Core Insights - H World Group Limited has released its 2024 Sustainability Report, emphasizing its commitment to sustainable growth through innovation, inclusion, and environmental action, and has been recognized for its outstanding ESG practices [1][2] Group Commitments and Strategies - The report outlines commitments and strategies across six key dimensions: corporate governance, service excellence, employee well-being, industry advancement, environmental responsibility, and social contribution [2] Environmental Initiatives - H World is advancing its green vision through three pillars: green buildings, green operations, and green services, in collaboration with its global ecosystem [3] - The company has implemented modular construction techniques in flagship products, resulting in faster construction and lower environmental footprints [7] - Environmental criteria have been integrated into supplier partnerships, promoting eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices [7] - The "Green Living" program has encouraged 872,000 guest stays to opt out of towel replacement, saving over 24,000 tons of water and preventing 676 tons of carbon emissions [7] Employee Empowerment - H World employs 28,502 full-time employees, with 62.4% being women, and 59.6% of hotel general managers in China are female [4] - The company has partnered with over 130 universities to create over 2,600 annual internship positions and has been recognized as a top employer among Chinese university students [5] Social Responsibility - H World has actively engaged in public welfare initiatives, including providing shelter and resources to residents affected by floods in Guilin [8] - The company promotes an integrated "Hotel + Rural Economy" model and supports rural education through the "Scholarly HanTing" initiative [8] Safety and Quality Assurance - H World has strengthened service standards through enhanced safety measures and established a Security Assurance Committee led by the CEO [9] - The company conducted 972 audits covering 699 suppliers in 2024, achieving a 98% audit coverage rate for strategic suppliers [10]

Group 1 - The analyst gave a buy rating to H World Group (HTHT) in March, citing solid execution and potential for strong growth [1] - The investment approach focuses on identifying undervalued companies with long-term growth potential, blending value investing principles with a long-term growth focus [1] Group 2 - The article does not contain any stock, option, or similar derivative positions in the companies mentioned, nor plans to initiate such positions in the near future [2] - The article expresses the author's own opinions and is not receiving compensation from any company mentioned [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [2][6][16] Core Insights - The company reported Q1 2025 earnings that met expectations, with total revenue of 5.4 billion RMB, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 2.2% [6] - The domestic hotel segment generated revenue of 4.5 billion RMB, up 5.5% year-on-year, exceeding the previously announced guidance [6] - The company is focusing on expanding its mid-range and high-end hotel brands while maintaining a core structure of economy and mid-range hotels [6] - The overall hotel occupancy rate slightly declined due to a significant increase in supply, while overseas hotel performance improved [6] - Membership and central reservation contributions are on the rise, with the overseas segment accelerating its asset-light transformation [6] - The company has adjusted its profit forecasts for 2025-2026, expecting net profits of 4.599 billion RMB and 5.258 billion RMB respectively [6] Financial Data and Profit Forecast - Projected revenues for 2023 to 2027 are as follows: 21,882 million RMB (2023), 23,891 million RMB (2024), 24,466 million RMB (2025E), 25,434 million RMB (2026E), and 26,402 million RMB (2027E) [5][7] - The expected net profit for 2025 is 4,599 million RMB, with a growth rate of 50% year-on-year [5] - The company anticipates a gross margin improvement from 34% in 2023 to 38% in 2027 [5][7]

Core Insights - H World Group Limited (HTHT) reported first-quarter 2025 results with earnings and revenues missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate, although both metrics increased year-over-year [1][3] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q1 2025 were 34 cents, missing the consensus estimate of 42 cents by 19.1%, compared to 29 cents in the prior-year quarter [3] - Quarterly revenues reached $744 million, falling short of the consensus mark of $754 million by 1.3%, but representing a 1.8% increase from $731 million in the same quarter last year [3] - Selling, General and Administrative expenses were $104 million, significantly higher than $36 million reported in the prior-year quarter [4] - The operating margin improved by 110 basis points year-over-year to 20.1%, driven by higher revenue contributions from manachised and franchised businesses [4] - Adjusted EBITDA was $206 million, reflecting a 4.6% increase from the previous year's figure [4] Balance Sheet - As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents stood at $1.1 billion, up from $818 million in the prior-year quarter [5] - Long-term debt increased to $609 million from $228 million reported in Q1 2024 [5] Business Operations - H World operated a global network of 11,685 hotels with a total of 1,142,158 rooms as of March 31, 2025, including 11,564 properties under the Legacy-Huazhu brand and 121 under Legacy-DH [6] - In Q1 2025, the Legacy-Huazhu segment added 694 new hotels, with 692 under the manachised and franchised model, while closing 155 properties [6] - The company maintains a robust development pipeline of 2,888 unopened hotels, with 2,865 from Legacy-Huazhu and 23 from Legacy-DH [6] Strategic Outlook - The company expressed a cautious stance regarding persistent tariff challenges and broader macroeconomic uncertainties [2] - H World emphasized its asset-light strategy, focusing on high-quality network expansion, strengthened brand positioning, service excellence, and enhanced sales capabilities through its H Rewards membership program to drive growth [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall revenue for the group increased by 2.2% year over year to RMB 5.4 billion [21] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 5.3% year over year to RMB 1.5 billion [24] - The number of rooms increased by 20% year over year to over 1.1 million [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Lexi Huazhu grew by 5.5% year over year, while DH revenue decreased by 11.3% year over year due to the transformation of leased hotels to franchised hotels [22] - Managed and franchised business revenue grew by 21.1% year over year, driven by strong network expansion [22] - The number of upper midscale hotels in operation increased by 36% year over year to 933 [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined by 3.9% year over year, with ADR decreasing by 2.6% year over year and occupancy rate declining by one percentage point [7] - RevPAR for legacy DH improved by 12.7% to €65, with ADR improving by 2.8% and occupancy increasing by 5.3 percentage points [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on differentiated strategies for products and services to capture rising leisure demand, particularly from emerging travelers [10] - The company aims to maintain a strong growth momentum in the upper midscale segment and is continuously upgrading products to meet evolving customer demands [13] - The company is pursuing an asset-light strategy, with 46% of its hotels being managed or franchised [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains cautious about potential future volatilities and uncertainties due to tariff issues affecting market outlook [8] - Despite challenges in business travel demand, management believes the leisure travel demand remains strong and is optimistic about future growth [8][29] - For the second quarter, management expects RevPAR to decline at a low single digit but to narrow on a sequential basis [29] Other Important Information - The company opened 695 hotels and closed 155 hotels in the first quarter, with a pipeline of 2,865 hotels [11] - The member base increased to nearly 280 million, with room nights generated through the central reservation system accounting for 65.1% [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations on RevPAR for Q2 2025 and full year 2025 - Management expects RevPAR to decline at a low single digit for Q2 but aims to stabilize it over time, with uncertainties affecting the full year guidance [29] Question: Specific reasons behind the weakness in business travel - Management attributes the weakness in business travel to supply issues rather than demand, citing an oversupply in the market [30] Question: Further plans on the DH strategy to improve profitability - Management is focused on asset-light transactions and reducing overhead costs to improve profitability in the DH segment [34] Question: Evaluation of the competition landscape in limited service - Management acknowledges the pressure on RevPAR due to oversupply but emphasizes efforts to improve operational efficiency and support franchisees [36] Question: SG&A costs and one-off restructuring costs - Management confirms that restructuring is ongoing and that SG&A costs are not yet fully normalized, with some effects still to be seen [42] Question: Gap between blended RevPAR and like-for-like RevPAR - Management explains the gap is due to product upgrades and pressures from supply surges, with efforts underway to optimize revenue management [47]

Core Insights - H World Group Limited reported strong growth and continued momentum in its asset-light transformation and brand loyalty in the first quarter of 2025 [1] Group 1: Hotel Openings and Operations - H World Group achieved 538 net hotel openings in Q1 2025, bringing the total number of hotels in operation to 11,685 [2] - The total number of rooms worldwide reached 1,142,158, reflecting a 20% increase year-over-year [2] - The company operates in 1,394 cities across China, with plans to expand to 2,000 cities in the future [2] - As of March 31, H World had a pipeline of 2,888 hotels [2] Group 2: Asset-Light Strategy - Revenue from manachised and franchised hotels increased by 21% year-over-year to RMB 2.5 billion (approximately US$344 million) [3] - The manachise model combines the scalability of franchising with operational control, facilitating efficient and brand-consistent growth [3] Group 3: Loyalty and Direct Bookings - H Rewards membership reached 277 million, making it one of the largest loyalty platforms in the global hospitality industry [4] - Direct bookings from members accounted for over 65% of total reservations, a 5.4 percentage point increase year-on-year [4] Group 4: Experience Upgrade Initiatives - The company is advancing product upgrade initiatives to enhance consumer experience across core brands [5] - The upper-midscale segment saw a 36% year-on-year increase in operating hotels and a 22% expansion in the development pipeline [5] Group 5: Future Outlook - The CEO expressed confidence in achieving the full-year target of approximately 2,300 gross hotel openings [6] - The company will continue to focus on high-quality network expansion, brand positioning, service excellence, and strengthening sales capabilities centered around the H Rewards program [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the group's revenue increased by 2.2% year over year to RMB 5.4 billion, aligning with guidance [19] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 5.3% year over year to RMB 1.5 billion, with Lexi Huazhu's adjusted EBITDA increasing by 5.8% year over year to RMB 1.6 billion [23] - Operating cash flow generated in Q1 was RMB 580 million, with cash and cash equivalents at RMB 11.8 billion, indicating a solid cash position of RMB 6.5 billion [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Lexi Huazhu grew by 5.5% year over year, while DH revenue decreased by 11.3% year over year due to the transformation of 10 leased hotels to franchised hotels [20] - The number of upper midscale hotels in operation increased by 36% year over year to 933, with the pipeline growing by 22% year over year to 523 [11] - The proportion of managed and franchised hotels increased to 46%, up from 38% in Q1 2024, with asset-light hotels in the pipeline at 57% [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - RevPAR declined by 3.9% year over year, with ADR decreasing by 2.6% and occupancy rate declining slightly by one percentage point [6] - The company noted strong performance in North Africa and the Middle East, with RevPAR for legacy DH improving by 12.7% to €65 [15] - The company reported a positive year-over-year growth in industry RevPAR during the Labor Day holiday, indicating a recovery in leisure travel demand [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on differentiated strategies for products and services to capture rising leisure demand, particularly from emerging travelers [8] - There is a commitment to maintaining a strong growth momentum in the upper midscale segment while upgrading products and core brands to meet evolving customer demands [11] - The company aims to achieve a leading position in market share while ensuring profitability for newly opened hotels [55] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding leisure travel demand, despite uncertainties related to tariff issues [7] - For Q2 2025, management expects RevPAR to decline at a low single digit but to narrow on a sequential basis, with a focus on stabilizing revenue [28] - The management acknowledged that the business travel segment is under pressure primarily due to supply issues rather than demand [29] Other Important Information - The company opened 695 hotels and closed 155 in Q1 2025, with a pipeline of 2,865 hotels by quarter end [9] - The member base increased to nearly 280 million, with room nights generated through the central reservation system accounting for 65.1% [13] - The company is actively pursuing asset-light transactions to improve profitability and reduce overhead costs [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations on RevPAR for Q2 2025 and full year 2025 - Management expects RevPAR to decline at a low single digit for Q2 2025, with efforts to stabilize it amid uncertainties [28] Question: Specific reasons behind business travel weakness - Management indicated that the weakness is more related to supply issues rather than demand, with significant supply increases over the past two years [29] Question: Further plans on DH strategy to improve profitability - Management is focused on asset-light transactions and reducing overhead costs, with ongoing restructuring efforts [34] Question: Evaluation of competition landscape in limited service - Management noted that fixed costs, particularly rental costs, have been declining, and operational efficiency is being improved to maintain competitiveness [37] Question: Reasons for the gap between blended RevPAR and like-for-like RevPAR - The gap is attributed to continuous product upgrades and pressures from supply surges, with efforts to optimize revenue management [49]

分组1 - H World Group reported quarterly earnings of $0.34 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.42 per share, and showing an increase from $0.29 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of -19.05% [1] - The company posted revenues of $744 million for the quarter ended March 2025, which was 1.34% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but an increase from $731 million year-over-year [2] - H World Group shares have increased approximately 12.4% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.4% [3] 分组2 - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.51 on revenues of $883.55 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.89 on revenues of $3.47 billion [7] - The Hotels and Motels industry, to which H World Group belongs, is currently ranked in the top 33% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8]

First Quarter of 2025 Earnings Call H World Group Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT and HKEX: 1179) May 20, 2025 AGENDA 25Q1 Business Update 01 02 03 04 25Q1 Operational Q and A Appendix and Financial Review Legacy-Huazhu RevPAR declined 3.9% YoY 华住中国2025年一季度混合RevPAR同比下滑3.9% OCC ADR (RMB) RevPAR (RMB) -2.6% -1.0p.p. -3.9% 280 272 77.2% 216 76.2% 208 Q1'25 Q1'24 Q1'25 Q1'25 Q1'24 Q1'24 H World 3 Network Expansion ꂊ䏅緸絞䘯鸟䪈䓎 Number of Hotel Opening Number of Hotel Closure Number of Hotel in Pipeline 3,138 2,865 Q1'24 Q1'25 ...

Core Viewpoint - H World Group Limited reported its unaudited financial results for Q1 2025, showing a year-over-year revenue increase of 2.2% to RMB5.4 billion (US$744 million) and a significant net income growth of 35.7% to RMB894 million (US$123 million) [4][21][22]. Financial Performance - Total hotel turnover increased by 14.3% year-over-year to RMB22.5 billion in Q1 2025, with a 15.3% increase excluding Legacy-DH [4]. - Revenue from manachised and franchised hotels rose by 21.1% year-over-year to RMB2.5 billion (US$344 million) [12]. - Revenue from the Legacy-Huazhu segment was RMB4.5 billion, a 5.5% year-over-year increase, while the Legacy-DH segment saw a decline of 11.3% to RMB918 million [4][9]. Operational Highlights - As of March 31, 2025, H World operated 11,685 hotels with 1,142,158 rooms, including 11,564 hotels from Legacy-Huazhu and 121 from Legacy-DH [2][37]. - The company opened 694 hotels in Q1 2025, contributing to a total of 2,888 hotels in the pipeline [2][8]. - The average daily room rate (ADR) for Legacy-Huazhu hotels was RMB272, with an occupancy rate of 76.2% [5][6]. Cost and Expenses - Total operating costs and expenses in Q1 2025 were RMB4.4 billion, reflecting a slight increase of 0.5% year-over-year [14]. - Hotel operating costs were RMB3.6 billion, a 1.1% year-over-year increase, primarily due to a 4.2% increase in Legacy-Huazhu costs [14]. Cash Flow and Debt - Operating cash inflow for Q1 2025 was RMB580 million (US$80 million), while investing cash inflow was RMB757 million (US$103 million) [24]. - As of March 31, 2025, the company had total cash and cash equivalents of RMB8.2 billion (US$1.1 billion) and total debt of RMB5.3 billion (US$726 million) [25][24]. Future Guidance - For Q2 2025, H World expects revenue growth in the range of 1%-5%, or 3%-7% excluding Legacy-DH, with manachised and franchised revenue growth anticipated at 18%-22% [26].