iQIYI, Inc. (IQ): Should You Add This Cheap Chinese Penny Stock To Your Portfolio Now?

We recently compiled a list of the 7 Cheap Chinese Penny Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) stands against the other cheap Chinese penny stocks.

As China navigates its ambitious economic goals for 2024, the spotlight is increasingly on undervalued investment opportunities, particularly in the realm of Chinese penny stocks. These low-priced stocks, often overlooked by mainstream investors, are gaining traction among hedge funds due to their substantial upside potential in a rapidly changing economic landscape. China’s economic trajectory has captured global attention, especially in the wake of recent discussions at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024. Premier Li Qiang, addressing the gathering of global leaders in Dalian, emphasized the vast potential of China’s market. “China’s large market is open,” he stated, underscoring the nation's commitment to leveraging new industries and technological advancements to drive economic growth. Despite recent slowdowns, there is a prevailing optimism about meeting the country’s ambitious growth target of 5% for 2024.

The World Economic Forum's discussions reflected a consensus on the critical role of new growth avenues and high-quality development. As China transitions from a period of high-speed growth to one of high-quality growth, industries such as artificial intelligence, digital financial services, and green technologies are poised to play pivotal roles. This transformation is supported by substantial investments in clean energy and research and development, areas where China is already making significant strides. Hedge funds, recognizing the potential for high returns in this evolving market, are turning their attention to Chinese penny stocks. These stocks, characterized by their low prices and high volatility, offer a unique opportunity for investors willing to navigate the risks associated with emerging markets. The attractiveness of these investments is heightened by China’s commitment to innovation and growth in key sectors, which could translate into substantial gains for early investors.

In a recent podcast episode, Laura Wang and Robin Xing from Morgan Stanley discussed their 2024 outlook for China's economy and equity markets. Wang, the Chief China Equity Strategist, and Xing, the Chief China Economist, highlighted that China's recovery post-reopening has been underwhelming in 2023, facing significant challenges in housing and local government financing. Xing noted that China is grappling with "3D problems"—debt, deflation, and demographics. Despite some progress in reflationary measures, the recovery remains uneven, and it may take time for economic stability to be achieved. To avoid a debt deflation loop, Xing suggested a comprehensive 5R action plan: Reflation, Rebalance, Restructuring, Reform, and Rekindle. This plan involves stimulating the economy, rebalancing towards consumption, restructuring troubled sectors, reforming state-owned enterprises, and revitalizing the private sector. Currently, only about 25% of this plan has been implemented, with expectations of reaching 50% by the end of 2024.

On demographics, Xing pointed out that China's aging population is likely to dampen growth, with labor quantity lowering GDP growth by 40 basis points annually from 2025 to 2030. However, efforts to improve labor quality and revive private sector confidence could help mitigate this impact. Looking ahead, Morgan Stanley forecasts modest GDP growth recovery for 2024, expecting real GDP growth to rise slightly to 4.2% and a rebound in the GDP deflator to 0.6%. Challenges remain, particularly in stabilizing aggregate demand and managing housing and local government debt. Monetary policy is anticipated to stay accommodative with expected interest rate cuts. Regarding Chinese equities, Wang anticipates a largely range-bound market with limited upside, projecting the MSCI China index to reach a target of 60 by the end of 2024. While there are headwinds on corporate earnings, opportunities for high-quality investments in growth sectors remain. For investors, Wang recommends focusing on high-quality names with strong earnings and management, which can provide downside protection and upside potential when market conditions improve.

In this article, we will explore seven Chinese penny stocks that are currently drawing interest from hedge funds. These stocks are seen as promising due to their alignment with China’s strategic economic goals and their potential to benefit from the country's evolving market dynamics. This examination will not only highlight the potential returns but also offer a deeper understanding of the investment landscape in China’s rapidly evolving economy. As China continues to open new avenues of growth and innovation, the opportunities within its penny stock market are becoming increasingly apparent.

Our Methodology

For this article, we first used a stock screener to list down all Chinese penny stocks (under $5) with PE ratios under 20. We then picked 7 of these stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors. We gauged hedge fund sentiment for these equities using Insider Monkey’s database of 912 hedge funds. The stocks mentioned in this article are penny stocks. Therefore the number of hedge funds bullish in these stocks is small.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

A professional gamer streaming an online game to a massive audience.

iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17

iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ), a leading player in China's video streaming market, presents an intriguing investment opportunity despite recent mixed signals. The company's strategic adjustments and focus on long-term growth underscore its potential for future gains. Although iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) Q1 2024 revenue saw a decline of 5% year-over-year, the company's shift in strategy towards long-term membership revenue is a positive development. By prioritizing higher-value, loyal subscribers over short-term metrics like subscriber count and Average Revenue Per Member (ARM), iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) is positioning itself to enhance its revenue sustainability in the long run. This approach is expected to attract more dedicated subscribers and potentially boost revenue quality.

Additionally, iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) operating margin of 11.9% in Q1 2024 exceeded market expectations, highlighting the effectiveness of its cost management strategies. The company's commitment to optimizing marketing expenses and reducing content costs through AI integration demonstrates its proactive approach to enhancing profitability. This focus on operational efficiency is likely to yield further improvements in profit margins, driving overall financial performance.

Despite facing competition from rapidly growing short-form video platforms, iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) strategic investments in content and technology are poised to strengthen its market position. The company's ability to adapt and innovate, coupled with its disciplined approach to cost control, sets the stage for continued profitability growth. iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) current challenges are outweighed by its strategic focus on long-term revenue growth and operational improvements. The stock's valuation, with a P/E ratio of 8.6, appears attractive given the company's potential for future profitability gains.

The number of hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owning stakes in iQIYI, Inc. (NASDAQ:IQ) grew to 17 in Q2 2024, as compared to 15 in the preceding quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $148.21 million. Among these hedge funds, Thomas Steyer’s Farallon Capital was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q2.

Overall IQ ranks 2nd on our list of the cheap Chinese penny stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential for IQ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IQ but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

 

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.