Key Takeaways PDD Holdings emerges as the superior Chinese e-commerce investment over Alibaba Group.PDD trades at 11.63x forward P/E versus BABA's 19.57x, offering better value with faster growth.Temu's global expansion and Pinduoduo's domestic strength drive PDD's competitive advantage.China's e-commerce landscape is dominated by two formidable players: Alibaba Group (BABA) and PDD Holdings (PDD) . Alibaba, the pioneer that revolutionized online shopping in China through platforms like Taobao and Tmall, ha ...

Core Viewpoint - Alibaba Group is expanding into quick commerce, aiming to meet changing consumer expectations for fast delivery of groceries and essentials, but this strategy raises concerns about its impact on profitability [2][4][12] Group 1: Quick Commerce Strategy - Alibaba is investing heavily in quick commerce to compete with Meituan and JD.com, driven by the demand for instant delivery in urban markets [4][5] - The launch of Taobao Instant Commerce is a response to shifting consumer behavior, particularly among younger shoppers who prefer immediate access to fresh groceries and daily necessities [5][6] - Quick commerce is seen as a defensive strategy to maintain user engagement across Alibaba's ecosystem, ensuring consumers continue to use its platforms for a variety of purchases [7] Group 2: Profitability Challenges - Quick commerce is costly due to the need for localized distribution hubs and dense logistics networks, which contrasts with the traditional e-commerce model [8] - In Q1 fiscal 2026, while commerce revenue grew by 10%, adjusted EBITDA fell by 21%, indicating that quick commerce is currently a drag on profitability [9] - The profitability issue is not unique to Alibaba, as global quick commerce players face similar challenges with low order values and high delivery costs [11] Group 3: Competitive Advantages - Alibaba possesses competitive advantages such as an advanced logistics network through Cainiao, which supports efficient fast delivery [14] - The ownership of Eleme, a major food delivery platform, allows for synergies between food delivery and instant commerce [14] - Alibaba's ability to monetize engagement across various business lines enhances the long-term value of quick commerce customers, justifying the associated costs [14] Group 4: Investor Considerations - Investors should view quick commerce as a strategic defensive play rather than a current profit driver, with a focus on user growth and engagement as key metrics for success [13] - Monitoring the narrowing of losses in quick commerce will also be crucial for assessing the effectiveness of this strategy [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for the quarter was RMB247.7 billion, with a like-for-like growth of 10% year over year excluding revenue from SunART and InTime [19][20] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14%, primarily due to strategic investments in QuickCommerce [20] - GAAP net income increased by 76%, mainly due to mark-to-market changes from equity investments [20] - Operating cash flow was positive, while free cash flow recorded an outflow of RMB18.8 billion due to increased CapEx [20][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Alibaba China Ecommerce Group increased by 10%, driven by a successful June 18 shopping festival [22] - Customer management revenue from the e-commerce business rose by 10% year over year [20][22] - Revenue from the Cloud Intelligence Group grew by 26% year over year, with AI-related product revenue maintaining triple-digit growth for the eighth consecutive quarter [7][19] - Revenue from AIDC grew by 19%, with adjusted EBITDA loss narrowing significantly [24][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Monthly active consumers on the QuickCommerce business approached 300 million, contributing to a 25% increase in monthly active consumers on the Taobao app [11][12] - Daily order volume for the China E Commerce Group reached new records, with peak daily order volume for QuickCommerce hitting 120 million [11][36] - The number of daily active riders exceeded 2 million, creating over 1 million new jobs [38] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on building a technology platform centered on AI and Cloud, alongside creating a comprehensive shopping and daily life services consumption platform [12][16] - A strategic combination of Taobao and Tmall Group into Alibaba China E Commerce Group aims to redefine consumer experience and unlock long-term value [17][18] - The company plans to invest RMB380 billion over the next three years to enhance cloud and AI infrastructure [13][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth potential driven by AI demand and the integration of QuickCommerce with existing platforms [14][15] - The company sees significant opportunities in the technology sector due to the transformative impact of AI across industries [13][14] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance between short-term and long-term returns on investments [92][96] Other Important Information - The company has entered a strategic partnership with SAP focused on cloud and AI, enhancing its capabilities in these areas [8] - The adjusted EBITDA margin for the cloud segment remained stable at 8.8% year over year [26] - The All Other segment revenue decreased by 28%, primarily due to the disposal of certain businesses [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Vision for QuickCommerce growth opportunity in China - Management highlighted successful user engagement and logistics capabilities, with significant growth in order volume and user scale since the launch of Taobao Instant Commerce [36][39] Question: Outlook for Alibaba Cloud's growth rate and margin - Management expects continued strong demand for AI products, driving growth in cloud services, while prioritizing user growth over short-term margin increases [55][60] Question: Plans for further investment in local services - Management indicated that the scale achieved in QuickCommerce allows for more diverse services, with ongoing testing in selected cities [66] Question: Investment plans for commerce and consumption - Management confirmed ongoing investments in user acquisition and supply chain improvements, with a focus on aligning investment cadence with market developments [71][73] Question: Impact of QuickCommerce on CMR growth - Management expects continued positive impacts on CMR from increased user engagement and traffic driven by QuickCommerce [74][75] Question: Transition to agent-driven AI products - Management discussed the evolution towards agent-based models, emphasizing the need for larger context windows and integration with enterprise systems [78][80] Question: Differences in strategy for QuickCommerce compared to past attempts - Management noted significant improvements in infrastructure and capabilities since the acquisition of Ele.me, which supports the rapid development of Taobao Instant Commerce [86][88] Question: Return on invested capital for QuickCommerce vs. AI - Management emphasized the importance of balancing investments in both AI and consumption, with a focus on long-term returns rather than immediate profitability [90][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for the quarter was RMB247.7 billion, with a year-over-year growth of 10% when excluding revenue from SunART and InTime [20][21] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14%, primarily due to investments in QuickCommerce, while GAAP net income increased by 76% due to mark-to-market changes from equity investments [21][22] - Operating cash flow was positive, but free cash flow showed an outflow of RMB18.8 billion, attributed to increased CapEx for AI and cloud infrastructure [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Alibaba China Ecommerce Group increased by 10%, with customer management revenue also rising by 10% due to improved take rates [23][24] - Cloud Intelligence Group revenue grew by 26% year-over-year, driven by AI-related product revenue maintaining triple-digit growth for the eighth consecutive quarter [6][26] - Revenue from AIDC grew by 19%, with adjusted EBITDA loss narrowing significantly as operating efficiency improved [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Monthly active consumers on the QuickCommerce business approached 300 million, contributing to a 25% increase in monthly active consumers on the Taobao app [11][19] - Daily order volume for the China E Commerce Group reached new records, indicating strong consumer engagement [11][24] - The QuickCommerce business achieved a peak daily order volume of 120 million, with a weekly average of 80 million orders in August [38][39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on building a technology platform centered on AI and Cloud, alongside creating a comprehensive shopping and daily life services consumption platform [12][16] - A strategic combination of Taobao and Tmall Group into Alibaba China Ecommerce Group aims to redefine consumer experience and unlock long-term value [17][18] - The company plans to invest RMB380 billion over the next three years to enhance its cloud and AI infrastructure, marking a new entrepreneurial chapter [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth potential driven by AI and cloud integration, viewing it as a significant opportunity in the technology sector [13][14] - The company is well-positioned in China’s e-commerce market, which has a solid foundation for integrating QuickCommerce with the Taobao app [14][15] - Management highlighted the importance of balancing short-term and long-term returns while making substantial investments in both AI and consumption [95] Other Important Information - The company has entered a strategic partnership with SAP focused on cloud and AI, enhancing its capabilities in the global market [7] - Investments in AI have begun to yield tangible results, with AI-related revenue accounting for over 20% of revenue from external customers [6][14] - The company is committed to shareholder returns through a mix of share buybacks, dividends, and growth investments [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Vision for QuickCommerce growth opportunity in China - Management highlighted successful user engagement and logistics capabilities since launching Taobao Instant Commerce, with significant order volume growth and market leadership in food delivery [36][37] Question: Outlook for Alibaba Cloud's growth and margin - Management expects continued strong demand for AI products, driving growth in cloud services, while prioritizing user growth over short-term margin increases [56][58] Question: Plans for in-store services expansion - Management indicated that the scale achieved in QuickCommerce allows for more diverse services, including in-store promotions and self-pickup options [66][68] Question: Investment plans for consumption side - Management confirmed ongoing investments in user acquisition and supply chain improvements, with a focus on aligning investment cadence with market developments [72][73] Question: Impact of QuickCommerce on CMR growth - Management expects continued positive impact on CMR from increased user engagement and traffic driven by QuickCommerce [75][76] Question: Transition to agent-driven AI products - Management discussed the evolution of AI models towards agent capabilities, emphasizing the need for larger context windows and integration with enterprise systems [79][80] Question: Differences in QuickCommerce strategy compared to past attempts - Management noted significant improvements in infrastructure and capabilities since the acquisition of Ele.me, which now supports rapid development in Taobao Instant Commerce [86][88]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for the quarter was RMB247.7 billion, with a like-for-like growth of 10% year over year excluding revenue from SunART and InTime [20][21] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 14%, primarily due to strategic investments in QuickCommerce [21] - GAAP net income increased by 76%, mainly due to mark-to-market changes from equity investments [21] - Operating cash flow was positive, while free cash flow recorded an outflow of RMB18.8 billion due to increased CapEx [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Alibaba China Ecommerce Group increased by 10%, with customer management revenue also rising by 10% [23] - Cloud Intelligence Group revenue grew by 26% year over year, driven by AI demand [20][26] - Revenue from AIDC grew by 19%, with adjusted EBITDA loss narrowing significantly [25] - QuickCommerce revenue increased by 12%, reflecting strong order growth [23][24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Monthly active consumers on QuickCommerce approached 300 million, contributing to a 25% increase in monthly active consumers on the Taobao app [11][24] - Daily order volume for the China E Commerce Group reached new records, indicating strong consumer engagement [11][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on building a technology platform centered on AI and Cloud, alongside creating a comprehensive shopping and daily life services platform [12][16] - A strategic combination of Taobao and Tmall Group into Alibaba China Ecommerce Group aims to enhance consumer experience and unlock long-term value [17][18] - Significant investments are planned, including RMB380 billion over three years for cloud and AI infrastructure [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the transformative impact of AI on industries and the integration of AI with cloud services as a significant opportunity [13][14] - The company is well-positioned in China's e-commerce market, which is characterized by high demand for service consumption [14][15] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential driven by investments in AI and consumption [16][30] Other Important Information - The company has entered a strategic partnership with SAP to enhance cloud and AI capabilities [7] - CapEx investment in AI and cloud infrastructure reached RMB38.6 billion for the quarter, with cumulative investments exceeding RMB100 billion over the past four quarters [13][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Vision for QuickCommerce growth opportunity and investment plans - Management shared that since launching Taobao Instant Commerce, user engagement and order volume have exceeded expectations, with peak daily orders reaching 120 million [36][39] - QuickCommerce is expected to drive significant incremental income for the e-commerce business through increased traffic and user engagement [42] Question: Outlook for Alibaba Cloud and acceleration of growth - Management indicated strong demand for AI products is driving growth, with expectations for continued acceleration in the coming quarters [57][58] - The focus remains on user growth and expanding into new use cases rather than short-term gross margin increases [61] Question: Plans for in-store services and further investments - Management noted that the scale achieved in QuickCommerce allows for more diverse services, including in-store promotions and group purchases [66][68] Question: Investment pace in consumption and impact on CMR growth - Management confirmed ongoing investments in user acquisition and supply chain improvements, with expectations for continued positive impact on CMR from QuickCommerce [73][75] Question: Transition to agent-centered AI and necessary investments - Management discussed the evolution towards agent-driven AI, highlighting the need for larger context windows and integration with various enterprise systems [79][80] Question: Differences in strategy for QuickCommerce compared to past attempts - Management emphasized the progress made in infrastructure and capabilities since the acquisition of Ele.me, which supports the rapid development of Taobao Instant Commerce [87][88] Question: Return on invested capital and capital allocation between retail and AI - Management acknowledged the need to balance short-term and long-term returns, emphasizing the importance of both AI and consumption investments [92][96]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue, excluding SunART and InTime, grew by 10% year over year, with adjusted EBITA increasing by 36% year over year [4][17] - Non-GAAP net income was RMB 29.8 billion, an increase of 22%, while GAAP net income was RMB 12 billion, reflecting a significant increase due to market changes from equity investments [18] - Operating cash flow increased by 18% to RMB 27.5 billion, but free cash flow decreased by 76% due to increased cloud infrastructure expenditure [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Alibaba Cloud's revenue growth accelerated to 18% this quarter, with AI-related product revenue maintaining triple-digit year-over-year growth for the seventh consecutive quarter [5][22] - Revenue from Taobao and Tmall Group was RMB 101.4 billion, an increase of 9%, with customer management revenue rising by 12% [19][20] - AIDC achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 22%, driven by strong performance in cross-border businesses [10][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The adoption of AI products is rapidly extending from large enterprises to small and medium-sized businesses, with significant growth in traditional industries such as manufacturing and animal farming [8][9] - The Digital Media and Entertainment group achieved profitability on an adjusted EBITDA basis this quarter, indicating a positive trend in this segment [11][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI and cloud as key growth drivers, with a well-defined growth portfolio centered on these areas [4][6] - Investments in AI infrastructure and advanced technologies are being increased to strengthen Alibaba's global leadership in technology [5][6] - The company aims to enhance user experience and improve monetization efficiency through strategic initiatives like Chunjang Tui [12][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustained demand for cloud and AI services, despite uncertainties in the global supply chain [6][10] - The company is committed to investing in technology and product development to capture the surge in AI demand [24][27] - Management highlighted the importance of stabilizing market share while enhancing monetization rates through innovative products and services [51][52] Other Important Information - The Board approved an annual dividend of USD 1.05 per ADS, representing a 5% increase year over year, along with a special dividend of USD 0.95 per ADS [15][16] - The company is actively optimizing its business portfolio by exiting non-core assets to focus on core businesses [14][17] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Changes in cloud monetization and customer uptake - Management noted that cloud revenue grew by 18% year over year, driven by AI demand, with new companies from various sectors adopting AI services [37][38] Question: AI applications in e-commerce - Management emphasized the potential of AI to enhance user experience and operational efficiency, with ongoing efforts to innovate in this area [41][44] Question: Monetization strategies for Taobao and Tmall - Management stated that the primary objective is to stabilize market share while enhancing monetization rates through new products and services [51][52] Question: Impact of investments on EBITDA - Management acknowledged that ongoing investments in user experience and new business formats would impact EBITDA, but are necessary for long-term growth [90][91] Question: Instant commerce investment plans - Management highlighted the strategic importance of instant commerce and the potential for high user engagement and market growth [68][72]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue, excluding SunART and InTime, grew by 10% year over year, with adjusted EBITA increasing by 36% year over year [4][18] - Non-GAAP net income was RMB 29.8 billion, an increase of 22%, while GAAP net income was RMB 12 billion, reflecting a significant increase due to market changes from equity investments [19] - Operating cash flow increased by 18% to RMB 27.5 billion, while free cash flow decreased by 76% due to increased cloud infrastructure expenditure [19][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Alibaba Cloud's revenue growth accelerated to 18% this quarter, with AI-related product revenue maintaining triple-digit growth for the seventh consecutive quarter [5][14] - Revenue from Taobao and Tmall Group increased by 9%, with customer management revenue rising by 12% year over year [20][21] - AIDC achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 22%, driven by strong performance in cross-border businesses [11][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The adoption of AI products is rapidly extending from large enterprises to small and medium-sized businesses, with significant growth in traditional industries such as manufacturing and animal farming [8][14] - The Digital Media and Entertainment group achieved profitability on an adjusted EBITDA basis this quarter, indicating a positive trend in this segment [12][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on a user-first AI-driven strategy, with investments in AI infrastructure and advanced technologies to strengthen its global leadership [4][5] - The company aims to enhance its core businesses of e-commerce and AI plus Cloud while exploring new growth opportunities powered by technology [12][29] - The company is optimizing its business portfolio by exiting non-core assets to sharpen focus on core businesses and invest in key growth areas [16][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustained demand for cloud and AI services, despite uncertainties in the global AI supply chain [6][20] - The company anticipates that AI will remain a key driver of accelerated revenue growth for Alibaba Cloud in the coming years [6][29] - Management highlighted the importance of enhancing user experience and improving operational efficiency across all segments to establish a clear path to profitability [15][29] Other Important Information - The Board of Directors approved an annual dividend of USD 1.05 per ADS, representing a 5% increase year over year, along with a special dividend of USD 0.95 per ADS [16][17] - The company returned a total of USD 16.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases for the fiscal year [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Changes in cloud monetization and customer uptake - Management noted that cloud revenue grew by 18% year over year, driven by AI demand, with many new companies adopting AI services across various sectors [35][38] Question: AI applications in e-commerce - Management highlighted the potential of AI to enhance user experience and operational efficiency, with ongoing efforts to leverage AI for better search recommendations and advertising [41][42] Question: Monetization strategies for Taobao and Tmall - Management emphasized the goal of stabilizing market share while enhancing monetization rates through new products and initiatives, including the software service fee and QZT [48][52] Question: Impact of investments on EBITDA - Management acknowledged that ongoing investments in user experience and new business formats like Instant Commerce would impact EBITDA but are necessary for long-term growth [91][92]