Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is maintained as "Buy" with a target price of HKD 142.40 [6][7]. Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of RMB 86.6 billion for Q1 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 18%, which exceeded consensus expectations by 1% [2][3]. - Operating profit for Q1 2025 was RMB 10.6 billion, surpassing expectations by 23%, while adjusted net profit reached RMB 10.9 billion, exceeding expectations by 11% [2][3]. - The management indicated that while short-term subsidy competition in the domestic food delivery market may impact profits, the long-term profitability is expected to return to reasonable levels due to the company's strong operational capabilities and market position [3][4]. Revenue and Profitability Summary - Q1 2025 revenue breakdown includes core local business revenue of RMB 64.3 billion (yoy +18%) and new business revenue of RMB 22.2 billion (yoy +19%) [2]. - The company has seen a 25% year-over-year increase in active merchants for its dine-in services, and the flash purchase segment has expanded its product categories significantly [2][3]. - The company anticipates revenue for 2025 to be RMB 385.9 billion, with adjusted net profit projected at RMB 40.5 billion, reflecting a cautious adjustment due to competitive pressures [4][5]. Valuation and Forecast - The valuation for the company's various segments includes an 8x PE for the food delivery business, 24x PE for the dine-in business, and 40x PE for the flash purchase business, leading to a target price of HKD 142.40 [4][11][14]. - The company is expected to achieve adjusted net profits of RMB 40.5 billion in 2025, with a gradual increase in profitability anticipated in subsequent years [5][22].

Group 1: Meituan Financial Performance - Meituan's Q1 revenue reached 86.56 billion yuan, exceeding expectations of 85.44 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 18.1% [1] - Adjusted net profit for the same period was 10.95 billion yuan, surpassing the forecast of 9.73 billion yuan, marking a 46.2% increase year-on-year [1] - Core local business revenues from delivery, commission, and advertising were 25.72 billion yuan, 24.05 billion yuan, and 11.862 billion yuan respectively, with growth rates of 22.1%, 20.1%, and 15.1% [1] Group 2: Market Competition and Strategy - The ongoing food delivery competition has not yet impacted Meituan's financial results, but there are concerns about potential profit margin declines due to increased VIP member subsidies [1][2] - CEO Wang Xing emphasized that market competition can drive industry development, particularly in instant retail, but unsustainable low-quality competition should be avoided [1] - Meituan expects the growth rate of its food delivery business in Q2 to remain consistent with Q1 and Q4 of the previous year, while in-store business may face challenges due to delivery subsidies [2] Group 3: Cash and Investment - Meituan's cash and short-term investment total approximately 180.3 billion yuan, an increase of over 12 billion yuan from the end of last year [2] - The company has more cash on hand than its short-term investment balance due to the maturity of short-term financial products [2] Group 4: BYD's Market Activity - BYD has launched limited-time promotions for its Dynasty and Ocean series models, with discounts reaching up to 53,000 yuan [3] - The stock price of BYD fell nearly 6% following the announcement of these promotions [4] - BYD's inventory as of the end of Q1 was approximately 154.37 billion yuan, a 33% increase quarter-on-quarter, attributed to rising market orders and inventory buildup [3] Group 5: Li Auto's Strategy - Li Auto is shifting its sales strategy in lower-tier cities from direct sales to a self-operated model, partnering with local businesses for service operations [5][6] - The company aims to recruit partners to build sales and service outlets, with specific requirements for location and facilities [5] Group 6: NIO's New Model Launch - NIO has launched the new ET5 and ET5T models, maintaining the starting price at 298,000 yuan, with significant upgrades across various features [9] Group 7: Nissan's Financial Strategy - Nissan plans to sell its headquarters building in Yokohama to alleviate financial pressure, expecting to raise over 100 billion yen (approximately 5 billion yuan) for restructuring costs [10] Group 8: Sequoia Capital's AI Tool - Sequoia Capital has launched an AI benchmarking tool called xbench, aimed at providing a more objective assessment of AI capabilities [11][12] Group 9: Investment Activity in Wanda Plaza - PAG and Tencent, along with other investors, have acquired 48 Wanda Plazas for a total of 50 billion yuan, as part of a strategy to manage Wanda's debt [14]

Summary of Conference Call Company and Industry - The conference call primarily discusses **Meituan**, a leading Chinese e-commerce platform, focusing on its various business segments including food delivery, new business initiatives, and international expansion, particularly in the Middle East. Key Points and Arguments Business Performance and Financial Guidance - In Q4, Meituan's new business segment is expected to incur losses of approximately **2.3 to 2.4 billion** CNY, with a slight increase compared to Q4 losses [4][5] - The company anticipates that the overall loss from new businesses will stabilize over the next four quarters, with a reduction in losses expected to be around **30%** compared to the previous year [5][6] - The company has successfully reduced losses in its domestic new business segments by about **two-thirds** over the past two to three years [5] Strategic Focus and Market Positioning - Meituan is shifting its strategy for its preferred selection business to focus on quality and differentiation rather than competing solely on price with platforms like Pinduoduo [6] - The company aims to enhance its operational capabilities in the preferred selection segment, which is expected to take time to reflect in financial improvements [6] - The company is also focusing on expanding its market share in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it aims to establish a significant presence [9][10] International Expansion and Market Dynamics - Meituan's entry into the Middle East is characterized by a competitive landscape, with the company aiming to achieve a market share comparable to its position in Hong Kong [14][15] - The total addressable market (TAM) for food delivery in the Middle East is projected to grow from **$15 billion** in 2020 to **$30 billion** by 2028, indicating significant growth potential [25] - The company is also exploring opportunities in other GCC countries, with a focus on high-density urban areas [9][10] Operational Efficiency and Profitability - Meituan's various business segments, including ride-hailing and SaaS, have shown signs of profitability, with the charging station business achieving a profit margin of over **20%** [7] - The company is optimistic about achieving adjusted operating profit in its logistics and delivery segments, with expectations for continued growth in revenue and market share [7][8] - The company is also working on improving its average order value (AOV) and reducing user subsidies as customer familiarity with the platform increases [9][10] Challenges and Future Outlook - The company acknowledges challenges in achieving profitability in new markets, particularly in the Middle East, where it faces established competitors and higher operational costs [24][25] - Meituan is committed to a gradual approach in expanding its social security initiatives, with a focus on occupational injury insurance as a starting point [20][21] - The company is cautious about projecting rapid improvements in operational efficiency, emphasizing a steady and strategic approach to growth [8][9] Other Important Content - The call included discussions on the impact of seasonal trends on AOV and the company's strategy to maintain competitive pricing while expanding its customer base [31][32] - Meituan's focus on AI and technology integration in its operations was highlighted, with plans to enhance user experience through intelligent assistants [34][35] - The company is exploring various business models, including flash sales and self-pickup options, to cater to different market segments and consumer preferences [17][18] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of Meituan's current performance and future plans.

Meituan (03690) Q4 2024 Earnings Call March 21, 2025 03:52 PM ET Company Participants Scarlett Xu - Vice President and Head of Capital MarketsWang Xing - Founder, Executive Director, CEO & ChairmanShaohui Chen - CFO & Senior VPKenneth Fong - Managing DirectorThomas Chong - Managing Director Conference Call Participants Ronald Keung - AnalystGary Yu - AnalystYa Jiang - AnalystCharlene Liu - Analyst Operator Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Netwon Fourth Quarter and Full Year twenty twenty four E ...