Summary of Alibaba Group Holding FY3Q26 Preview Company Overview - **Company**: Alibaba Group Holding - **Ticker**: 9988.HK (HKD), BABA (USD) - **Market Cap**: HK$2,723.6 billion, US$350.4 billion Key Financial Metrics - **Total Consolidated Revenues**: Rmb289.8 billion (+3.4% YoY) [2] - **Non-GAAP Net Profit**: Rmb28.7 billion (9.9% margin) [2] - **China E-commerce Group Revenues**: Rmb164.0 billion, with CMR growth of 2.7% YoY to Rmb103.5 billion [2] - **Cloud Revenues**: Rmb42.9 billion (+35% YoY) [2] - **AIDC Revenues**: Rmb40.5 billion (+7.3% YoY) [2] - **Adjusted EBITA**: Rmb27.7 billion (-49% YoY) [2] - **EBITA Margin**: 9.6% [2] - **Revised Estimates**: Revenue and non-GAAP profit adjusted down by -2% and -27% respectively for FY3Q26E [2][62] Core Insights - **Market Conditions**: Anticipated softer macroeconomic conditions and high base effects are expected to impact CMR growth negatively [1][60] - **E-commerce Performance**: The e-commerce EBITA is expected to decline due to lower growth in CMR and ongoing reinvestment [1][62] - **Cloud Business**: Cloud revenue growth is projected to remain strong at 35% YoY, with stable EBITA margins at 9% [1][62] - **Investment Strategy**: Alibaba is focusing on market share gain for Taobao Shangou, with significant investments planned to solidify its leadership position [12] Business Updates - **E-commerce VAT Implementation**: Strengthened VAT regulations are being implemented, which may impact SMEs more than larger merchants due to increased tax burdens [9][11] - **Taobao Shangou**: Achieved an average of 10 million non-meal orders per day, with a focus on market share growth [12] - **Amap Upgrades**: Amap has introduced significant feature upgrades, attracting 860,000 new merchants and increasing order volumes by over 330% [15] - **Lazada Performance**: Lazada reported a 26x surge in GMV during the 11.11 sale, indicating strong consumer demand [44][45] Risks and Considerations - **Consumer Spending**: There is a potential decline in consumer purchasing willingness post-Singles Day, which may lead to softer retail sales in December [60] - **Revised Growth Forecasts**: CMR growth forecast has been revised down from 8.3% to 2.7% due to slower GMV and other factors [61] - **Investment in AI and Cloud**: Increased spending on AI tools and cloud services may lead to higher losses in the short term [63] Conclusion - **Investment Recommendation**: Despite the challenges, the company maintains a "Buy" rating due to its strong positioning in AI and cloud services, along with operational efficiency improvements [1]