IFLYTEK(SZ:002230) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-09-24 12:16Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent surge in AI stocks, highlighting the contrasting performance of iFlytek, which has not benefited from the AI boom despite its strong technological capabilities. The focus is on the reasons behind this disparity and the challenges iFlytek faces in commercializing its AI products effectively [2][4]. Group 1: AI Market Trends - The year 2025 is anticipated to be a pivotal year for AI applications, with significant capital expenditures expected from major companies like Microsoft, META, Google, and Amazon, projected to exceed $317.2 billion, a 49.6% increase from 2024 [2]. - Domestic giants such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent have seen substantial stock price increases, with Baidu reaching a new high since October 2023, and Tencent's market value returning to 6 trillion HKD after three years [2]. - Other AI companies, like SenseTime, have also experienced stock price surges, with their market capitalization surpassing 100 billion HKD [2]. Group 2: iFlytek's Performance - iFlytek's stock price has remained stable, failing to join the recent AI stock rally, attributed to its reported net loss of 239 million yuan in the first half of 2025 [4][5]. - The company's gross margin for its open platform business has declined to 16.58%, and revenue from smart hardware has decreased by 3.27% year-on-year [4]. - Despite its strong technological capabilities, such as the iFlytek Starfire V4.0 Turbo outperforming GPT-4 Turbo in several tests, the company has struggled with profitability and market perception [4][10]. Group 3: Comparison with Competitors - SenseTime, despite also reporting losses, has benefited from the AI chip boom and is perceived as undervalued, with its stock price hovering around 1 HKD since 2024 [4]. - iFlytek has historically been favored by capital markets, but its reliance on government subsidies remains a concern, with non-recurring gains from government support amounting to 86.3 million yuan in the first half of 2025 [5][10]. - Competitors like Baidu and Alibaba have successfully commercialized their AI technologies, with Baidu's AI cloud revenue exceeding 10 billion yuan, growing 34% year-on-year, and Alibaba's AI-related products achieving triple-digit growth for eight consecutive quarters [6][8]. Group 4: iFlytek's Market Challenges - iFlytek's core revenue from smart education reached 3.531 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, a 23.47% increase, but it still lags behind competitors in market share [12][18]. - The company holds a 12.1% market share in the AI learning machine sector, significantly lower than competitors like Zuoyebang and Xueersi, which hold 33.4% and 19.8% respectively [17][18]. - Factors contributing to iFlytek's market challenges include a focus on high-end technology rather than practical learning aids, strong brand loyalty towards established educational institutions, and past controversies affecting consumer trust [20][26].