Core Insights - Duolingo is intensifying its promotion of premium subscription plans, particularly the Duolingo Max plan, which has raised concerns among some users about the aggressive marketing approach [1][5][9] - The company has a significant user base of 128 million monthly active users, but only 11 million are paid subscribers, indicating a potential for growth in subscription revenue [7][9] - Duolingo's revenue model heavily relies on subscriptions, which accounted for 85% of its revenue-generating order bookings in Q2 2025, with a 6% year-over-year increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) [7][8] User Experience Changes - The mobile app has evolved to provide distinct experiences across platforms, with new features often rolled out first on iOS before reaching Android users [2] - Recent updates to the Android app have made the Practice Hub less accessible, as it has been moved to a less prominent location, potentially discouraging users from utilizing this resource [3][5] - The introduction of the Video Call feature, which is exclusive to the Duolingo Max plan, reflects the company's strategy to push higher-tier subscriptions [5][6] Business Strategy - Duolingo's focus on the Max subscription is seen as a strategic move to enhance profitability, despite concerns that it may alienate some loyal users [8][9] - The company operates on a data-driven model, suggesting that any negative impact on user retention from aggressive marketing will be quickly addressed if necessary [10][11] - Overall, the push towards the Max plan is viewed as a disciplined growth strategy rather than a desperate attempt to increase revenue, indicating a positive outlook for the company's future [12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the AI education industry, indicating expected performance above the market benchmark by over 10% [2][3][32]. Core Insights - Duolingo's FY2025Q2 performance exceeded expectations, with revenue of $252 million, a year-on-year increase of 41%, and an adjusted EBITDA of $78.7 million, up 31.2% year-on-year, validating the profitability of AI education applications [4][5][8]. - The report highlights the positive sentiment in the domestic AI education sector driven by Duolingo's strong financial results, which are expected to catalyze domestic market enthusiasm [4][28]. - The collaboration between Duolingo and Luckin Coffee has significantly boosted consumer education in the domestic AI education market, with the product achieving over 9 million sales in its first week [4][11][28]. - The commercialization process of domestic AI education products is progressing well, with several products like DouShen Education's "Super Practice" series and Fenbi's AI question-answering system achieving significant sales milestones [4][15][18][28]. Summary by Sections Duolingo's Performance - Duolingo reported a DAU growth of 40% to 47.7 million and a MAU growth of 24% to 128 million, although these figures fell short of Bloomberg consensus expectations [5][8]. - The subscription conversion rate reached a historic high of 8.93%, with Duolingo Super and Duolingo Max services showing strong growth [6][8]. Domestic AI Education Developments - DouShen Education launched "Super Practice" products, achieving a GMV of 17.4 million by July 30, with strong sales driven by effective marketing strategies [15][16]. - Fenbi's AI question-answering system sold 50,000 sets, generating approximately 20 million in revenue, indicating strong demand for exam preparation solutions [18][19]. - Tianli International's AI education model has been implemented in 107 schools, benefiting 250,000 students, and has shown significant improvement in student performance [22][23][24]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on leading companies in the AI education sector, including DouShen Education, Fenbi, Tianli International, and others, as they are expected to benefit from the positive market sentiment and ongoing commercialization efforts [4][28].

Core Insights - Duolingo reported Q2 2025 revenue of $252 million, a 41% year-over-year increase, with total subscription revenue reaching $268 million, also up 41% [1] - The company achieved a net profit of $44.8 million, marking an 84% increase year-over-year, and user numbers reached 130.2 million, with daily active users (DAU) at 47.7 million, a 40% increase [1] - CEO Luis von Ahn attributed the strong performance to product-driven growth strategies, enjoyable learning experiences, and rapid iteration capabilities [1] User Metrics - DAU reached 47.7 million, up 40% year-over-year, while monthly active users (MAU) increased to 128.3 million, a 24% growth [4][3] - Paid subscribers grew to 10.9 million, reflecting a 37% year-over-year increase, with paid subscriber penetration at 9.0% of last twelve months MAUs [4][5] - The DAU/MAU ratio improved to 37%, indicating increased user engagement [5] Subscription Performance - Duolingo Max subscription share increased to 8%, although growth was slower than expected due to the faster growth of Duolingo Super [6] - Duolingo Super's growth was driven by a global price increase trial in March, which raised average revenue per user (ARPU) by 5-6% [7] - The company plans to optimize video call features in Duolingo Max to enhance user experience [7] Business Developments - Duolingo acquired UK-based music game startup NextBeat to enhance its music course offerings, with plans to integrate music and gaming elements into learning [10] - The chess feature has shown strong demand, with a 23% increase in user retention, and will expand to Android [9] - The company is also implementing a new energy bar system to replace the previous heart mechanism, which has positively impacted DAUs and subscription conversion rates [10][11] Market Performance - China emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets, with a successful collaboration with Luckin Coffee, which has over 6,000 stores acting as low-cost user acquisition channels [2][12] - The partnership with Luckin Coffee has effectively attracted new Duolingo Super users, although Duolingo Max has not yet launched in China due to regulatory approvals [12] - The company plans to focus on localized, cost-effective marketing strategies in China while considering a trial of performance advertising in the U.S. market starting Q3 [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 40% year-over-year growth in Daily Active Users (DAUs) for Q2, which is a decrease from the 60% growth seen in the same quarter last year [9][10] - The company raised its full-year guidance due to record profitability and strong top-line growth [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The percentage of subscribers using the Max subscription increased from 5% to 8% over the past few quarters, indicating growth in this segment [19][20] - The Super subscription is performing better than expected, contributing to the slower growth of Max [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Chinese market is identified as the fastest-growing market for the company, with successful partnerships, such as with Luckin Coffee, enhancing brand visibility [14][15] - The company is facing regulatory challenges in China regarding the use of local language models, which is delaying the rollout of certain features [15][16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is investing in new areas such as chess, math, and music, which are expected to drive long-term growth [4][41] - The company plans to start spending on marketing in the U.S. to counteract slower growth rates compared to other markets [118][120] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in overcoming recent challenges related to social media sentiment and user engagement, indicating that the negative impact is expected to be temporary [11][94] - The company is optimistic about the future growth of the Max subscription and the overall user engagement metrics [50][88] Other Important Information - The company is transitioning from a "hearts" mechanic to an "energy" system for free users, which has shown positive impacts on DAUs and engagement metrics [62][65] - The company is testing a web purchase flow to bypass app store fees, which could significantly increase profit margins in the future [26][27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break down the primary drivers behind DAU growth moderation? - Management noted that DAU growth was 40%, slightly lower than expected due to negative sentiment from social media regarding AI comments [9][10][11] Question: Can you provide an update on the Max subscription? - The Max subscription has grown to 8% of total subscribers, but its growth was slower than expected due to challenges for beginner users with the video call feature [19][20][21] Question: What are the early learnings from the energy system? - The energy system has increased DAUs, time spent, and subscriber conversion, although some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the change [62][73] Question: How is the company addressing user engagement in the U.S.? - Management indicated plans to start spending on marketing in the U.S. to improve user engagement, as historical growth has been slower compared to other markets [118][120] Question: What is the outlook for the Max subscription and video call feature? - Management is seeing growth in English learners using the Max subscription and video call feature, with positive early signals [86][87]