Haitong International has issued a research report maintaining its Outperform rating on NetEase (NTES.US), with a target price of US$147.
Haitong International noted that due to weaker-than-expected market performance of NetEase's new game "Sea of Oblivion," combined with the high base effect from the same period last year, it has lowered its forecast for NetEase's gaming and value-added services revenue year-on-year growth in the third quarter of this year from 9% to 7%. The total revenue forecast for the same period has also been revised down to RMB 30.2 billion, representing a slight year-on-year increase of 6%.
The report stated that given the pressure on the revenue side, the firm has lowered its forecast for NetEase's third-quarter adjusted operating profit by 3% to RMB 12.3 billion, with the full-year forecast also slightly reduced by 2% to RMB 50.7 billion.
However, benefiting from a recovery in returns from its investment portfolio including Pinduoduo and Alibaba in the third quarter, investment income improved. As a result, Haitong International has raised its forecasts for NetEase's third-quarter and full-year adjusted net profit by 6% and 3% respectively, to RMB 10.4 billion and RMB 39.8 billion.
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