Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

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

<ul>
<li>Li Auto (LI) reported mixed results with C1Q25 revenue (2.9%)/2.5% vs. our est./cons., and non-GAAP net income (11%)/(3.7%) vs. our est./cons.. </li>
<li>We see two negatives going forward: (1) renewed price promotion started in March, (2) cautious remarks regarding prospects of BEV SUV launch in July. </li>
<li>We maintain SELL on LI and TP of US$20 on cautious outlook.</li>
</ul>


Li Auto (LI) reported mixed results with C1Q25 revenue (2.9%)/2.5% vs. our est./cons., and non-GAAP net income (11%)/(3.7%) vs. our est./cons.. 
We see two negatives going forward: (1) renewed price promotion started in March, (2) cautious remarks regarding prospects of BEV SUV launch in July. 
We maintain SELL on LI and TP of US$20 on cautious outlook.


[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Earnings Review]: Key Question Is Still the New Model Launches

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>Maintain BUY. Li Auto’s 1Q25 net profit was in line with our forecast, while its cost reduction efforts still exceeded our expectation.</li><li>We believe such capabilities are to be the foundation for its FY25E earnings resilience, although we have lowered our full-year sales volume forecast.</li><li>We are still more positive than the market about Li Auto’s upcoming BEVs, especially with the facelifted Mega being better received by customers.</li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

Maintain BUY. Li Auto’s 1Q25 net profit was in line with our forecast, while its cost reduction efforts still exceeded our expectation.We believe such capabilities are to be the foundation for its FY25E earnings resilience, although we have lowered our full-year sales volume forecast.We are still more positive than the market about Li Auto’s upcoming BEVs, especially with the facelifted Mega being better received by customers.Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Li Auto Inc. (LI US/2015 HK) - Facelifted Mega Offers More Confidence in BEVs

<ul>
<li>Li Auto (LI) reported C4Q24 revenue 2.1%/in-line vs. estimate/consensus, and non-GAAP net income is 8.4%/10.3% vs. our estimate/consensus, thanks to OPEX savings which we believe may not be sustainable</li>
<li>We cut 2025 vehicle delivery estimates by 7% and slashed net income forecasts by 33% due to delayed model launches and intensified competition</li>
<li>We cut LI's TP from US$25 to US$20 and keep at SELL.</li>
</ul>


Li Auto (LI) reported C4Q24 revenue 2.1%/in-line vs. estimate/consensus, and non-GAAP net income is 8.4%/10.3% vs. our estimate/consensus, thanks to OPEX savings which we believe may not be sustainable
We cut 2025 vehicle delivery estimates by 7% and slashed net income forecasts by 33% due to delayed model launches and intensified competition
We cut LI's TP from US$25 to US$20 and keep at SELL.


[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Target Price Change]: Still No Convinced on a 2025 Turnaround

<ul>
<li>Li Auto's (LI) share surged 13% on photos released on its official Weibo of a BEV SUV slated for release in April, two months ahead of our expectation. </li>
<li>Based on information released, we dialed up LI's BEV forecast from 73K to 106K for 2025, contributing 20% of revenue instead of 15%. </li>
<li>We raise LI's TP from US$22 to US$25 but keep at SELL.</li>
</ul>


Li Auto's (LI) share surged 13% on photos released on its official Weibo of a BEV SUV slated for release in April, two months ahead of our expectation. 
Based on information released, we dialed up LI's BEV forecast from 73K to 106K for 2025, contributing 20% of revenue instead of 15%. 
We raise LI's TP from US$22 to US$25 but keep at SELL.


[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$25) Target Price Change]: Three BEV SUV Exposed Ahead of Schedule

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.</li>
<li>Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.</li>
<li>Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.</li>
</ul>


The global auto industry faces significant tariff exposure. Option implied volatility offers a forward-looking assessment of risk.
Chinese car makers started to increase in implied volatility more than the other markets at the beginning of February. They now show the highest risk.
Recent implied volatility trends, asymmetric pricing (skew), and the term structure all seem to indicate that the Indian auto sector is the least exposed to international trade relations.


EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

China

Li Auto Inc. manufactures automobiles. The Company designs, develops, and sells smart new energy electric sport utility vehicles. Li Auto conducts businesses in China.

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Li Auto (LI US)

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Earnings Review]: Key Question Is Still the New Model Launches

Li Auto reported mixed results in Q1 2025, with revenue and net income below expectations. Negative factors going forward include price promotions...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Li Auto Inc. (LI US/2015 HK) - Facelifted Mega Offers More Confidence in BEVs

Maintain BUY. Li Auto’s 1Q25 net profit was in line with our forecast, while its cost reduction efforts still exceeded our expectation.

CMB International

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Target Price Change]: Still No Convinced on a 2025 Turnaround

Li Auto's revenue and net income fall short of estimates, leading to reduced forecasts and a lowered price target of US$20 with a SELL rating.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$25) Target Price Change]: Three BEV SUV Exposed Ahead of Schedule

Li Auto's share surged 13% on photos of upcoming BEV SUV, leading to increased revenue forecast but maintaining sell rating.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Earnings Review]: Key Question Is Still the New Model Launches

​Li Auto reported mixed results in Q1 2025, with revenue and net income below expectations. Negative factors going forward include price promotions...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Li Auto Inc. (LI US/2015 HK) - Facelifted Mega Offers More Confidence in BEVs

Maintain BUY. Li Auto’s 1Q25 net profit was in line with our forecast, while its cost reduction efforts still exceeded our expectation.

CMB International

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$20) Target Price Change]: Still No Convinced on a 2025 Turnaround

​Li Auto's revenue and net income fall short of estimates, leading to reduced forecasts and a lowered price target of US$20 with a SELL rating.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Li Auto Inc. (LI US, SELL, TP US$25) Target Price Change]: Three BEV SUV Exposed Ahead of Schedule

​Li Auto's share surged 13% on photos of upcoming BEV SUV, leading to increased revenue forecast but maintaining sell rating.

Blue Lotus Research Institute

EQD | Volatile Roads: Unveiling Risk in the Asian Auto Industry Through the Options Market

​Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...

Gaudenz Schneider

Li Auto reported mixed results in Q1 2025, with revenue and net income below expectations. Negative factors going forward include price promotions...

Li Auto's revenue and net income fall short of estimates, leading to reduced forecasts and a lowered price target of US$20 with a SELL rating.

Li Auto's share surged 13% on photos of upcoming BEV SUV, leading to increased revenue forecast but maintaining sell rating.

Global auto industry faces tariff risk. The option market assigns the highest risk to Chinese car makers. The Indian auto sector appears least...