Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

Atour Lifestyle Holdings / Equity Bottom-Up

Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and manages midscale hotel chain through offline and online channels, including mobile application and weixin-wechat mini program. Atour Lifestyle Holdings serves customers in China.

<ul>
<li>Atour (ATAT) reported C4Q24 revenue 0.7%/5.8% higher than our estimate/consensus, which translate to 0.5%/4.7% higher in non-GAAP net income, thanks to hotel supply chain consolidation and pillow retail sales.</li>
<li>Management's guidance for a steeper-than-consensus decline in 2025's RevPAR are conservative in our view. We see a "low-before-high" RevPAR pattern in 2025, supported by tightened hotel supply and government stimuli.</li>
<li>We keep the TP at US$37/ADS and maintain as travel sector TOP BUY</li>
</ul>


Atour (ATAT) reported C4Q24 revenue 0.7%/5.8% higher than our estimate/consensus, which translate to 0.5%/4.7% higher in non-GAAP net income, thanks to hotel supply chain consolidation and pillow retail sales.
Management's guidance for a steeper-than-consensus decline in 2025's RevPAR are conservative in our view. We see a "low-before-high" RevPAR pattern in 2025, supported by tightened hotel supply and government stimuli.
We keep the TP at US$37/ADS and maintain as travel sector TOP BUY


[Atour Lifestyle (ATAT US, BUY, TP US$37) Review]: Higher-Quality Growth Extending into 2025

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

Kuaishou Technology operates as a content community and social platform. The Company helps users create, upload and watch short videos on mobile devices. Kuaishou Technology offers services worldwide.

<ul>
<li>Kuaishou reported C4Q24 revenue, IFRS operating profit, and IFRS net income slightly below our estimates and consensus. Margin outperformed.</li>
<li>Advertising and e-commerce revenue growth temporarily slowed from due to Kuaishou’s offering traffic subsidies to the internal merchants, reducing incentive to advertise, but will translate to revenues later;</li>
<li>We cut TP from HK$72 to HK$70 to reflect lowered margin outlook due to AI-related capex and R&amp;D expenses</li>
</ul>


Kuaishou reported C4Q24 revenue, IFRS operating profit, and IFRS net income slightly below our estimates and consensus. Margin outperformed.
Advertising and e-commerce revenue growth temporarily slowed from due to Kuaishou’s offering traffic subsidies to the internal merchants, reducing incentive to advertise, but will translate to revenues later;
We cut TP from HK$72 to HK$70 to reflect lowered margin outlook due to AI-related capex and R&amp;D expenses


[Kuaishou (1024 HK, BUY, TP HK$70) TP Change]: C4Q24 Review: Temporary Setback a Chance to Buy

MINISO Group Holding is a value retailer with a focus on offering products that are aesthetically pleasing, good-quality, and affordable.

<ul>
<li>MNSO reported C4Q24 rev.1.6%/2.0%, and non-GAAP EBIT 3.4%/2.0% below our est./cons.. What concerns us more is the quality of the growth;</li>
<li>In our view, MNSO's slow same-store-sales-growth (SSSG), overseas investment, and Yonghui's integration haven't fully reflected in the price;</li>
<li>We cut the TP to US$16 and maintain the SELL rating to reflect slower profit growth. The stock trades at 14x 25E P/E vs. a 12% 3 Yr. NI CAGR</li>
</ul>


MNSO reported C4Q24 rev.1.6%/2.0%, and non-GAAP EBIT 3.4%/2.0% below our est./cons.. What concerns us more is the quality of the growth;
In our view, MNSO's slow same-store-sales-growth (SSSG), overseas investment, and Yonghui's integration haven't fully reflected in the price;
We cut the TP to US$16 and maintain the SELL rating to reflect slower profit growth. The stock trades at 14x 25E P/E vs. a 12% 3 Yr. NI CAGR


[Miniso Group (MNSO US, SELL, TP US$16) TP Change]: C4Q24 Review: Downside Not yet Fully Priced In

Meituan operates as a web based shopping platform for locally found consumer products and retail services. The Company offers deals of the day by selling vouchers on local services and entertainment, dining, delivery, and other services. Meituan provides its services throughout China.

<ul>
<li>Meituan reported C4Q24 revenue in-line, and non-IFRS OP miss 7.9%/1.9% vs. our estimate/consensus, due to extra Opex on purchasing GPU, while core biz profitability improved.</li>
<li>We see membership initiatives and enhancing O2O penetration as the main catalyst in 2025, and the downside risk on competition, social security, and overseas investment are limited.</li>
<li>We rise TP to HK$196 to factor in the promising OP growth trajectory and keep as TOP BUY in China e-commerce.</li>
</ul>


Meituan reported C4Q24 revenue in-line, and non-IFRS OP miss 7.9%/1.9% vs. our estimate/consensus, due to extra Opex on purchasing GPU, while core biz profitability improved.
We see membership initiatives and enhancing O2O penetration as the main catalyst in 2025, and the downside risk on competition, social security, and overseas investment are limited.
We rise TP to HK$196 to factor in the promising OP growth trajectory and keep as TOP BUY in China e-commerce.


[Meituan (3690 HK, BUY, TP HK$196) TP Change]: Sustained Operating Profit Growth in 2025…TOP BUY

PDD Holdings Inc. is a multinational commerce group that owns and operates a portfolio of businesses. The Company focuses on digital economy so that local communities and small businesses can benefit from the increased productivity and new opportunities. PDD Holdings has built a network of sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment capabilities for its underlying businesses.

<ul>
<li>PDD reported C4Q24 top line 1.1%/(6.1%) vs. our est./cons. and non-GAAP operating income (5.4%)/(5.6%) vs. est./cons., </li>
<li>PDD rose to prominence by optimizing the value chain built/inherited by Alibaba/eBay in China and Amazon/eBay in US. </li>
<li>As these two “bonuses” coming to an end, PDD must build its own. While growth shall normalize, China low tier cities and global developing markets shall sustain its growth. </li>
</ul>


PDD reported C4Q24 top line 1.1%/(6.1%) vs. our est./cons. and non-GAAP operating income (5.4%)/(5.6%) vs. est./cons., 
PDD rose to prominence by optimizing the value chain built/inherited by Alibaba/eBay in China and Amazon/eBay in US. 
As these two “bonuses” coming to an end, PDD must build its own. While growth shall normalize, China low tier cities and global developing markets shall sustain its growth. 


[PDD Holdings Inc. (PDD US, BUY, TP US$146) Review]: A New PDD Focusing on Low Tier and Non-US