Core Viewpoint - The Chinese manufacturing industry is entering a phase of efficiency reshaping driven by AI, with increasing willingness for digital transformation in procurement processes, highlighting the urgency for companies to adopt smart solutions [1] Group 1: Industry Overview - The Chinese MRO market is still in the early stages of online penetration, but there is a clear trend towards digitalization in manufacturing, driven by policy support and industry upgrades [2] - The MRO procurement service market in China is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2024, surpassing the combined size of the US and European markets, indicating significant growth potential [3] Group 2: Company Positioning - Zhenkunhang (震坤行) is a leading digital MRO procurement platform in China, leveraging iterative digital technologies and a comprehensive product matrix to provide one-stop procurement and management services [1][2] - The company aims to expand its private label system, targeting a long-term goal of achieving a 30% sales contribution from private brands, which is expected to enhance overall profit margins [2][3] Group 3: Financial Performance - Since 2022, Zhenkunhang has maintained double-digit growth in GMV, with improvements in operational efficiency and a declining overall expense ratio, indicating a path towards profitability [3] - The company’s adjusted losses have been narrowing annually, with management projecting a transition to a high-quality growth phase with profitability expected next year [3] Group 4: Competitive Advantages - Zhenkunhang has established significant advantages in product strength, delivery network, and digital capabilities, positioning itself as a leader in the MRO industry [4][5] - The company has developed a comprehensive industrial product matrix with over 20 million SKUs and a robust delivery network, addressing the "last mile" delivery challenges effectively [4] Group 5: Technological Innovations - The company has built an extensive industrial product data dictionary and launched several AI-driven products, including the "Xingjia Linglong" AI model, which has received regulatory approval and enhances its technical authority in the MRO sector [5][6] - Zhenkunhang's AI tools have significantly improved material management efficiency and procurement processes, contributing over $20 million in sales within a year [5][6] Group 6: Global Strategy - The company is pursuing a two-step global strategy, focusing on serving Chinese private enterprises going abroad and gradually obtaining international certifications for its self-owned products to enter mature markets [8] - Zhenkunhang's status as a US-listed company provides it with stable funding channels for its global expansion efforts, reinforcing its long-term growth logic [8]

Group 1 - Deutsche Bank maintains a "Buy" rating on Zhenkunhang (ZKH.US) with a 12-month target price of $4, citing ongoing digital transformation opportunities in China's MRO procurement service market as a driver for long-term growth potential [1] - Zhenkunhang's Q3 performance met expectations, with revenue increasing by 2% year-on-year to reach 2.328 billion yuan, and the company achieved monthly breakeven in September [1] - The bank expects an improvement in Q4 GMV growth and quarterly profitability, while keeping revenue forecasts for FY2025/2026 largely unchanged, but raising adjusted net profit margins by 20 basis points due to improved profit outlook [1] Group 2 - In the self-owned brand segment, the total GMV for self-owned brand products grew by 16.7% year-on-year, accounting for 8.2% of total GMV, with over 600 new self-owned brand SKUs launched in Q3 [2] - The company reaffirms its long-term goal of achieving a self-owned brand penetration rate of 30% [2] Group 3 - The company leverages artificial intelligence across various business scenarios, enhancing product recommendation accuracy and generating over 100 million yuan in new sales revenue since the launch of its recommendation engine in Q4 2024 [1] - The overseas strategy prioritizes supporting Chinese enterprises in international expansion, providing comprehensive services including procurement, delivery, product certification, and customs clearance in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Mexico, with management expecting overseas operations to break even by 2026 [1]

Core Insights - Zhenkunhang (NYSE: ZKH) reported a significant reduction in adjusted net loss for Q3 2025, narrowing to approximately 14 million RMB, a 78% decrease from about 66 million RMB in the same period last year, exceeding market expectations of 30 to 40 million RMB loss [1] - The company achieved a monthly breakeven point in September and is confident in achieving quarterly profitability in Q4 2025, marking a transition into a "profitability growth phase" [1][7] Business Performance - The average daily order volume increased from approximately 37 million RMB in July to about 52 million RMB in November, representing a growth of over 40% [2] - The number of customers surpassed 70,000, setting a new quarterly record, which lays a solid foundation for future growth [2] - Total expenses decreased by 14.4% year-on-year to approximately 420 million RMB, showcasing effective cost control and operational optimization [2] Product and AI Development - Zhenkunhang expanded its product matrix by adding over 2.3 million SKUs in Q3, bringing the total to over 19 million SKUs, with a goal to increase the share of its proprietary brand business from 8% to 30% [3] - The company launched its self-developed "Xingjialinglong" AI model, which automates 45 process scenarios, leading to a 42% increase in customer service efficiency and a 52% increase in procurement efficiency [4] - The AI-driven "AI Recommendation Brain" has generated over 100 million RMB in incremental sales since its launch, demonstrating the effectiveness of AI in enhancing sales performance [4] Future Outlook - Management plans to focus on strengthening its competitive edge in core industrial products, including spare parts and chemicals, to solidify its leadership position in the "hardcore" industrial goods sector [6] - Strategic partnerships with leading equipment manufacturers and core component suppliers are being established to enhance product offerings and customer service [7] - The company has successfully completed a phase of adjustment, indicating a stable recovery in overall operations and a transition to a new stage of high-quality growth [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, GMV decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB 2.62 billion, while total revenues increased by 2.1% to RMB 2.33 billion, indicating a recovery in top-line growth [17] - Adjusted net loss narrowed significantly by approximately 78% year-over-year to RMB 14 million, with an adjusted net loss margin improving to 0.6% [5][20] - Operating loss decreased by 69.3% to RMB 32.3 million, with the margin improving to negative 1.4% from negative 4.6% [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of transacting customers exceeded 70,000, reaching a new quarterly high, and private label GMV grew by 16.7% year-over-year, accounting for 8.2% of total GMV [17][8] - Gross margin for product sales YP model increased by 11.2 basis points to 16.2%, while the marketplace model's take rate rose by 47.5 basis points to 13.1% year-over-year [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average weekday order value improved from approximately RMB 37 million in July to RMB 52 million in November, representing an increase of over 40% [4] - The company added over 2.3 million sellable SKUs, bringing the total to more than 19 million, and onboarded over 1,200 new suppliers [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its supply chain capabilities and product offerings, particularly in professional and industrial-grade MRO categories [9][25] - AI technologies are being integrated across various business processes to improve operational efficiency and customer experience [10][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about achieving quarterly profitability in Q4 2025, driven by improved operational efficiency and a balanced customer mix [21] - The company anticipates GMV growth of 15%-20% per year going forward, while balancing profitability with long-term investments in core competencies [33] Other Important Information - The company generated net cash of approximately RMB 105.5 million from operating activities, a significant improvement from the previous year [21] - The launch of the Expert Linglong AI model is expected to enhance the entire MRO supply chain, improving efficiency and productivity [11] Q&A Session Summary Question: Views on the competitive landscape of the MRO market in China - Management believes that the IPO of JD Industrial is beneficial for the industry, as it promotes the concept of one-stop purchasing on e-commerce platforms [24] - The company emphasizes its specialization in chemicals and industrial-grade MROs, which sets it apart from competitors [25][26] Question: Reasons for not being profitable and balancing profitability with long-term investments - Management indicated that previous losses were due to significant investments in infrastructure and core competencies, but they are now entering a phase focused on profitability [30] - The company plans to control expenses while continuing to invest in R&D and overseas expansion to ensure sustainable profitability [33] Question: Future plans for overseas expansion - Management is focused on serving Chinese companies going abroad while also developing business in the U.S. and Europe, with a break-even target for overseas operations by 2026 [36]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, GMV decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB 2.62 billion, while total revenues increased by 2.1% to RMB 2.33 billion, indicating recovery from previous business optimization initiatives [18] - The adjusted net loss narrowed significantly by approximately 78% year-over-year to RMB 14 million, with an adjusted net loss margin improving to 0.6% [5][21] - Operating loss decreased by 69.3% to RMB 32.3 million, with the margin improving to negative 1.4% from negative 4.6% [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of transacting customers exceeded 70,000, reaching a new quarterly high, and private label GMV grew by 16.7% year-over-year, accounting for 8.2% of total GMV [18] - The company added over 2.3 million sellable SKUs, bringing the total to more than 19 million, and onboarded over 1,200 new suppliers [6][7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The gross margin for product sales increased, with the overall gross margin remaining healthy at 16.8% compared to 17% a year ago [18] - The gross margin for the product sales YP model increased by 11.2 basis points to 16.2%, while the marketplace model's take rate rose by 47.5 basis points to 13.1% year-over-year [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its supply chain capabilities in the MRO space, emphasizing specialization in spare parts, chemicals, and manufactured goods [26][27] - The strategic initiative to increase private label products' contribution to total GMV from around 8% to approximately 30% is underway [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving quarterly profitability in Q4 2025, driven by improved operating leverage and expense control [21] - The company anticipates GMV growth of 15%-20% year-over-year going forward, balancing profitability with long-term growth investments [34] Other Important Information - The company generated net cash of approximately RMB 100 million from operating activities, reflecting improved working capital management [5] - AI technologies are being integrated across various business processes, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and productivity [10][12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Views on the competitive landscape of the MRO market in China - Management believes the IPO of JD Industrial is beneficial for the industry, highlighting the potential for one-stop purchasing on e-commerce platforms and the large market size in China [25][26] Question: Reasons for not being profitable and balancing profitability with long-term investments - Management indicated that previous losses were due to investments in infrastructure and core competencies, but they are now entering a phase focused on profitability while maintaining investment in R&D and customer acquisition [31][34] Question: Future plans for overseas expansion - Management plans to serve Chinese companies going abroad while also developing business in the U.S. and Europe, expecting overseas operations to break even by 2026 [38]

Financial Performance - Revenue returned to approximately prior-year levels following nearly four quarters of business optimization[15] - Operating loss narrowed by 69.3% YoY to RMB32.3 million, with margin improving to -1.4% from -4.6%[15] - Adjusted net loss narrowed by 78.7% YoY to RMB14.1 million, with margin improving to -0.6% from -2.9%[15] - Gross margin for ZKH Platform (1P) increased to 16.2% (+11.2 bps YoY), and for GBB Platform to 7.7% (+223.8 bps YoY)[15] Customer and Product Growth - Customer base expanded to over 70,800, a 48% increase YoY in 3Q25[15] - Total sellable SKUs exceeded 19 million, with 2.3 million+ added in 3Q25[15] - Private-label product GMV increased by 16.7% YoY with 600+ new SKUs[15] Operational Efficiency and Innovation - Consolidated the Wuxi (无锡) and Shanghai (上海) central warehouses, expecting annualized savings in rent, inventory, and freight[15] - ProductRecom Agent (AI推品大脑) has recommended 20M+ material line items since launch, driving RMB 100m+ in incremental revenue[15] Revenue Breakdown (9 Months Ended September 30, 2025) - Net product revenues accounted for 97.5% of total revenue[20] - Net service revenues accounted for 1.9% of total revenue[20] - Other revenues accounted for 0.6% of total revenue[20]

Core Viewpoint - The company reported third-quarter performance that exceeded market expectations in terms of revenue and profit metrics [1] Financial Performance - Revenue reached 2.328 billion yuan, surpassing market expectations of 2.288 billion yuan [1] - EBITDA recorded at -8.5 million yuan, significantly better than the market forecast of -45.1 million yuan [1] - Adjusted net profit was -14.1 million yuan, also better than the market expectation of -31.9 million yuan [1] - Adjusted EPS was -0.09 yuan, outperforming the market prediction of -0.19 yuan [1]

Core Insights - ZKH Group Limited reported a resilient financial performance in Q3 2025, with net revenues increasing by 2.1% year-over-year to RMB2,328.4 million (US$327.1 million) [6][12] - The company experienced a significant increase in its customer base, growing by 48% to 70,800 customers, indicating deeper market penetration [2][8] - The company is focusing on enhancing its AI capabilities and expanding its international business, which is expected to drive future growth [8][21] Financial Performance - Gross merchandise volume (GMV) decreased by 2.3% year-over-year to RMB2,622.9 million, with the ZKH platform GMV declining by 2.8% [2][6] - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB24.3 million (US$3.4 million) from RMB81.8 million in the same period of 2024, reflecting improved operational efficiency [12][14] - Non-GAAP adjusted net loss also improved to RMB14.1 million (US$2.0 million) from RMB66.2 million year-over-year [12][15] Operational Highlights - The company added over 2.3 million sellable SKUs, bringing the total to over 19 million, with a notable 16.7% year-over-year growth in higher-margin private-label product GMV [8][11] - Fulfillment expenses decreased by 9.8% year-over-year, contributing to improved operating margins [14][17] - The company consolidated its warehousing operations, which is expected to yield annualized savings in rent, inventory, and freight [8][14] Strategic Initiatives - ZKH is embedding AI across various operations, which has already generated over RMB100 million in incremental revenue through enhanced product recommendations [8][11] - The company is expanding its U.S. distribution channels, including partnerships with platforms like Amazon, to enhance its market presence [8][21] - The management is committed to advancing AI development and scaling overseas operations to compound long-term shareholder value [8][21]

Group 1: Core Insights - The 8th China International Import Expo officially opened in Shanghai, showcasing Zhenkunhang's innovative capabilities in empowering advanced manufacturing and revitalizing the global industrial supply chain [1] - Zhenkunhang launched its self-developed "Xingjialinglong" AI model and intelligent agent family, marking a breakthrough in the intelligentization of industrial procurement [3][5] Group 2: AI Model and Intelligent Agents - The "Xingjialinglong" AI model leverages extensive product data and industry expertise accumulated from serving over 100,000 clients, focusing on the complexities and core pain points in procurement scenarios [5] - The intelligent agent family includes various functions such as AI Material Butler for data processing, AI Assistant for 24/7 inquiries, and AI Product Brain for demand prediction and product recommendations, enhancing efficiency in the supply chain [5] Group 3: ESG Report and Sustainability Initiatives - Zhenkunhang released its 2024 ESG report, emphasizing "responsibility as the foundation for value co-creation," covering governance, product responsibility, green initiatives, employee care, responsible procurement, and charity [7] - The company set ambitious carbon reduction goals, aiming for a 50% reduction in operational carbon by 2025, carbon neutrality by 2030, and full carbon neutrality by 2050 [9] Group 4: Innovation and R&D - The company announced the full operation of its Innovation R&D Center in Suzhou, focusing on new materials and intelligent equipment, enhancing its role in the innovation of industrial products [15][16] Group 5: Industry Collaboration and Influence - Zhenkunhang actively participated in high-end forums and events during the expo, expanding its industry collaboration and influence, and was recognized for its digital supply chain model [20][22] - The company shared its practices in AI technology at various dialogues, promoting the evolution of industrial cross-border services towards intelligence and efficiency [24] Group 6: Future Outlook - Zhenkunhang's participation in the expo reflects its commitment to deepening its service to China's advanced manufacturing and enhancing the resilience of the industrial supply chain through digitalization [25]

Core Viewpoint - ZKH Group Limited, a leading MRO procurement service platform in China, is set to release its unaudited financial results for Q3 2025 on November 20, 2025, before U.S. market opening [1] Financial Results Announcement - The earnings conference call will take place on November 20, 2025, at 7:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time, to discuss the financial results [2] - Access to the call will be available through various toll-free numbers for the U.S., international, and China, with a replay option available until November 27, 2025 [2] Company Overview - ZKH Group Limited operates as a leading MRO procurement service platform in China, leveraging strong supply chain capabilities and an AI-driven approach to serve a global customer base [3] - The company offers customized MRO procurement solutions through its online platforms, focusing on product curation, competitive pricing, and reliable delivery services [3] - ZKH aims to reduce procurement costs and improve management efficiency, transforming the MRO procurement process for stakeholders across the value chain [3]