Goldman Sachs·2025-06-10 07:30Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to Kuaishou Technology with a 12-month price target of HK$63.00, indicating an upside potential of 15.6% from the current price of HK$54.50 [1][12]. Core Insights - Kuaishou's Kling AI has surpassed expectations with an Annualized Revenue Run Rate (ARR) exceeding US$100 million as of March 2025, and monthly subscription bookings exceeding RMB100 million (approximately US$14 million) in April and May [1][3]. - The launch of Kling 2.1 has significantly reduced costs, making it more competitive in the market, with per video costs dropping to US$0.27-0.47, which is 60-80% lower than the previous version [2][32]. - The revenue outlook for FY25 has been raised to US$100 million, with potential for further upside due to expanding use cases and increased promotional budgets [3][19]. Financial Projections - Revenue projections for Kuaishou Technology are as follows: - FY24: RMB 126.9 billion - FY25: RMB 140.7 billion - FY26: RMB 153.7 billion - FY27: RMB 165.8 billion [6][16]. - EBITDA is expected to grow from RMB 27.1 billion in FY24 to RMB 40.5 billion in FY27, indicating a strong growth trajectory [6][16]. - EPS is projected to increase from RMB 4.02 in FY25 to RMB 5.87 in FY27, reflecting a positive earnings outlook [6][16]. Market Position and Competitive Landscape - Kling AI has captured approximately 30% of the video generation AI model market, outpacing competitors like Runway and Google's Veo 2 as of May 2025 [20][23]. - The revenue mix for Kling AI indicates that 70% comes from 2C/2P subscription revenue, primarily from professional content creators, while 30% is derived from 2B API calling revenue [26][32]. - The company is focusing on expanding its user base, particularly in overseas markets, leveraging its technological advantages and improving user experience [23][32]. Valuation and Comparison - Kuaishou is currently trading at a forward P/E of 10X, which reflects its core video platform and advertising/eCommerce business, while Kling AI is expected to justify a premium valuation due to its growth potential [18][19]. - Comparatively, leading AI startups have ARR and valuations that suggest significant growth potential, with Kling AI's estimated ARR for FY25 at US$124 million [21][19].