Latest news with #usergrowth
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Alibaba's Taobao sees 60% user surge in Thailand after launch of local-language version
Taobao, China's largest online shopping app owned by Alibaba Group Holding , is seeing rapid user growth in Thailand, as the platform expands its international presence in search of new growth opportunities. Advertisement Just over a month after the launch of a localised version of Taobao, the number of new Thai users on the platform surged 60 per cent year on year, recent data from Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC), the company's overseas e-commerce division, showed. The Thai version of Taobao adds to its existing Chinese and English versions, reflecting the company's strategy to attract more users in the Southeast Asian country. The new iteration uses Alibaba's AI translation capabilities, allowing users to browse the app in their local language and make payments in baht, according to AIDC. Taobao's intensified focus on Thailand marks its latest effort to grow its presence across Asia. Alibaba, owner of the Post, has accelerated its overseas expansion since last year, driven by slowing domestic demand and increased competition from newer rivals like PDD Holdings' Pinduoduo and ByteDance's Douyin. Thai user numbers have surged on Taobao since it launched a local version. Photo: Shutterstock Thailand's e-commerce market generated revenues of 1.1 trillion baht (US$34.1 billion) in 2024 – a 14 per cent increase from the previous year, according to data from Priceza, a Southeast Asian shopping search engine.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is DraftKings Winning the Customer Acquisition War in Sports Betting?
DraftKings Inc. DKNG appears to be outpacing rivals in the customer acquisition battle across the competitive sports betting landscape. In first-quarter 2025, the company posted robust metrics that point to strong user growth and retention strategies, underpinned by efficient promotional spending and expanding product customer acquisition was consistent with expectations, but what stands out is the efficiency with which DraftKings is scaling. Marketing costs are being optimized as the company continues to benefit from brand equity, improved promotional targeting and favorable advertising conditions in digital media. These dynamics contributed to better gross margins and EBITDA performance despite challenging sports is helping DraftKings stand apart is its investment in product innovation. More than 50% of the total handle in first-quarter 2025 came from live betting for the first time. This growing engagement reflects the successful integration of acquisitions like SimpleBet and Sports IQ, which enhance real-time wagering and keep users actively engaged. Additionally, DraftKings is seeing a healthy uptick in parlay and same-game parlay adoption, popular bet types with higher structural hold with customer-friendly outcomes dampening actual sportsbook hold (down to 9.5%), structural hold rose to 10.4%, indicating DraftKings' underlying profitability engine is strengthening. Moreover, as newly acquired users mature, promotional intensity declines while contribution profit rises, a pattern DraftKings is managing effectively across data-driven, product-led approach is yielding results. With improved live betting features, a loyal user base and scalable promotional spend, the company is well-positioned to maintain its lead in the ongoing customer acquisition war in U.S. sports betting. How DraftKings Stacks Up Against FanDuel and BetMGM In the race for sports betting dominance, FanDuel and BetMGM remain DraftKings' closest competitors, but recent trends show it pulling ahead on multiple owned by Flutter Entertainment plc FLUT, continues to lead in market share but is starting to face pressure. DraftKings' surging live betting handle and product enhancements are narrowing the gap, especially in states where FanDuel once held a clear lead. Unlike FanDuel's heavier reliance on aggressive promotions, DraftKings is proving more efficient in customer acquisition and BetMGM, backed by MGM Resorts International MGM and Entain, has struggled to match DraftKings' pace in product innovation. Though BetMGM boasts strong iGaming performance, it lags in sportsbook engagement. DraftKings' seamless integration of acquired tech and rapid adoption of features like same-game parlays and live micro-bets gives it a distinct edge. DKNG's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Shares of DKNG have gained 30.3% in the past three months compared with the industry's growth of 31.2%. Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research DraftKings is currently trading at a premium compared with the industry peers, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 5.69X. P/S (F12M) Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DKNG's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year uptick of 226.7% and 61.3%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research DKNG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MGM Resorts International (MGM) : Free Stock Analysis Report DraftKings Inc. (DKNG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Flutter Entertainment PLC (FLUT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Irish Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
US shoppers ditch Shein and Temu as Trump closes tax loophole
Online retailers Temu and Shein have seen their once rapid user growth go into reverse in the US after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods and closed a tax loophole that allowed them to undercut rivals. Temu's monthly active users, a measure of engagement on its app, plunged 51 per cent to 40.2 million in the US between March and June, according to data from market intelligence company Sensor Tower. The number of US shoppers using Shein's app also shrank over the same period, albeit not as drastically. The fast-fashion retailer saw a 12 per cent drop in monthly active users to 41.4 million, according to Sensor Tower. Shein and Temu pioneered a new model of ecommerce that has disrupted the retail industry across the western world over the past five years. READ MORE They both escaped import duties by sending Chinese-made goods directly to consumers' homes as individual packages. Cheap prices and a social media advertising blitz enabled Shein and Temu to amass a vast customer base in a matter of months. Shein sought to capitalise on its growth with a stock market float but struggled to win the backing of regulators for a listing in the US and the UK. [ EU to impose €2 tax on low-cost items in blow to Temu and Shein Opens in new window ] Reuters reported last week that Shein imminently plans to file for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong. Shein declined to comment on its listing plans or business performance. On May 2nd, Mr Trump scrapped the low value goods exemption in the US, known as 'de minimis', for parcels arriving from China and Hong Kong, calling it 'a big scam going on against our country'. The president replaced the exemption, which allowed parcels worth less than $800 (€683) to enter the US duty free, with a 90 per cent tariff. That was subsequently reduced to as little as 30 per cent as part of a wider de-escalation of trade tensions with China. IATA Director General Willie Walsh on airline profits, air fares and why the Dublin Airport passenger cap makes Ireland a laughing stock Listen | 35:56 In the aftermath of Mr Trump's policy changes Temu overhauled its business model in the US. Instead of shipping products from factories in China it began shipping orders from sellers based in the US. The drop in usage of Temu and Shein may also be tied to a decline in each company's advertising spend. Over the past three months Temu's US ad spending fell 87 per cent and Shein's dropped 69 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to Sensor Tower. Last year, they ranked as the 10th and 11th-largest digital advertisers in the US – they now rank outside the top 60, the researcher said. As the environment in the US has become more hostile, Temu and Shein have switched their focus to Europe. The number of people using Temu's app in June jumped 76 per cent in France, 71 per cent in Spain and 64 per cent in Germany, compared with the same period last year, according to Sensor Tower. Meanwhile, Shein's monthly active users rose between 13 per cent and 20 per cent in the UK, Germany and France. But growth in Europe could also be at risk as the EU plans to levy a €2 fee on small packages entering the bloc, and the UK government is considering ending its own import duty exemption scheme. Temu declined to comment on business metrics or ad spending, but said its focus was on 'working with merchants across regions'. 'Since fully opening our marketplace to local sellers in over 20 markets ... we've been helping them expand their reach and grow their businesses.' – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025 .
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Duolingo Stock Plummeted This Week
New data shows Duolingo's daily active user growth continues to decelerate. Trading at an already lofty valuation, the company saw its share price plummet. However, Duolingo's long-term investment thesis is intact, and its growth optionality remains abundant. 10 stocks we like better than Duolingo › Shares of the world's largest education app, Duolingo (NASDAQ: DUOL), were down 14% this week as of 2:30 p.m. ET Thursday, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The main reason for this decline came from a Jefferies analyst highlighting that Duolingo's daily active user (DAU) growth slowed to 37% in June. Analysts expected 44% growth in DAUs for the company's second quarter, but the data shows it'll be closer to 39%, prompting the adverse reaction from the market. While 30 days' worth of disappointing DAU data isn't bad in and of itself, it extends a worrying trend. Over the last five months, the company's DAU growth declined from 56% in February to 53% in March, 41% in April, 40% in May, and finally 37% in June. This deceleration is far from a death knell for Duolingo's stock. But the market may be justified in lowering the company's valuation until it sees improving data. Even after this drop, the company trades at 106 times free cash flow, including stock-based compensation. However, following this decline, I may find myself buying more Duolingo shares soon, thanks to its promising growth optionality. Far from just a language learning app, Duolingo has multiple potential growth outlets, like: Adding to its courses, as it has already done with ABCs for children, math, music, and now chess. Building upon its standardized test offerings, such as its Duolingo English Test (roughly 10% of sales). Growing the advertising revenue from its non-subscriber tier (around 6% of sales). Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its offerings, such as its video chat with Lily. Though its days of 50% hypergrowth may be in the past, Duolingo's longer-term growth story is still in its early chapters. Before you buy stock in Duolingo, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Duolingo wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $687,731!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $945,846!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 818% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 175% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Duolingo. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool recommends Duolingo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Duolingo Stock Plummeted This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Roku Stock a Long-Term Buy?
Roku's earnings are negative by design, as the company focuses on user growth. Roku's price-to-sales and price-to-book ratios suggest the stock is more than reasonably affordable. This growth stock has a long way to run. 10 stocks we like better than Roku › At first glance, Roku (NASDAQ: ROKU) looks like a terrible investment. Earnings are negative. Sales are rising, but much more slowly than they were four years ago. The stock trades at an unaffordable valuation of 125 times forward earnings estimates. After a long-forgotten price spike in the pandemic lockdown era, Roku's stock fell hard and then traded sideways over the last three years. But if you look a bit closer, you should see a healthy long-term growth story in play. Roku targets a huge global market, following in the footsteps of proven winners, and the stock doesn't appear expensive at all from other perspectives. It's actually one of my favorite stocks to buy in 2025, and Roku should be a helpful addition to long-term portfolios. Let me deconstruct the scary qualities I mentioned above. Roku's red-ink earnings are at least partly a voluntary choice. The company treats its streaming hardware as a marketing tool, selling Roku sticks and TV sets below the manufacturing and distribution costs. This user-growth tactic is especially unprofitable in Roku's highest-volume sales periods. The holiday quarter of 2024, for example, nearly quadrupled the devices segment's negative gross margin from 7.6% in the third quarter to 28.6% in the fourth. In other words, Roku is running its business with unprofitable profit margins to maximize its market reach and user growth. Furthermore, I'm talking about generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which is the standard accounting method used for calculating taxes. Roku often posts negative GAAP earnings that result in tax refunds rather than expenses. At the same time, free cash flows tend to land on the positive side with modest cash profits. That's just efficient accounting powered by stock-based compensation and amortization of Roku's media-streaming content library. Roku's year-over-year sales growth has averaged 14.7% over the last two years. That's a sharp retreat from 40.9% in the three years before that. But don't forget that the extreme growth was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lots of people turned to digital media during the lockdown period, resulting in a unique business spike for companies like Roku and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). The pandemic also happened to take place just months after Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) launched the Disney+ streaming service, inspiring a torrent of copycat service launches. Long story short, there may never be a media market like the one in 2020-2021 again. Holding on to nearly half of that nitro-boosted growth rate in recent years is actually really good. Let me point back to the voluntary GAAP losses. Roku isn't trying to generate huge taxable profits at this time, which makes price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios largely unusable. Even the forward-looking version of this common metric relies on Roku's guidance targets filtered through Wall Street's analysis. If anything, the analyst community's projections are more optimistic than Roku's official targets. Management expects a $30 million GAAP loss in fiscal year 2025, which would work out to another "not applicable" P/E ratio. If you look at other valuation metrics, Roku starts to look like a bargain. Trading at 2.6 times trailing sales, the stock is comparable to slow-growth giants such as Caterpillar or Unilever. Roku also seems undervalued, if you base your analysis on its robust balance sheet, with a price-to-book ratio of 4.4 and a price-to-cash multiple of 4.9. I'll admit that Roku's stalled stock chart can be frustrating. Share prices are down 17% over the last three years, missing out on 44% growth in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) market index. Roku's sales are up 45% over this period, while free cash flow rose by 66%. When will the big payoff come, rewarding patient shareholders for Roku's quiet success? That's OK, though. Keeping stock prices low just gives investors more time to build those Roku positions. I have bought Roku more often than any other stock since the spring of 2022, and I might not be done adding shares yet. Whenever I have spare cash ready for investments, Roku pops up as a top idea. That remains true in June 2025. So, let the chart slouch lower. Affordable buy-in prices can set you up for tremendous long-term returns. Before you buy stock in Roku, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Roku wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 173% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Anders Bylund has positions in Netflix, Roku, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Netflix, Roku, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Unilever. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Roku Stock a Long-Term Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
