2025-11-12 11:15JD.com, Inc. Conference Call Summary Company Overview - Company: JD.com, Inc. (JD.O) - Industry: Chinese e-Commerce - Current Rating: Downgraded from Equal-weight to Underweight [1][12] Key Points and Arguments Revenue Growth and Trade-in Policy - JD.com has experienced significant revenue growth due to the trade-in policy, particularly benefiting from home appliances and electronics [2][12] - However, the effects of this policy are tapering, leading to a forecasted revenue growth slowdown to 5.6% YoY in 4Q25 and further declines to 4.4% YoY in 2026 [2][13] - The high base effect from previous growth rates is expected to negatively impact future sales, particularly in home appliances and electronics [2][13] Margin and ROE Deterioration - JD's margins and return on equity (ROE) are projected to deteriorate structurally due to slower revenue growth and ongoing investments in new businesses [3][12] - Non-GAAP net margin is expected to decline to approximately 2.3-2.5% from 2025 to 2030, while ROE is projected to drop from 20.3% in 2024 to 12.6% in 2030 [3][12][17] Free Cash Flow and Valuation Risks - JD's current valuation faces downside risks as the return of free cash flow (FCF) to shareholders may slow down due to continuous investments in new business ventures [4][12] - The stock is currently trading at 12x 2026e P/E, with a target price set at US$28, implying a 10x 2026e P/E [4][6] AI and Competitive Positioning - JD's approach to AI is focused on operational efficiency rather than creating a broader ecosystem, which may limit its competitive edge compared to peers [5][12] - The company is viewed as the worst positioned among Chinese e-Commerce stocks for the next 12 months due to these factors [2][12] Investment in New Businesses - JD's aggressive investments in new business areas, such as food delivery and quick commerce, have led to substantial losses, estimated at Rmb14.8 billion in 2Q25 [15][19] - The expectation is that losses will continue to grow, potentially exceeding Rmb15 billion in 3Q25 [15][19] - Historical performance indicates that JD's new initiatives have struggled to achieve sustainable profitability, raising concerns about future growth [67][68] Consumer Behavior and Market Trends - Recent surveys indicate a moderating interest in the trade-in program, with only 51% of consumers likely to participate in 2026 under current policies [28][32] - The tapering effects of the trade-in policy are expected to further dampen consumer demand, particularly as subsidy rollbacks occur [32][40] Competitive Landscape - JD's market share in food delivery and quick commerce is under pressure, with a decline in order volume share to 8% as of August and September [45][48] - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with rivals like Alibaba and Meituan increasing their investments significantly [48][52] Additional Important Insights - JD's historical performance in new business initiatives has shown a pattern of initial traction followed by stagnation or decline, indicating potential challenges in scaling these ventures [67][68] - The company is facing operational challenges, including long delivery times and declining merchant profitability, which could hinder its growth prospects [59][60][62] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding JD.com, highlighting the challenges and risks the company faces in the evolving e-Commerce landscape.