iQIYI(US:IQ) Zhao Yin Guo Ji·2025-05-23 00:23Investment Rating - The report maintains a "BUY" rating for iQIYI, indicating a potential return of over 15% over the next 12 months [14]. Core Insights - iQIYI's total revenue for 1Q25 declined by 9% year-over-year but increased by 9% quarter-over-quarter to RMB7.19 billion, aligning with consensus estimates [1]. - Non-GAAP operating income fell by 58% year-over-year but saw a recovery of 13% quarter-over-quarter to RMB459 million, also in line with consensus [1]. - The company is increasing investments in its content ecosystem and micro-drama user acquisition, which is expected to impact short-term margins but may provide long-term monetization opportunities [1][6]. - The target price for iQIYI has been adjusted to US$2.45, down from US$2.60, based on a 13x multiple of projected non-GAAP EPS for 3Q25-2Q26 [1][9]. Revenue and Profitability Forecasts - Revenue projections for FY25E, FY26E, and FY27E are RMB28.49 billion, RMB28.95 billion, and RMB29.37 billion respectively, reflecting a slight decrease from previous estimates [7]. - Non-GAAP net profit forecasts for FY25E, FY26E, and FY27E are RMB0.73 billion, RMB1.55 billion, and RMB1.78 billion respectively, indicating a significant downward revision due to short-term margin pressures [7][8]. - The gross margin is expected to decline to 23.1% in FY25E, with a gradual recovery to 26.1% by FY27E [7]. Market Position and Competitive Landscape - iQIYI's current trading at 8x FY26E PE suggests a safety margin compared to peers, despite the intense competition in China's video streaming sector [1][9]. - The company has made significant progress in its micro-drama ecosystem, with over 15,000 titles available, half of which are free and the other half exclusive to members [6]. Financial Performance - Membership services revenue decreased by 8% year-over-year but grew by 7% quarter-over-quarter to RMB4.40 billion in 1Q25, supported by key titles [6]. - Online advertising revenue fell by 10% year-over-year and 7% quarter-over-quarter to RMB1.33 billion, primarily due to macroeconomic uncertainties [6]. - The non-GAAP operating profit margin was down to 6.4% in 1Q25, a decrease of 7.3 percentage points year-over-year, driven by increased content and user acquisition investments [6].