MEITUAN(HK:03690) 远川研究所·2025-12-04 13:04Core Viewpoint - The intense competition among Meituan, JD, and Alibaba in the food delivery sector has led to significant financial losses, with nearly 100 billion yuan in profits wiped out over the past six months, marking one of the most costly battles in Chinese internet history [2][6]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Meituan reported its largest quarterly loss since its IPO, while Alibaba's e-commerce business saw operating profits decline by 85% year-on-year, and JD's overall operating profit dropped by 108% [2][6]. - In Q3, Alibaba's EBITDA decreased by approximately 24 billion yuan, while JD and Meituan's EBITDA fell by 17.5 billion yuan and 44.8 billion yuan, respectively [6]. - Marketing expenses surged dramatically, with Alibaba and JD increasing their spending by 106% and 110% year-on-year, while Meituan's marketing costs rose by 91% [6]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The oligopolistic structure of the food delivery market is beginning to shift, with Meituan's market share expected to drop to around 65% in 2024, a decline of nearly 20% this year [6][8]. - The competition is not just about food delivery; it serves as a strategic entry point for e-commerce growth, with JD and Alibaba leveraging food delivery to drive traffic to their core retail businesses [8][9]. Group 3: User Engagement and Growth - JD's food delivery GMV experienced triple-digit growth, with new user conversion rates nearing 50%, leading to a 40% increase in active users and shopping frequency [9]. - Taobao's flash sales in August contributed to a 25% year-on-year increase in monthly active users, while Meituan also saw a more than 20% increase in daily active users [9]. Group 4: Strategic Adjustments - The three major platforms have begun to recognize the unsustainable nature of the price war, with joint statements issued to resist "disorderly competition" in July [22]. - JD has quietly adjusted its strategy, including plans to launch an independent app and improve unit economic costs, while Alibaba aims to significantly reduce its flash sales investments in the upcoming quarter [22]. Group 5: Long-term Outlook - Despite the fierce competition, the platforms are now more focused on survival rather than solely defeating competitors, indicating a potential shift towards more sustainable practices in the industry [22][23]. - The ongoing battle in the food delivery sector is expected to continue, with companies acknowledging that the price war has not created value for the industry and is not sustainable [20][26].