Group 1: Financial Performance - Net revenue for Q3 2025 was 28.4 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 8%, but 3% lower than Bloomberg's expectations, primarily due to deferred game revenue [1] - GAAP net profit attributable to shareholders was 8.6 billion, up 32% year-over-year, in line with Bloomberg's expectations [1] - Non-GAAP net profit attributable to shareholders was 9.5 billion, a 27% increase year-over-year, slightly below Bloomberg's expectations by 1% [1] Group 2: Gaming Segment Insights - Total revenue from games and related value-added services reached 23.3 billion, a 12% year-over-year increase, but 2% lower than Bloomberg's expectations, mainly due to unrecognized revenue from contract liabilities [1] - The active user base for the game "Dream of the Red Chamber" continues to reach new highs, while "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" is expected to perform well in Q4 overseas [1] - Anticipated stable performance for mobile games in Q4, driven by recovery growth in "Egg Party" and significant contributions from "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" [1] Group 3: Online Music Business - Cloud music revenue for Q3 2025 was 2 billion, a decrease of 2% year-over-year, and 3% lower than Bloomberg's expectations, attributed to fluctuations in digital album content [2] - The company expects stable growth in traffic and paid memberships due to the return of copyrights and continuous content additions in the second half of the year [2] - Online music revenue is projected to maintain a 10% growth rate in Q4, driven by an improved music library and increasing paid user rates [2] Group 4: Future Growth Prospects - The company anticipates the launch of the new game "Forgotten Sea" in 2026, which is expected to drive growth [2] - Profit forecasts for the company from 2025 to 2027 are adjusted to 36.2 billion, 39.8 billion, and 45 billion respectively, based on game performance and Q3 financial adjustments [2] - The company maintains a target price of 248.49 HKD / 226.29 CNY, with a "Buy" rating [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company with a target price of 248.49 HKD / 226.29 CNY [3][5]. Core Insights - The company's Blizzard games are gradually resuming operations, and the evergreen game "Yan Yun Shi Liu Sheng" is performing excellently both domestically and internationally. The anticipated launch of "Forgotten Sea" in 2026 is expected to drive growth [3]. - The adjusted profit forecasts for the company from 2025 to 2027 are 362 billion, 398 billion, and 450 billion CNY respectively, reflecting slight adjustments based on game performance and Q3 financial results [3]. Financial Performance Summary - **Revenue Forecasts**: The company expects revenues of 103,468 million CNY in 2023, growing to 138,188 million CNY by 2027, with a CAGR of approximately 12.37% from 2025 to 2027 [4]. - **Net Profit**: The net profit attributable to the parent company is projected to increase from 29,417 million CNY in 2023 to 44,999 million CNY in 2027, with a notable growth rate of 21.98% in 2025 [4]. - **Earnings Per Share (EPS)**: EPS is expected to rise from 9.29 CNY in 2023 to 14.20 CNY in 2027 [4]. - **Profit Margins**: The gross margin is projected to improve from 60.95% in 2023 to 66.19% in 2027, while the net margin is expected to stabilize around 32% [4]. Market Performance - The company's stock price as of November 20, 2025, was 212.6 HKD, with a 52-week high of 248 HKD and a low of 125.99 HKD [5]. - The company's market capitalization is approximately 673,508 million HKD [5]. Game Performance Insights - The total revenue from games and related value-added services in Q3 2025 was 233 billion CNY, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12% [10]. - The game "Dream Journey" continues to see high activity levels, and "Yan Yun Shi Liu Sheng" is expected to perform well in overseas markets in Q4 [10].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [5] Core Insights - The company is experiencing a recovery in Blizzard games, with the evergreen game "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" performing well both domestically and internationally. The anticipated launch of "Forgotten Sea" in 2026 is expected to drive growth. The adjusted net profit forecasts for 2025-2027 are 362 billion, 398 billion, and 450 billion CNY respectively, reflecting slight adjustments based on game performance and Q3 financial results. The target price is set at 248.49 HKD / 226.29 CNY [3][5] Financial Performance Summary - **Revenue Forecasts**: The company’s revenue is projected to grow from 103,468 million CNY in 2023 to 138,188 million CNY in 2027, with year-on-year growth rates of 7.23%, 1.77%, 7.77%, 8.37%, and 12.37% respectively [4] - **Operating Profit**: Operating profit is expected to increase from 27,709 million CNY in 2023 to 45,775 million CNY in 2027, with significant growth in 2025 at 22.22% [4] - **Net Profit**: The net profit attributable to the parent company is forecasted to rise from 29,417 million CNY in 2023 to 44,999 million CNY in 2027, with a notable growth of 21.98% in 2025 [4] - **Earnings Per Share (EPS)**: EPS is projected to grow from 9.29 CNY in 2023 to 14.20 CNY in 2027 [4] - **Profitability Ratios**: The gross margin is expected to improve from 60.95% in 2023 to 66.19% in 2027, while the net margin is projected to increase from 28.43% to 32.56% over the same period [4] Market Performance - The company's stock price as of November 20, 2025, was 212.6 HKD, with a 52-week high of 248 HKD and a low of 125.99 HKD [5]

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup's research report indicates that NetEase's FWJ PC version servers are performing strongly, while the FWJ mobile version and "Yan Yun Shi Liu Sheng" show resilience, leading to expectations that Q3 performance may meet or slightly exceed forecasts [1] Group 1: Performance Insights - The strong seasonal recovery is noted as a key factor in the expected performance [1] - The company is continuously launching new games, with four titles released in October: "Marvel Secret Law Frenzy," "Destiny: Stars," "unVEIL the World," and "StarCraft II" [1] - Upcoming releases include "Nirvana in Fire" on November 7 for overseas markets and "Diablo IV" in China on December 12 [1] Group 2: Investment Outlook - Citigroup maintains a target price of $158 for NetEase ADR and continues to rate it as a "buy," viewing it as a defensive stock in investment portfolios [1]

Core Points - Blizzard announced the return of its popular game "StarCraft II" to the Chinese market on October 28, 2023, following the resolution of a contract dispute with NetEase, which led to the suspension of several Blizzard games in China earlier in the year [1][7]. Group 1: Game Return Details - "StarCraft II" will be available for pre-download starting October 19, with technical testing beginning on October 21, allowing players to access the game as early as that date [2]. - Players who previously purchased "StarCraft II" will not need to buy it again, and their account data will be preserved for seamless access upon the game's return [2]. - Players can recover their accounts through the "NetEase Da Shen app" or the Blizzard China website, requiring accurate registration information for successful recovery [2]. Group 2: Esports and Community Events - Alongside the game's return, various esports events will resume, including the "StarCraft II" Star Invitational on November 29-30 at the Hangzhou Esports Center, as well as community leagues and tournaments [4]. Group 3: Historical Context and Market Impact - Since the summer of 2022, five Blizzard games have returned to China, following a contract dispute with NetEase that led to the suspension of services for several titles [7]. - The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft for $68.7 billion in October 2023 has led to a strategic shift in management, facilitating the resumption of operations in China [7]. - The return of "World of Warcraft" and other titles has seen significant player engagement, with "World of Warcraft" achieving a record of over 120,000 players on a single server [8]. Group 4: Future Prospects and Challenges - Despite the return of Blizzard games, the company faces challenges in regaining its former player base, as the gaming landscape has evolved significantly since its peak in 2009 [11]. - Analysts suggest that Blizzard's previous management decisions may have alienated loyal players, and the current market dynamics favor new entrants and mobile gaming experiences [11]. - The potential return of less popular titles like "Heroes of the Storm" and "Warcraft III: Reforged" is viewed skeptically due to their limited audience and past performance issues [10].