Should You Buy, Sell or Hold JD.com Stock After Q1 Earnings Beat?

Core Viewpoint - JD.com reported strong first-quarter 2025 results, with revenues increasing 15.8% year over year to RMB 301.1 billion ($41.5 billion), surpassing estimates [1] - The company faces near-term challenges, particularly in its new business segment, which is impacting profitability despite long-term growth potential [2][18] Financial Performance - JD's non-GAAP diluted net income per share rose 48.8$1.16), exceeding consensus estimates by 10.48% [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $4.59 per share, revised downward by 3.16$172.07 billion, suggesting 7.04% year-over-year growth [6] New Business Segment Challenges - The new business segment reported a non-GAAP operating loss of RMB 1.3 billion in Q1 2025, despite an 18% year-over-year revenue increase [4] - The food delivery initiative is still in its early stages, incurring significant costs without meaningful revenue contributions [5] Competitive Landscape - JD.com operates in a highly competitive online retail market in China, facing significant competition from Alibaba and PDD Holdings [7][8] - Alibaba holds approximately 80% of China's e-commerce market, while PDD attracts consumers with aggressive discounts [8] - JD's competitors have advantages such as longer operating histories and larger customer bases, posing threats to JD's market share [10] Stock Performance and Valuation - JD shares have returned 7.5% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry [11] - However, JD has underperformed compared to Alibaba and PDD, which gained 55.3% and 23.2% respectively [12] - JD currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 7.94X, significantly below the industry average of 22.94X, indicating a potentially discounted valuation [15]