Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The conference call primarily discusses the **China Internet** sector, focusing on **e-commerce** and **food delivery** competition among major players like **Alibaba**, **JD**, and **Meituan** [1][12][8]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Competitive Landscape**: The ongoing competition among Meituan, JD, and Alibaba is intense, with significant financial implications. Alibaba has announced **RMB50 billion** in food delivery incentives, while JD has indicated **RMB30 billion** in investments for the same purpose [12][13]. This competition is expected to last into **2026**, potentially exceeding **RMB100 billion** in total costs [13]. - **Profitability Concerns**: The companies are struggling to grow profitably due to overlapping target markets, with **600-800 million MAUs** and **200-250 million core DAUs** competing for the same consumer base [9][55]. The expectation is that the transactional platforms will find it increasingly difficult to achieve sustainable profitable growth without engaging in destructive competition [9][68]. - **Market Sentiment**: There is a prevailing negative sentiment among investors regarding the sector, but recent tactical positioning suggests that stocks may have room for a rebound [8][18]. The normalization of competition, aided by government regulation, could lead to improved conditions for Alibaba and JD [8][17]. - **Earnings Estimates**: The estimates for JD and Alibaba have been reduced due to higher-than-expected food delivery losses and spending plans. The companies are expected to experience material earnings damage through the September quarter [12][95]. Additional Important Insights - **User Subsidy Limits**: The companies are reaching the limits of their user subsidy budgets, with JD managing a quarterly spend of **RMB10 billion** [3]. The expectation is that the competitive intensity will moderate, allowing for a focus on service quality and unit economics rather than just order volume growth [17]. - **Market Dynamics**: The competition is leading to increased multi-homing among users, with Meituan retaining a larger share of unique merchants compared to JD and Ele.me [15][16]. This indicates a potential long-term advantage for Meituan in the food delivery market, despite the overall profit pool shrinking [16]. - **Valuation Metrics**: The valuation metrics for the companies indicate that JD and Alibaba's shares appear cheap in a context where food delivery losses are expected to moderate [4][20]. The adjusted P/E ratios for JD and Alibaba are **7.8x** and **12.9x** respectively for 2026 [11]. Conclusion - The China Internet sector, particularly in e-commerce and food delivery, is facing significant challenges due to intense competition and profitability concerns. While there are signs of potential normalization and recovery, the long-term outlook remains cautious as companies navigate overlapping markets and regulatory pressures.