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BABA(BABA) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-08-29 12:32

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]