Group 1 - Goldman Sachs expresses confidence in Meituan-W's (03690) leadership position in the expanded total addressable market (TAM) for local services [1] - The firm anticipates that food delivery subsidies will gradually normalize by 2026 [1] - The target price is maintained at HKD 144 with a "Buy" rating [1] Group 2 - Key investor concerns include the latest food delivery competition landscape and Meituan's unique positioning [1] - Other focal points are the competition and profit margin trends in the in-store business, growth and profitability prospects of instant retail, and the expansion and investment scale of Keeta [1] - The impact of AI strategies and the narrowing losses of new businesses are also significant areas of interest [1]

Core Insights - The report titled "Creating Value through Expenses - A New Engine for CFO Strategic Transition" was launched by Meituan Enterprise Edition in collaboration with Xin Finance Magazine, analyzing consumption data from 5,219 listed companies over the past decade [1][3] - The report emphasizes the transformation of enterprise consumption management from simple cost control to a value-creating hub that connects employee experience, supply chain efficiency, data assets, and strategic execution [3] Group 1: Strategic Significance of Corporate Expenses - The focus is on the "three expenses" of enterprises: hospitality expenses, travel expenses, and welfare expenses, which are closely linked to employees [3][4] - In the current economic environment, companies are transitioning from market-driven strategies to innovation and leadership-driven strategies, making employees the core asset of the enterprise [3][4] Group 2: Limitations of Traditional Expense Management - Traditional financial management primarily focused on verifying the authenticity of expenses, relying heavily on invoice verification, which may not fully capture the reality of transactions [5][6] - The new economic environment requires financial personnel to empower employees rather than being constrained by rigid rules [6] Group 3: Trends in Corporate Consumption Management - Analysis of A-share listed companies shows a significant decline in hospitality and travel expenses as a percentage of revenue from 0.68%-0.71% (2015-2019) to 0.54% in 2020, a drop of 20.6% compared to 2019, due to the pandemic [7][8] - By 2024, the percentage is expected to stabilize at 0.64%, indicating a shift from quantity expansion to quality enhancement in consumption management [8] Group 4: SIMPLE Model for Optimizing Corporate Consumption Management - The SIMPLE model includes six components: Sustainability, Integration, Minimization, Personalization, Legal & Compliance, and Experience, aimed at enhancing corporate consumption management [9][10][11][12][13] - The model emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices, integration of various departments, and the minimization of costs while ensuring compliance with regulations [9][10][12] Group 5: Achievements and Future Directions - Meituan Enterprise Edition has successfully helped numerous companies reduce their average expense rate by approximately 30% through online and digital management of the three expenses [14] - The goal is to transition from traditional invoice-based management to a refined, data-driven management model that creates real value for enterprises [14]

Core Insights - The intense competition in the instant delivery industry has raised concerns about the impact on Meituan, which holds a dominant market position [1] - Meituan reported Q2 revenue of 91.8 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 11.7%, but adjusted net profit fell by 89% to 1.49 billion RMB [1] - CEO Wang Xing emphasized the company's commitment to maintaining its market position despite increasing competition [1] Financial Performance - Meituan's core local commerce segment saw revenue growth of 7.7% to 65.3 billion RMB, but operating profit margin dropped into single digits due to significant increases in sales and marketing expenses [4] - The new business segment generated revenue of 26.5 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 22.8%, with losses narrowing to 1.9 billion RMB [7] User Engagement and Growth - The monthly active users of Meituan's app surpassed 500 million, with annual transaction frequency reaching a historical high [1] - In July, Meituan's instant retail daily order volume peaked at over 150 million, with an average delivery time of 34 minutes [1] Strategic Focus - Meituan's strategy revolves around enhancing user experience through a "30-minute delivery" promise, expanding beyond food delivery to a broader retail scope [4] - The company has established over 50,000 flash warehouses nationwide, aiding local stores in digital transformation and improving operational efficiency [5] Ecosystem and Technology - Meituan is building a robust ecosystem by focusing on high-frequency scenarios, supply-side empowerment, and operational efficiency [8] - The company has invested 6.3 billion RMB in R&D in Q2, a year-on-year increase of 17.2%, to enhance technological innovation and ecosystem development [10] Market Positioning - Meituan's approach contrasts with competitors focused on short-term subsidies, emphasizing long-term sustainable growth and operational efficiency [2][8] - The company is expanding internationally, with its Keeta business entering markets in the Middle East and Latin America [6] Conclusion - Meituan's long-term strategy and commitment to ecosystem building position it well in the local life services sector, which is characterized by high-frequency demand and resilience against economic fluctuations [2][12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Meituan, with a target price adjusted to HKD 120, indicating a potential upside of 17% from the current price of HKD 102.7 [4][7][20]. Core Views - The report highlights that Meituan's revenue for Q2 2025 grew by 11.7% year-on-year to RMB 91.8 billion, which was below market expectations by 2.0%. The gross margin decreased by 8.1 percentage points to 33.1% due to increased rider subsidies and overseas business costs [2][3]. - The competitive landscape in the food delivery industry remains intense, with expectations of increased losses in Q3 2025. The core local business revenue grew by 7.7% year-on-year, significantly lower than market expectations, and operating profit dropped by 76% to RMB 3.7 billion [3]. - Meituan is focusing on enhancing its user experience (UE) and operational efficiency, which is expected to strengthen its competitive position despite the ongoing market challenges. The report anticipates that losses will improve in Q4 2025 as industry subsidies decrease [3][4]. Financial Summary - For FY25E, the report projects revenue of RMB 368.1 billion and a net profit loss of RMB 12.8 billion. The adjusted net profit is expected to be RMB -7.2 billion, with a significant recovery anticipated in FY26E [6][11]. - The report provides a detailed financial forecast, indicating a revenue increase to RMB 469.7 billion by FY27E, with a gradual recovery in operating profit and net profit margins over the forecast period [6][11]. Business Strategy - Meituan is strategically shifting its focus from underperforming segments like Meituan Youxuan to other new retail businesses, while also expanding its international presence through Keeta, which has shown strong growth in order volume and transaction value [4][3]. - The report emphasizes the importance of maintaining competitive pricing and high-quality product offerings to cater to diverse consumer needs, which is crucial for sustaining market share in a highly competitive environment [3][4].

Core Perspective - The article discusses the innovative business model of Shanghai WoDian, which has gained attention in the local life service sector by creating a new ecosystem that connects consumers, merchants, and the platform, breaking traditional commercial frameworks [1] Group 1: Core Structure of Shanghai WoDian Model - The model features a collaborative online and offline operational system that integrates functions and processes, allowing users to order online and pick up in-store, thus creating a seamless consumption experience [5] - A dynamic points incentive mechanism is introduced, where points earned can increase in value up to five times over a 36 to 40 period cycle, transforming into usable vouchers for future purchases [6] - The platform employs a merchant self-discounting cooperation model, allowing merchants to set their discount rates between 3% and 20%, which are converted into points for consumers, fostering deeper ties between merchants and the platform [7] Group 2: Value Creation of Shanghai WoDian Model - For consumers, the model reduces actual spending through dynamic points and vouchers, enhances convenience by integrating various services, and allows users to earn rewards for referring new customers, increasing their engagement [10] - For merchants, the model alleviates the pressure of high commission rates typical in traditional platforms, provides targeted traffic support, and enables cross-industry profit-sharing through user binding [11] - The platform benefits from a differentiated competitive barrier through its unique model, leveraging data analytics for marketing support, and rapidly expanding its merchant base across regions [12]

Core Viewpoint - A resignation letter from a former senior business specialist has exposed the internal issues of Gaode Map's cultural tourism division, leading to its rumored dissolution and highlighting significant operational failures and strategic misalignments within the company [2][4][8]. Group 1: Operational Failures - The cultural tourism division of Gaode Map was launched with high ambitions in early 2025, aiming to create a smart tourism infrastructure by collaborating with various provincial tourism departments and travel agencies [4][19]. - Despite initial successes, including a 35% penetration rate for joint tickets and a 120% increase in secondary consumption in a pilot project, the entire initiative was abruptly halted just before signing contracts, leaving the team to bear the consequences of government accountability and partner claims [4][20]. - The division's blind imitation of Meituan's advertising model led to a staggering 82% loss rate among merchants, with some travel agencies reporting zero transactions over five months [5][22]. Group 2: Strategic Misalignment - The strategic shift within Alibaba's "big consumption ecosystem" marginalized Gaode Map's cultural tourism efforts, relegating it to a "sacrificial pawn" in organizational adjustments [7][12]. - Significant disparities in resource allocation were noted, with substantial funding directed towards tunnel navigation projects while the budget for the cultural tourism data platform was drastically cut [7][22]. - The company’s decision to sell all effective advertising slots to Ctrip and impose high promotional fees on travel agencies further eroded its original mission of facilitating travel [7][22]. Group 3: Internal Conflicts - Gaode Map's official response to the resignation letter claimed the author was an outsourced sales personnel with poor performance, contradicting the author's assertion of being part of the direct team [8][12]. - The resignation process was marked by dramatic shifts in HR's stance, from attempts to retain the employee to a sudden insistence on termination regardless of performance metrics [8][12]. - The author highlighted that many employees in the cultural tourism division had been let go, despite the company's claims of not having terminated the business [8][12]. Group 4: Financial Performance - Gaode Map's revenue heavily relies on advertising, with total revenue exceeding 12 billion yuan in 2024, of which 7.8 billion yuan came from online advertising, accounting for 65% of total revenue [12][14]. - Despite achieving profitability for the first time, the underlying financial stability remains uncertain, as the local life group reported an adjusted EBITA loss of 596 million yuan for the last quarter of 2024 [12][14]. - The company faces challenges in monetizing its user base, as evidenced by the low average daily usage time of 12 minutes for 70% of its users, primarily focused on navigation [15][18].

Core Viewpoint - The resignation letter from a former senior business specialist at Gaode Map has exposed the internal issues of its cultural tourism division, highlighting the blind replication of business models leading to significant merchant losses and project failures [2][4][5]. Group 1: Overview of the Cultural Tourism Division's Downfall - The Gaode cultural tourism division was launched with high ambitions in early 2025, aiming to create a smart tourism infrastructure network by collaborating with various provincial tourism departments and travel agencies [4]. - A successful pilot project in Guizhou showed promising results, with ticket penetration rates reaching 35% and secondary consumption increasing by 120% [4]. - However, the project was abruptly halted just before signing, with management stating "cannot do it," leading to significant risks for the frontline team [4][5]. Group 2: Critique of Business Strategy - The division's strategy of blindly copying Meituan's advertising model ignored the critical element of trust in tourism consumption, resulting in an 82% loss rate for merchants and some travel agencies recording zero transactions over five months [5][7]. - The strategic shift within Alibaba's "big consumption ecosystem" marginalized Gaode's cultural tourism efforts, leading to a significant imbalance in resource allocation [7][8]. - Gaode's decision to sell all effective advertising slots to Ctrip and charge high promotion fees to travel agencies has been criticized for undermining its original mission of facilitating travel [7][8]. Group 3: Dispute Over Employment Status - Gaode Map responded to the allegations by claiming the whistleblower was an outsourced sales personnel with poor performance, contradicting the claim of being a formal employee [8]. - The whistleblower argued that despite being contracted through a third party, their role and compensation were aligned with Gaode's official employees, indicating a lack of clarity in employment status [8]. - The whistleblower's departure was marked by a sudden change in HR's stance, from encouraging retention to enforcing termination regardless of performance [8]. Group 4: User Engagement and Financial Performance - Despite the controversies, Gaode Map maintains a strong user base, with over 800 million monthly active users, ranking fourth among mobile internet applications in China [10][12]. - However, the revenue model heavily relies on advertising, with 2024 revenues exceeding 12 billion yuan, of which 7.8 billion yuan came from online advertising, accounting for 65% of total revenue [12][14]. - The financial struggles are evident, as the local life group, which includes Gaode, reported an adjusted EBITA loss of 596 million yuan for the last quarter of 2024 [12][14]. Group 5: Broader Industry Context - The challenges faced by Gaode Map reflect broader issues in the navigation and local services market, where profitability remains elusive even for major players like Google Maps [13][14]. - The ongoing complaints about Gaode's services, particularly regarding refunds and service quality, highlight operational deficiencies in its local life services [15][16]. - The competitive landscape shows that Gaode is significantly trailing behind Didi in the ride-hailing market, with Didi holding a 75% market share compared to Gaode's 10% [17].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for Meituan-W (3690.HK) [1] Core Insights - The report highlights that intensified competition in the food delivery sector has pressured profits, while the company is expected to release long-term value [2][6] - Meituan's Q2 2025 revenue reached 91.8 billion RMB, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12% and a quarter-on-quarter growth of 6% [11] - The report anticipates that the company's core local business will continue to face challenges due to increased competition and overseas expansion losses [10][18] Summary by Sections Recent Performance - In Q2 2025, Meituan achieved a revenue of 91.8 billion RMB, with operating profit of 200 million RMB (YoY -98%, QoQ -98%) and net profit of 400 million RMB (YoY -97%, QoQ -96%) [11] - Non-GAAP EBITDA was 2.8 billion RMB (YoY -81%, QoQ -77%), and Non-GAAP net profit attributable to shareholders was 1.5 billion RMB (YoY -89%, QoQ -86%) [11] Business Segments - **Food Delivery Business**: Q2 2025 saw a steady growth in food delivery, with estimated order volume increasing by 10% YoY. The company is enhancing supply through various models to boost user engagement [7] - **Flash Purchase Business**: Strong growth in order volume and transaction value was noted, with significant increases during promotional periods. The establishment of over 50,000 flash warehouses supports local store digital transformation [7] - **In-store and Travel Business**: This segment performed well, with order volume growing over 40% YoY and revenue increasing by 15% YoY [7] Financial Forecasts - The report revises revenue forecasts for 2025-2027 to 370.2 billion RMB, 417.9 billion RMB, and 475.5 billion RMB respectively, with Non-GAAP net profit estimates of 5 billion RMB, -5.02 billion RMB, and 26.2 billion RMB [10][18] - The target market capitalization for 2026 is set at 735.1 billion RMB, corresponding to a target price of 120 RMB per share [10][19]

Core Viewpoint - Meituan reported a robust growth trajectory in its Q2 2025 earnings, with revenue reaching 91.8 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 11.7%, and a monthly active user base exceeding 500 million [2] Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q2, Meituan's core local commerce segment generated revenue of 65.3 billion RMB, reflecting a 7.7% year-on-year growth [2] - The new business segment achieved revenue of 26.5 billion RMB, marking a 22.8% year-on-year increase, while losses narrowed to 1.9 billion RMB [4] - The company reported a cash reserve of 171.1 billion RMB, providing a solid foundation for long-term investments [6] Group 2: User Engagement and Market Expansion - Meituan's app saw monthly active users surpassing 500 million, with peak daily orders in instant retail exceeding 150 million in July [2] - The company has established over 50,000 "flash warehouses" nationwide to support local small businesses in their digital transformation [4] - Meituan's international expansion is evident with Keeta's strong growth in order volume and market presence, particularly in Hong Kong and Qatar [4] Group 3: Business Innovations and Partnerships - Meituan has partnered with over 800 leading restaurant brands to open more than 5,500 brand satellite stores, aiming to exceed 10,000 by year-end [2] - The company is enhancing its rider support system, including full coverage of work injury insurance and expanding pension subsidies to over one million riders by year-end [5] - Meituan is implementing "Internet + Bright Kitchen" initiatives, with 117,000 merchants participating, aiming for over 200,000 by the end of 2025 [6] Group 4: Commitment to Sustainable Development - The company is focused on building a sustainable and responsible industry ecosystem, with initiatives to support merchants and riders [5] - Meituan's R&D investment reached 6.3 billion RMB, a 17.2% increase year-on-year, emphasizing its commitment to technological innovation [6] - The company aims to redefine future business models through ecological win-win practices, enhancing its competitive edge in the local service market [6]

Core Insights - The intense competition in the food delivery industry has significantly impacted Meituan's performance in Q2 2025, leading to a stark contrast between soaring market expenses and plummeting profits [1][2][3] - The report raises three critical questions regarding the impact of the delivery war on Meituan, the strength of its competitive moat, and changes in its operational logic due to fierce competition [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Meituan's core local business revenue reached 65.3 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.7%, down from 17.8% in the previous quarter, indicating severe effects from the ongoing delivery war [2][3] - Market expenses surged by 51.8% year-on-year to 22.5 billion yuan, constituting 24.5% of total revenue, a significant increase from 18% in the previous quarter, highlighting the pressure from competitors [6][3] Competitive Landscape - The competition has shifted to a "zero-sum game" as the internet user growth has plateaued, leading to increased pressure on leading companies like Meituan [2][3] - The delivery war has caused a substantial disruption in Meituan's operational efficiency, with high market spending failing to translate into revenue growth [6][3] Business Strategy - Meituan's strategy has involved heavy subsidies to attract users, creating a closed loop of "users - traffic - merchants," but this approach has become increasingly costly amid fierce competition [3][6] - The company is now focusing on its flash purchase and hotel business segments as potential growth areas, with flash purchase showing strong order volume and transaction growth [13][14] Future Outlook - The ongoing delivery war is expected to continue impacting Meituan's core local business, with significant losses anticipated in Q3 2025 as the company prioritizes market share over profitability [15][17] - The period from September to October 2025 is critical for Meituan to maintain its market share, with a psychological threshold of 50% being crucial for sustaining user and merchant loyalty [17][16]