Summary of Kingsoft Cloud (KC) 2Q25 Review Company Overview - **Company**: Kingsoft Cloud (KC) - **Market Cap**: $3.7 billion - **Enterprise Value**: $4.5 billion - **Industry**: China Internet Verticals Key Financial Results - **2Q25 Revenue**: Rmb 2,349 million, up 24% YoY, exceeding estimates by 7% and 3% compared to consensus [15] - **Non-GAAP Net Loss**: Rmb (300) million, significantly worse than expectations due to higher depreciation and interest expenses [15] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Rmb 406 million, up 570% YoY, beating estimates by 3% and 18% [15] - **Adjusted EBITDA Margin**: Increased by 1.1 percentage points QoQ to 17.3% [15] Revenue Growth Drivers - **AI Cloud Revenue**: Grew 39% QoQ and 124% YoY in 2Q25, contributing 31% of total revenue [15] - **Xiaomi/Kingsoft Ecosystem**: Revenue growth accelerated to 24% QoQ and 70% YoY, accounting for 27% of total revenue [15] - **Forecast for 2H25E and 2026E**: Expected revenue growth of +28% and +19% YoY, respectively, driven by AI cloud and Xiaomi partnerships [15] Financial Forecasts - **Revenue Projections**: - 2025E: Rmb 9,581.3 million (up from previous estimate of Rmb 9,225.2 million) - 2026E: Rmb 11,354.6 million (up from previous estimate of Rmb 10,682.6 million) [3] - **EBITDA Projections**: - 2025E: Rmb 2,060.0 million (up 15% from previous) - 2026E: Rmb 3,131.8 million (up 9% from previous) [3] Margin and Profitability Insights - **Gross Profit Margin (GPM)**: Declined to 14.9% YoY due to high depreciation and data center costs [15] - **Adjusted EBITDA Margin**: Expected to improve to 24.2%+ by 4Q25E [29] Investment Thesis - **Strengths**: - High AI revenue contribution (31% in 2Q25) - Strong growth visibility from Xiaomi/Kingsoft ecosystem (45% CAGR from 2024-2027E) [32] - **Risks**: - Rising reliance on related parties for revenue growth - Competitive pressure in the cloud market - Potential funding challenges for capital expenditures [31] Valuation and Price Target - **Target Price**: Increased to US$13.5 based on DCF analysis, implying 3.4x/2.8x 2025/2026E EV/Sales and 16.2x/10.3x 2025/2026E EV/EBITDA [14] - **Current Rating**: Neutral, with a 2% implied downside [14] Conclusion - Kingsoft Cloud shows strong revenue growth driven by AI and partnerships, but faces challenges with rising costs and competitive pressures. The company is positioned for future growth, but investors should be cautious of its reliance on related parties and the overall market environment.

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "In-Line" view on the industrial sector in China, indicating a balanced outlook on investment opportunities [9]. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the structural competitive advantages that China possesses in emerging sectors, despite facing challenges such as debt, deflation, and demographic shifts [3][8]. - A six-factor framework is introduced to analyze the successful ingredients driving industrial upgrades and to identify future investment opportunities [1][31]. Summary by Sections Industrial Upgrade Focus - China's industrial upgrades are driven by significant opportunities in advanced supply chains and manufacturing sectors, with a focus on machinery, vehicles, new energy, semiconductors, aerospace, AI, software, pharmaceuticals, humanoid robots, and eVOTL [4][5]. - The report identifies 28 stocks that are well-positioned to benefit from these trends, either through supply chain advantages or as key players in new industries [5][49]. Six-Factor Framework 1. **R&D Investment**: R&D spending in China is critical for industrial upgrades, with manufacturing accounting for 60% of total R&D as of 2023. The report notes that while China's R&D as a percentage of GDP is around 2.7%, it is improving [15][35][56]. 2. **Talent Pool**: China has the largest number of engineering graduates globally, with approximately 3 million students graduating in 2022, which supports innovation in emerging industries [37][38]. 3. **Capital Inflows**: Significant capital inflows have been observed, particularly in semiconductors and machinery, with Rmb20 trillion in capital recorded from 2021 to 2024 [39]. 4. **Government Support**: The Chinese government provides substantial support through subsidies, tax incentives, and regulatory frameworks, particularly in new energy, semiconductors, and aerospace [39][40]. 5. **Market Demand**: Strong market demand drives operational efficiencies and encourages companies to invest in R&D and advanced technologies, with consumer discretionary and healthcare sectors expected to grow [40][41]. 6. **Supply Chain Foundations**: The report highlights the importance of moving up the value chain, particularly in industries like semiconductors and machinery, to enhance margins and localization rates [41][43]. Investment Opportunities - The report identifies key industries poised for growth, including semiconductors, aerospace, AI, and pharmaceuticals, and emphasizes the importance of monitoring emerging start-ups [3][34][49]. - AI is highlighted as a significant opportunity, with projections indicating it could contribute Rmb11 trillion to China's GDP by 2035 [45][46]. Stock Recommendations - The report provides a detailed playbook of 28 stocks that are strategically positioned to capitalize on the industrial upgrade theme, spanning various sectors including technology, industrials, and materials [50][51].