iQIYI(US:IQ) Zhao Yin Guo Ji·2025-01-17 02:23Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for iQIYI, with a target price adjusted to $3.00 based on a 12x P/E ratio for FY2025 [1][2][13]. Core Insights - iQIYI's total revenue for Q4 2024 is expected to decline by 14% year-on-year to RMB 6.6 billion, primarily due to reduced content offerings and a decrease in transaction offset revenue [1]. - The company anticipates a 7% quarter-on-quarter increase in non-GAAP operating profit for Q4 2024, reaching RMB 395 million, attributed to stringent content cost control [1]. - The competitive landscape in the online video market is expected to remain intense, leading to a cautious outlook on revenue and profit recovery for 2025 [1]. Revenue Breakdown - Membership revenue is projected to decline by 15% year-on-year and 6% quarter-on-quarter to RMB 4.1 billion in Q4 2024 [1]. - Online advertising revenue is expected to decrease by 13% year-on-year but increase by 7% quarter-on-quarter to RMB 1.4 billion, driven by brand advertising growth [1]. - Content distribution revenue is forecasted to drop by 20% year-on-year to RMB 404 million, mainly due to a decline in transaction exchange revenue [1]. Financial Projections - Revenue estimates for FY2024 have been revised down by 7%-10%, with total revenue projected at RMB 29.2 billion for FY2024 and RMB 30.0 billion for FY2025 [11]. - The adjusted net profit for FY2024 is expected to be RMB 1.49 billion, with a projected increase to RMB 1.80 billion in FY2025 [3][11]. - The report indicates a projected operating profit margin of 6.0% for Q4 2024, reflecting a 0.9 percentage point increase quarter-on-quarter [2]. Valuation Metrics - iQIYI's current P/E ratio is estimated at 8x based on FY2025 earnings, significantly lower than the industry average of 23x, indicating substantial downside protection [2][13]. - The target price of $3.00 represents a potential upside of 61.3% from the current price of $1.86 [3].