Core Insights - The current predicament of Qudian is attributed to a combination of structural issues, including regulatory misjudgments, strategic reversals, aggressive investments, and imbalanced marketing, rather than solely the initial business model risks [1][13] - Qudian has attempted multiple transformations but continues to struggle in finding a sustainable path forward, reflecting its ongoing difficulties [2] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Qudian reported revenue of 25.8 million yuan, a significant year-on-year decline of 53.76%, while net profit turned positive at 150 million yuan, primarily driven by non-recurring income from investments [1][4] - The "last mile" delivery business, a key focus area, generated only 23.8 million yuan in revenue in Q1 2025, down from 53.8 million yuan in the same period last year, indicating a substantial contraction [1][11] - The financial performance has shown a downward trend since 2020, with revenue dropping from 3.688 billion yuan in 2020 to 577 million yuan in 2022, marking the first comprehensive loss [4] Business Strategy and Transformation - Qudian's strategic direction remains unclear as it continues to frequently adjust its business focus, reflecting the challenges it faces in its transformation efforts [2] - The company has ventured into various sectors, including online education, automotive retail, community group buying, live e-commerce, and prepared meals, but most attempts have failed due to unclear positioning and lack of core competitiveness [3][4] - The "last mile" delivery business, which was expected to be a major revenue source, has shown high customer concentration, with the top four clients contributing over 80% of total revenue, leading to significant risks if any major client is lost [11][12] Asset and Liability Overview - Qudian maintains a strong asset base, with cash, restricted cash, time deposits, and short-term investments accounting for over 70% of total assets since 2022, indicating a solid financial foundation [7][9] - As of Q1 2025, total liabilities were reported at 1.294 billion yuan, representing 10.23% of total assets, suggesting a manageable debt level [10]

Company Updates - The company announced that during the "May Day" period, the total business volume for SF Same City increased by 87% year-on-year, with supermarket and department store volume up by 177%, beverage volume up by 106%, and last-mile delivery volume up by 102% [1] - According to Questmobile data, the average daily usage of the rider app in April increased by 40% year-on-year, indicating strong demand in the instant delivery sector [1] Industry Commentary - The growth in the takeaway industry is driving demand for last-mile delivery, suggesting that the company's same-city delivery B2B business volume may exceed previous expectations [1] - Questmobile data shows that the average daily usage of KFC and McDonald's increased by 31% and 30% year-on-year, respectively, indicating a positive trend in the takeaway sector [1] - The company is expected to benefit from its refined operational capabilities and flexible logistics network, leading to increased order volumes from key accounts (KA) [1] - The company anticipates that its revenue from merchants will exceed 24% by 2025, with KA business growth expected to be even higher [1] - The company's B2C business is expected to grow steadily alongside macroeconomic demand, supported by synergies with its express delivery services [1] Last-Mile Delivery Insights - The last-mile delivery business is projected to continue contributing revenue beyond expectations due to increased demand from e-commerce returns and the delivery of national subsidy products [2] - The integration of the company's logistics network with its parent company's express network is expected to enhance penetration rates and collaborative effects, further boosting profitability [2] - The company anticipates that its last-mile delivery volume will contribute significantly to revenue growth [2] Profitability Forecast and Valuation - The company has raised its revenue forecasts for 2025 and 2026 by 4.7% and 5.5%, respectively, to 20.343 billion and 25.711 billion [2] - Despite uncertainties in pricing trends within the takeaway industry, the net profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026 remain unchanged at 250 million and 406 million [2] - The company maintains an outperform rating and a target price of HKD 13.50, which corresponds to 0.6x and 0.4x P/S for 2025 and 2026, respectively, indicating a 26% upside potential from the current price [2]