TENCENT(00700) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-11-13 13:02

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2025 was CNY 193 billion, representing a 15% year-on-year increase [3][16] - Gross profit increased to CNY 109 billion, up 22% year-on-year [3][16] - Non-IFRS operating profit reached CNY 73 billion, an 18% year-on-year increase [3][16] - Non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders was CNY 71 billion, also up 18% year-on-year [4][16] - Overall gross margin improved to 56%, up 3 percentage points year-on-year [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Value-added services (VAS) accounted for 50% of total revenue, with social networks at 17%, domestic games at 22%, and international games at 11% [6] - Marketing services contributed 19% to total revenue, while fintech and business services made up 30% [6] - Domestic games revenue grew by 15% year-on-year, driven by titles like Delta Force and Honor of Kings [7] - International games revenue surged by 43% year-on-year, attributed to upfront revenue recognition from Dying Light: The Beast and consolidation of acquired studios [8][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Combined monthly active users (MAU) of Weixin and WeChat reached 1.4 billion, showing growth year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter [4] - Music subscription revenue increased by 17% year-on-year, with music subscribers growing to 126 million [7] - Marketing services revenue rose by 21% year-on-year to CNY 36 billion, supported by ad spend growth across major categories [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on strategic investments in AI, enhancing capabilities in ad targeting and game engagement [3] - The Hunyuan foundation model is being upgraded to improve its capabilities in imagery and 3D generation, aiming for industry leadership [3] - The company plans to continue acquiring game studios and bringing self-developed games to global markets [22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the growth of the international gaming business but noted a potential deceleration in growth rates [22] - The macroeconomic environment is gradually improving, which could positively impact consumer spending and fintech services [65] - Management highlighted that AI capabilities are expected to drive revenue growth and improve operational efficiency [36] Other Important Information - The company reported a free cash flow of CNY 58.5 billion, largely stable year-on-year, with a net cash position of CNY 102.4 billion [19] - R&D expenses rose by 28% year-on-year, reflecting increased investment in AI initiatives [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: What has driven the growth in international gaming? - The growth rate was boosted by the consolidation of newly acquired studios and upfront revenue recognition from Dying Light: The Beast, but is expected to decelerate [22] Question: Can you elaborate on the Hunyuan team upgrades? - The company is hiring top talent and improving infrastructure to enhance the Hunyuan model's capabilities [28] Question: How does the AI Marketing Plus solution benefit advertisers? - The solution allows for automated bidding, which has shown positive early results in terms of ROI for advertisers [76] Question: What is the outlook for advertising revenue growth? - The growth is expected to continue, supported by improved consumer spending and AI capabilities [45] Question: How does the company view its relationship with Apple? - The company has a constructive relationship with Apple and is working to enhance the mini game ecosystem [44] Question: What are the trends in consumer loans and cloud revenue? - Consumer loans are stable due to conservative underwriting, while cloud revenue growth is constrained by AI chip availability [67]