Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2021 increased by 37.9% year-over-year to RMB48.8 billion [5][28] - Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net loss were negative RMB4.1 billion and RMB5.5 billion respectively [28][32] - Costs of revenue increased to 77.9% of total revenue, driven by investments in new initiatives and increased courier incentives [28][29] - Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenue rose to 23.3% from 16.5% year-over-year [29] - Total operating loss was RMB10.1 billion, primarily due to a RMB3.4 billion fine under China's anti-monopoly law [31][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Food delivery revenue grew by 28% year-over-year to RMB26.5 billion, with transaction frequency increasing by 25% [33][35] - In-store, hotel, and travel segment revenue grew by 33% year-over-year, with in-store GTV and revenue showing over 40% growth [36][38] - New initiatives segment revenue increased by 66.7% year-over-year to RMB13.7 billion, driven by retail business growth [40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Annual active merchants reached 8.3 million, with transaction frequency growing to 34.4 times over the past 12 months [5] - Domestic room nights in the hotel booking business grew positively compared to the same period in 2019 and 2020 [17] - The catering industry experienced a year-over-year growth deceleration of about 4% in Q3 [62] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has shifted its strategy from "food plus platform" to "retail plus technology," focusing on broader retail concepts [50][52] - Emphasis on technology investment, including autonomous delivery and logistics optimization, to enhance operational efficiency [54][55] - Commitment to compliance with regulatory requirements and fostering a fair competitive environment [71][72] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the impact of COVID-19 and regional flooding on business performance, particularly in food delivery [61] - Long-term growth potential remains strong for food delivery, with a target of 100 million orders per day [64] - The in-store business is expected to continue growing despite macroeconomic headwinds, driven by local service demand [86] Other Important Information - The company is actively collaborating with provincial authorities to support rural revitalization and enhance agricultural distribution channels [20] - A significant investment in R&D for advanced technologies is ongoing, with a focus on improving supply chain and fulfillment capabilities [42][54] Q&A Session Summary Question: Recent strategy upgrade from food plus platform to retail plus technology - Management explained the rationale behind the strategy shift, emphasizing a broader definition of retail and the importance of technology in driving growth [50][52] Question: Deceleration in food delivery order volume growth - Management attributed the deceleration to pandemic control measures, regional flooding, and a general slowdown in the catering industry [61][62] Question: Impact of SAMR Administrative Guidance on food delivery business - Management stated that compliance with SAMR guidelines is a priority and has led to improvements in operations and internal controls [68][71] Question: Long-term prospects for Meituan Instashopping - Management expressed confidence in the long-term potential of Meituan Instashopping, highlighting the shift in consumer habits towards on-demand retail [75][79] Question: Growth of in-store hotel and travel business amidst macro headwinds - Management noted that the in-store business showed strong growth due to low penetration rates and effective recovery strategies during COVID-19 [83][86]
MEITUAN(MPNGY) - 2021 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript