Core Insights - The company reported 1H25 performance with revenue of 3.827 billion yuan, a year-on-year decline of 6%, aligning closely with expectations [1] - Non-IFRS net profit reached 1.946 billion yuan, significantly increasing due to the recognition of deferred tax assets from accumulated tax losses [1] - The company maintained a strong control over sales expenses, leading to a tax pre-profit of 1.068 billion yuan, exceeding expectations [1] Revenue Breakdown - Online music revenue for 1H25 was 2.967 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.9%, driven by a growth in paid user numbers [1] - Subscription revenue grew by 15.2%, while non-subscription revenue increased by 19.7%, although some dilution occurred due to changes in membership structure [1] - Social entertainment and other revenues fell by 43.1% to 860 million yuan, attributed to a cautious operational strategy focusing on core music business [1] Profitability and Cost Management - The gross margin for 1H25 improved to 36.4%, up 1.4 percentage points year-on-year [2] - Sales expenses are expected to increase to 225 million yuan in 2H25, while management and R&D expenses remain stable [2] - The company anticipates a tax rate of 15% for 2H25 and 2026, impacting profit levels [2] Strategic Focus - The company is committed to enhancing its core music ecosystem and expanding long audio content offerings [2] - User engagement metrics such as DAU/MAU remained stable above 30%, with a focus on user experience and innovative features [2] - The company aims to solidify its differentiated position in the industry, supporting long-term growth in music revenue [2] Earnings Forecast and Valuation - The Non-IFRS net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 have been raised by 60% and 10% to 2.85 billion yuan and 2.13 billion yuan, respectively [2] - The target price has been increased by 39% to 324 HKD, indicating a 20% upside potential from the current price [2] - The current price corresponds to a 24 times P/E ratio for 2026 Non-IFRS earnings [2]
网易云音乐(09899.HK)：利润超预期 重视核心音乐生态发展