Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-08-15 01:53Core Viewpoint - The report from CICC maintains its earnings forecast for NetEase (09999, NTES.US), with a target price of HKD 263/USD 169, indicating an upside potential of 27%/25% for the stock in Hong Kong and the US respectively [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, NetEase's revenue increased by 9% year-on-year to RMB 27.9 billion, aligning closely with CICC's expectation of RMB 27.6 billion [1] - Non-GAAP net profit rose by 22% year-on-year to RMB 9.5 billion, also in line with CICC's forecast of RMB 9.4 billion [1] - The company declared a dividend of USD 0.57 per ADS, with a payout ratio of 30% [1] Group 2: Game Development and Global Strategy - Online gaming revenue grew by 15% year-on-year in Q2 2025, driven by titles such as "Identity V," "Yanyun," and "Marvel Duel," along with some licensed games like Blizzard products [2] - The flagship product "Fantasy Westward Journey" mobile game achieved a new quarterly revenue high in Q2 2025 [2] - New releases like "Yanyun" and "Seven Days World" performed well, and several products were launched overseas, achieving notable rankings in regional download charts [2] Group 3: Profitability and Cost Management - Gross margin for Q2 2025 was 65%, showing slight improvements from 64% in Q1 2025 and 63% in Q2 2024, primarily due to increased margins in gaming and VAS businesses [3] - The sales expense ratio in Q2 2025 recovered to 13%, up from 9% in Q1 2025, driven by marketing investments for key new versions of products [3] - Deferred revenue in Q2 2025 decreased by 4% quarter-on-quarter but showed a strong year-on-year growth of 25%, laying a solid foundation for future performance [3] Group 4: Upcoming Releases and Market Outlook - The highly anticipated mobile game "Destiny: Stars" is set to launch in overseas markets on August 28, 2025, with domestic testing starting on August 15 [4] - Flagship products like "逆水寒" and "Identity V" continue to rank highly on the iOS bestseller list, indicating strong product vitality [4] - The company has a robust pipeline of diverse upcoming products, including "Forgotten Sea" and "Return to Tang," which are expected to enhance its market position [4]