Cai Fu Zai Xian·2026-01-13 09:25Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the report is that Citigroup maintains a "Buy" rating for JOYY Inc. and raises the target price from $70 to $78, driven by strong growth momentum in its advertising business and upward valuation potential [1] Group 2 - JOYY is expected to report its Q4 2025 earnings in March, with overall revenue and profit levels anticipated to meet market expectations, particularly with a significant acceleration in advertising revenue driven by increased third-party ad demand and growth in the financial and gaming sectors [2] Group 3 - Citigroup has raised its advertising revenue growth forecast for JOYY for 2026, believing that the existing verticals will continue to grow strongly, while new verticals will provide additional growth opportunities [3] - The revenue forecasts for JOYY from 2025 to 2027 have been adjusted upward, and the price-to-sales (PS) multiple for the advertising business in 2026 has been increased from 1.0x to 1.5x, reflecting enhanced growth momentum and alignment with industry peers [3] - JOYY has been placed on Citigroup's "90-day positive catalyst watchlist," indicating expectations for a more positive outlook on advertising performance in the upcoming earnings report, which could further boost market confidence [3]