<Study>JPM Ratings and Target Prices for Chinese Hotel Operators (Table)
Investment Ratings for H World Group: H World Group Limited (HTHT.US) is rated as Overweight with a target price increase from US$51 to US$58, while HWORLD-S (01179.HK) also holds an Overweight rating with a target price of HK$40 to HK$45.
Performance of Other Hotel Stocks: Atour Lifestyle Holdings Limited (ATAT.US) is rated Overweight with a target price of US$58, while BTG Hotels (600258.SH) is rated Underweight with a target price of RMB13, and Jin Jiang Hotels (600754.SH) is rated Underweight with a target price of RMB20.
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Citi's Optimism on Chinese Consumption: A Citi research report indicates strong expectations for the growth of Chinese experiential consumption, particularly during the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday.
Leisure Travel Demand: The nine-day CNY holiday from February 15 to 23 is anticipated to drive significant leisure travel demand, benefiting duty-free sales in Hainan and hotel revenues for companies like Atour Lifestyle and HWORLD-S.
Top Picks in Consumer Sector: Citi has identified Atour Lifestyle as a top pick within the China consumer sector, reflecting confidence in its performance amid the recovering tourism landscape.
Market Activity: The report includes details on short selling activities and stock performance, highlighting the dynamics in the market related to these companies.

Tourism Industry Growth: The tourism sector is increasingly aligned with China's goals for enhancing well-being and happiness, with projections indicating domestic tourism consumption will rise from 13% in 2023 to 18% by 2030, contributing significantly to GDP growth.
Revenue Projections: Morgan Stanley forecasts that the tourism industry's revenue will reach RMB12 trillion by 2030, with its GDP contribution increasing from 4.8% in 2024 to 6.7%.
Investment Recommendations: Investors are encouraged to capitalize on the growing tourism demand, with Morgan Stanley highlighting five key stocks, including AIR CHINA and TRIP.COM-S, as potential beneficiaries.
Market Insights: The report also notes the short selling activity and market performance of the recommended stocks, indicating investor sentiment and market dynamics within the tourism sector.

Antitrust Investigation Impact: China's State Administration for Market Regulation is investigating TRIP.COM-S, leading to significant short selling and concerns about its effects on the hotel industry, particularly chain hotels like HWORLD-S and Atour.
Potential Benefits for Hotels: There is speculation that reduced commission rates from online travel agencies (OTAs) could benefit hotels, but CLSA warns that the powerful network effects of OTAs may prevent a significant shift in booking volumes to hotel apps.
Revenue Implications: Hotels might lower room prices due to savings from OTAs, which could result in a decrease in revenue per available room (RevPAR), impacting overall earnings.
Market Outlook: CLSA predicts continued hotel openings in China, including independent hotels, but suggests that the growth trend in average RevPAR may be limited, favoring Atour over HWORLD-S due to differing sensitivities to RevPAR trends.

BrainCo Financing: BrainCo, a Chinese company focused on brain-computer interface technology, has secured RMB2 billion in funding, making it the second-largest financing round globally after Neuralink.
Investors Involved: Notable investors in this financing round include IDG, LENS, HWORLD-S, LY ITECH, and TAL Education.
Stock Performance: Various companies listed, including H World Group and Pop Mart, showed positive stock movements, with H World-S increasing by 3.96% and Pop Mart by 2.04%.
Short Selling Data: Notable short selling activity was reported for Pop Mart and Wancheng Group, with ratios of 26.286% and 21.972%, respectively, indicating significant market speculation against these stocks.

China's Consumption Downturn: BofA Securities reports that China's consumption downturn has lasted nearly four years, aligning with historical trends, but the future remains uncertain due to ongoing pressures from employment, consumer confidence, and lack of stimulus policies.
Impact on Stock Prices: Despite the consumption challenges, BofA Securities believes that share prices may not be as negatively impacted, although they have lowered EPS forecasts for 15 Chinese consumer stocks and reduced their average target price.
Investment Recommendations: BofA Securities has initiated coverage on WANCHEN GROUP and identified top picks for 2026 that combine growth and yield, including HWORLD-S, POP MART, and YUM CHINA, among others.
Sector Ratings: The latest ratings and target prices for the consumer sector have been updated, with a focus on stocks that exhibit growth potential and high dividend yields amidst changing market conditions.





