TENCENT(00700) 国信证券·2025-02-18 07:25Investment Rating - The investment rating for Tencent Holdings is "Outperform the Market" (maintained) [1][5][19] Core Viewpoints - The integration of AI search capabilities into WeChat, along with the access to Deepseek, is expected to enhance user experience and expand Tencent's ecosystem value [2][3][12] - The domestic search market is currently dominated by Baidu, but the introduction of AI features is leading to a shift in user preferences, with WeChat's monthly active users reaching 800 million in 2022 and over 100 million daily active users in 2023 [2][8][12] - Tencent's AI strategy positions it well for the future, leveraging its user base and scenarios to capitalize on AI advancements, particularly with the Deepseek integration [3][4][14] Summary by Sections AI Integration and User Engagement - WeChat's AI search feature, which is currently in a grayscale testing phase, is expected to significantly enhance user engagement by providing more powerful search capabilities [6][11] - The integration of Deepseek across various Tencent products, including Tencent Yuanbao and QQ Browser, indicates a comprehensive approach to embedding AI functionalities [7][11] Financial Projections and Revenue Potential - The expected advertising revenue from WeChat search is projected to be between 1 to 2 billion yuan in 2024, with a current ARPU of 185 yuan, indicating room for growth compared to competitors [4][17][18] - Tencent's adjusted net profit forecasts for 2024, 2025, and 2026 are 221.9 billion, 249.2 billion, and 273.3 billion yuan respectively, with corresponding P/E ratios of 19, 17, and 15 [5][19][23] Market Position and Competitive Landscape - The report highlights that while Baidu remains the market leader with a 54% share, the rise of AI-enhanced search engines is creating new competition, with Microsoft Bing increasing its market share from 17% to 30% [8][9] - The report emphasizes Tencent's unique position in the AI landscape, suggesting that its ecosystem advantages will allow it to effectively compete and innovate in the AI space [3][14][15]