Summary of ZTO Express Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: ZTO Express (ZTO.N) - **Industry**: Transportation & Infrastructure in Hong Kong/China Key Points and Arguments Market Share and Competition - ZTO has gained market share in Q4 2025, achieving low-teens year-over-year volume growth quarter-to-date, outperforming the industry due to a decrease in low-value parcels in the market [4][12] - Management believes that market competition has improved, with leading players resuming share gains, which was a positive surprise compared to expectations of stable market shares due to customer lock-up [2][4] - ZTO is not participating in aggressive pricing competition, which is deemed irrational for smaller players with thin margins and weak balance sheets [5][12] Financial Performance - 3Q25 net profit exceeded expectations due to tax credits, while gross profit and operating profit missed estimates [3] - Adjusted EBITDA was in line with expectations, and excluding tax benefits, unit profit increased quarter-over-quarter [3] - The 2025 volume outlook was slightly lowered due to a slowdown in market volume growth [3] Earnings Forecasts and Price Target - EPS forecasts for 2025-2027 have been raised by 3%, 6%, and 4% respectively, reflecting the 3Q25 results and healthier average selling price dynamics [6][15] - The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) assumption was slightly lowered to 13.2% from 13.3% due to a decrease in the cost of debt [6][16] - The price target has been increased by 5% to US$25.00, implying a 13x 2026 estimated P/E, which is below the domestic peer average of 16x [6][16] Shareholder Returns and Capital Expenditure - ZTO expects higher absolute shareholder returns year-over-year, assuming no irrational competition [14] - Capital expenditure guidance for 2025 is approximately Rmb5.5-6 billion, expected to decline to Rmb5 billion in 2026 [14] Risks and Opportunities - Risks still exist, but the company is optimistic about achieving both market share gain and profit growth in 2026 [5][29] - The retail business handles over 9 million daily parcels, representing 8-9% of total volume, with management targeting a higher retail parcel mix in 2026 [13] - Potential mergers and acquisitions are being considered as a growth option [14] Valuation and Investment Thesis - ZTO is viewed as a long-term winner in the industry, with attractive risk-reward dynamics, trading at 11x 2026 estimated P/E and a forward free cash flow yield of 7-8% compared to a peer average of 1% [7][29] - The company’s market leadership in volume and unit profitability supports a positive outlook, with a moderate probability of achieving both market share gain and profit growth [24][29] Additional Important Information - The effective tax rate is expected to be 18%, with a significant reduction in tax expenses noted [17] - The company’s market cap is currently Rmb107,605 million, with an average daily trading value of US$10 million [9] - The stock price closed at US$18.97 on November 19, 2025, indicating a 32% upside to the new price target [9] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the ZTO Express conference call, highlighting the company's performance, market dynamics, and future outlook.

Group 1: ByteDance and E-commerce Integration - ByteDance has integrated its Chinese e-commerce, life services, and advertising engineering teams into a new department called "Product R&D and Engineering Architecture - China Transactions and Advertising" to enhance R&D efficiency and competitiveness in the e-commerce and life services sectors [1] Group 2: Pinduoduo Financial Performance - Pinduoduo reported Q3 2025 revenue of 108.28 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9%, with net profit of 29.33 billion yuan, up 17% [2] - The revenue from online marketing services and other businesses was 53.35 billion yuan, growing 8%, while transaction service revenue reached 54.93 billion yuan, increasing by 10% [2] Group 3: Vipshop Financial Performance - Vipshop achieved Q3 2025 net revenue of 21.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 3.4%, with adjusted net profit of 1.5 billion yuan, up 14.6% [3] - The number of active users reached 40.1 million, growing 1.3%, and total merchandise transaction volume was 43.1 billion yuan, increasing by 7.5% [3] Group 4: JD.com Delivery App Launch - JD.com announced the launch of an independent app for its delivery service, which aims to capture a larger share of the instant delivery market [4] - The introduction of JD Review and JD True List is expected to enhance user engagement and platform transparency [4] Group 5: Hema's Pet Food Brand Adjustment - Hema's founder, Hou Yi, announced the closure of several physical stores for the pet food brand "Paiteshengsheng" due to unsatisfactory performance, shifting focus to online operations [5] - This decision reflects the competitive challenges in the pet food market and aims to optimize resource allocation [5] Group 6: Xibei Employee Salary Increase - Xibei has implemented an average salary increase of 500 yuan per month for frontline employees since September, in response to recent controversies [6][7] - This move is intended to boost employee satisfaction and loyalty, enhancing internal cohesion and service quality [7] Group 7: Postal Industry Performance - In October, the express delivery business generated revenue of 131.67 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%, with a total business volume of 18.99 billion pieces, up 6.5% [8] - The growth in express delivery revenue and volume indicates increasing consumer reliance on online shopping [8] Group 8: Flash Delivery Financial Performance - Flash Delivery reported Q3 2025 revenue of 1.005 billion yuan, showing a slight decline year-on-year, while net profit increased by 83.6% to 43.7 million yuan [9] - The order volume for Q3 was 63.2 million, down from 64.8 million in Q2 [9] Group 9: Zhongtong Express Financial Performance - Zhongtong Express achieved Q3 2025 revenue of 11.86 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 11.1%, with adjusted net profit increasing by 5% to 2.51 billion yuan [10] - The total package volume reached 9.57 billion pieces, growing by 9.8% [10] Group 10: Kuaishou AI Revenue Growth - Kuaishou reported Q3 2025 revenue exceeding 300 million yuan for its AI segment, with total revenue growing by 14.2% to 35.6 billion yuan [11] - The e-commerce GMV for Q3 increased by 15.2% to 385 billion yuan, indicating strengthened competitiveness in live commerce and content e-commerce [11]

E-commerce and Retail - ByteDance integrates its Chinese e-commerce, lifestyle services, and advertising engineering teams into a new "China Transaction and Advertising" department to enhance R&D efficiency and competitiveness in the e-commerce sector [1] - Pinduoduo reports Q3 revenue of 108.28 billion yuan, a 9% year-on-year increase, with net profit rising 17% to 29.33 billion yuan, indicating a slowdown in revenue growth and a strategic shift towards long-term value over short-term profits [2] - Vipshop achieves Q3 net revenue of 21.4 billion yuan, a 3.4% year-on-year increase, with adjusted net profit rising 14.6%, reflecting improved platform activity despite the need for ongoing reforms in core business areas [3] - JD.com announces the launch of an independent app for its food delivery service, aiming to capture a larger share of the instant delivery market and enhance user engagement through new features [3] - Hema's founder, Hou Yi, announces the closure of several physical stores for the pet food brand "Paiteshengsheng," citing a mismatch between operational performance and initial goals, while shifting focus to online business [4] - Xibei raises salaries for frontline employees by an average of 500 yuan per person per month to boost morale and service quality amid recent controversies [5][6] Logistics and Supply Chain - The State Post Bureau reports that in October, express delivery revenue reached 131.67 billion yuan, a 4.7% year-on-year increase, with business volume growing by 6.5%, highlighting the increasing reliance on online shopping [6] - Flash Delivery reports Q3 revenue of 1.005 billion yuan, a slight decline year-on-year, but net profit increases by 83.6% to 43.7 million yuan, indicating effective cost control [7] - ZTO Express announces Q3 revenue of 11.86 billion yuan, an 11.1% year-on-year increase, with adjusted net profit growing by 5% to 2.51 billion yuan, reflecting strong market competitiveness [8] Innovation and Investment - Keling AI reports Q3 revenue exceeding 300 million yuan, with Kuaishou's total revenue growing by 14.2% to 35.6 billion yuan, indicating progress in AI commercialization and strengthening competitiveness in live commerce [8]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for ZTO Express (2057.HK) is "Buy" [1] Core Views - The report highlights that ZTO Express achieved a year-on-year growth of 9.8% in parcel volume for Q3 2025, driven by a strong performance in the bulk parcel segment, which saw nearly 50% growth year-on-year [3][6] - The company adjusted its full-year parcel volume growth target down to 12.3% to 13.8%, reflecting a more cautious outlook while emphasizing quality and market share expansion [5] - The report suggests that the express delivery industry still has significant growth potential, particularly in the context of e-commerce and the ongoing "anti-involution" trend, which shifts focus from quantity to quality [6] Summary by Sections Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of 2025, ZTO Express reported total revenue of 34.588 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.3%, with adjusted net profit of 6.818 billion yuan, down 8.1% year-on-year [2] - In Q3 2025, the company achieved revenue of 11.865 billion yuan, up 11.1% year-on-year, and adjusted net profit of 2.506 billion yuan, up 5.0% year-on-year [2] Operational Metrics - In Q3 2025, ZTO Express handled 9.573 billion parcels, marking a 9.8% increase year-on-year, with a market share of approximately 19.4%, maintaining the leading position in the industry [3] - The average revenue per parcel in Q3 was 1.15 yuan, reflecting a 2.3% increase year-on-year, attributed to improved pricing dynamics due to the "anti-involution" trend [3] Cost and Profitability - The cost per parcel in Q3 was approximately 0.59 yuan, down 8.5% year-on-year, with significant reductions in line-haul and sorting costs [4] - The adjusted net profit per parcel was 0.262 yuan, down 4.3% year-on-year, but up 25.6% quarter-on-quarter, indicating improved profitability trends [4] Future Outlook - The report projects adjusted net profits for ZTO Express to be 9.870 billion yuan in 2025, with growth rates of -2.08%, 14.21%, and 11.11% for the following years [7] - The company is expected to leverage its scale and operational efficiencies to achieve stable growth in both parcel volume and profitability [7]

Core Viewpoint - Zhongtong Express reported a third-quarter revenue of 11.86 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 11.1% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.3% [1] - The significant growth in profitability is attributed to the "anti-involution" policy leading to an increase in express delivery prices [1] Financial Performance - The net profit attributable to shareholders for the third quarter was 2.52 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 5.3% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 30.2% [1] - Adjusted net profit for the third quarter was 2.49 billion yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 3.6% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 22.9% [1] - For the first three quarters, the company's net profit attributable to shareholders was 6.46 billion yuan, showing a year-on-year increase of 0.3%, while the adjusted net profit was 6.73 billion yuan, down 9.2% year-on-year [1] Volume and Pricing Trends - In the third quarter, the company completed a delivery volume of 9.57 billion parcels, with a year-on-year increase of 9.7% but a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 2.8% [1] - The average revenue per parcel in the third quarter was 1.22 yuan, with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.02 yuan [1] - The company expects a 10.1% quarter-on-quarter increase in delivery volume for the fourth quarter, driven by the traditional e-commerce peak season [1] Cost and Profitability - The average cost per parcel in the third quarter was 0.91 yuan, with a quarter-on-quarter increase of 0.09 yuan [2] - The adjusted operating profit per parcel was 0.25 yuan, down 0.08 yuan year-on-year but stable quarter-on-quarter [2] - The company anticipates further cost reduction potential in the long term due to economies of scale and automation [2] Industry Outlook - The "anti-involution" policy is expected to shift the express delivery industry from a focus on volume growth to high-quality development [2] - The overall growth rate of delivery volume in the industry is slowing, with a reported year-on-year increase of 7.9% in October [2] - Zhongtong Express, as a market leader with a 19.4% market share, is expected to be less affected by the reduction in low-value parcel demand [2] Valuation Adjustments - The profit forecasts for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been raised by 10%, 5%, and 2% respectively, with adjusted net profit forecasts also increased [3] - The valuation multiple has been lowered to 15.2x for 2025E PE, and the target price has been reduced by 10% to 185.9 HKD / 23.9 USD [3]

Core Insights - ZTO Express reported third-quarter 2025 earnings of 43 cents per share, an improvement from the previous year, with total revenues reaching $1.66 billion, also showing year-over-year growth [1][6] Revenue Performance - Revenue from the core express delivery business increased by 11.6% year over year, driven by a 9.8% growth in parcel volume and a 1.7% increase in parcel unit price [2] - Key account revenues surged by 141.2% year over year, attributed to a rise in e-commerce return parcels [2] - Revenue from freight forwarding services declined by 7.4% year over year [2] Gross Profit and Margins - Gross profit decreased by 11.4% compared to the year-ago quarter, with the gross margin rate falling to 24.9% from 31.2% [3][6] Operating Expenses - Total operating expenses amounted to RMB550.9 million (approximately $77.4 million), an increase from RMB493.0 million in the previous year [3] Share Repurchase Program - ZTO's board approved a share repurchase program with an increased aggregate value of $2.0 billion, extended through June 30, 2026; as of September 30, 2025, ZTO had repurchased 52,919,506 ADSs for $1.3 billion, leaving $0.7 billion available under the program [4] Cash Position - ZTO Express ended the third quarter of 2025 with cash and cash equivalents of $1.31 billion, down from $1.85 billion at the end of the previous quarter [7]

Core Viewpoint - The report from Credit Lyonnais indicates that ZTO Express (02057, ZTO.US) experienced a year-on-year revenue growth of 11% and an adjusted net profit growth of 7% in the third quarter, with an adjusted net profit per order of approximately 0.27 RMB, improving from 0.21 RMB in the second quarter [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - ZTO Express's revenue and adjusted net profit for Q3 increased by 11% and 7% year-on-year, respectively [1] - The adjusted net profit per order improved to about 0.27 RMB from 0.21 RMB in the previous quarter [1] - The core per order cost increased by only 0.02 RMB due to the launch of a new transit center [1] Group 2: Market Outlook - Credit Lyonnais maintains a "Outperform" rating for ZTO Express, with a target price of 152 HKD for the Hong Kong stock and 20 USD for the US stock [1] - The expectation of continued implementation of anti-competitive policies in the industry suggests that regulatory bodies will enforce price floors to curb vicious price competition [1] - Given ZTO's favorable customer structure compared to peers, the company is expected to regain market share next year, leading to a slight upward revision of net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 2% [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that ZTO Express (02057, ZTO. US) reported a year-on-year revenue growth of 11% and an adjusted net profit growth of 7% for the third quarter, with an adjusted net profit per order of approximately 0.27 RMB, improving from 0.21 RMB in the second quarter [1] - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for ZTO Express, with a target price of 152 HKD for the Hong Kong stock and 20 USD for the US stock [1] - The expectation of continued implementation of anti-competition policies in the industry is highlighted, with regulatory bodies likely to enforce price floors to curb vicious price competition [1] Group 2 - ZTO Express is expected to regain market share next year due to its better customer structure compared to peers, leading to a slight upward revision of net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 2% [1]

Group 1 - The company ZTO Express (02057) announced a share repurchase plan, committing to buy back 46,200 shares at a total cost of $877,200 [1] - The repurchase price is set between $18.97 and $18.99 per share [1]

Group 1 - The company, ZTO Express (02057.HK), announced a share buyback on November 20, 2025, spending $87.72 million to repurchase 46,200 shares [1] - The repurchase price per share ranged from $18.97 to $18.99 [1]