Lexin(US:LX) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-07-22 10:02Core Viewpoint - Lexin (LX.US) announced a stock buyback plan of up to $50 million and CEO Xiao Wenjie plans to invest up to $10 million in purchasing company shares, signaling confidence in the company's long-term prospects and a belief that current market valuations are undervalued [1][2] Stock Buyback and CEO Purchase - The stock buyback and CEO's personal investment are seen as proactive measures to boost investor confidence and reflect management's positive outlook on the company's future [1] - Following the announcement, Lexin's stock price rebounded over 11%, indicating market optimism ahead of the upcoming Q2 earnings report [1] Shareholder Returns - Lexin has a history of prioritizing shareholder returns, with a dividend payout of $0.182 per ADS for 2023, representing a 20% payout ratio, and plans to increase this to 25% starting in Q1 2024 [2] - The company is expected to further raise the dividend payout to 30% in the second half of 2024, demonstrating a commitment to rewarding shareholders [2] Financial Performance - For 2023, Lexin's projected net profit is approximately 20.55 billion yuan, with a 30% dividend rate leading to over 600 million yuan in total dividends, resulting in a yield of around 8% [3] - If the buyback plan is fully executed, the total shareholder return could reach approximately 13%, marking a peak since the company's IPO and positioning it favorably compared to peers [3] Growth and Market Position - Lexin's strong financial performance is supported by a robust Q1 report, showing revenue of 3.1 billion yuan and a net profit of 580 million yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 104.7% [4] - Despite positive institutional outlooks, Lexin's valuation remains low, with a dynamic P/E ratio of less than 4, indicating significant undervaluation compared to expected profit growth [7] Business Model and Competitive Advantage - Lexin's business model combines credit and e-commerce, creating a synergistic effect that enhances its competitive edge in the consumer finance sector [7] - The company's ecosystem, including retail installment, personal consumption loans, and inclusive finance, has shown strong progress, contributing to its differentiated competitive advantage [8] Future Outlook - As the next earnings season approaches, Lexin's solid fundamentals and growth potential are expected to be highlighted, making it a compelling investment opportunity [8]