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AutoHome (ATHM)
NYSE:ATHM

AutoHome (ATHM) AI Stock Analysis

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AutoHome

(NYSE:ATHM)

76Outperform
AutoHome shows a solid overall performance with strong technical indicators and a fair valuation. Financial stability is supported by a robust balance sheet, but challenges exist with the declining revenue trend and absent cash flow data for 2024. The recent earnings call provides a positive outlook, especially with growth in the NEV segment and strategic initiatives. Continued focus on revenue and cash flow management will be essential for maintaining and improving performance.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Autohome's non-GAAP net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders was 2% higher than expected, suggesting strong financial performance.
Shareholder Returns
The company repurchased shares worth US$81.8 million, indicating confidence in its stock value and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
Negative Factors
Industry Challenges
The online auto vertical is expected to continue suffering from the auto industry’s headwinds, including a structural decline in the ICEV auto segment.
Revenue Decline
Total revenue declined by 7% year-over-year, which may indicate challenges in maintaining growth.

AutoHome (ATHM) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

AutoHome Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAutoHome Inc. (ATHM) is a leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, providing comprehensive automotive information, reviews, and services. The company offers an array of products and services that cater to car buyers, car owners, and auto enthusiasts, including new and used car listings, detailed vehicle specifications, pricing information, and user-generated content. AutoHome also provides a platform for auto manufacturers and dealers to reach potential customers through advertising and promotional services.
How the Company Makes MoneyAutoHome generates revenue primarily through its advertising services, which include display and search advertising for automakers and dealers looking to reach a targeted audience of potential car buyers. The company charges these clients based on a cost-per-click or cost-per-thousand-impressions basis. Additionally, AutoHome offers subscription services to dealerships for enhanced listings and premium positioning on its platform. The company also has a growing data products and services segment, where it provides market insights and analytics to automotive industry stakeholders. Strategic partnerships with automotive manufacturers and other industry players further enhance AutoHome's offerings and revenue potential.

AutoHome Financial Statement Overview

Summary
AutoHome has a solid financial foundation with strong equity and minimal debt, which ensures stability. However, the company faces challenges with declining revenue and absent cash flow data in 2024. Despite strong gross and EBITDA margins, the net profitability has weakened. A focus on revenue growth and cash flow management is crucial for sustaining financial health.
Income Statement
75
Positive
AutoHome's income statement reveals a mixed performance. The company has shown a decline in total revenue from 2020 to 2024, with revenue decreasing from 8.66 billion in 2020 to 7.04 billion in 2024. This indicates a negative revenue growth trend. However, the gross profit margin remains strong at 78.9% in 2024, reflecting good cost control. The net profit margin declined to 25.5% in 2024 from higher levels in previous years, suggesting challenges in profitability. Despite these challenges, the company maintains a healthy EBITDA margin of 17.7% in 2024, showcasing operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
82
Very Positive
AutoHome's balance sheet is robust with a high equity ratio of 79.2% in 2024, indicating financial stability and a low reliance on debt. The debt-to-equity ratio is minimal at 0.001, which suggests prudent financial management with negligible debt levels. The return on equity has decreased over the years, standing at 7.5% in 2024, reflecting lower profitability relative to equity. Nonetheless, the company has maintained substantial stockholders' equity over the years, highlighting long-term financial strength.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
The cash flow statement shows that AutoHome's operating cash flow has been positive, although it dropped to zero in 2024, signaling potential issues in cash generation. Free cash flow has been strong historically, but the lack of data for 2024 limits analysis. The operating cash flow to net income ratio was strong in previous years, indicating effective cash conversion from profits, yet the absence of these metrics in 2024 raises concerns about cash flow sustainability.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
7.04B7.18B6.94B7.24B8.66B
Gross Profit
5.56B5.77B5.71B6.19B7.70B
EBIT
1.00B1.14B46.95M1.35B3.15B
EBITDA
1.25B1.38B1.55B2.09B3.15B
Net Income Common Stockholders
1.79B2.03B1.94B2.56B3.28B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
23.32B23.55B3.20B20.73B14.63B
Total Assets
30.22B30.84B29.72B28.53B23.73B
Total Debt
23.10M196.14M110.39M124.78M202.71M
Net Debt
-1.67B-4.80B-295.77M-4.11B-1.55B
Total Liabilities
5.02B5.66B588.47M4.59B4.92B
Stockholders Equity
23.95B23.93B2.35B22.75B17.63B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
0.002.37B2.45B3.30B3.06B
Operating Cash Flow
0.002.45B2.57B3.52B3.33B
Investing Cash Flow
0.001.00B-3.11B-3.81B-2.99B
Financing Cash Flow
0.00-1.12B-1.14B2.90B-546.97M

AutoHome Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price26.11
Price Trends
50DMA
28.56
Negative
100DMA
27.51
Negative
200DMA
26.87
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.35
Positive
RSI
42.52
Neutral
STOCH
18.25
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ATHM, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 26.11 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 27.65, below the 50-day MA of 28.56, and below the 200-day MA of 26.87, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.35 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.52 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 18.25 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ATHM.

AutoHome Risk Analysis

AutoHome disclosed 69 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. AutoHome reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

AutoHome Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (58)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$2.32B17.9117.79%5.61%37.61%
78
Outperform
$2.64B16.418.64%5.22%20.42%-36.54%
76
Outperform
$2.98B13.746.76%6.59%-3.42%-14.23%
60
Neutral
$2.92B146.963.62%-2.17%-26.53%
60
Neutral
$252.40M-11.75%-4.88%85.67%
58
Neutral
$25.97B3.12-10.67%4.37%2.16%-43.01%
49
Neutral
$138.74M-22.31%10.64%38.48%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ATHM
AutoHome
26.11
2.44
10.31%
YELP
Yelp
34.20
-6.41
-15.78%
TRUE
TrueCar
1.44
-1.49
-50.85%
TRVG
trivago
3.60
0.82
29.50%
CARG
CarGurus
27.00
4.64
20.75%
OPRA
Opera
14.95
0.52
3.60%

AutoHome Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 20, 2025 | % Change Since: -13.28% | Next Earnings Date: May 21, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a predominantly positive outlook with strong revenue growth, particularly in the NEV segment and user base expansion. However, there were challenges in operating profit and gross margin, as well as a decline in media services revenues. Despite these issues, the company's strategic initiatives and shareholder returns reflect confidence in future growth.
Highlights
Significant Revenue Growth
Total revenue for 2024 reached RMB 7.04 billion, with an 8.1% year-over-year increase in revenue from online marketplace and others.
Strong NEV Business Growth
Revenues from the NEV business increased by 55.2% year-over-year in 2024, reflecting strong growth potential in this segment.
High Daily Active Users
Average mobile daily active users (DAU) exceeded 77 million in December 2024, an increase of 13.6% from the previous year.
Expansion of Offline Stores
Franchise offline stores exceeded 150, with a focus on low-tier cities. Over 1,200 cities participated in trade-in events in over 200 cities.
Technological Advancements
Integration of AI across business operations improved productivity and operational efficiency, enhancing both content creation and dealer operations.
Positive Shareholder Returns
A combination of RMB 1.5 billion in dividends was announced for the year, alongside a significant share repurchase program.
Lowlights
Decline in Operating Profit
Operating profit for the fourth quarter decreased to RMB 232 million compared to RMB 367 million in the same period last year.
Decreased Gross Margin
Gross margin in the fourth quarter was 76% compared to 80.8% during the same period of 2023.
Challenges in Media Services Revenues
Media services revenues saw a decline, though the decrease narrowed significantly in the fourth quarter.
Company Guidance
During Autohome's fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings call, the company provided guidance highlighting significant achievements and strategic focus areas for future growth. Total revenue for 2024 reached RMB 7.04 billion, with an 8.1% year-over-year increase in revenue from online marketplace and others, which accounted for 33.8% of the total revenue. The NEV business experienced a robust growth with a 55.2% increase in revenues year-over-year. The company's adjusted net income was RMB 2.05 billion, yielding an adjusted net margin of 29.1%. Autohome announced a RMB 1.5 billion dividend for the year and repurchased approximately USD 88.5 million worth of shares. The company achieved new milestones in user growth and expanded its offline presence, with average mobile DAU surpassing 77 million in December 2024 and more than 150 franchise offline stores established. Autohome integrated AI across its operations to enhance productivity and efficiency. Looking ahead, Autohome plans to deepen its presence in low-tier markets and continue its strategic focus on integrating its online-to-offline ecosystem to drive innovation and growth.
Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.