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AutoHome (ATHM)
NYSE:ATHM
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AutoHome (ATHM) AI Stock Analysis

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ATHM

AutoHome

(NYSE:ATHM)

Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$32.00
▲(12.72% Upside)
AutoHome's overall stock score reflects a solid financial foundation with strong technical momentum and attractive valuation. However, challenges in revenue growth and profitability, as highlighted in the earnings call, temper the outlook. Strategic initiatives in AI and international markets provide growth potential, but financial caution is advised.
Positive Factors
Retail Expansion
Autohome aims to have over 500 stores by end of this year, and 1000 stores over the next three years.
Shareholder Return
Autohome reiterated its existing shareholder return plan, which translates to a greater than 10% total shareholder return yield.
Stock Buyback
The company repurchased shares worth US$81.8 million, indicating confidence in its stock value and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
Negative Factors
Dealership Financial Strain
Continued pressure from weak dealership financials is anticipated, leading to a downward revision in lead generation revenue forecast.
OEM Advertising Pressure
Increased promotional activity has weighed on OEMs' profitability, leading to reduced advertising budgets, especially for media brand spending.
Revenue Decline
Total revenue declined by 7% year-over-year, which may indicate challenges in maintaining growth.

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

AutoHome Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAutoHome (ATHM) is a leading online platform in China that provides comprehensive information and services related to the automotive industry. The company operates primarily in the automotive sector, offering a range of services including new and used car listings, automotive news, reviews, and research tools for consumers. AutoHome also provides a platform for dealerships and manufacturers to connect with potential buyers, enhancing the overall car buying experience through its extensive database and user-friendly interface.
How the Company Makes MoneyAutoHome generates revenue through several key streams. Primarily, the company earns money from advertising services, where automotive manufacturers and dealerships pay to promote their brands and listings on the AutoHome platform. Additionally, AutoHome charges fees for premium listings and enhanced visibility for dealerships looking to attract more customers. The company also monetizes its platform through lead generation, where it connects potential car buyers with dealerships, earning referral fees for successful transactions. Strategic partnerships with automotive manufacturers and other industry stakeholders further bolster its revenue, as these collaborations often lead to exclusive promotional opportunities and shared marketing initiatives.

AutoHome Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 31, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: 5.07%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Autohome demonstrated strong advancements in AI technology and international expansion, along with significant growth in new retail and NEV revenues. However, financial metrics such as gross margin, operating profit, and adjusted net income showed a decline compared to the previous year. While there are optimistic outlooks for the second half of the year, current financial challenges indicate a need for cautious optimism.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Expansion of New Retail Franchise Stores
The number of new retail franchise stores has surpassed 200, expanding service coverage and reaching a broader consumer base.
AI Technology Advancements
AI Smart Assistant covers all scenarios for both new and used cars, enhancing user decision-making and operational efficiency for dealerships.
International Expansion
Launch of the international version of Autohome website featuring over 1,900 vehicle models from 52 Chinese automobile brands, supporting the globalization of China's auto industry.
Growth in NEV Revenues
Total revenues from NEVs in the second quarter grew by 27% from last year.
Increase in Mobile DAUs
Average mobile Daily Active Users (DAUs) reached 75.74 million in June 2025, up by 11.5% from the same period last year.
Negative Updates
Decline in Gross Margin
Gross margin in the second quarter was 71.4%, down from 81.5% during the same period last year.
Decrease in Operating Profit
Operating profit in the second quarter was CNY 297 million, compared to CNY 412 million for the same period of 2024.
Reduced Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome was CNY 476 million in the second quarter, compared to CNY 572 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
Challenges in Media Services Revenue
The media service business remains challenged due to OEMs' cautious budgeting amidst a price war.
Company Guidance
During the second quarter and interim 2025 earnings call, Autohome provided guidance highlighting its strategic focus on expanding its O2O ecosystem, AI-driven innovations, and international business growth. The company surpassed 200 new retail franchise stores, enhancing its service coverage. Autohome's AI Smart Assistant now supports both new and used cars, improving customer decision-making. The company’s strategic partnerships, including with Alipay, have expanded user engagement. Autohome's international expansion included the launch of a global website featuring over 1,900 vehicle models. Financially, second-quarter net revenues reached CNY 1.76 billion, with media services at CNY 279 million, leads generation at CNY 733 million, and online marketplace and others at CNY 746 million, marking a 20.5% year-over-year increase. The company reported a gross margin of 71.4%, an operating profit of CNY 297 million, and adjusted net income of CNY 476 million. The average daily active users (DAUs) on mobile platforms grew by 11.5% year-over-year, reaching 75.74 million in June 2025. Autohome continues to prioritize AI integration and international expansion as key drivers for future growth.

AutoHome Financial Statement Overview

Summary
AutoHome demonstrates a solid financial foundation with strong equity and minimal debt, ensuring stability. However, challenges include a declining revenue trend and absence of cash flow data in 2024. The company benefits from strong gross and EBITDA margins, though net profitability has weakened.
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.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue6.88B7.04B7.18B6.94B7.24B8.66B
Gross Profit5.39B5.56B5.87B5.71B6.19B7.70B
EBITDA1.14B1.25B1.38B1.55B2.09B3.15B
Net Income1.76B1.79B1.94B1.94B2.56B3.28B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets29.01B30.22B30.84B29.72B28.40B23.73B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments21.93B23.32B23.55B3.20B20.73B14.63B
Total Debt0.0096.71M196.14M110.39M124.78M202.71M
Total Liabilities3.76B5.02B5.66B588.47M4.59B4.92B
Stockholders Equity24.00B23.95B23.93B2.35B22.75B17.63B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.001.23B2.37B2.45B3.30B3.06B
Operating Cash Flow0.001.37B2.45B2.57B3.52B3.33B
Investing Cash Flow0.00-3.05B1.00B-3.11B-3.81B-2.99B
Financing Cash Flow0.00-1.70B-1.12B-1.14B2.90B-546.97M

AutoHome Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price28.39
Price Trends
50DMA
27.04
Positive
100DMA
26.59
Positive
200DMA
27.06
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.47
Negative
RSI
55.75
Neutral
STOCH
50.65
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ATHM, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 28.39 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 28.07, above the 50-day MA of 27.04, and above the 200-day MA of 27.06, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.47 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 55.75 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 50.65 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive 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 (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$3.57B16.706.05%6.06%-7.06%-20.71%
74
Outperform
$3.20B26.0929.24%4.80%
73
Outperform
$1.46B22.149.18%4.59%26.71%-23.67%
70
Outperform
$1.96B14.0420.13%5.37%13.08%
64
Neutral
£1.85B8.91-12.54%3.76%1.42%-47.57%
54
Neutral
$165.39M-23.53%11.66%-4.69%
52
Neutral
$236.23M-12.44%8.29%87.33%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ATHM
AutoHome
28.39
5.80
25.68%
YELP
Yelp
31.04
-3.24
-9.45%
TRUE
TrueCar
1.91
-1.02
-34.81%
TRVG
trivago
3.31
1.23
59.13%
CARG
CarGurus
32.39
4.18
14.82%
OPRA
Opera
17.01
4.58
36.85%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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.Date of analysis: Aug 19, 2025