Should Investors Buy, Sell or Hold PDD Stock Post Q4 Earnings Results?

Core Viewpoint - PDD Holdings reported mixed financial results for Q4 and fiscal 2024, with revenues of $15.15 billion, a 24% year-over-year increase, but missing analyst expectations by approximately $746 million. Earnings per share were $2.78, beating estimates by 6 cents [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company is focusing on high-quality development and ecosystem investments over short-term financial gains, leading to a significant moderation in revenue growth compared to previous quarters [2][6]. - Non-GAAP operating profit increased 14% year-over-year to RMB28 billion, but the operating profit margin declined to 24% from 28% in the same quarter of 2023 due to substantial investments in merchant support and logistics [7][12]. Stock Performance - PDD's stock has gained 11.1% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector's return of 1.9% [3]. Valuation Insights - PDD stock trades at a forward P/E of 10.1x, significantly below the Zacks Internet-Commerce industry average of 21.4x, indicating potential market concerns rather than an overlooked opportunity [8][9]. - The company has a robust cash position of RMB331.6 billion (approximately $45.4 billion) as of December 31, 2024, although cash generated from operating activities declined to RMB29.5 billion in Q4 2024 from RMB36.9 billion in Q4 2023 [12]. Future Outlook - Management has indicated a continued focus on ecosystem investments over immediate financial optimization, with expectations of fluctuations in revenue growth and profits through 2025 [13][14]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues is $65.53 billion, indicating a growth of 19.82% from the previous year, while the consensus for earnings is $12.21 per share, suggesting a 7.86% growth from 2024 [14][15]. Investment Considerations - Current shareholders may consider holding PDD stock during this transitional period, while new investors might benefit from waiting for clearer signs of the company's investments yielding results or a more attractive entry point [18][19].