2025-05-22 15:48Summary of NetEase, Inc. Conference Call Company Overview - Company: NetEase, Inc (NTES.O, NTES US) - Industry: China Internet and Other Services - Market Cap: US$78,716 million - Stock Rating: Overweight - Industry View: Attractive - Price Target: US$138.00, with a 12% upside from the current price of US$122.76 as of May 15, 2025 [8][8][8] Key Points Overseas Expansion Strategy - NetEase has clarified its overseas expansion strategy, focusing on online games while de-emphasizing single-player games, which are seen as culturally specific and a barrier to global expansion [2][4][4] - The preview of the new game "Sea of Remnants" is viewed positively as a strong addition to its game pipeline [2][3] Upcoming Game Releases - Upcoming titles include "Destiny: Rising" and "Marvel Mystic Mayhem," both utilizing existing intellectual properties (IPs), which may result in lower gross profit margins (GPM) due to revenue-sharing agreements [3][3] - The company plans to launch "Where Winds Meet" globally and introduce e-sports for "Marvel Rivals" to boost its popularity [3][3] Financial Outlook - Management expects sales and marketing expenses to stabilize at 13-14% of revenue, recovering from previous volatility linked to "Eggy Party" [6][6] - The industry standard for marketing expenses is 20-25% of new games' annual revenue and 8-10% for existing titles [6][6] Gross Profit Margin (GPM) Concerns - The GPM is a focal point, with discussions around potential declines in revenue-sharing ratios with platforms like iOS and Android being more of an industry-wide issue rather than specific to NetEase [5][5] - NetEase is actively negotiating with platforms to lower costs, maintaining a track record of success in this area [5][5] Impact of AI on Game Development - NetEase has been a pioneer in integrating AI into game development but acknowledges that current AI technology is not yet ready for critical tasks like 3D asset modeling [7][7] - The company plans to reinvest manpower saved through AI into enhancing game quality [7][7] Management Insights - Management provided more visibility on operational expenditure (opex) outlook, indicating a strategic shift towards online gaming development [2][2] Additional Insights - The shift in strategy has led to the shutdown of certain studios, reflecting the company's commitment to its new direction [4][4] - The overall sentiment towards NetEase's future performance remains positive, with analysts expecting attractive growth in the gaming sector [8][8][8]