Jefferies downgrades BYD stock to Underperform on earnings miss

Published 01/09/2025, 07:00
Jefferies downgrades BYD stock to Underperform on earnings miss

Investing.com - Jefferies downgraded BYD Co Ltd (SZ:002594) stock rating to Underperform from Buy, while dramatically cutting its price target to HK$92.00 from HK$447.00. The Chinese automotive giant, currently valued at $140.8 billion, has maintained strong revenue growth of 31.7% over the last twelve months, according to InvestingPro data.

The downgrade follows BYD’s second-quarter 2025 earnings report, which Jefferies described as a "jarring miss." The Chinese electric vehicle maker reported net profit of RMB6.4 billion, representing a 30% year-over-year decline.

The reported profit fell significantly short of both Jefferies’ and consensus estimates, which had projected net profit exceeding RMB10 billion for the quarter.

Jefferies attributed BYD’s underperformance to "lackluster sales momentum and structural headwinds" that are eroding the company’s competitive advantages. The firm noted these issues are affecting BYD’s previously strong position built on scale, cost reductions, and technological leadership.

The investment bank expects BYD’s stock to underperform until the company can demonstrate renewed momentum in its business operations.

In other recent news, BYD has made several notable announcements. The company has selected Austrian steelmaker voestalpine as the steel supplier for its passenger vehicle plant in Hungary, marking a significant step in its localization strategy. Additionally, BYD’s Fangchengbao brand is offering a limited-time discount on Huawei’s Qiankun Advanced Driving System package. Customers who place orders in July can purchase the package for 12,000 yuan ($1,676). These developments come amid a broader surge in global electric vehicle sales, which increased by 24% in June 2025 compared to the previous year. China led this growth, accounting for 63% of global sales, with Europe and North America following at 22% and 8%, respectively. The year-to-date sales have risen by 31%, reaching a total of 9.11 million units. These recent moves by BYD align with the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide.

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