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On Thursday, Citi analyst Alicia Yap maintained a Neutral rating on Pinduoduo Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) stock, with a steady price target of $125.00. The company, currently valued at $175 billion, maintains an "EXCELLENT" financial health score according to InvestingPro analysis, with 13 additional key insights available to subscribers. Pinduoduo reported its fourth-quarter earnings for the fiscal year 2024, revealing a 24% year-over-year increase in total revenues to Rmb110.6 billion, which fell short of both Citi’s and the consensus estimates of Rmb115.9 billion and Rmb116.0 billion, respectively. The company maintains impressive gross profit margins of 62%, significantly contributing to its strong financial performance.
The growth in total revenues was attributed to a 33% year-over-year increase in transaction services revenues, which reached Rmb54 billion, albeit 9.5% below Citi’s projection of Rmb59 billion. The online marketing services revenues saw a 17% year-over-year growth, aligning closely with Citi’s estimate of Rmb56.7 billion. Despite the lower gross profit margin due to a 36% year-over-year rise in the cost of goods sold (COGS) and increased research and development (R&D) expenses, this was balanced by reduced sales and marketing (S&M) costs and general and administrative (G&A) expenses that were in line with expectations.
Pinduoduo’s non-GAAP net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders exceeded Citi’s and the consensus forecasts, registering at Rmb29.9 billion, a 17% increase year-over-year. This figure was 4.5% and 4.4% higher than Citi’s and the consensus estimates of Rmb28.6 billion, respectively. The non-GAAP operating profit rose by 14% year-over-year to Rmb28.0 billion, which was 3.5% below Citi’s estimate of Rmb29.0 billion.
The company’s sales and marketing expenditure as a percentage of revenues was better than expected, coming in at 28% compared to the previous quarter’s 31% and Citi’s estimated 32%. Despite the mixed financial results, with certain metrics falling below estimates, the company managed to surpass profit expectations and showed efficiency in managing sales and marketing expenses. Trading at a P/E ratio of 10.2x, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with comprehensive valuation metrics and detailed analysis available in the Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, PDD Holdings Inc. reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, surpassing earnings per share (EPS) expectations but missing revenue forecasts. The company’s EPS reached 20.15 RMB, exceeding the forecast of 19.84 RMB, while revenue came in at 110.6 billion RMB, below the anticipated 115.15 billion RMB. Despite the revenue shortfall, PDD Holdings achieved a 24% year-over-year increase in revenue for the quarter and a 59% increase for the full year, totaling 393.8 billion RMB. The company emphasized its commitment to long-term growth and is focusing on expanding its merchant support and logistics in remote regions.
Additionally, PDD Holdings is prioritizing high-quality product delivery and global expansion. The company plans to continue investing in its ecosystem, aiming to enhance its merchant ecosystem and expand its reach in remote and agricultural markets. In terms of financial health, PDD Holdings reported a non-GAAP operating profit of 28 billion RMB for the fourth quarter, with a 24% margin, and a full-year non-GAAP net income of 122.3 billion RMB. The company holds cash and equivalents totaling 331.6 billion RMB as of December 31, 2024.
In the realm of analyst assessments, there was no mention of upgrades or downgrades for PDD Holdings. However, the company is facing intensifying competition in the e-commerce sector, which could pressure margins. PDD Holdings remains focused on long-term sustainable growth, with plans to expand its global business while maintaining compliance and focusing on high-quality development.
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