Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for NetEase (NTES US) with a target price of $153.19, reflecting a 17.9x PE for the year 2025 [7][27]. Core Insights - NetEase's total revenue for Q2 2025 increased by 9% year-on-year to 27.9 billion RMB, slightly below consensus expectations by 1% [1][2]. - Adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders grew by 22% year-on-year to 9.53 billion RMB, aligning with consensus expectations [1][2]. - The gaming segment's revenue showed a 15% year-on-year increase to 22.1 billion RMB, although it was slightly below expectations [2][3]. - The company has a robust pipeline of new games, including "Destiny: Stars" and "Diablo II" remastered, which are expected to drive future growth [1][4][13]. Revenue and Profitability - Q2 gaming and value-added services revenue rose by 14% year-on-year to 22.8 billion RMB, with gaming revenue specifically increasing by 15% [2][3]. - Deferred revenue for Q2 exceeded expectations, decreasing by 4% quarter-on-quarter to 17 billion RMB [2]. - The gross margin for gaming and value-added services improved by 1.4 percentage points to 70.2% [2][12]. Game Development and Market Position - The company launched nine new games in May 2025, with significant titles in the pipeline, including "Destiny: Stars" and "Diablo II" remastered [3][4][13]. - The online peak for "Fantasy Westward Journey" reached 2.93 million users, marking a historical high [3]. - The mobile gaming segment is expected to see a recovery due to a low base in the second half of the year, with anticipated growth driven by summer activities and new releases [4][23]. Financial Forecasts - Revenue forecasts for 2025-2027 have been slightly adjusted downwards, with total revenue expected to be 115.5 billion RMB in 2025, reflecting a 0.9% decrease [6][23]. - Adjusted net profit forecasts for 2025-2027 have been revised to 38.9 billion RMB, 43 billion RMB, and 48 billion RMB respectively [6][23]. - The adjusted operating profit margin is projected to be 35.8% for Q2 2025, indicating a healthy profitability outlook [24].

Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of 28.83 billion yuan in Q1 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.4% and a quarter-over-quarter increase of 7.8% [1] - The adjusted net profit for the same period was 11.24 billion yuan, showing a significant year-over-year growth of 32.0% [1] Group 1: Game Performance - The gaming and related services revenue reached 24 billion yuan in Q1, with a year-over-year increase of 12.1% [1] - Notable game performances included "Marvel: Contest of Champions" topping the Steam global sales chart after its April update, and "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" surpassing 30 million total players [1] - Long-term operational games like "Identity V" and "Naraka: Bladepoint" showed stable revenue contributions, with "Identity V" being a major income source for the quarter [1] Group 2: New Game Pipeline and AI Strategy - The company has a diverse new game pipeline including titles like "Destiny: Rising" and "Marvel: Secret Wars," enhancing its game product matrix [2] - The Youdao business is advancing its "AI-native" strategy, achieving a gross margin of 47.3% in Q1, focusing on AI-enabled products and services for educational transformation [2] Group 3: Music and Community Engagement - NetEase Cloud Music achieved a gross margin of 36.7% in Q1, with a focus on community ecosystem development to enhance user retention [2] - The platform is leveraging AI capabilities for song recommendations and content creation, enriching its creator ecosystem [2] Group 4: Financial Projections - The company forecasts revenues of 113.86 billion yuan, 118.78 billion yuan, and 124.09 billion yuan for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively [2] - Projected net profits (Non-GAAP) for the same years are 38.81 billion yuan, 39.92 billion yuan, and 41.31 billion yuan [2]

Core Viewpoint - The company has effectively controlled costs, leading to an upward revision of Non-GAAP net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 6% to 36.8 billion and 38.2 billion CNY respectively, with a maintained outperform rating due to strong gaming business performance and a target price increase of 25% to 225 HKD and 145 USD [1][2]. Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company's revenue increased by 7% to 28.8 billion CNY, while Non-GAAP net profit rose by 32% to 11.2 billion CNY, exceeding both the firm's and market expectations [2][3]. - The strong performance was attributed to better-than-expected gaming revenue and significant cost savings, with a declared dividend of 0.675 USD per ADS, totaling 428 million USD for the quarter [2]. Revenue Drivers - Key self-developed games contributing to revenue growth included "Identity V," which reached a new quarterly revenue high, and "Marvel Duel," with a second season update planned for 2025 [3]. - The company reported a strong performance in multi-platform games, with a 85% year-on-year increase in PC revenue, and deferred revenue grew by 19% quarter-on-quarter [3]. Cost Management - Sales expenses decreased by 33% and management expenses by 20%, significantly below market expectations, attributed to improved internal governance and marketing efficiency [4]. - R&D expenses increased by 5%, aligning with expectations, as the company continues to invest in game development and AI technology [4]. Game Development and Global Strategy - The company is focusing on several in-development games, including "Marvel Secret Wars" and "Destiny: Rising," while also expanding the overseas distribution of existing titles [5]. - Notable upcoming releases include "Frostpunk" and "All-Star Streetball Party," with participation in the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games for titles like "Identity V" [5].

Core Insights - The return of founder Ding Lei has led to a gradual recovery for NetEase Games, as evidenced by the positive financial results for Q1 2025 [1][2] - NetEase's global strategy is shifting from merely importing IPs to cultural output, with a focus on quality and sustainable growth in overseas markets [2][8] Financial Performance - NetEase reported a net revenue of 28.8 billion yuan for Q1 2025, with gaming and related value-added services contributing 24 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.1% [1] - Classic IPs like "Identity V" and "Party Animals" have played a crucial role in driving revenue growth [1][5] Product Strategy - The dual strategy of "long-term operation + new product explosion" is evident, with classic IPs continuing to generate growth momentum [5] - "Identity V" has surpassed 400 million global registered users, while "Party Animals" achieved record user growth through cultural events [5] - New products like "Yan Yun Sixteen Sounds" and "Marvel Duel" have also performed exceptionally well, with the former attracting significant attention from industry leaders [5][6] Global Expansion - NetEase has been cautious in its global expansion, having shut down some overseas studios to focus on product quality [2][8] - The company has seen success with self-developed titles like "Marvel Duel" in overseas markets, indicating potential for future growth [2][8] Leadership Changes - The departure of Simon Zhu, a key figure in NetEase's global investment and cooperation strategy, raises questions about the continuity of the company's overseas expansion efforts [10][11] - His successor, Li Riqiang, has a strong background in global partnerships, which may influence NetEase's future strategies [10][12] Technological Investment - NetEase is increasing its investment in AI, with 15% of R&D spending directed towards technological innovation, which is expected to enhance productivity across various business lines [6][7] - The integration of AI in gaming, such as the AI crew mode in "Nirvana in Fire," is aimed at enhancing user-generated content [7]