HTSC·2025-05-25 05:45Investment Rating - The report upgrades the investment rating to "Buy" with a target price of $15.04, up from a previous value of $12.92 [10][20]. Core Insights - The company reported a 1Q revenue increase of 0.3% year-over-year to $397 million, exceeding consensus expectations by 0.8%. Adjusted net profit rose 12.1% year-over-year to $120 million, surpassing expectations by 24.3% [1][4]. - The management anticipates steady growth in advertising spending from the automotive and mobile sectors in 2025, while the gaming and beauty sectors continue to face challenges, although the decline in beauty is narrowing [1][12]. - The AI-driven search feature, "智搜," has seen significant user growth, with MAU reaching 30 million in March, a 300% increase month-over-month, and daily usage averaging 8 million [3][11]. Revenue and Profit Forecast - The revenue forecast for 2025 has been adjusted down by 0.8% due to decreased advertising spending in the gaming and beauty sectors, while revenue for 2026 and 2027 has been slightly increased by 0.1% and 0.6% respectively [4][16]. - Adjusted net profit estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 have been revised down by 4.8%, 3.5%, and 1.5% to $460 million, $478 million, and $501 million respectively [4][16]. User Engagement and Advertising Efficiency - The report highlights that AI has improved advertising efficiency, with click-through rates (CTR) and effective cost per mille (eCPM) increasing by 10% and 5% respectively in certain scenarios [2][12]. - The company is focusing on enhancing user experience and advertising efficiency through increased AI investments, which are expected to drive future revenue growth [1][20]. Market Position and Competitive Landscape - The company is positioned to capture user engagement through its unique content ecosystem and real-time information capabilities, particularly in the news sector [11][20]. - The report notes that the company's valuation remains at a discount compared to global peers, primarily due to liquidity factors and slower revenue growth [20][22].