Analyst - Media&Entertainment Sector, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Stan Zhao

Analyst - Media&Entertainment Sector

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>On December 16th, Kuaishou launched a subscription service for its micro drama channel, we believe it marks a key step towards improving monetization;</li>
<li>The penetration rate of heavy micro drama users on the platform has steadily increased, and leveraging their loyalty and monetization efficiency may improve with the subscription model.</li>
<li>The new model could better help mitigate the macroeconomic risks posed by advertising and the content quality risks of its long-tail partners.</li>
</ul>


On December 16th, Kuaishou launched a subscription service for its micro drama channel, we believe it marks a key step towards improving monetization;
The penetration rate of heavy micro drama users on the platform has steadily increased, and leveraging their loyalty and monetization efficiency may improve with the subscription model.
The new model could better help mitigate the macroeconomic risks posed by advertising and the content quality risks of its long-tail partners.


Monetization Upgrade Kickstarts Kuaishou's Microdrama Business

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>&lt;Peacekeeper&gt;'s more aggressive gameplay reforms and monetization changes have delivered better results, leading us to raise its 2024 annualized gross billings estimate slightly.</li>
<li>&lt;DnF Mobile&gt;'s new version experienced a slight decline in player retention, though this is likely temporary. As a result, we have slightly lowered its 2024 annualized grossing estimates.</li>
<li>NetEase's &lt;Eggy Party&gt; received player feedback that fell slightly below expectations. The game continues to face considerable pressure for revenue recovery, prompting us to lower our full-year revenue estimate slightly.</li>
</ul>


&lt;Peacekeeper&gt;'s more aggressive gameplay reforms and monetization changes have delivered better results, leading us to raise its 2024 annualized gross billings estimate slightly.
&lt;DnF Mobile&gt;'s new version experienced a slight decline in player retention, though this is likely temporary. As a result, we have slightly lowered its 2024 annualized grossing estimates.
NetEase's &lt;Eggy Party&gt; received player feedback that fell slightly below expectations. The game continues to face considerable pressure for revenue recovery, prompting us to lower our full-year revenue estimate slightly.


China Online Game Grossing Monitor: October 10, 2024 - December 16, 2024

<ul>
<li>Earnings results have differed in the recently concluded C3Q24. Performance ads in home electronics, 3C, auto, entertainment and travel have benefited from recovery in consumption; </li>
<li>Heading into C4Q24, we expect rebound in real estate to benefit property ads, and the continuing warm up in consumption to spread to e-commerce (apparel and cosmetics);</li>
<li>We expect trade-in subsidies for home electronics and electrical vehicles to renew in C1Q25 and further stimulus to encourage consumption in travel and catering to be announced. </li>
</ul>


Earnings results have differed in the recently concluded C3Q24. Performance ads in home electronics, 3C, auto, entertainment and travel have benefited from recovery in consumption; 
Heading into C4Q24, we expect rebound in real estate to benefit property ads, and the continuing warm up in consumption to spread to e-commerce (apparel and cosmetics);
We expect trade-in subsidies for home electronics and electrical vehicles to renew in C1Q25 and further stimulus to encourage consumption in travel and catering to be announced. 


Stimulus Policies Are Now the Biggest Determinant of Internet Ads Performances

Baidu, Inc. operates an Internet search engine. The Company offers algorithmic search, enterprise search, news, MP3, and image searches, voice assistance, online storage, and navigation services. Baidu serves clients globally.

<ul>
<li>Tesla's Cybercab is expected to be under $30,000 in price, with production costs of  ~$25,000 and operating costs of 30-40 cents per mile.</li>
<li>We found Baidu's robotaxi to be faces 50% higher daily total costs and runs a fleet of 600 autonomous vehicles.</li>
<li>To compete with Tesla’s Cybercab by 2026, Baidu must significantly reduce its operating costs. Tesla's lower price and efficiency could capture a larger market share.</li>
</ul>


Tesla's Cybercab is expected to be under $30,000 in price, with production costs of  ~$25,000 and operating costs of 30-40 cents per mile.
We found Baidu's robotaxi to be faces 50% higher daily total costs and runs a fleet of 600 autonomous vehicles.
To compete with Tesla’s Cybercab by 2026, Baidu must significantly reduce its operating costs. Tesla's lower price and efficiency could capture a larger market share.


A Comparison of Tesla’s Cybercab and Baidu’s Apollo Shows the Latter Must Improve

<ul>
<li>Tencent’s &lt;Peacekeeper&gt; saw a strong player return and robust revenue performance due to introducing new gameplay modes, with projected gross billings for 2024 expected to exceed RMB 20 billion.</li>
<li>&lt;DnF Mobile&gt; continues to perform well, maintaining high popularity, leading to an upward revision of its annual revenue forecast.</li>
<li>New games &lt;Civilization Mobile&gt; and &lt;Need for Speed Mobile&gt; experienced a sharp decline in popularity, and with a late release, their contribution to 2024 revenue is expected to be limited.</li>
</ul>


Tencent’s &lt;Peacekeeper&gt; saw a strong player return and robust revenue performance due to introducing new gameplay modes, with projected gross billings for 2024 expected to exceed RMB 20 billion.
&lt;DnF Mobile&gt; continues to perform well, maintaining high popularity, leading to an upward revision of its annual revenue forecast.
New games &lt;Civilization Mobile&gt; and &lt;Need for Speed Mobile&gt; experienced a sharp decline in popularity, and with a late release, their contribution to 2024 revenue is expected to be limited.


China Online Game Grossing Monitor: September 23 - October 10, 2024

Mr. Stan (Yifei) Zhao is responsible for assisting in Entertainment and Media coverage at Blue Lotus. Before joining Blue Lotus, Stan worked at Meritco as a Business Analyst. He received his master's degree at the University of Glasgow and majored in Economics and Finance.

Stan Zhao
Analyst - Media&Entertainment Sector
• Blue Lotus Research Institute

Monetization Upgrade Kickstarts Kuaishou's Microdrama Business

Kuaishou transitions from IAP to a subscription model for micro dramas to improve monetization efficiency and mitigate risks. We estimate it can...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China Online Game Grossing Monitor: October 10, 2024 - December 16, 2024

Peacekeeper and DnF Mobile continue to show performance volatility, while the Eggy Party has underperformed expectations. Meanwhile, Bilibili's...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Stimulus Policies Are Now the Biggest Determinant of Internet Ads Performances

C3Q24 earnings show ad performances are highly correlated with stimulus spending. We expect continuing stimulus to sustain the benefit and...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

A Comparison of Tesla’s Cybercab and Baidu’s Apollo Shows the Latter Must Improve

Baidu's robotaxi Apollo faces higher costs to build and operate than Tesla's Cybercab and Baidu must reduce operating costs to compete effectively...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China Online Game Grossing Monitor: September 23 - October 10, 2024

Tencent's flagship titles thrive with new gameplay modes, while NetEase's new game struggles with declining popularity and late releases impacting...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Monetization Upgrade Kickstarts Kuaishou's Microdrama Business

​Kuaishou transitions from IAP to a subscription model for micro dramas to improve monetization efficiency and mitigate risks. We estimate it can...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China Online Game Grossing Monitor: October 10, 2024 - December 16, 2024

Peacekeeper and DnF Mobile continue to show performance volatility, while the Eggy Party has underperformed expectations. Meanwhile, Bilibili's...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Stimulus Policies Are Now the Biggest Determinant of Internet Ads Performances

​C3Q24 earnings show ad performances are highly correlated with stimulus spending. We expect continuing stimulus to sustain the benefit and...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

A Comparison of Tesla’s Cybercab and Baidu’s Apollo Shows the Latter Must Improve

​Baidu's robotaxi Apollo faces higher costs to build and operate than Tesla's Cybercab and Baidu must reduce operating costs to compete effectively...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China Online Game Grossing Monitor: September 23 - October 10, 2024

​Tencent's flagship titles thrive with new gameplay modes, while NetEase's new game struggles with declining popularity and late releases impacting...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Kuaishou transitions from IAP to a subscription model for micro dramas to improve monetization efficiency and mitigate risks. We estimate it can...

C3Q24 earnings show ad performances are highly correlated with stimulus spending. We expect continuing stimulus to sustain the benefit and...

Baidu's robotaxi Apollo faces higher costs to build and operate than Tesla's Cybercab and Baidu must reduce operating costs to compete effectively...

Tencent's flagship titles thrive with new gameplay modes, while NetEase's new game struggles with declining popularity and late releases impacting...