虎嗅APP·2025-08-30 03:25Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the contrasting implications of the ongoing food delivery battle for Alibaba and Meituan, where prolonged competition presents an opportunity for Alibaba but poses a challenge for Meituan [4]. Financial Performance Summary - Alibaba's revenue for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, was 247.65 billion yuan, a 2% year-on-year increase, while adjusted EBITA decreased by 14% to 38.84 billion yuan [4]. - Meituan reported revenue of 91.8 billion yuan, an 11.7% year-on-year increase, but adjusted EBITA fell by 81.5% to 2.8 billion yuan [7]. - JD.com achieved revenue of 356.7 billion yuan, a 22.4% year-on-year increase, with adjusted EBITA declining by 77.8% to 3 billion yuan [7]. Market Share Dynamics - Meituan's market share in the "food delivery + instant retail" sector has been challenged, with its share dropping from over 70% to a combined total of at least 40% for Alibaba and JD.com [8]. - The article notes that the significant market share changes occurred in July and August, which will be reflected in future financial reports [9]. Strategic Insights - The prolonged food delivery battle is seen as beneficial for Alibaba, as it may allow the company to capture more market share in the "food delivery + instant retail" space [9]. - Analysts raised questions during Alibaba's earnings call regarding the sustainability of investments in the food delivery sector and the overall strategic understanding of this business [10]. User Engagement and Growth - Alibaba reported a 25% year-on-year increase in monthly active consumers on the Taobao app, driven by the launch of Taobao Flash [12]. - The company noted that Taobao Flash significantly boosted user engagement, contributing to a 20% increase in daily active users [13]. Investment in Marketing and Operations - Alibaba's sales and marketing expenses for the quarter were 53.1 billion yuan, up 62.8% from 32.6 billion yuan in the same period last year, indicating a substantial investment in the food delivery and instant retail sectors [15]. - The estimated incremental investment in food delivery and instant retail during the quarter exceeded 10 billion yuan [16]. Dual Strategy in AI and Cloud - Alibaba is simultaneously investing in AI and cloud services, with cloud revenue reaching 33.39 billion yuan, a 26% year-on-year increase [23]. - The company plans to maintain its investment strategy of 380 billion yuan over three years in AI development [27]. Competitive Landscape - Alibaba faces significant competition in both the food delivery and AI sectors, with rivals like Meituan in food delivery and ByteDance in AI [29]. - The internal morale at Alibaba improved following the achievement of surpassing competitors in daily order volume for food delivery, marking a significant morale boost for the team [29].