On Tuesday, Citi updated its outlook on Huize (NASDAQ: HUIZ), adjusting the price target to $7.20 from the previous $9.00, while continuing to endorse the stock with a Buy rating. The stock, currently trading at $4.15, has shown remarkable momentum with a 112% return over the last week. According to InvestingPro analysis, investors can access 8 additional real-time insights about HUIZ's market position and momentum.
The decision follows Huize's third-quarter financial report, which displayed a robust year-over-year revenue increase of 26% due to strong sales in savings products. However, the earnings for the same period declined by 8% year-over-year, influenced by a compressed gross margin resulting from a restructured broker-channel commission.
The insurance brokerage income for Huize in the third quarter of 2024 rose by 29% year-over-year to Rmb361.2 million, with the Gross Written Premiums (GWP) facilitated by the company soaring by 66% year-over-year to Rmb2.1 billion. With a market capitalization of $206.81 million and a P/E ratio of 14.26x, InvestingPro's Fair Value analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, despite showing mixed financial health indicators with an overall "FAIR" rating. Despite these gains, the blended commission rate experienced a decline of 4.9 percentage points year-over-year to 17.5%. The cost of revenue increased significantly by 45% year-over-year to Rmb266.8 million, which management attributes to changes in channel economics following commission reductions.
Other operating expenses for Huize in the third quarter were well-managed, with noted improvements in efficiency. Nonetheless, the net profit for the company edged down by 8% year-over-year to Rmb18.7 million. Looking forward, management anticipates a softer fourth quarter in 2024 due to a shift in front-loaded savings demand and challenges associated with transitioning to participating products.
While the company maintains profitability with a positive earnings yield of 5%, InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed forecasts and comprehensive analysis through the Pro Research Report, available for over 1,400 US-listed companies. Huize also projects that by 2026, overseas revenue will constitute 30% of the company's total revenue.
The adjustment of the price target by Citi reflects the results of the third quarter of 2024 and the anticipated margin compression. This updated financial guidance takes into account the recent performance and strategic challenges faced by Huize.
In other recent news, Huize Holding Ltd's Q3 2024 earnings report revealed a significant revenue shortfall, with the company's revenue coming in at RMB 370 million, significantly below the expected RMB 1.07 billion. Despite achieving record Gross Written Premiums and substantial growth in First Year Premiums, the market responded negatively to the earnings miss. The company's guidance also suggested a weaker Q4 due to ongoing product transitions.
While the revenue miss raised concerns, Huize reported a record quarterly Gross Written Premiums of RMB 2.06 billion, reflecting strong operational performance. The company's First Year Premiums grew by 110% year-over-year, and whole life insurance saw a 150% increase.
Looking ahead, Huize plans to expand its international business, targeting 30% of total revenue by 2026. The company has plans to enter the Singapore and Philippines markets within the next year.
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