3 6 Ke·2025-09-19 10:35Core Viewpoint - The focus of the market has shifted from basic competition in subsidies and order volume to a comprehensive assessment of the long-term strategic determination and financial strength of companies like Meituan, Alibaba, and JD.com as their financial results are released [1] Financial Performance - Alibaba's free cash flow has shown a significant net outflow due to substantial investments in high-tech areas like cloud services, with a reported free cash flow outflow in Q2 2025 [2] - Meituan's free cash flow is expected to turn into a net outflow as its food delivery business enters the traditional peak season in Q3 2025, potentially increasing subsidy amounts [2][3] Cash Reserves and Liquidity - As of mid-2025, Meituan has a total of approximately 189 billion RMB in cash and cash equivalents, indicating a strong liquidity position [2] - In extreme stress tests, Meituan's monetary assets can cover short-term debts of about 93.5 billion RMB, leaving a cash reserve of approximately 98.6 billion RMB [2][3] Future Cash Flow Projections - Meituan's EBITDA for the full year of 2025 is projected to be -4.5 billion RMB, with a significant outflow of free cash flow expected in the second half of 2025, exceeding 20 billion RMB [2][3] - If subsidies for food delivery and flash purchase businesses cease by the end of 2025, Meituan would still have sufficient cash reserves to manage large cash outflows during peak seasons [3] Competitive Landscape - Taobao Flash Purchase has announced a 50 billion RMB subsidy over the next 12 months, which could intensify competition with Meituan's core business [4] - If competition remains intense in 2026, Meituan may face cash outflows of 10 to 20 billion RMB, potentially reducing its cash reserves to between 50 and 70 billion RMB [4] Asset Structure Optimization - Meituan has shown signs of optimizing its asset structure, with long-term investments totaling 43.4 billion RMB as of mid-2025, down from 48.8 billion RMB at the end of 2024 [5][7] - The company has actively reduced long-term financial investments to increase cash reserves, indicating a strategic shift to support core business development [7] Investment Portfolio - Meituan holds significant stakes in companies like Li Auto and Maoyan Entertainment, with the potential for divesting from Li Auto to generate cash flow [9][10] - The fair value of Meituan's investment in Li Auto is estimated at around 22 billion RMB, indicating a potential floating profit of approximately 8 billion RMB [9][11] Market Impact - Any potential divestment from Li Auto could exert short-term pressure on its stock price, although the long-term value is expected to reflect its fundamentals [12]