中国教育 -好未来（TAL）与新东方（EDU）：业绩发布后的思考China Education-TAL vs. EDU - Our Thoughts after results

Summary of Conference Call on China Education Sector Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the China education industry, specifically comparing TAL Education Group (TAL) and New Oriental Education & Technology (EDU) [6][8]. Key Points on TAL Education Group (TAL) - Revenue Growth and Margins: TAL is expected to have a better setup for FY26 compared to EDU, with deferred revenue growing by 52% year-over-year (YoY) in F1Q26, indicating strong growth potential for FY26 [8][11]. - Shareholder Returns: TAL repurchased approximately US$477.4 million worth of shares in F1Q26, which is about 7% of its market cap, at an average price of US$10.5. A new buyback program of US$600 million was also announced [8][11]. - Valuation: TAL trades at 19.3x F27 PE and 8.1x F27 ex-cash PE, with projected revenue and net profit compound annual growth rates (CAGR) of 21% and 40% respectively over FY26-29 [8][11]. Key Points on New Oriental Education & Technology (EDU) - Revenue Guidance: EDU's revenue guidance for F1Q26 is +2-5% and +5-10% for FY26, which is below market expectations due to a weaker overseas business outlook and a higher base in the educational business [8][10]. - Operational Profit Margin (OPM): Management guided for OPM to increase by 0-0.5 percentage points YoY for F1Q26, but expects a flat OPM for FY26 due to cost control efforts being offset by margin drag from overseas business [8][10]. - Shareholder Returns: EDU announced a three-year recurrent shareholder return plan to return no less than 50% of GAAP net income, implying at least US$186 million in FY26, which is lower than the US$500 million returned in FY25 [8][10]. Comparative Analysis - Investment Preference: Morgan Stanley prefers TAL (Overweight) over EDU (Equal-Weight) in the China education sector due to TAL's stronger revenue growth and margin trends [8][10]. - Market Expectations: TAL's performance is seen as more favorable compared to EDU, which is struggling with lower revenue guidance and operational challenges [8][10]. Additional Insights - Risks: Potential risks for both companies include intensified competition, regulatory changes in high school and non-academic tutoring, and the visibility of revenue from live-streaming e-commerce businesses [15][16]. - Market Sentiment: The overall sentiment towards the China education industry remains attractive, with expectations for market share gains and earnings growth potential for both TAL and EDU [6][8]. This summary encapsulates the essential insights from the conference call regarding TAL and EDU, highlighting their financial performance, shareholder return strategies, and market positioning within the China education sector.