Core Viewpoint - The report from China Merchants Securities maintains a "strong buy" rating for Tongcheng Travel (00780), highlighting the sustained release of leisure travel demand since the summer peak season, driven by the company's subsidy strategy and an increase in the proportion of hotels rated three stars and above, leading to a trend of simultaneous growth in both volume and price in the hotel business [1] Group 1: Revenue and Performance - The company achieved revenue of 5.51 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.4%; adjusted EBITDA reached 1.51 billion yuan, up 14.5%, and adjusted net profit was 1.06 billion yuan, increasing by 16.5%, with both revenue and performance meeting expectations [1] - In Q3 2025, the company generated revenue from accommodation bookings, transportation tickets, vacation services, and other businesses amounting to 1.58 billion, 2.21 billion, 900 million, and 820 million yuan respectively, with other businesses performing exceptionally well, primarily driven by strong growth in hotel management [1] - As of September 30, 2025, the number of hotels under the group's management platform increased to nearly 3,000, with an additional 1,500 hotels in preparation; the acquisition of Wanda Hotel Management Co., Ltd. was completed on October 16, 2025, with 239 hotels operated under Wanda as of Q3 2025 [1] Group 2: Profitability and Margins - The company's overall gross margin was 65.7%, an increase of 2.3 percentage points year-on-year; the management, R&D, and sales expense ratios were 5.3%, 9.3%, and 31.1% respectively, with an adjusted net profit margin of 19.2%, up 1.0 percentage point, indicating steady improvement in profitability [2] Group 3: User Growth and Services - The average monthly paying users reached 47.7 million, an increase of 2.8%, while annual paying users totaled 250 million, up 8.8%, marking a historical high; the total number of travelers served over the past 12 months was 2.02 billion, reflecting a 7.3% increase, indicating a continued steady growth trend in paying users [3]