Zhihu, Inc. Class A (HK:2390)
:2390
Hong Kong Market
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Zhihu, Inc. Class A (2390) AI Stock Analysis

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HK:2390

Zhihu, Inc. Class A

(2390)

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Neutral 57 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
HK$12.50
▲(14.78% Upside)
Zhihu's overall stock score reflects a mix of strong operational improvements and ongoing financial challenges. The company's profitability and efficiency gains are significant positives, but declining revenues in key segments and bearish technical indicators weigh on the score. The moderate valuation provides some support, but the lack of a dividend yield is a drawback for income investors.

Zhihu, Inc. Class A (2390) vs. iShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF (EWH)

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionZhihu, Inc. Class A (2390) is a leading Chinese online question-and-answer platform, specializing in knowledge sharing and community-driven content. Founded in 2010, the company operates primarily in the internet technology sector, providing users with a platform to ask questions, share insights, and engage in discussions across a variety of topics. Zhihu has expanded its services to include premium content subscriptions, online courses, and advertising solutions, positioning itself as a significant player in the knowledge-sharing ecosystem in China.
How the Company Makes MoneyZhihu generates revenue through several key streams. Primarily, it earns money from premium membership subscriptions that offer users exclusive access to high-quality content and features. Additionally, the company generates income through advertising services, allowing brands to promote their products and services to a targeted audience on the platform. Zhihu also monetizes through content creation partnerships, where it collaborates with creators and experts to produce paid content, further enhancing its offerings. The company has seen growth in its revenue from e-commerce initiatives and online educational services, leveraging its vast user base and established brand reputation to drive sales and partnerships in those areas.

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 27, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Nov 25, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Zhihu demonstrated strong profitability and operational efficiency improvements, with notable gains in user engagement and content creation. However, the decline in total revenue and certain segments like vocational training and paid membership indicates ongoing challenges. The highlights and lowlights are fairly balanced, showing both positive momentum in profitability and efficiency but also significant challenges in maintaining revenue growth.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Third Consecutive Quarter of Non-GAAP Profitability
Zhihu posted its third consecutive quarter of non-GAAP profitability, with adjusted net income reaching RMB 91.3 million compared to a loss of RMB 44.6 million in the same period last year.
Gross Margin Expansion
Gross margin expanded to 62.5%, up from 59.6% in the same period of 2024 and 61.8% in the previous quarter.
Increased User Engagement
Average daily user time spent increased by 15% year-over-year, and high-tier creator engagement showed notable gains both sequentially and year-over-year.
Growth in AI-Related Content
Professional AI-related content maintained year-over-year growth of over 45% for 2 consecutive quarters.
Improved Operating Efficiency
Total operating expenses declined by 27.2% year-over-year, supported by technological innovation and tighter cost controls.
Negative Updates
Revenue Decline
Total revenues for the quarter were RMB 716.9 million compared with RMB 933.8 million in the same period of 2024, attributed to ongoing business optimization.
Vocational Training Revenue Drop
Vocational training revenue dropped to RMB 62.1 million, a decline of 34.3% quarter-over-quarter.
Paid Membership Revenue Decline
Paid membership revenue was RMB 402 million, down slightly from RMB 432.7 million in the same period of 2024, due to a decrease in new subscriptions.
Marketing Services Revenue Decline
Marketing services revenue was RMB 222.8 million, down from RMB 344 million in the same period of 2024, despite a sequential growth of 13.1%.
Company Guidance
During the Zhihu Inc. Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Conference Call, the company provided guidance on several key metrics. Zhihu reported its third consecutive quarter of non-GAAP profitability, with an adjusted net income of RMB 91.3 million, a significant improvement from a loss of RMB 44.6 million in the same period last year. The gross margin increased by approximately 3 percentage points year-over-year. The company highlighted stable Monthly Active Users (MAUs), while daily time spent, core user retention, and high-tier creator engagement all showed notable gains both sequentially and year-over-year. Average daily user time spent exceeded 39 minutes, reflecting a 15% year-over-year increase. Zhihu's marketing services revenue grew 13.1% quarter-over-quarter, reaching RMB 222.8 million, and paid membership revenue was RMB 402 million, with average monthly subscribing members totaling 13.2 million. The vocational training business recorded revenue of RMB 62.1 million, down 34.3% quarter-over-quarter. Additionally, Zhihu made significant progress in reducing low-quality content distribution by more than 98% year-over-year and over 59% sequentially. The company continues to focus on optimizing its product offerings and client mix, enhancing user and creator experience by integrating AI more deeply into the community, and expanding its AI capabilities.

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Zhihu, Inc. shows strong revenue growth and a solid equity base, but struggles with achieving profitability and positive cash flows. The company exhibits financial stability with low leverage but faces challenges in converting revenue growth into net income and cash flow, which are critical for long-term sustainability and growth.
Income Statement
60
Neutral
The company shows a consistent pattern of revenue growth, with a notable 210% increase in total revenue from 2019 to 2024. However, profitability remains a challenge, as indicated by negative net income and EBIT margins over the years. The gross profit margin has improved, yet the net profit margin is still negative, reflecting ongoing operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet highlights a strong equity position with an equity ratio of 72% in 2024, indicating financial stability. However, the company has a history of negative net income, affecting the return on equity. The debt-to-equity ratio is low, suggesting minimal financial leverage, which can be both a strength and an area for potential growth through strategic borrowing.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals persistent negative operating and free cash flows, posing liquidity challenges. Despite significant investing cash inflows in 2022 and 2024, the company has yet to achieve positive free cash flow growth, indicating difficulty in generating cash from its core operations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.15B3.60B4.20B3.60B2.96B1.35B
Gross Profit1.98B2.18B2.30B1.81B1.55B757.80M
EBITDA-209.85M-456.19M-1.05B-1.58B-1.37B-583.27M
Net Income138.17M-171.80M-843.64M-1.58B-1.30B-517.55M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.75B5.73B6.80B7.66B8.81B3.76B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.61B4.86B5.46B6.26B7.21B3.10B
Total Debt229.59M19.13M45.73M96.56M122.66M2.89M
Total Liabilities1.54B1.54B2.09B1.96B2.07B1.01B
Stockholders Equity4.14B4.14B4.60B5.65B6.74B2.75B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.00-282.92M-424.40M-1.12B-447.67M-246.37M
Operating Cash Flow0.00-280.19M-415.53M-1.11B-440.23M-244.42M
Investing Cash Flow0.002.56B-1.68B3.49B-3.14B430.11M
Financing Cash Flow0.00-403.86M-365.06M-108.35M4.88B9.29M

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price10.89
Price Trends
50DMA
12.20
Negative
100DMA
12.08
Negative
200DMA
11.58
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.38
Negative
RSI
34.60
Neutral
STOCH
17.10
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HK:2390, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 10.89 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 10.96, below the 50-day MA of 12.20, and below the 200-day MA of 11.58, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.38 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 34.60 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 17.10 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for HK:2390.

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (60)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
HK$335.25B11.4910.28%-1.69%42.04%
75
Outperform
HK$290.92B16.5025.22%10.72%17.05%
70
Outperform
HK$252.99B24.9714.50%13.62%80.52%
65
Neutral
HK$20.59B7.6710.70%7.93%0.99%14.41%
61
Neutral
$43.27B300.000.67%-10.26%-85.75%
60
Neutral
$48.67B4.58-11.27%4.14%2.83%-41.78%
57
Neutral
HK$2.80B18.443.26%-22.45%
* Communication Services Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HK:2390
Zhihu, Inc. Class A
10.72
1.72
19.11%
HK:0772
China Literature
38.16
12.46
48.48%
HK:9888
Baidu, Inc. Class A
117.10
35.30
43.15%
HK:9898
Weibo Corp Class A
81.15
22.84
39.17%
HK:1024
Kuaishou Technology Class B
67.10
17.38
34.96%
HK:1698
Tencent Music Entertainment Group Class A
74.15
31.84
75.25%

Zhihu, Inc. Class A Corporate Events

Zhihu Inc. Schedules Board Meeting to Review Q3 Financial Results
Oct 30, 2025

Zhihu Inc. has announced a board meeting scheduled for November 25, 2025, to consider and approve the company’s unaudited financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2025. This meeting will be followed by an earnings conference call on the same day, allowing stakeholders to gain insights into the company’s financial performance and strategic direction.

The most recent analyst rating on (HK:2390) stock is a Hold with a HK$12.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Zhihu, Inc. Class A stock, see the HK:2390 Stock Forecast page.

Zhihu, Inc. Grants Over 1 Million RSUs to Key Employees
Oct 17, 2025

Zhihu, Inc. announced the grant of 1,079,805 Restricted Share Units (RSUs) to six eligible employees under its 2022 Share Incentive Plan. This move aims to align the interests of the employees with those of the shareholders and incentivize outstanding performance. The RSUs, representing approximately 0.4% of the total shares, have a vesting period of 36 to 48 months, contingent on performance targets. The initiative is intended to motivate, attract, and retain key personnel crucial to the company’s operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (HK:2390) stock is a Hold with a HK$12.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Zhihu, Inc. Class A stock, see the HK:2390 Stock Forecast page.

Zhihu Inc. Releases Q2 2025 Financial Results
Aug 27, 2025

Zhihu Inc. announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, prepared according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The announcement, made under the regulations of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the U.S. SEC, advises shareholders and potential investors to exercise caution when dealing with the company’s securities, highlighting the inherent risks and uncertainties in forward-looking statements.

The most recent analyst rating on (HK:2390) stock is a Hold with a HK$15.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Zhihu, Inc. Class A stock, see the HK:2390 Stock Forecast page.

Zhihu Inc. Reports Improved Net Income Despite Revenue Decline in H1 2025
Aug 27, 2025

Zhihu Inc. has announced its unaudited interim results for the first half of 2025, showing a decrease in total revenues by 23.7% compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the revenue drop, the company reported a net income of RMB 62,372 thousand, a significant improvement from a net loss in the previous year. The adjusted loss from operations also decreased by 68.7%, indicating improved operational efficiency. The average monthly subscribing members saw a slight decline of 6.7%, reflecting challenges in maintaining user engagement. These results suggest a positive shift in Zhihu’s financial health, although the decline in revenue and subscribers indicates areas needing attention.

The most recent analyst rating on (HK:2390) stock is a Hold with a HK$15.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Zhihu, Inc. Class A stock, see the HK:2390 Stock Forecast page.

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: Nov 13, 2025