Core Insights - Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares surged over 19% due to strong quarterly results driven by its cloud computing unit and new AI chip development [1][2] - The stock reached its highest level since March, reflecting investor confidence in Alibaba's improving performance and investments in competitive areas like instant commerce [2] Financial Performance - For the June quarter, Alibaba reported revenue of 247.65 billion Chinese yuan ($34.73 billion), a 2% year-on-year increase, which fell short of analyst expectations [3] - Net income saw a significant annual increase of 78%, exceeding forecasts [3] - The cloud computing unit's revenue grew by 26% year-on-year, marking an acceleration in growth compared to previous quarters [3] AI and Technology Investments - Alibaba is investing in AI infrastructure and developing its own AI models, aiming to monetize artificial intelligence through its cloud computing unit [4] - AI-related product revenue has maintained triple-digit year-over-year growth for eight consecutive quarters [4] - The company is also developing a new AI chip, contributing to the recent share price rally [5] E-commerce Developments - Alibaba's core e-commerce business is showing signs of revival, particularly with its entry into the competitive instant commerce market in China [5] - The instant commerce feature on Taobao allows for deliveries within an hour, enhancing the company's service offerings [5] - Investments in quick commerce have impacted adjusted earnings for the e-commerce segment, but investors are currently supportive of these strategic investments [6]

Core Insights - Alibaba's latest earnings report indicates a shift in investor focus towards artificial intelligence (AI) as a key growth driver despite challenges in its food delivery business [1][2][4] Financial Performance - Alibaba reported a 2% increase in overall revenue to 247.65 billion yuan ($34.6 billion) for the quarter ending June 30, falling short of analysts' expectations of 252.92 billion yuan [1] - Operating profit decreased by 3% to 35 billion yuan [1] - The company's e-commerce segment, including food delivery, achieved a 10% revenue growth year-over-year, totaling 140 billion yuan [8] AI and Cloud Growth - AI-related product revenue saw a triple-digit percentage increase, while Alibaba Cloud's revenue surged by 26% year-over-year to 33.4 billion yuan, surpassing analyst expectations of an 18% rise [2][3] - CEO Eddie Wu highlighted that investments in AI are beginning to yield tangible results, indicating a clear path for AI to drive future growth [3] Food Delivery Challenges - The food delivery sector has been a significant drag on profits, with earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization falling by 21% due to heavy subsidies [8] - Alibaba has been investing heavily in its quick commerce business to compete with rivals like Meituan and JD.com, leading to substantial losses [9] - Analysts suggest that Alibaba's quick commerce sector has reached a scale that allows for a shift from aggressive market capture to optimizing efficiency [10] Market Position and Stock Performance - Alibaba's stock closed 12.9% higher in New York and gained as much as 18% in Hong Kong following the earnings report, reflecting investor optimism about AI growth [2] - The company's stock has increased by 59% in New York and 65% in Hong Kong year-to-date [12]

Global Markets Strategy 25 August 2025 This material is neither intended to be distributed to Mainland China investors nor to provide securities investment consultancy services within the territory of Mainland China. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. China Equity Strategy Assessing the current liquidity charged rally See page 29 for analyst certification and important disclosures, including non-US analyst disclosures. ...

Market Trends & Industry Dynamics - The AI trade is facing new questions, potentially impacting growth expectations [1][2] - Nvidia's data center revenue is still growing sequentially by 17% from the past quarter to the next, representing over $7 billion in revenue excluding China [4] - Long-term capex and data center spend is projected to be $3 to $4 trillion between now and 2030, implying a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40% to 45% [3][4] - Expectations for AI returns may be ahead of reality, with a report indicating that 95% of customers using AI are not seeing a return on investment [18][19] Company Performance & Strategies - Broadcom's revenue mix is diversified, with 31% from data center AI, 41% from software (including VMware), and the remainder from cyclical businesses [8] - Broadcom has custom ASIC customers expected to grow 60% year-over-year [6] - Nvidia's top two mystery customers accounted for 39% of Q2 revenue, with Customer A at 23% and Customer B at 16% [15][16] Investment Opportunities & Potential Risks - The SMH (semiconductor ETF) is experiencing its worst day since April, indicating potential sector-wide concerns [2] - Some analysts believe that inflated expectations for AI may lead to a significant pullback in stocks [15] - Despite potential digestion periods, the AI theme is expected to persist, driven by strong guidance and investment from various regions [23][25]

MATT: WE HAVE HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AGAIN YESTERDAY. A LITTLE SOFTER THIS MORNING. 30 MINUTES UNTIL THE START OF TRADING. I MATT MILLER. KATIE: AND I'M KATIE GREIFELD. BLOOMBERG "OPEN INTEREST" STARTS NOW. MATT: COMING UP, FED CHAIR CONTENDER CHRISTOPHER WALLER DOUBLES DOWN ON THE NEED FOR A RATE CUT AS FRESH DATA THIS MORNING MAY SUPPORT HIS CASE. MEANWHILE, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST LISA COOK INTENSIFIES AS A SHE SEEKS AN EMERGENCY HEARING TO BLOCK HER REMOVAL, AND THE SEPTEMBER SCARIEST. ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The A-share market experienced a significant rally, with a 4% increase, reaching 10-year highs, while the MSCI China index gained 1% [1] - Major A-share indices have reached year-to-date highs, with market turnover exceeding RMB2 trillion for eight consecutive days [1] - Emerging industries, particularly in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, are identified as potential investment targets, with a proposed investment of RMB500 billion [1] Company Performance - DeepSeek released its V3.1 model, indicating advancements in technology within the sector [1] - 39% of all China-listed companies and 42% of the MSCI China universe have reported earnings, showing a year-on-year increase of 12% and 9% for the first half of 2025, respectively [1] Market Dynamics - Growth and IT stocks outperformed, with STAR50 increasing by 13% and ChiNext by 6% [1] - The MXCN and CSI300 indices reported forward price-to-earnings ratios of 12.5x and 13.8x, respectively [7] - Earnings growth estimates for 2025 and 2026 are projected at 4% and 14% for MXCN, and 15% and 12% for CSI300 [8] Policy and Regulatory Environment - The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation announced that childcare subsidies will be exempt from personal income tax, potentially impacting disposable income and consumer spending [4] Investment Insights - A successful anti-involution campaign could boost corporate earnings by as much as 14% by 2027 under optimistic assumptions [16] - The report suggests that sectors such as Solar, Electricity, and Chemicals may offer higher upside potential for investors sensitive to anti-involution measures [22] Southbound Investment Flows - Southbound investment flows have reached US$123 billion year-to-date, indicating strong interest from international investors [3][24] - High dividend yield stocks have been a key contributor to these flows, with improved interest in technology stocks over recent weeks [28] - The concentration of Southbound holdings is primarily in the Financials and Communication Services sectors, with Financials holding US$187 billion (25% of total) [30] Additional Observations - The report highlights that many "involuted" sectors are still trading below their theoretical normalized market capitalization, indicating potential undervaluation [19] - Capex growth has noticeably slowed among listed companies, which may impact future growth prospects [17] This summary encapsulates the key insights and data points from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the market and potential investment opportunities.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The global data center investment is booming, creating significant opportunities for internal combustion engine (ICE) manufacturers such as Weichai, Cummins (CMI), Caterpillar (CAT), and Rolls-Royce [2][12] - The diesel generator market for data centers in China is rapidly expanding, driven by increasing demand from large-scale data centers and the influence of AI computing power [2][9] Market Dynamics - The global diesel generator market for data centers is projected to reach $3 billion in 2024, with a growth rate of 15-25% [12] - The total addressable market (TAM) for backup generators is estimated at approximately $23 billion, and for turbines for prime power generation, it is around $39 billion between 2023 and 2028 [2][12] - A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 17% for data center power demand is forecasted during this period [12] Key Insights from Experts - High-power diesel generators are essential to meet carbon emission efficiency standards, with domestic brands like Weichai and Yuchai playing a crucial role in the competitive landscape [2][9] - The demand for diesel generators is driven by AI computing power and policy changes aimed at improving carbon emission efficiency [9] - The Chinese government plans to invest RMB 500 billion in AIDC construction over the next three years, necessitating the expansion of diesel generators as essential backup power sources [9] Growth Projections - The Chinese data center diesel generator market is expected to grow significantly, with a projected size of RMB 8.3 billion in 2025, up from RMB 5.5 billion in 2024, representing a 49% year-over-year growth [3] - The CAGR from 2024 to 2028 for the diesel generator market in China is projected to be 27% [3] Competitive Landscape - Currently, foreign brands dominate China's AIDC generator market, holding approximately 65% market share in 2024, with key players including Cummins, Caterpillar, and MTU [9] - Domestic brands are expected to increase their market share from 20% in 2024 to 30% in 2025, with Weichai aiming to sell 1,000-1,200 AIDC units in 2025 [9][10] - Weichai's proactive expansion of its annual capacity to 2,000 units positions it to capitalize on growing demand [9] Investment Ratings - J.P. Morgan maintains an Overweight (OW) rating on Weichai Power and Caterpillar, while Cummins is rated Neutral due to balanced risk-reward [3] - The stock of Weichai Power is included in the Positive Catalyst Watch (PCW) list [3] Conclusion - The data center power generation market is poised for robust growth, driven by technological advancements and increasing demand for reliable power solutions, particularly in China [2][12] - Domestic brands are expected to gain market share as they capitalize on supply shortages from foreign manufacturers and government investments in infrastructure [9][10]

Core Insights - Shopify is experiencing significant growth in its merchant base, driven by new merchant-friendly tools and solutions that enhance user engagement and streamline operations [2][9] - The company's financial performance reflects this growth, with merchant solutions revenues reaching $2.02 billion in Q2 2025, a 36.6% increase year-over-year, and Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of $87.84 billion, up 30.6% year-over-year [3][11] Financial Performance - Merchant solutions revenues accounted for 75.5% of Shopify's total revenues in Q2 2025, indicating strong adoption of its payment solutions [3] - The app Shop Pay processed $27 billion in GMV in Q2 2025, marking a 65% increase year-over-year [7][11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Shopify's 2025 earnings is $1.44 per share, reflecting a 10.77% year-over-year growth, while revenues are estimated at $11.21 billion, indicating a 26.24% growth [18] Market Position and Competition - Shopify's stock has gained 33% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector, which increased by 13.8% [4] - Despite strong growth, Shopify faces stiff competition from major players like Amazon and Alibaba, which are expanding their e-commerce offerings [16][17] Strategic Partnerships - Shopify's partnerships with major brands and platforms, including Microsoft, Roblox, and Starbucks, have expanded its reach and enhanced its merchant base [12][15] - The integration of Shopify's Checkout Kit into Microsoft's Copilot exemplifies the company's strategy to leverage AI for improved shopping experiences [13] International Expansion - Shopify's international GMV grew by 42% year-over-year in Q2 2025, with Europe leading this growth, driven by both new and existing merchants [8] Valuation Concerns - Shopify's stock is currently considered overvalued, with a forward Price/Sales ratio of 14.50X compared to the Internet-Services industry's 5.49X, indicating a stretched valuation [19]

Summary of the Conference Call Transcript Industry Overview - **Industry**: Chinese Internet Data Centre (IDC) Sector - **Quarter**: Q225 Key Points and Arguments Market Demand and Orders - There were not many new IDC orders in Q225 due to the H20 ban in April, with NVIDIA indicating a potential resumption in July, but the Chinese government's stance remains uncertain [2] - Market demand is characterized as "2+X", where "2" refers to ByteDance and Alibaba, noted as the most aggressive investors in AI [2] Utilization and Financial Performance - GDS and VNET are expected to see steady utilization ramp-up, forecasting an 8% and 22% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA, respectively [3] - China Mobile reported a GPU utilization rate increase from 20% before the DeepSeek shock in January to 55% in Q225, indicating a shift in deployment methods [3] Future Catalysts - Key factors to monitor include: 1. Hyperscalers' capital expenditure outlook, particularly from Alibaba and ByteDance, which may focus more on inference demand [4] 2. The release of DeepSeek R2, with a noted market focus on 2C applications, despite 90% of token usage being on the 2B side [4] 3. Cloud revenue growth, with expectations for acceleration due to lower digital penetration in China compared to the US [4] Financial Projections - VNET's revenue for Q225 is projected at RMB 2,330 million, reflecting a 16.9% year-over-year increase, while GDS's revenue is expected to be RMB 2,794 million, an 8.3% increase [7] - Adjusted EBITDA for VNET is forecasted at RMB 699 million, a 21.8% increase year-over-year, while GDS's adjusted EBITDA is expected to be RMB 1,336 million, also an 8.3% increase [7] Valuation Insights - The inaugural year of IDC C-REITs is expected to provide a valuation benchmark, potentially driving sector re-rating in the long term [5] - GDS's C-REIT traded 30% higher on its first day, but GDS's share price did not react, indicating a tech-focused investor base prioritizing growth over returns [5] Risks and Challenges - **Downside Risks**: Weaker-than-expected AI demand, faults at data centers, higher interest rates, and unfavorable regulatory environments [8] - **Upside Risks**: Stronger-than-expected AI and cloud business growth, lower electricity costs, and tighter control on licensing [8] Valuation Methodology - VNET is valued based on target EV/EBITDA multiples, with key risks including refinancing challenges and customer churn [9] - GDS is valued using a sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) approach, with risks including slower cloud/AI growth and reputational damage from outages [10] Additional Important Information - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring hyperscalers' cloud revenue growth, which is crucial for understanding the overall health of the IDC sector [4] - The visibility of IDC tenders by hyperscalers is expected to improve in Q325, suggesting a potential recovery in new orders [4]

Summary of Conference Call on Food Delivery Subsidy Impact on Freshly Made Drink (FMD) Players Industry Overview - The analysis focuses on the food delivery industry in China, particularly the freshly made drink (FMD) segment, with key players including Guming and Mixue [1][2]. Key Points and Arguments 1. **Intensified Competition**: The competition among food delivery platforms has intensified, with Meituan, Ele.me, and JD increasing their investments and subsidies. The expectation is that this investment phase will last longer than previous cycles [1][10]. 2. **Earnings Forecasts**: The 2025 earnings estimates for Guming and Mixue have been revised upwards due to prolonged food delivery subsidies. Guming's adjusted net profit forecast is now Rmb2.2 billion, a 9% increase, while Mixue's is Rmb5.4 billion, a 1% increase [22][23]. 3. **Impact of Subsidies**: If the food delivery subsidy continues into Q4 2025, Guming could see a GMV growth of 10%-25% per store, while Mixue could see 6%-14% growth. If subsidies are removed in 2026, Guming and Mixue could face declines of 2%-9% and 0%-4% in GMV per store, respectively [2][30]. 4. **Regulatory Environment**: There are calls from regulators for more rational competition among delivery platforms, with initiatives aimed at reducing aggressive subsidy practices. This could lead to a more stable competitive landscape in the long term [11][30]. 5. **Store Expansion Trends**: The FMD industry has seen an acceleration in store count growth, with brands like Guming and Lucky Cup expanding rapidly. However, some brands continue to experience net closures [17][20]. 6. **Price Dynamics**: The competitive landscape has led to increased price activity, with brands adjusting prices to attract customers. For instance, Starbucks and Guming have both lowered prices for certain products [18][30]. 7. **Long-term Outlook**: Despite short-term volatility due to subsidy dynamics, the long-term outlook for Mixue and Guming remains positive, supported by their supply chain advantages and brand strength [8][22]. Additional Important Insights - **Delivery Volume Growth**: The food delivery industry is expected to see significant growth in order volume, with estimates of 46%-50% year-over-year growth in Q3 and Q4 2025 [30]. - **Investment in Infrastructure**: Platforms are also investing in kitchen infrastructure to enhance service efficiency and food safety, which could further impact competition [14][16]. - **Market Sentiment**: Investor sentiment towards delivery platforms will significantly influence the near-term share prices of Mixue and Guming, with concerns about potential GMV pullbacks if subsidies are reduced [3][8]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding the food delivery subsidy impact on the FMD industry, highlighting both immediate effects and long-term implications for key players.