Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer put under the microscope. During the lightning round, a caller inquired after Cramer’s thoughts on the stock, noting that it has gone down from $26 and change to $23. He replied: “You know what? Look, that’s, we’ve made a lot of money in that. We’re moving on. We’re going to stick with BABA when it comes to China. That’s about it.” Photo by Joshua Mayo on Unsplash Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) provides music st ...

Key Takeaways Market volatility rises as the U.S. Supreme Court reviews the legality of major Trump-era tariffs.Scorpio Tankers, Kanzhun and Tencent Music qualify as low-beta stocks under 0.6 in screening.STNG shows strong liquidity, BZ boasts RMB 16B cash, while TME gains users via new app features.According to a CNBC report, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the legality of President Trump’s major import tariffs in hearings scheduled for Nov. 5. As a result, uncertainty persists, and the market is l ...

Industry Overview - The entertainment consumption landscape has shifted from scheduled cable television to digital streaming platforms over the last two decades, with significant milestones including the launch of YouTube in 2005 and Netflix's on-demand model in 2007 [2] - The global streaming market is projected to generate $190 billion annually by 2029, supported by 2 billion subscriptions, with subscription models dominating while free ad-supported TV and hybrid offerings gain traction [4] Company Insights: Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) - TME has evolved from a digital distributor to China's leading online music and audio entertainment platform, reaching over 553 million monthly active users and 124 million paying subscribers, reflecting a 22.5% paying ratio [6][7] - The average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) has climbed to RMB 11.7, with management focusing on SVIP expansion, bundled content offerings, and closer artist partnerships as growth drivers [8] - TME's global expansion strategy includes high-profile concerts and collaborations with international labels, enhancing its cultural reach beyond China [9] - With RMB 34.9 billion in cash reserves, TME is well-positioned to invest in AI-powered music tools and immersive sound technologies [10] Company Insights: Disney - Disney launched Disney+ in 2019, rapidly building a subscriber base of 128 million as of Q3 2025, with a combined subscriber base of 183 million across Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu [11][12] - The integration of Hulu into Disney+ is expected to create operating synergies and enhance user experiences, while management anticipates over 10 million new subscriptions in Q4 2025 due to expanded distribution agreements [13][14] - Sports streaming is a key growth area, with ESPN's direct-to-consumer service launching in August 2025, backed by exclusive rights to WWE events and a deal with the NFL [15][16] Company Insights: Roku - Roku is the leading TV streaming platform provider in North America, evolving from a streaming device manufacturer to a comprehensive streaming ecosystem [17] - The Roku Channel has become a significant driver of engagement, with streaming hours reaching 35.4 billion in Q2 2025, up 17.6% year over year [19] - Roku's platform fundamentals are strong, supported by high user engagement and strategic partnerships, with the Roku Home Screen reaching over 125 million households daily [20]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues reached a record high of RMB8.4 billion, up by 18% year over year, driven by strong growth in music subscription and advertising services [24][25] - Online music revenues grew 26% year on year to RMB6.9 billion [25] - Net profit increased by 38% to RMB2.5 billion, with net profit attributable to equity holders rising by 43% to RMB2.4 billion [31] - Monthly ARPPU reached RMB11.7, compared to RMB10.7 in the same period last year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Music subscription revenues grew 17% year on year to RMB4.4 billion, supported by an expanding subscriber base and higher ARPPU [26] - Advertising revenue continued to grow significantly, benefiting from innovative ad formats and increased offline events [27] - Artist-related merchandise sales and offline performances contributed robust results, enhancing overall revenue growth [27][28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Social entertainment services and other revenues were RMB1.6 billion, down by 9% year on year due to adjustments in live streaming and compliance procedures [28] - Gross margin rose by 2.4 percentage points year on year to 44.4%, driven by strong growth in music subscription and advertising revenues [29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a comprehensive music entertainment platform, integrating content and services to enhance user engagement [39][66] - Strategic partnerships with artists and labels are being leveraged to expand offerings and enhance user experiences [12][20] - The company aims to continue innovating in the music space, including the introduction of AI technology and new interactive features for users [13][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, expecting revenue to exceed previous expectations due to solid performance year to date [39] - The company is committed to investing in new initiatives that create lasting value in the music entertainment space [22] - Management highlighted the importance of operational efficiency and the potential for bottom line improvement moving forward [39][80] Other Important Information - The company successfully hosted major concerts, including G Dragon's tour, which significantly enhanced its industry reputation [9][28] - The introduction of the Bubble community aims to enhance user engagement and provide a platform for artists to connect with fans [41][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for revenue and profit in the second half - Management is encouraged by solid performance and expects continued high-quality growth in both subscription and non-subscription services [39] Question: User feedback on the Bubble product - Management reported positive user feedback and sees potential for Bubble to contribute meaningfully to revenue in the future [42][46] Question: Synergies with Simalaya deal - Management is awaiting regulatory approval and believes long-form audio will complement existing music business [50][52] Question: Long-term revenue contribution from other music revenue - Management indicated that while offline performance and merchandise contribute to revenue, their impact on gross margin is relatively small [56][58] Question: Biggest opportunities and challenges in the fancy economy - Management sees opportunities in integrating merchandise and offline events with online services, while challenges include scheduling and logistical coordination [64][66] Question: Long-term positioning and revenue mix - Management plans to leverage both online music and advertising as key growth drivers, with a focus on expanding into long-form audio and international markets [71][72] Question: Advertising revenue growth from new membership - Management clarified that advertising growth is primarily driven by online advertising rather than the new ad-based membership [74][76] Question: Operating expenses and leverage - Management expects to control expense growth to remain slower than revenue growth, ensuring operational leverage [80] Question: Sustainability of Super VIP growth - Management emphasized that growth in Super VIP is driven by ongoing content releases and user engagement strategies [84][86]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues reached a record high of RMB 8.4 billion, up 18% year over year, driven by strong growth in music subscription and advertising services [24][25] - Online music revenues grew 26% year on year to RMB 6.9 billion, with music subscription revenues increasing 17% year on year to RMB 4.4 billion [24][25] - Monthly ARPPU reached RMB 11.7, compared to RMB 10.7 in the same period last year, reflecting the expansion in SYP subscribers [25] - Net profit increased by 38% to RMB 2.5 billion, with net profit attributable to equity holders rising by 43% to RMB 2.4 billion [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The music subscription business remains a core growth driver, with a subscriber base exceeding 15 million [15] - Advertising revenue continued to grow significantly, driven by innovative ad formats and increased offline events [25][26] - Artist-related merchandise sales and offline performances also contributed robustly to overall revenue growth [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully hosted major concerts, including G Dragon's tour, which attracted over 36,000 attendees [9] - The advertising growth was supported by events like the 618 shopping festival, which increased the number of advertisers and engagement rates [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a comprehensive music entertainment platform, enhancing user engagement through innovative features and artist collaborations [5][15] - Strategic partnerships with artists and labels are aimed at expanding content offerings and enhancing user experiences [6][12] - The company is committed to diversifying music services and leveraging AI technology to enhance user engagement and content creation [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, expecting revenue to exceed previous expectations due to solid performance year to date [39] - The company aims to continue enhancing SYP membership and introducing more artist-centric privileges to drive growth [32] - Management highlighted the importance of operational efficiencies and the potential for bottom line improvement moving forward [39] Other Important Information - The company is exploring synergies from its deal with Simalaya, focusing on long-form audio as a complementary content form [51][52] - The introduction of the Bubble community aims to enhance user engagement and provide a platform for deeper artist-fan interactions [42][48] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for revenue and profit in the second half - Management is encouraged by solid performance and expects continued high-quality growth in the subscription business, with a focus on operational efficiencies [37] Question: User feedback on the Bubble product - Management reported positive user feedback on Bubble, which aims to enhance communication between fans and artists, with plans to introduce more features [44][46] Question: Synergies with Simalaya deal - Management noted that the deal is pending regulatory approval, but sees long-form audio as a key growth area that complements existing music services [51][52] Question: Long-term revenue contribution from other music revenue streams - Management acknowledged that while advertising is high-margin, offline performances and merchandise have lower margins but are expected to grow [56][60] Question: Biggest opportunities and challenges in the fan economy - Management sees opportunities in integrating merchandise and offline events with online services, while challenges include scheduling and logistical coordination [66] Question: Long-term positioning and revenue mix - Management plans to leverage a dual strategy of content and platform development, with expectations for advertising revenue growth to outpace online music revenue growth [72][73] Question: Details on ad-based membership revenue contribution - Management indicated that the growth in advertising revenue is primarily from online advertising rather than ad-based membership, which is still in its early stages [76][78] Question: Operating expenses and future trends - Management expects to control expense growth to remain slower than revenue growth, ensuring continued profitability [83] Question: Online music subscription business metrics - Management reported a growing SVIP penetration ratio and retention rates, driven by premium content offerings and artist collaborations [87][90]

Company Overview - TME is committed to the healthy development of China's online music industry[7] - TME has a large user base with 576 million online music MAUs[13] and 90 million social entertainment mobile MAUs[15] in 3Q2024 - TME boasts an extensive content library with over 200 million music and audio tracks[14, 20] and 480K+ indie musicians[15] - TME's total cash, cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments reached RMB 3604 billion[15, 18, 49] Business Overview - TME has partnerships with hundreds of domestic and international music labels[20] - TME is expanding LLM capabilities, AIGC tools & full-suite of resources and services to streamline content production[21] - TME cultivates and empowers indie musicians & original music through Tencent Musician Platform[22] Financial Highlights - TME's online music monthly ARPPU was RMB 108 in 3Q24, a 49% year-over-year increase[37] - TME's revenue from music subscriptions reached RMB 384 billion in 3Q24, a 203% year-over-year increase[37] - TME's gross margin was 426% in 3Q24, a 69 percentage point year-over-year increase[37] - TME's Non-IFRS net profit was RMB 194 billion in 3Q24, a 291% year-over-year increase[37]

Company Overview - TME is committed to the healthy development of China's online music industry[7] - TME has a large user base, innovative product matrix, comprehensive content library, and diversified monetization methods[11] - TME has over 260 million music and audio tracks[12, 15] and over 580,000 indie musicians[12] Business Overview - TME has partnerships with hundreds of domestic and international music labels[15] - TME cultivates and empowers indie musicians through the Tencent Musician Platform[17] - TME utilizes LLMs & industry-pioneered licensed AI features to enhance promotion, distribution and copyright protection[18] - TME's platform caters to varying needs of music consumers, with online music paying users reaching 122.9 million and a paying ratio of 22.1% in 1Q25[8, 24] Financial Highlights - TME's total cash, cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments amounted to RMB 37.67 billion as of March 31, 2025[12, 45] - TME's LTM 2025 total revenues were RMB 29.0 billion with a 29.5% LTM 2025 adjusted net margin[12] - TME's 1Q25 revenue from music subscriptions was RMB 5.80 billion, a 16.6% year-over-year increase[34] - TME's 1Q25 online music monthly ARPPU was RMB 11.4, a 7.5% year-over-year increase[12, 34] - TME's 1Q25 Non-IFRS net profit was RMB 2.23 billion, a 22.8% year-over-year increase[34]

Company Overview - TME boasts a large user base and innovative technology, holding 4 out of the top 5 music mobile apps in China[15] - The platform has an extensive content library with over 260 million music and audio tracks[15] - TME's online music subscribers reached 121 million in 4Q24, demonstrating a year-over-year growth of 134%[12] - The company reported total cash, cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments of RMB 3758 billion as of December 31, 2024[14] - TME's last twelve months (LTM) total revenues as of December 31, 2024, were RMB 284 billion, with an adjusted net margin of 286%[14] Business Overview - TME has partnerships with hundreds of domestic and international music labels, offering a diversified music library[17] - The platform cultivates and empowers indie musicians through the Tencent Musician Platform[19] Financial Highlights - In 4Q24, revenue from music subscriptions reached RMB 403 billion, an increase of 180% year-over-year[37] - 4Q24 revenue from other online music services was RMB 180 billion, up 121% year-over-year[37] - The online music monthly ARPPU for 4Q24 was RMB 111, a 37% year-over-year increase[38] - Non-IFRS net profit for 4Q24 was RMB 240 billion, showing a significant increase of 430% year-over-year[38] - The company's gross margin for 4Q24 was 436%, a 53 percentage point increase year-over-year[37]

Core Insights - Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) is positioned as the leading music streaming service in China, comparable to Spotify and Apple Music in the global market [1] - The company operates key music applications including QQ Music and Kugou Music, boasting over 550 million users as of the first quarter of 2025 [1] Company Overview - TME's primary products are music streaming apps that cater to a vast audience in China, indicating a strong market presence and user engagement [1] - The company is focused on expanding its user base and enhancing its service offerings to maintain competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving music streaming industry [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) reported revenues of RMB 7.4 billion, reflecting a 9% year-over-year growth [22] - Online music revenues increased by 16% year-over-year to RMB 5.8 billion, driven by strong growth in music subscription and advertising revenues [22] - Music subscription revenues reached RMB 4.2 billion, representing a 70% year-over-year increase and a 5% sequential rise [23] - The gross margin improved to 44.1%, up 3.2 percentage points year-over-year, attributed to strong subscription and advertising revenue growth [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The music subscription business remains the cornerstone of TME's revenue, with significant growth in SVIP membership and reduced promotional activity contributing to revenue increases [23][31] - Advertising revenues showed strong year-over-year growth, primarily due to the success of the ad-supported model [24] - Artist-related merchandise sales and offline performances also contributed to revenue growth, with notable sales from physical albums and concerts [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has strengthened partnerships with record labels, enhancing its music library and user engagement through exclusive content and immersive audio experiences [6][7] - There is a growing popularity of diverse music genres, including Korean, English, and Japanese tracks, indicating a shift in user preferences [9] - The company is expanding its presence in the international market, particularly in Southeast Asia, to capture growth opportunities [76] Company Strategy and Development Direction - TME is focused on high-quality growth in its music business, expanding SVIP memberships, and diversifying offerings across the music value chain [31] - The company aims to enhance user engagement through innovative technologies and original content production [31] - TME is committed to building a comprehensive content ecosystem and improving operational efficiency to sustain growth [12][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the 2025 outlook, expecting year-over-year growth rates to accelerate and margins to expand [36] - The company is optimistic about the long-term potential of the music industry and plans to continue investing in high-quality content and user engagement [31] - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to user preferences and market dynamics to drive future growth [41][53] Other Important Information - TME released its 2024 ESG report, detailing practices in intellectual property protection, user privacy, and fostering diverse music communities [12] - The company declared a cash dividend of US$0.09 per ordinary share for the year ended December 31, 2024, with payments made in April 2025 [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook for top line profit growth for the next quarter and full year 2025 - Management expressed confidence in achieving strong results in Q1 and expects full-year growth to accelerate, driven by rich service offerings and user engagement [36] Question: Growth opportunity of podcasts in China and long-form audio user metrics - Management noted that while podcast growth in China is limited, long-form audio content is expected to complement existing services and enhance user experience [42] Question: SVIP progress and retention metrics - Management reported strong growth in SVIP membership and ARPPU, with plans to enhance the membership system and improve user satisfaction [48] Question: Contribution of Super VIP to ARPPU growth - Management indicated that the reduction in promotional activities has positively impacted ARPPU, with expectations for continued growth from the SVIP business [52] Question: Monetization strategy for non-paying subscribers - Management emphasized converting non-paying users into subscribers while leveraging advertising and merchandise sales to generate revenue from this segment [58] Question: Future drivers for gross margin improvement - Management highlighted subscriber growth, effective cost management, and strong partnerships with content creators as key drivers for future gross margin expansion [70] Question: International opportunities, especially in Southeast Asia - Management confirmed that international markets are a key part of their strategy, with ongoing investments in content and platform development in Southeast Asia [76] Question: Outlook for advertising and offline events business - Management remains optimistic about advertising revenue growth and plans to enhance the quality of offline performances to provide comprehensive musical experiences [82]