Shenwan Hongyuan Securities·2025-12-31 13:46Investment Rating - The report recommends investment in Alibaba, Meituan, Pinduoduo, and JD.com, indicating a positive outlook for these companies in the e-commerce sector [4]. Core Insights - Online consumption continues to grow steadily, with a total retail sales of 45.6 trillion yuan in the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 4.0%. The online retail sales reached 14.5 trillion yuan, up 9.1% year-on-year, with physical goods online retail sales growing by 5.7% to 11.8 trillion yuan, resulting in a penetration rate increase of 0.42 percentage points to 25.9% [1][12]. - The impact of the "old-for-new" policy from the previous year is starting to show, leading to a high base effect that is affecting growth rates. The express delivery business volume reached 180.74 billion pieces, a year-on-year increase of 14.9%, but this growth is slowing compared to the previous half of the year [1][12]. - The competition in the instant retail sector has peaked, with platforms shifting their strategies towards differentiation to improve user experience (UE). The report notes that the industry is entering a new phase of competition, focusing on quality and efficiency rather than just price competition [3][47]. Summary by Sections 1. Online Consumption and Retail Performance - Online consumption remains robust, with significant growth in penetration rates. The high base effect from last year's policies is now impacting growth rates, leading to a slowdown in the growth of express delivery and online retail sales [1][12]. - Major platforms are adjusting their strategies in response to the high base effect, with JD.com experiencing a notable decrease in GMV growth rates in Q3 [1][17]. 2. AI Investment and Development - The AI sector is witnessing intensified competition, with major internet companies launching numerous updates and iterations of AI models. The focus is shifting from broad capabilities to specialized strengths, enhancing user experience and application in consumer-facing products [3][34]. - Alibaba's cloud business is accelerating, with AI-related product revenues achieving triple-digit year-on-year growth for nine consecutive quarters, indicating a successful transition from technology investment to value realization [3][34]. 3. Instant Retail Sector Dynamics - The instant retail sector has seen a peak in competition, with platforms initially investing heavily to capture market share. However, as the market stabilizes, strategies are shifting towards differentiation and quality improvement [3][47]. - The report highlights that platforms like Meituan and Taobao are focusing on enhancing user experience and profitability, moving away from aggressive subsidy strategies [3][47]. 4. Performance of Major E-commerce Platforms - Alibaba's core business revenue growth remains strong, while Meituan's local business is under pressure. JD.com and Pinduoduo are expected to see profit recovery in the upcoming quarters, driven by strategic investments and operational efficiencies [3][4]. - The report notes that the profitability of platforms is becoming increasingly differentiated, with expectations for Alibaba and Meituan to see profit recovery soon [4].