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Luckin Coffee (LKNCY)
OTHER OTC:LKNCY
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Luckin Coffee (LKNCY) AI Stock Analysis

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Luckin Coffee

(OTC:LKNCY)

Rating:81Outperform
Price Target:
Luckin Coffee's overall stock score reflects its robust financial performance, marked by impressive revenue and profit growth and a strong balance sheet. The company benefits from positive momentum in stock prices and favorable technical indicators, although the valuation is on the higher side, indicating investor expectations for future growth. The earnings call further supports a positive outlook with strong guidance and strategic initiatives, despite some potential cost and competitive challenges.
Positive Factors
Sales Performance
The company's sales increased by 41% year-over-year, exceeding estimates due to better-than-expected same-store sales growth and faster store expansion.
Stock Valuation
Luckin Coffee remains one of the analyst's sector top picks in 2025, trading at attractive discounts compared to peers.
Negative Factors
Cost Challenges
Operating profit improved significantly, driven by meaningful operating leverage, despite challenges from increased share-based compensation and higher tax rates.

Luckin Coffee (LKNCY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Luckin Coffee Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLuckin Coffee Inc. engages in the retail services of freshly brewed coffee and non-coffee drinks in the People's Republic of China. It also offers hot and iced freshly brewed coffee, such as Americano, Latte, Cappuccino, Macchiato, Flat White, and Mocha, as well as specialty coffee based on market and seasonal trends; coconut milk latte products; tea drinks; pre-made beverages; and pre-made food items, such as pastries, sandwiches, and snacks. In addition, the company offers cups, tote bags, and other merchandises. It operates pick-up stores, relax stores, and delivery kitchens under the Luckin brand, as well as Luckin mobile app, Weixin mini-program, and other third-party platforms for third-party payment channels. Further, the company provides technical and consultation services; and manufactures materials for products. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 4,397 self-operated stores; 1,627 partnership stores; and 1,102 Luckin Coffee EXPRESS machines. Luckin Coffee Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Xiamen, the People's Republic of China.
How the Company Makes MoneyLuckin Coffee generates revenue primarily through the sale of coffee and other beverages. The company's revenue model is centered around its mobile app, which streamlines the customer experience by allowing users to order and pay for products in advance, reducing wait times and enhancing convenience. A significant portion of its income comes from its extensive network of self-operated stores and pick-up locations, where customers can quickly collect their orders. Additionally, Luckin Coffee has formed partnerships with third-party delivery services to extend its reach and cater to the growing demand for food delivery in urban areas. The company's focus on cost control, competitive pricing, and aggressive expansion strategy has contributed to its ability to capture a substantial share of the Chinese coffee market. Furthermore, Luckin Coffee occasionally engages in marketing promotions and discounts to attract new customers and increase sales volume, which also contributes to its revenue streams.

Luckin Coffee Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 29, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 5.24%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a strong performance in terms of revenue growth, store expansion, and profitability, driven by strategic initiatives and market demand. However, rising costs and potential competitive pressures pose challenges that need to be managed. Overall, the positive aspects significantly outweigh the lowlights.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth
Total net revenue rose by 41% year-over-year to around RMB8.9 billion, driven by a 42% year-over-year increase in GMV which reached RMB10.4 billion.
Expansion of Store Network
Luckin Coffee expanded to over 24,000 stores, adding 1,743 net new stores in China and 14 net new stores internationally, reaching a total of 24,097 stores.
Improvement in Operating Profit
Operating profit rebounded to nearly RMB740 million with operating margins rising to 8.3%, and store-level operating profit increased by 245% year-over-year to RMB1.1 billion.
Positive Same-Store Sales Growth
Same-store sales growth for self-operated stores returned to positive territory at 8.1% following a year of fluctuation.
Product Innovation and Customer Growth
Launch of 15 new beverages and light meals contributed to customer base growth, adding over 20 million new transacting customers, with cumulative transacting customers exceeding 350 million.
Sustainability Achievements
The flagship store in Zhongguancun, Beijing, received the highest LEED IDC Platinum certification for green building, demonstrating leadership in global sustainability standards.
Negative Updates
Rising Coffee Bean Costs
Higher coffee bean costs are anticipated to impact gross margins in the second half of 2025.
Increased Expenses
Delivery expenses increased by 54% year-over-year to RMB689 million, and sales and marketing expenses increased by 52% year-over-year to RMB496 million.
Potential Competitive Pressure
Newly public tea beverage companies could shift competitive dynamics, necessitating continued investment in brand and marketing to maintain market leadership.
Company Guidance
During Luckin Coffee's first quarter 2025 earnings call, the company provided impressive financial guidance, highlighting a 41% year-over-year increase in total net revenue, reaching approximately RMB8.9 billion. The company's operating profit rebounded significantly to nearly RMB740 million, with operating margins rising to 8.3%. Notably, same-store sales growth for self-operated stores returned to positive territory at 8.1%, driven by strong customer demand in China's coffee market. Luckin Coffee expanded its network to over 24,000 stores, including 15,541 self-operated stores and 8,499 partnership stores in China, alongside 65 international stores. The company also added over 20 million new transacting customers, bringing its cumulative transacting customer base to over 350 million, with monthly average transacting customers increasing by 24% year-over-year to over 74 million. Despite potential pressures from rising coffee bean prices and increased competition, Luckin Coffee aims to leverage its scale and operational efficiencies to maintain sustainable profitability throughout 2025.

Luckin Coffee Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Luckin Coffee displays strong financial health with solid revenue and profit growth, a stable and conservative balance sheet, and robust cash flow generation. The company's performance reflects effective management and strategic positioning in the restaurant industry. While the debt level is managed prudently, continued focus on maintaining growth and managing leverage will be crucial for sustaining this trajectory.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Luckin Coffee has demonstrated robust revenue growth, with a significant increase from CNY 24.9 billion in 2023 to CNY 34.5 billion in 2024, marking a 38.5% growth rate. The company maintains strong profitability with a gross profit margin of 59.1% and a net profit margin of 8.5% for 2024. The EBIT margin stands at 10.3%, and the EBITDA margin is 13.3%, indicating efficient operations and cost management. Overall, Luckin Coffee shows impressive growth and stable profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reveals a solid equity base with a stockholders' equity of CNY 13.1 billion, up from CNY 8.1 billion in 2023. The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.46, indicating a conservative use of debt financing. The equity ratio is 56.5%, reflecting a strong capital structure. Return on equity is a healthy 22.5%, up from 35.0% in the previous year, showcasing effective use of shareholders' capital. The company appears financially stable with a prudent leverage strategy.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Luckin Coffee's free cash flow has seen significant growth, from CNY 143.7 million in 2023 to CNY 1.9 billion in 2024, representing a remarkable increase. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.44, highlighting strong cash generation relative to net earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.66 indicates good conversion of profits into free cash flow. This strong cash flow position supports potential reinvestment and debt servicing.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue37.06B34.47B24.90B13.29B7.97B4.03B
Gross Profit15.65B20.36B14.01B5.28B2.73B311.42M
EBITDA5.56B4.59B5.11B2.40B1.69B-5.55B
Net Income3.54B2.93B2.85B488.25M578.54M-5.60B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets23.71B23.10B18.29B10.48B12.31B9.32B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments5.93B5.74B3.49B3.53B6.48B5.06B
Total Debt5.70B6.01B4.97B1.91B4.10B3.00B
Total Liabilities11.53B10.05B10.16B5.43B8.68B6.60B
Stockholders Equity12.18B13.05B8.14B5.05B3.63B2.66B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.09B1.93B143.73M-781.20M-49.77M-3.20B
Operating Cash Flow5.39B4.23B2.90B19.82M123.45M-2.38B
Investing Cash Flow-2.63B-3.21B-3.45B-798.05M337.00K-1.71B
Financing Cash Flow0.00333.60M0.00-2.28B1.51B4.03B

Luckin Coffee Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price36.98
Price Trends
50DMA
34.80
Positive
100DMA
33.37
Positive
200DMA
29.39
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.78
Positive
RSI
52.15
Neutral
STOCH
16.25
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LKNCY, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 36.98 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 37.06, above the 50-day MA of 34.80, and above the 200-day MA of 29.39, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.78 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.15 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.25 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for LKNCY.

Luckin Coffee Risk Analysis

Luckin Coffee disclosed 108 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Luckin Coffee 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

Luckin Coffee Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (56)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
$10.25B24.0130.39%37.78%58.38%
79
Outperform
$10.29B72.3821.73%32.11%378.62%
75
Outperform
$10.34B164.808.57%30.42%108.41%
73
Outperform
$105.13B33.87-47.07%2.64%-0.50%-24.28%
WEWEN
63
Neutral
$2.01B11.2890.40%5.36%2.18%-5.15%
SGSG
58
Neutral
$1.54B-19.79%11.10%18.05%
56
Neutral
HK$25.22B4.10-2.03%6.15%-0.31%-67.64%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LKNCY
Luckin Coffee
36.98
16.91
84.26%
SBUX
Starbucks
93.19
15.85
20.49%
WEN
Wendy's
10.57
-6.10
-36.59%
BROS
Dutch Bros Inc
63.48
24.31
62.06%
SG
Sweetgreen
13.59
-10.61
-43.84%
CAVA
CAVA Group, Inc.
86.77
6.78
8.48%
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: Apr 30, 2025