,112 Class A shares[113] - The company has a diverse board with members holding advanced degrees in economics and engineering from prestigious universities, enhancing its strategic decision-making capabilities[170][173] - The senior management team includes Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zheng, and Ms. Han, who are all executive directors with relevant experience[182] Risks and Challenges - The company faces risks related to rapid market development and regulatory changes affecting data privacy and protection[82] - The company is exposed to risks related to its contractual arrangements, including potential penalties from the Chinese government if deemed non-compliant with foreign investment regulations[94] Miscellaneous - The company made charitable donations of RMB 0.52 million for the year ended December 31, 2024[130] - The company has no significant contingent liabilities or capital commitments as of December 31, 2024[72][74] - There are no arrangements for shareholders to waive or agree to waive any dividends[133]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 13.10 [7][8]. Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of RMB 2.93 billion and a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 266 million for 2024, reflecting a year-on-year change of +9% and -21.82% respectively. The net profit fell short of expectations primarily due to higher-than-expected expenses, driven by increased R&D and marketing investments [1][4]. - The company plans to significantly increase R&D and marketing expenditures, which may impact short-term profitability but is expected to strengthen its long-term competitive position [1][4]. Summary by Sections MaaS Business - The MaaS business generated revenue of RMB 930 million in 2024, up 5% year-on-year, with a second half revenue of RMB 510 million, showing an 11% increase. However, the average revenue per core customer decreased by 4% to RMB 3.37 million, and the number of core customers slightly declined from 213 to 211 [2]. - The business faces challenges such as fluctuating credit demand and increased competition, but is expected to improve in the second half of 2024 due to solid customer foundations and enhanced product capabilities [2]. BaaS Business - The BaaS financial cloud and insurance cloud recorded revenues of RMB 1.41 billion and RMB 590 million respectively, with year-on-year changes of +19% and -3%. The service fee rates for new and renewal insurance policies decreased significantly, attributed to the "reporting and operation integration" policy [3]. - The financial cloud's revenue growth has slowed compared to the previous year, likely due to weak credit demand, but ongoing investments and technological upgrades are anticipated to enhance market share [3]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - The company is expected to increase its marketing and R&D investments, leading to a downward revision of net profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 to RMB 2.44 billion, RMB 3.96 billion, and RMB 6.06 billion respectively, with reductions of 52.5% and 47.0% for 2025 and 2026 [4][16]. - The target price has been adjusted to HKD 13.10 based on a DCF valuation method, reflecting the company's transition from a risk control data service provider to an AI service provider in the financial sector [4][13].

百融云-W(06608)2024年加速实现商业化落地 收入 达29.29亿元 同比增长9% 研发开支同比增加34%至5.09亿元，主要归因于研发人员的员工成本增加，以支持产品供应及各项技术 的开发，包括AI应用技术、算法驱动机器学习平台及底层数据库性能提升，研发开支占收入比重提升3 个百分点至17%。 2024年，公司的智能语音产品VoiceGPT在技术与应用方面均取得了显著的进展。公司建立了一流的基 础设施，所有技术均为自主研发，有效降低成本。VoiceGPT 在应用方面表现出色，支持多种方言，并 实现了AI语音互动的情绪化表达，同时能够识别用户情绪，改善在不同场景下的互动。此外，公司计 划将VoiceGPT的应用场景拓展到泛金融领域，聚焦特定方向训练并快速部署。年内，公司成功推出了 CybotStar企业级智能体平台，该平台致力于解决大模型在客户业务场景中的落地应用问题。CybotStar 支持对内场景(EX)和对客场景(CX)。在对内场景中，平台通过客服培训、客户尽调、法务合规、消费 者保护、人事管理和合同管理等智能工具提升内部运营效率。在对客场景中，CybotStar通过自动客 服、自动营销、还款提醒 ...

Financial Performance - For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the company's revenue reached RMB 2,929.27 million, a 9% increase from RMB 2,680.92 million in 2023[4] - The company's non-IFRS profit for the year was RMB 376.05 million, maintaining a non-IFRS profit margin of 13%[5] - The company's operating profit decreased by 18% to RMB 285.23 million, with an operating profit margin of 10%, down from 13%[4] - The overall revenue for the company reached RMB 2,929.27 million in 2024, compared to RMB 2,680.92 million in 2023, showing a solid growth trajectory[31] - Total revenue increased by 9% from RMB 2,680.92 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, to RMB 2,929.27 million for the year ending December 31, 2024[32] - Gross profit increased by 10% from RMB 1,954.53 million to RMB 2,141.71 million, maintaining a gross margin of approximately 73% for both years[34] - Net profit decreased by 21% from RMB 335.26 million to RMB 266.03 million for the respective years[39] - Basic earnings per share for 2024 were RMB 0.58, compared to RMB 0.72 in 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 19.4%[68] - The company's net profit attributable to equity shareholders for 2024 was RMB 266,182 thousand, down 21.8% from RMB 340,459 thousand in 2023[87] Revenue Breakdown - The Business-as-a-Service (BaaS) segment generated RMB 1,996.79 million in revenue, reflecting a 12% growth compared to RMB 1,789.67 million in the previous year[4] - MaaS business recorded revenue of RMB 932.47 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 5%[16] - BaaS financial cloud revenue for 2024 reached RMB 1,410.70 million, a year-on-year increase of 19% from RMB 1,184.73 million in 2023[23] - MaaS revenue rose by 5% from RMB 891.25 million to RMB 932.47 million, driven by expanded application areas and enhanced product competitiveness through AI optimization[32] - BaaS revenue from the financial industry cloud increased to RMB 1,410,695 thousand in 2024, compared to RMB 1,184,728 thousand in 2023, marking a growth of 19.1%[79] Customer Metrics - The number of core customers reached 211, with an average revenue per core customer of RMB 3.37 million, down 4% from the previous year[17] - Core customer retention rate was 97%, a decrease of 2 percentage points compared to the previous year[17] - Core customer revenue decreased to RMB 711.33 million, down 4% from the previous year[17] Research and Development - The company has obtained 319 patents and software copyrights covering key areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning[10] - Research and development expenses rose to RMB 509.29 million in 2024, up from RMB 378.79 million in 2023, reflecting a commitment to innovation[31] - R&D expenses surged by 34% from RMB 378.79 million to RMB 509.29 million, with R&D expenses accounting for 17% of revenue, up 3 percentage points[35] Operational Efficiency - The company has successfully launched the CybotStar enterprise-level intelligent platform, enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience through various intelligent tools[6] - The MaaS cloud platform achieved a stability rate of 99.999%, handling over 300 million queries daily[13] - BaaS business leverages generative AI technology, significantly improving operational efficiency in credit, wealth management, and insurance sectors[21] - The performance-driven pricing structure for BaaS charges fees based on transaction scale, ensuring no upfront costs for clients[21] Market Outlook - The Chinese digital economy and AI industry are expected to grow rapidly, with a projected annual growth rate of over 20% in the data industry by 2026[9] - The global generative AI market is anticipated to expand to USD 1.3 trillion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 42% over the next decade[9] - The company anticipates continued long-term stable growth driven by data empowerment across various industries, including securities, e-commerce, healthcare, and education[14] Corporate Governance and Compliance - The company has complied with the corporate governance code, with the exception of the separation of the roles of Chairman and CEO[54] - The audit committee reviewed the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, confirming alignment with the preliminary announcement[57] - There were no significant lawsuits or arbitration cases involving the company as of December 31, 2024[64] Shareholder Actions - The company repurchased a total of 25,490,000 Class B shares at a total cost of approximately HKD 237.51 million during the reporting period[60] - The repurchased shares included 25,313,000 Class B shares that were subsequently cancelled on February 28, 2025[63] - The company did not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2024[65] - The company did not declare any dividends for the years ended 2024 and 2023[89] Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents, along with time deposits, amounted to RMB 3,176.39 million as of December 31, 2024, down from RMB 3,301.84 million a year earlier[43] - The debt-to-asset ratio was 0.21 as of December 31, 2024, compared to 0.19 as of December 31, 2023[48] - The total assets as of December 31, 2024, were RMB 4,855,674 thousand, an increase from RMB 3,083,818 thousand in 2023[72]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company, with a target price of HKD 12.00, representing a potential upside of 47.04% from the current price of HKD 8.16 [1][5][11]. Core Insights - The company has increased its investment in AI technology, responding to national calls for inclusive finance and focusing on wealth management for financial institutions. It has made significant breakthroughs in intelligent voice and digital human technologies, particularly in semantic understanding and human-computer interaction [2][3][8]. - The company has successfully won multiple cooperation projects with financial institutions, leveraging its business ecosystem to drive growth. Recent projects include strategic partnerships with UnionPay and a credit risk model upgrade for Shengjing Bank [4][9][10]. Financial Performance - In the first half of 2024, the company achieved revenue of RMB 1.321 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6%. The overall gross margin was 73.2%, reflecting a 1.1 percentage point improvement [3][7]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders for the same period was RMB 140 million, a decline of 32% year-on-year. Adjusted net profit, excluding option fees, was RMB 197 million, down 13% [3][7]. - The company expects EPS for 2024, 2025, and 2026 to be RMB 0.58, RMB 0.75, and RMB 0.92, respectively, with corresponding PE ratios of 13.2, 10.2, and 8.3 [5][11]. Market Position and Strategy - The company is actively expanding its AI technology capabilities, which are considered industry-leading. It aims to meet the financing needs of small and micro enterprises and enhance asset preservation and appreciation for C-end customers [5][11]. - The company has a strong client retention rate of 96% among its core customers, which numbered 165, and it continues to expand its business boundaries through AI technology [7][11].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Outperform" rating to the company, indicating a positive outlook on its future performance [4] Core Views - The company is a leading domestic AI technology service provider, leveraging large language models, NLP, deep machine learning, and cloud computing to offer Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) and Business-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions [1] - MaaS focuses on decision-making AI, helping businesses digitize their KYC and KYP processes, while BaaS uses generative AI for intelligent customer interaction and transaction facilitation [1] - The company's services are widely applied across industries such as banking, consumer finance, insurance, e-commerce, automotive, logistics, and energy [1] Financial Performance - In 2023, the company achieved revenue of approximately RMB 2.68 billion, a 31% YoY increase, with MaaS revenue at RMB 891 million (17% YoY growth) and BaaS revenue at RMB 1.79 billion (38% YoY growth) [2] - The company maintained a high gross margin of 73% in 2023, with operating profit reaching RMB 347 million, a 48% YoY increase [4] - In H1 2024, revenue grew 6% YoY to RMB 1.32 billion, with BaaS revenue increasing 11% YoY to RMB 900 million, while MaaS revenue declined 2% YoY to RMB 421 million [4] Business Segments - MaaS is the company's core business, generating stable cash flow through model output and evaluation services, with over 7,000 clients and 165 core clients in H1 2024 [6] - BaaS is the company's second growth curve, utilizing generative AI for intelligent marketing and operations, supporting over 50 million daily intelligent voice communications with a semantic understanding accuracy rate exceeding 97% [7] - BaaS financial cloud revenue grew 20% YoY in H1 2024, while BaaS insurance cloud revenue declined 3% YoY [4] Market Potential - The company is expanding its BaaS model into new sectors such as healthcare, with plans to deploy multi-modal AvatarGPT in non-financial retail scenarios like hotels, malls, and airports [8] - The company expects BaaS to facilitate transactions exceeding RMB 200 billion, with increasing bargaining power as user data and profiles expand [8] Share Repurchase - The company expanded its share repurchase plan to HKD 375 million, demonstrating confidence in its business prospects and commitment to creating shareholder value [10] Valuation and Forecast - The report forecasts 2024-2026 revenue of RMB 2.89 billion, RMB 3.26 billion, and RMB 3.76 billion, with YoY growth rates of 7.92%, 12.56%, and 15.48%, respectively [11] - Net profit is expected to be RMB 291 million, RMB 387 million, and RMB 495 million for 2024-2026, with EPS of RMB 0.59, RMB 0.79, and RMB 1.01 [11] - The company's 2025E PE is estimated at 18-20x, with a fair value range of HKD 15.44-17.15 [11]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" with a maintained rating [1][2]. Core Views - The company has shown steady revenue growth in 2024H1, with a revenue of 1.32 billion RMB, representing a year-on-year increase of 6%. Gross profit reached 967 million RMB, up 8% year-on-year, primarily driven by successful applications of artificial intelligence (AI) technology [1]. - However, net profit for 2024H1 was 143 million RMB, down 31% year-on-year, mainly due to a significant increase in sales and marketing expenses, which rose from 461 million RMB in the same period last year to 507 million RMB [1]. - The company is expected to benefit from its investments in brand promotion and quality traffic acquisition, leading to anticipated revenue and net profit growth in the second half of the year [1]. - The BaaS financial industry cloud segment has shown impressive performance, with revenue of 589 million RMB in 2024H1, a year-on-year increase of 20%, driven by a 23% increase in asset transaction volume to 26.15 billion RMB [1]. - Continuous technological updates, including the integration of intelligent voice applications with large models, are expected to maintain the company's competitive edge and support steady revenue growth in the future [1]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - 2024H1 revenue: 1.32 billion RMB, +6% YoY - 2024H1 gross profit: 967 million RMB, +8% YoY - 2024H1 net profit: 143 million RMB, -31% YoY - Sales and marketing expenses: 507 million RMB, up from 461 million RMB [1]. Business Segments - BaaS financial industry cloud revenue: 589 million RMB, +20% YoY - Asset transaction volume: 26.15 billion RMB, +23% YoY [1]. Technological Advancements - Successful integration of intelligent voice applications with large models, achieving interaction latency under 500 milliseconds - Development of the first commercial version of intelligent voice interaction hardware for diverse applications [1].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) with a market price of 8.43 HKD [1]. Core Views - The company has shown stable revenue growth, with its BaaS (Business as a Service) business performing particularly well. In H1 2024, the company achieved revenue of 1.321 billion CNY, a year-on-year increase of 6.3% [3]. - The gross margin remains high at 73.19%, reflecting a focus on AI technology research and development [3]. - The company has successfully integrated AI applications with its products, enhancing performance and reducing response times significantly [3]. - The financial forecasts for 2024-2026 have been adjusted, with expected revenues of 29.55 billion CNY, 32.88 billion CNY, and 36.93 billion CNY respectively, and net profits of 3.05 billion CNY, 3.98 billion CNY, and 4.78 billion CNY [3]. Financial Performance Summary - Revenue (in million CNY): - 2022A: 2,062 - 2023A: 2,681 - 2024E: 2,955 - 2025E: 3,288 - 2026E: 3,693 - Year-on-year growth rates: - 2022A: 26% - 2023A: 30% - 2024E: 10% - 2025E: 11% - 2026E: 12% [1]. - Net Profit (in million CNY): - 2022A: 240 - 2023A: 340 - 2024E: 305 - 2025E: 398 - 2026E: 478 - Year-on-year growth rates: - 2022A: 107% - 2023A: 42% - 2024E: -10% - 2025E: 31% - 2026E: 20% [1]. - The company’s P/E ratios are projected to be 15.6, 11.0, 12.3, 9.4, and 7.8 for the years 2023 to 2026 respectively [1].

Financial Performance - For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the company's revenue reached RMB 1,321.35 million, a 6% increase from RMB 1,243.03 million for the same period in 2023[5]. - The company's gross profit for the same period was RMB 967.16 million, reflecting an 8% increase compared to RMB 896.03 million in the previous year[5]. - The operating profit decreased by 26% to RMB 156.83 million, down from RMB 211.70 million in the prior year[5]. - The net profit for the period was RMB 142.83 million, a decline of 31% from RMB 206.81 million in the previous year[5]. - The non-IFRS profit for the period was RMB 197.48 million, with a non-IFRS profit margin of 15%, consistent with the previous year's level[6]. - The company's revenue for the first half of 2024 reached RMB 421.35 million, showing a year-on-year decrease of 2% from RMB 431.13 million in the same period of 2023[15]. - The average revenue per core client decreased to RMB 1.996 million, down 18% from RMB 2.433 million in the previous year[15]. - The company’s MaaS (Model as a Service) business recorded significant growth in June 2024, contributing to the overall revenue recovery[14]. - MaaS revenue decreased by 2% to RMB 421.35 million, while BaaS financial industry cloud revenue increased by 20% to RMB 589.47 million[28]. - Gross profit rose by 8% to RMB 967.16 million, with a gross margin of 73% for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to 72% in the previous year[30]. Client and Market Growth - The BaaS business model showed significant growth, with revenue from small and micro enterprises increasing by approximately 47% year-on-year[7]. - The number of core clients increased to 165, up from 146 in the previous year, representing a growth of 13%[15]. - The core client retention rate was 96%, a decrease of 2 percentage points compared to the previous year[15]. - The company assisted over 7,000 institutional clients in China with intelligent decision-making, marketing, and operations, including major state-owned banks and internet technology companies[8]. - The number of banking clients significantly increased compared to last year, demonstrating the strong appeal of the BaaS model in the banking sector[17]. Research and Development - R&D expenses increased by 12% to RMB 225.88 million, primarily due to higher employee costs to support product supply and technology development[31]. - The company aims to leverage generative AI and decision-making AI to enhance product offerings and expand application scenarios[25]. - The company is exploring the application of AI VoiceGPT in the pharmaceutical industry to enhance customer satisfaction feedback processes[7]. - The company is exploring applications of AI VoiceGPT in various sectors, including healthcare, to broaden service offerings[17]. Corporate Governance - The company has established four committees: Audit Committee, Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee, each with clear written terms of reference[51]. - The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for ensuring the company operates in the best interests of all shareholders and complies with listing rules, particularly regarding the dual-class share structure[52]. - The company has confirmed compliance with the corporate governance code and has reviewed its policies and practices regarding legal and regulatory compliance[52]. - The company has implemented sufficient corporate governance measures to manage potential conflicts of interest between different voting rights beneficiaries, ensuring operations align with the interests of all shareholders[53]. Shareholder Information - The company has a dual-class share structure with A shares having 10 votes per share and B shares having 1 vote per share, resulting in Mr. Zhang controlling approximately 65.10% of the voting rights through 77,208,112 A shares and 0.60% through 7,091,503 B shares[47]. - Major shareholders include Genisage Tech Inc. with 77,208,112 Class A shares (100.00%) and HH BR-I Holdings Limited with 37,631,065 Class B shares (9.09%)[58]. - The company has not declared an interim dividend for the six months ended June 30, 2024[88]. - The company has not declared any dividends to its shareholders for the periods ending June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2024[154]. Financial Position - As of June 30, 2024, the company's bank loans amounted to approximately RMB 393.6 million, due within one year[40]. - Cash and cash equivalents, along with time deposits, were recorded at RMB 2,852.85 million as of June 30, 2024, down from RMB 3,301.84 million as of December 31, 2023[41]. - The company's debt-to-asset ratio was 0.18 as of June 30, 2024, slightly improved from 0.19 on December 31, 2023[43]. - Total assets as of June 30, 2024, were RMB 4,294,030 thousand, up from RMB 3,083,818 thousand at the end of 2023[102]. - The company's total equity increased to RMB 4,558,743 thousand from RMB 4,448,924 thousand, showing a growth of 2.5%[104]. Stock Options and Incentives - The company has granted a total of 31,171,400 stock options to eligible participants during the reporting period under the 2021 employee stock option plan[70]. - The company has a maximum limit of 24,764,500 B shares that can be granted under the 2021 Share Award Scheme, subject to a 3% annual cap of the total issued shares[74]. - The total stock-based payment expenses recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2024, amounted to RMB 54.65 million, compared to RMB 20.04 million for the same period in 2023[168]. - The company issued a total of 10,531,500 incentive shares under the 2021 Share Award Scheme during the reporting period, with 1,237,000 shares becoming invalid[75]. Future Outlook - The company plans to explore growth opportunities in inclusive finance and wealth management, with a focus on small and micro-enterprise financing[26]. - The company plans to continue expanding its AI technology platform services in the financial services industry, focusing on enhancing its MaaS and BaaS offerings[111]. - The company aims to enhance its value proposition to financial service providers through strategic investments and acquisitions[90]. - The company plans to extend the timeline for utilizing the unutilized proceeds for R&D investment and general corporate purposes from the end of 2024 to the end of 2026[89].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of HKD 11.8 [5][3] Core Insights - The company reported a revenue growth of 6% year-on-year for the first half of 2024, with a gross margin increase of 1.1 percentage points to 73.19%. However, the net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 32% [1][2] - The company's MaaS (Mobility as a Service) business showed a slight decline of 2% in revenue to HKD 4.21 billion, but began to recover from June 2024. The BaaS (Banking as a Service) business grew by 11% to HKD 9.00 billion, driven by a 20% increase in revenue from the financial sector [2][3] - The adjusted net profit, excluding stock option expenses, was HKD 1.97 billion, reflecting a 13% decline year-on-year [2][3] Financial Performance Summary - Revenue for 2024 is projected at HKD 3.02 billion, with a growth rate of 12.8% [4] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is forecasted to be HKD 313.88 million in 2024, a decrease of 7.8% compared to the previous year [4] - The adjusted net profit is expected to grow by 7% in 2024, reaching HKD 401.88 million [4][3] - The company’s gross margin is expected to stabilize at 72.5% for the next few years [11] Business Development and AI Investment - The company is focusing on AI research and development, enhancing its product offerings in vertical markets. It has integrated various AI technologies to improve its service capabilities [2][3] - The company aims to expand its AI applications, including a commercial version of a 3D digital human for customer interactions in various sectors [2][3] Market Position and Valuation - The company’s current P/E ratios are projected to be 11.17, 8.60, and 7.34 for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 respectively, indicating attractive valuation levels [3] - The target price of HKD 11.8 corresponds to a 16x P/E ratio based on industry performance [3]