Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet 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

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 C3Q24 revenue, IFRS operating profit,and IFRS net income in-line with our estimates and consensus.The only negative was that C4Q24 guidance for operating margin missed consensus and our estimate;</li>
<li>Within mid-sized Internet platforms, Kuaishou lacks fresh secular driver, putting its stock under pressure. Advertising and GMV growth still outpace the industry and some peers. The stock is undervalued;</li>
<li>We maintain our BUY rating and slightly revised down TP to HK$72 to make up for the higher-than-expected OPEX guidance.</li>
</ul>


Kuaishou reported C3Q24 revenue, IFRS operating profit,and IFRS net income in-line with our estimates and consensus.The only negative was that C4Q24 guidance for operating margin missed consensus and our estimate;
Within mid-sized Internet platforms, Kuaishou lacks fresh secular driver, putting its stock under pressure. Advertising and GMV growth still outpace the industry and some peers. The stock is undervalued;
We maintain our BUY rating and slightly revised down TP to HK$72 to make up for the higher-than-expected OPEX guidance.


[Kuaishou (1024 HK, BUY, TP HK$72) TP Change]: C3Q24 Review: Value Stocks Face Picky Investors

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 C3Q24 top line, non-GAAP EBIT and non-GAAP net income (2.6%), (12.4%) and (6.3%) vs. cons., and (3.4%)</li>
<li>PDD is easing its appeasement of China-platform merchants, positive for profitability,but its transition to the semi-consignment model will likely continue as it tries to improve merchandise selection and logistics quality</li>
<li>We reiterate BUY as PDD is undervalued at 8.1x CY2025 P/E, but we cut its TP to US$ 146 to reflect slower growth amid increasing overseas investment.</li>
</ul>


PDD reported C3Q24 top line, non-GAAP EBIT and non-GAAP net income (2.6%), (12.4%) and (6.3%) vs. cons., and (3.4%)
PDD is easing its appeasement of China-platform merchants, positive for profitability,but its transition to the semi-consignment model will likely continue as it tries to improve merchandise selection and logistics quality
We reiterate BUY as PDD is undervalued at 8.1x CY2025 P/E, but we cut its TP to US$ 146 to reflect slower growth amid increasing overseas investment.


[PDD Holdings (PDD US, BUY, TP US$146) TP Change]: C3Q24: Painful Reversal of Its Merchant Squeeze

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

KE Holdings Inc. operates as an integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company offers existing and new home sales, home rentals, home renovation, real estate financial solutions, and other services. KE Holdings conducts businesses in China.

<ul>
<li>Beike (BEKE) reported C3Q24 revenue in-line with our estimate and consensus but non-GAAP operating profit 26%/25% below, mainly due to higher commission rebate and agent salaries;</li>
<li>Strong rebound in home transaction volumes in October and November, led to our C4Q24 revenue 16% above consensus. But the rebound needs more stimulus to sustain;</li>
<li>We maintain the stock as BUY and raise TP to US$25 to reflect the near term rebound and steady market share gains.</li>
</ul>


Beike (BEKE) reported C3Q24 revenue in-line with our estimate and consensus but non-GAAP operating profit 26%/25% below, mainly due to higher commission rebate and agent salaries;
Strong rebound in home transaction volumes in October and November, led to our C4Q24 revenue 16% above consensus. But the rebound needs more stimulus to sustain;
We maintain the stock as BUY and raise TP to US$25 to reflect the near term rebound and steady market share gains.


[KE Holdings Inc. (BEKE US, BUY, TP US$25) TP Change]: C3Q24 Review: C4Q24 Rebound but What’s Next?

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 C3Q24 revenue 2.3% lower than our estimate but 4.8% higher than consensus. The net income beat our estimate/consensus by 6.6%/9.5%, thanks to disciplined cost controls.</li>
<li>Although RevPAR weakened in C3Q24 as expected, turnaround is coming already in C4Q24. We also expect moderate RevPAR growth in 2025.</li>
<li>We keep the TP at US$37/ADS and maintain a TOP BUY on Atour.</li>
</ul>


Atour (ATAT) reported C3Q24 revenue 2.3% lower than our estimate but 4.8% higher than consensus. The net income beat our estimate/consensus by 6.6%/9.5%, thanks to disciplined cost controls.
Although RevPAR weakened in C3Q24 as expected, turnaround is coming already in C4Q24. We also expect moderate RevPAR growth in 2025.
We keep the TP at US$37/ADS and maintain a TOP BUY on Atour.


[Atour (ATAT US, BUY, TP US$37) Review]: Small Differences Here & There but Overall Case Intact

Tuya Inc., doing business as Tuya Smart, provides IoT cloud platform. The Company offers solutions which enables brands, retailers, OEMs, and manufacturers to develop, launch, manage, and monetize software-enabled devices and services. Tuya Smart serves customers worldwide.

<ul>
<li>On November 18th, 2024, Temasek-affiliated investment fund 65Equity bought 13% of TUYA, an IOT hardware company and planned to bring the company to list on the Singapore Stock Exchange;</li>
<li>TUYA is trading at US$901mn market cap, equivalent to 3.2x 12TTM sales. This isn't cheap. Xiaomi, a high flying stock, now trades at 2.0x 12TTM sales. TUYA is not profitable;</li>
<li>TUYA is a good and real company but in a bad business. Electronics inventory cycle and advanced stocking for Trump's Tariff Hike shall support earnings in the next few quarters.</li>
</ul>


On November 18th, 2024, Temasek-affiliated investment fund 65Equity bought 13% of TUYA, an IOT hardware company and planned to bring the company to list on the Singapore Stock Exchange;
TUYA is trading at US$901mn market cap, equivalent to 3.2x 12TTM sales. This isn't cheap. Xiaomi, a high flying stock, now trades at 2.0x 12TTM sales. TUYA is not profitable;
TUYA is a good and real company but in a bad business. Electronics inventory cycle and advanced stocking for Trump's Tariff Hike shall support earnings in the next few quarters.


TUYA: Is The King of White Label IOT Ready to Charter a Different Course?