MEITUAN(HK:03690) 3 6 Ke·2025-12-04 23:48Core Insights - The intense competition among Meituan, JD.com, and Alibaba in the food delivery sector has led to a combined loss of nearly 100 billion yuan in profits over the past six months, marking one of the most costly battles in Chinese internet history [1][4][7] - The third quarter saw unprecedented levels of platform subsidies, resulting in significant financial losses for all three companies, with Meituan reporting its largest quarterly loss since its IPO [1][4][12] Financial Performance - Meituan experienced a quarterly loss of approximately 448 million yuan, while Alibaba's e-commerce business saw a staggering 85% year-on-year decline in operating profit [1][4] - JD.com reported a 108% year-on-year drop in overall operating profit, indicating severe financial strain across the board [1][4] - Marketing expenditures surged dramatically, with Alibaba and JD.com increasing their spending by 106% and 110% respectively, while Meituan's marketing costs rose by 91% [4][12] Market Dynamics - The oligopolistic structure of the food delivery market is beginning to shift, with Meituan's market share expected to drop to around 65% in 2024, a decline of nearly 20% from previous levels [4][7] - The competition is not just about food delivery; it serves as a strategic entry point for e-commerce growth, with JD.com and Alibaba leveraging food delivery to drive traffic to their core retail businesses [7][12] User Engagement and Growth - Despite the financial losses, user engagement metrics have shown positive trends, with JD.com's food delivery GMV experiencing triple-digit growth and a nearly 50% conversion rate for new users [7][12] - Meituan's daily active users increased by over 20% year-on-year, indicating a strong user base despite the competitive pressures [7][12] Strategic Shifts - The companies are recognizing the unsustainable nature of the price war, with a collective call to resist "disorderly competition" in the food delivery sector [22][24] - JD.com is reportedly adjusting its strategy by launching an independent app for food delivery and focusing on improving unit economic costs [22][24] - Alibaba plans to significantly reduce its investment in flash sales in the upcoming quarter, indicating a shift towards more sustainable practices [22][24]