Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for Kingsoft Cloud with a target price of $18.50 for KC US and HKD 10.00 for 3896 HK [1][2][16] Core Insights - Kingsoft Cloud's stock price has increased by 140% since the release of its Q3 2024 results, outperforming the Chinese internet index fund which rose by 8% during the same period [1][12] - The company's strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and its integration within the Xiaomi and Kingsoft Group ecosystems are yielding positive financial results [1][12] - The growth prospects for Kingsoft Cloud's AI revenue are considered more certain compared to many other AI stocks due to its unique relationships and increasing demand for GPU computing power [1][12] - The introduction of third-party computing providers is expected to negatively impact Kingsoft Cloud's profit margins due to the complexities in supply chain management [1][12] Summary by Sections Investment Thesis - Kingsoft Cloud's AI revenue has shown significant growth, with total AI revenue rising from RMB 360 million in Q3 2024 to RMB 474 million in Q4 2024 (approximately 500% year-on-year) and RMB 530 million in Q1 2025 (228% year-on-year) [3][12] - The company has achieved three consecutive quarters of triple-digit year-on-year growth in AI revenue, which has improved overall profitability, with adjusted EBITDA margins increasing from 2% in Q1 2024 to 16% in Q1 2025 [3][12] Financial Projections - Revenue forecasts for 2025 have been raised to RMB 9,355 million, reflecting a 17% increase from previous estimates [4][16] - Adjusted net loss for 2025 is projected to be RMB 874 million, revised from RMB 602 million due to the new computing procurement model [4][12] - The target price is based on a 4x EV/Sales multiple for 2025, positioned between the average multiples of U.S. single-business cloud service providers (5.9x) and small-cap SaaS stocks (3.8x) [8][12] Valuation - The target price for Kingsoft Cloud is set at $18.50 based on a 4x EV/Sales multiple for 2025, reflecting a positive adjustment in valuation due to the company's narrative shift [1][8][12] - The report indicates that Kingsoft Cloud's valuation should be adjusted upwards due to the positive changes in the company's narrative and financial performance [1][12]
摩根大通：金山云：从人工智能算力提供商角度重新审视投资主题