Pinduoduo stock rating cut to Hold, target slashed to $112

Published 30/05/2025, 12:04
Pinduoduo stock rating cut to Hold, target slashed to $112

On Friday, China Galaxy International adjusted its stance on Pinduoduo Inc. (NASDAQ: NASDAQ:PDD), downgrading the stock from an Add to a Hold rating and significantly reducing the price target from $164.00 to $112.00. The decision came after Pinduoduo’s first-quarter earnings report, which revealed a revenue increase of 10.2% year-over-year to Rmb95.7 billion, a figure that fell short of the firm’s expectations. According to InvestingPro data, PDD maintains strong financial health with a "GREAT" overall score, despite the stock taking a significant 17.57% hit over the past week. The underperformance was attributed to a lower take rate for merchants and a slowdown in activity on its global platform, Temu.

The analysis further noted a substantial 44.7% year-over-year decrease in non-GAAP net profit for the first quarter of 2025, which also missed the firm’s estimates. This decline was mainly due to increased sales expenses, which arose from larger subsidies implemented to align with the company’s trade-in policy. InvestingPro data shows that 7 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates downward for the upcoming period, though the company maintains impressive gross profit margins of nearly 60%.

Pinduoduo’s management has highlighted their commitment to merchant support, particularly through the launch of a Rmb100 billion program. However, this initiative is expected to put additional pressure on the company’s margins in the second quarter of 2025. Despite these challenges, PDD trades at an attractive P/E ratio of 11.06, suggesting potential value opportunity. Get deeper insights into PDD’s valuation and 10+ additional exclusive ProTips with InvestingPro.

China Galaxy International forecasts that Pinduoduo’s revenue will grow by 9.1% in the second quarter of 2025, but anticipates a significant 24.9% year-over-year decline in non-IFRS net profit. The downgrade to a Hold rating and the lower price target are based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, reflecting the firm’s recalibrated expectations for Pinduoduo’s financial performance, which comes against the backdrop of the company’s strong 35.67% revenue growth over the last twelve months.

In other recent news, Pinduoduo Inc. reported its first-quarter earnings for 2025, revealing a mixed performance that fell short of various analysts’ expectations. The company’s revenue was RMB 95.7 billion, which was below Bernstein’s and consensus estimates, and its operating profit of RMB 18.3 billion also missed the mark. This shortfall was largely attributed to lower Gross Merchandise Volume from its international platform, Temu, and increased spending on merchant support. Consequently, several analysts have adjusted their price targets for Pinduoduo, with Bernstein reducing it to $125, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to $130, Macquarie to $126, and Citi to $152, all while maintaining positive outlooks on the stock.

Benchmark, however, maintained a Buy rating with a price target of $128, indicating potential value in Pinduoduo’s long-term strategy despite short-term earnings pressure. Pinduoduo’s increased spending on merchant support and consumer subsidies is part of its broader strategy to strengthen its market position. This strategic spending is expected to solidify its competitive edge in the Chinese e-commerce market over time. Analysts from Morgan Stanley and Citi suggest that while the company faces current challenges, its strategic investments could yield long-term benefits. As Pinduoduo navigates these developments, investors remain focused on how the company’s strategies will impact its growth and profitability moving forward.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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