Latest news for Missfresh (OTC:MFLTY) Stock

Missfresh Ltd an online-and-offline integrated on-demand retail business offering fresh produce and fast-moving consumer goods. Through its "Missfresh" mobile application and Mini Program embedded in third-party social platforms, which feature substantially similar user interface and functions, consumers can purchase grocery at their fingertips and receive products delivered by its delivery riders to their doorstep. The Group's assets are located in the PRC and its revenues are derived from within the PRC.

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MFLTY

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

Key Takeaways:


	Dingdong’s revenue grew slightly in the first quarter, ending more than a year of revenue contraction
	The company recorded its second quarterly net profit since its listing and said it expects both revenue and profit to post “considerable year-over-year growth” this year


By Doug Young

Dingdong Rings Back To Revenue Growth, Posts Quarterly Net Profit

MISSFRESH LIMITED ADR by Missfresh Limited

Missfresh Ltd

Citigroup analyst Jon Tower maintains Brinker International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAT#NYSE">EAT</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $166 to $185.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Brinker International, Raises Price Target to $185

Citigroup analyst Scott Gruber maintains Seadrill (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SDRL#NYSE">SDRL</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $50 to $46.

SDRL

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Seadrill, Lowers Price Target to $46

American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 6.37% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 19.32%. Currently, American Express has a market capitalization of $223.90 billion. 
Buying $100 In AXP: If an investor had bought $100 of AXP stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $243.47 today based on a price of $318.95 for AXP at the time of writing.
<h3>American Express's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738278015_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Trading Ideas

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning American Express Stock In The Last 5 Years

Citigroup analyst Scott Gruber maintains Valaris (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VAL#NYSE">VAL</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $47 to $48.

Citigroup Maintains Neutral on Valaris, Raises Price Target to $48

Citigroup analyst Asiya Merchant maintains Western Digital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $82 to $80.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Western Digital, Lowers Price Target to $80

Citigroup analyst Patrick Donnelly maintains Danaher (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHR#NYSE">DHR</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $285 to $265.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Danaher, Lowers Price Target to $265

Citigroup analyst George Choi maintains Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVS#NYSE">LVS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $64.5 to $67.

Citigroup Maintains Buy on Las Vegas Sands, Raises Price Target to $67

Maxim Group analyst Jason McCarthy maintains Alterity Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ATHE#NASDAQ">ATHE</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $8 to $12.

Alterity Therapeutics Limited - American Depositary Shares

ATHE

Maxim Group Maintains Buy on Alterity Therapeutics, Raises Price Target to $12

Earnings

HFBL

CORRECTION: Home Federal Bancorp Q2 EPS $0.33, Flat YoY

Cheniere Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LNG#NYSE">LNG</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 18.24% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 31.2%. Currently, Cheniere Energy has a market capitalization of $51.65 billion. 
Buying $1000 In LNG: If an investor had bought $1000 of LNG stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $3,918.96 today based on a price of $230.20 for LNG at the time of writing.
<h3>Cheniere Energy's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738277138_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$1000 Invested In Cheniere Energy 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Shares of Common Stock are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "INR." The offering is expected to close on February 3, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

IPOs

Infinity Natural Resources Prices Public Offering Of 13.25M Shares Of Class A Common Stock At $20.00 Per Share

Maxim Group analyst Allen Klee initiates coverage on Orangekloud Technology (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORKT#NASDAQ">ORKT</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $5.

Initiation

ORKT

Maxim Group Initiates Coverage On Orangekloud Technology with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $5

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) shares are falling in extended trading Thursday after the company <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43355741/walgreens-boots-alliance-suspends-quarterly-dividend-as-company-continues-disciplined-execution-ag">suspended its quarterly dividend</a>.
What Happened: After the market close on Thursday, Walgreens announced its board is suspending its cash dividend as management continues to evaluate its capital allocation policy as part of a longer-term turnaround strategy.
The suspended dividend is expected to help strengthen the company&#8217;s balance sheet by reducing debt over time and improving free cash flow.
&#8220;The company&#8217;s cash needs over the next several years, including with respect to litigation and debt refinancing, were important considerations as part of the decision to suspend the dividend,&#8221; the company said. 
&#8220;WBA leadership remains focused on successfully executing against its strategic priorities and maintaining financial discipline, which it believes will deliver sustained value creation over the long term.&#8221;
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy WBA Stock</h1>
By now you're likely curious about how to participate in the market for Walgreens — be it to purchase shares, or even attempt to bet against the company.
Buying shares is typically done through a brokerage account. You can find a list of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-stock-trading-platforms">possible trading platforms here.</a> Many will allow you to buy &#8220;fractional shares,&#8221; which allows you to own portions of stock without buying an entire share. 
If you're looking to bet against a company, the process is more complex. You'll need access to an options trading platform, or a broker who will allow you to &#8220;go short&#8221; a stock by lending you the shares to sell. The process of shorting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock">stock can be found at this resource.</a> Otherwise, if your broker allows you to trade options, you can either buy a put option, or sell a call option at a strike price above where shares are currently trading — either way it allows you to profit off of the share price decline.
WBA Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/wba">Walgreens shares</a> were down 7.77% after-hours, trading at $10.52 at the time of publication Thursday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43355688/apple-q1-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-iphone-sales-slip-installed-base-climbs-to-all-time-high-our-best-quarter-ever">Apple Q1 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, iPhone Sales Slip, Installed Base Climbs To All-Time High — &#8216;Our Best Quarter Ever&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Courtesy of Walgreens Boots Alliance.

Dividends

After-Hours Center

Walgreens Boots Alliance Shares Slide As Board Suspends Dividend

For the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the company reported a net loss of $2.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and a net loss of $5.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.&nbsp;

BRBS

Blue Ridge Bankshares Q4 EPS $(0.03), Says Regulatory Remediation Efforts On Track

Lake Street analyst Eric Martinuzzi maintains Extreme Networks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXTR#NASDAQ">EXTR</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $15 to $16.

EXTR

Lake Street Maintains Hold on Extreme Networks, Raises Price Target to $16

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOOT#NYSE">BOOT</a>) reported its third-quarter financial results after Thursday's closing bell. Here's a look at the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/b43352747/boot-barn-holdings-inc-announces-third-quarter-fiscal-year-2025-financial-results"> details from the report.&nbsp;</a>
The Details:&nbsp;Boot Barn reported earnings of $2.43 per share, beating the $2.29 estimate. Quarterly revenue came in at $608.17 million, beating the $607.01 million estimate.
Same-store sales increased 8.6% compared to the prior-year period, comprised of an increase of 8.2% in retail store same-store sales and an increase of 11.1% in e-commerce same-store sales. The company opened 13 new stores, bringing its total store count to 438 as of the quarter end.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43343648/all-60-passengers-4-crew-members-onboard-american-airlines-jet-feared-dead-after-midair-collision-official-says">64 Killed In American Airlines Midair Collision Near D.C., Worst US Air Disaster Since 2001&nbsp;</a>
&#8220;I want to thank the entire Boot Barn team for their excellent execution and dedication during a busy holiday season, which resulted in strong third-quarter results and earnings per diluted share above the high end of our guidance range. The strength we saw in the business was once again driven by broad-based growth across all major merchandise categories, channels and geographies, resulting in a consolidated same-store sales increase of 8.6%,&#8221; said John Hazen, Interim CEO.
&#8220;We also grew total sales 16.9% compared to the prior-year period, driven in part by the 13 new stores we opened in the third quarter and the 39 new stores we have opened year-to-date through our third fiscal quarter,&#8221; Hazen added. 
Outlook:&nbsp;Boot Barn raised its fiscal 2025 GAAP EPS guidance from a range of&nbsp;$5.30 to $5.60 to a range of $5.81 to $5.90, versus the&nbsp;$5.76&nbsp;estimate, and raised its fiscal 2025 sales guidance from a range of $1.87 billion to $1.91 billion to&nbsp;a range of $1.91 billion to $1.92 billion, versus the $1.91 billion estimate. 
BOOT Price Action: According to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Boot Barn Holdings shares are down 6.60% after-hours at $163 on Thursday.  
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/01/43320124/microsoft-shares-slide-after-q2-results-cloud-revenue-misses-expectations-details">Microsoft Shares Slide After Q2 Results, Cloud Revenue Misses Expectations: Details</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Photo: Courtesy of Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.

Movers

BOOT

Boot Barn Stock Falls After Q3 Report: What To Know

Loop Capital analyst Alton Stump maintains Silgan Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLGN#NYSE">SLGN</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $70 to $75.

SLGN

Loop Capital Maintains Buy on Silgan Hldgs, Raises Price Target to $75

Coherent (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COHR#NYSE">COHR</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 7.19% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 20.15%. Currently, Coherent has a market capitalization of $14.03 billion. 
Buying $1000 In COHR: If an investor had bought $1000 of COHR stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,656.40 today based on a price of $90.71 for COHR at the time of writing.
<h3>Coherent's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738276219_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

COHR

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

Barclays analyst George Wang maintains Celestica (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLS#NYSE">CLS</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $91 to $139.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on Celestica, Raises Price Target to $139

As AI develops, a shift in expectations for electricity demand is becoming more evident. The emergence of Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has led to uncertainty about future electricity consumption, impacting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/utilities">utility and power stocks. </a>
Investors in the traditional power and utilities sector are facing uncertainty after riding last year's wave of soaring demand projections. The rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers—critical to AI and other tech innovations—had fueled a surge in power stocks. However, the question mark on this forecast has brought <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">power-focused ETFs</a> back into the limelight for the wrong reasons. Although experts believe this is most likely a temporary panic, here are 3 ETFs that may be less sensitive to short-term chaos:
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) 
XLU provides exposure to major U.S. utility companies, including American Electric Power Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) and Southern Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>). The ETF is a popular choice for investors seeking stable returns and dividend income from regulated utilities, which are less sensitive to short-term market disruptions. The expense ratio is 0.09%.
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPU#NYSE">RSPU</a>)
Traditional utility ETFs are market-cap weighted. On the contrary, this ETF assigns equal weight to its holdings, which allows the investor to spread out risks. It includes companies involved in electricity production, transmission, and renewable energy, making it a potential hedge against volatility in the energy sector. The expense ratio is 0.4%.
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRID#NASDAQ">GRID</a>)
GRID focuses on companies engaged in smart grid technology, electrification infrastructure, and power transmission. As the U.S. accelerates its shift to renewable energy, investments in smart grids and electricity storage could benefit from long-term demand growth, regardless of AI-related fluctuations.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43350500/deepseek-shakes-up-ai-stocks-3-healthcare-tech-etfs-offer-stability-innovation">DeepSeek Shakes Up AI Stocks: 3 Healthcare Tech ETFs Offer Stability, Innovation</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The AI Revolution and Its Impact on Power Demand</h3>
The DeepSeek issue challenges long-standing projections about electricity demand driven by AI data centers. DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model, reportedly uses &#8220;10 to 40 times less energy&#8221; than similar U.S. models, according to a <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/game-changer-what-deepseek-ai-means-for-electricity/">report </a>by E&amp;E News. 
Utilities and natural gas companies, which had been soaring on expectations of rising AI-driven electricity demand, suffered steep losses. According to Reuters, independent power provider Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) plunged by about 20%, Vistra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) dropped 30%, and Talen Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLN#NASDAQ">TLN</a>) fell 22% after news of DeepSeek&#8217;s advancements hit.
While some experts believe this could reset expectations for power growth, others argue that broader electrification trends, including U.S. manufacturing expansion and cryptocurrency mining, will keep electricity demand high. 
&#8220;Overall electricity demand is still going to surge because other major drivers — particularly U.S. manufacturing and cryptocurrency — are not going to be affected by DeepSeek,&#8221; said Betsy Soehren Jones, managing director at West Monroe, as reported by E&amp;E News.
DeepSeek&#8217;s accomplishment could even cast doubt on nuclear power demand, which tech companies see as a key source of clean energy for AI development. Investors have expected high premiums for nuclear power, over $100/MWh, but new efficiency gains may change that, Jefferies said in a client note, <a href="https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2652323-deepseek-undermines-ai-power-demand-forecasts">according </a>to Argus Media. 
Lower AI data center power demand could also weaken support for next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs), backed by companies like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43267966/deepseeks-low-cost-model-reshapes-ai-landscape-experts-predict-shift-to-application-layer">DeepSeek&#8217;s Low-Cost Model Reshapes AI Landscape: Experts Predict Shift To &#8216;Application Layer&#8217;</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What BofA Says About the Power and Utility Sector</h3>
A recent Bank of America (BofA) report suggests that the power and utility sector remains resilient despite the short-term market reaction to DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model. The report maintains a Buy rating on Constellation Energy with a revised price target of $366 and a Neutral rating on Vistra with a target of $183.
BofA analysts see the sell-off as an overreaction and expect data center demand to stay strong once the turbulence subsides.
The report describes DeepSeek as "more evolutionary than revolutionary" and that AI-driven data centers will continue to drive power consumption.
Additionally, BofA notes that supply and demand pressures in the energy market remain tight due to industrial expansion and electrification. The need for stable energy sources like nuclear power remains essential.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Will DeepSeek Really Change The Power Scenario?</h3>
While DeepSeek's AI model has introduced uncertainty in the short term, some analysts believe the sell-off in power stocks may be &#8220;short-sighted and short-lived,&#8221; as energy economist Ed Hirs noted, per a Reuters report. Even with more efficient AI models, demand for electricity is likely to rise due to continued digitalization and electrification.
All said, despite the sharp reaction in the market, broader trends in electrification and technology-driven growth suggest that electricity consumption will keep rising.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43315374/ai-etfs-in-focus-as-alibaba-challenges-deepseek-with-new-model">AI ETFs In Focus As Alibaba Challenges DeepSeek With New Model</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Sundry Photography/ Shutterstock.com

Sector ETFs

ETFs

GOOG

GOOGL

First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund

GRID

MSFT

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF

RSPU

3 ETFs To Navigate Utility Stock Volatility As DeepSeek Challenges Power Demand Forecasts

Missfresh

<h4>Key Takeaways:</h4>

<ul>
	<li>Dingdong&rsquo;s revenue grew slightly in the first quarter, ending more than a year of revenue contraction</li>
	<li>The company recorded its second quarterly net profit since its listing and said it expects both revenue and profit to post &ldquo;considerable year-over-year growth&rdquo; this year</li>
</ul>

By Doug Young

Grocery story or tech company?

Investors are having a hard time answering that question when it comes to&nbsp;Dingdong (Caymen) Ltd.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DDL#NYSE">DDL</a>), China&rsquo;s leading online grocer, which on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dingdong-cayman-limited-announces-first-quarter-2024-financial-results-302143331.html">reported</a>&nbsp;a return to revenue growth in this year&rsquo;s first quarter after a year of contraction, as well as only its second GAAP profit since going public in 2021. Despite that, the company&rsquo; stock sank 16% after the results were announced, showing investors were hoping for more.

We should point out that even after the selloff, the stock is still up 21% so far this year and has rallied 67% from a low in January, feeding off a recent broader rally for offshore-listed Chinese stocks. Still, its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 18 trails larger U.S.-based grocery giant&nbsp;Kroger&rsquo;s&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KR#NYSE">KR</a>) 18, and is also behind the 25 for&nbsp;Walmart&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).

The bottom line is that Dingdong is a grocery seller, a sector famous for razor-thin margins and stiff competition due to difficulty among rivals in differentiating their products. Dingdong pointed out on its earnings call that it&rsquo;s tough to reduce delivery costs that are one of its main expenses, and that one area where it&rsquo;s making some progress is in cutting out middlemen involved in many parts of its supply chain.

Dingdong has also acknowledged that it&rsquo;s better to focus on larger, wealthier cities where consumers are less cost-conscious. It began pulling out of smaller markets where it was losing big money last year, resulting in revenue contraction throughout the year.

With impact from the withdrawals winding down, the company said it expects to return to a growth track this year. &ldquo;We have raised our expectations for both net profit and scale, and are anticipating considerable year-over-year growth for the second quarter and this year,&rdquo; said founder and CEO Wang Changlin in the company&rsquo;s results announcement. Wang didn&rsquo;t elaborate on the meaning of &ldquo;scale,&rdquo; though presumably he is referring to revenue.

Dingdong has also been trying to beef up its margins by providing more of its own private-label products, which tend to carry higher margins and are one of the few areas where it can differentiate itself from rivals. But it made little mention of those efforts in its latest results, with CFO Wang Song only noting on the earnings call that the company is &ldquo;actively working on improving our private label product development capabilities.&rdquo;

So, where does that leave this company in the eyes of investors?

Despite the recent broader bullishness on U.S.-listed China stocks, analysts remain decidedly mixed on Dingdong. Only five out of nine polled by Yahoo Finance rate it a &ldquo;buy&rdquo; or &ldquo;strong buy,&rdquo; with the other four rating it a &ldquo;hold&rdquo; or &ldquo;underperform.&rdquo; Still, their average price target of $2.65 for the stock implies some upside from its latest close of $1.82.

All that said, we&rsquo;ll take a closer look at the company&rsquo;s latest financials that look relatively solid. At the highest level, its gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 1.4% to 5.53 billion yuan ($764 million), while its same-store GMV rose by a larger 4.4% year-on-year for the three-month period. The company noted that the first two months of 2023 were still affected by the pandemic, and pointed out GMV rose 6.5% year-on-year this year in March, the first month when year-ago consumption patterns were more normal and made for better comparisons.

<h3>Revenue Rises</h3>

The improving GMV helped Dingdong post a tiny first-quarter revenue gain to 5.02 billion yuan from 5 billion yuan the previous year. Before that, the last time the company reported a similar year-on-year revenue gain was the fourth quarter of 2022, before it began its slimming down campaign.

Shanghai-based Dingdong is profitable in its home region of East China, which includes Shanghai, as well as adjacent Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. It noted that order volume per station rose by double-digit percentage amounts in all three of those places in March, while also pointing out that its losses in the Southern Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and also in Beijing, all experienced &ldquo;rapid reduction.&rdquo;

Notably, the company stands to benefit in Beijing following the demise of former rival&nbsp;Missfresh&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MFLTY#OTC">MFLTY</a>), which was a dominant player in the Chinese capital, also its hometown. Dingdong also faces competition from rival services operated by leading takeout delivery company&nbsp;Meituan(3690.HK) and e-commerce giant&nbsp;PDD&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), though both of those are more focused on smaller markets.

Dingdong said its operating costs and expenses were roughly flat at 5.05 billion yuan in the latest quarter, versus 5.04 billion yuan a year earlier. Its fulfillment expenses fell 3.9% year-on-year during the quarter, dropping their share of total revenue to 22.8% from 23.9% a year earlier, as it benefited from larger order sizes. The lower fulfillment expenses were offset by increases of more than 20% in sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses.

The bottom line was that the company reported a sixth consecutive quarterly non-GAAP profit, which excludes costs related to employee stock-based compensation. And significantly, it also reported its second-ever GAAP profit of 12.3 million yuan since going public in 2021, reversing a 52.4 million yuan loss a year earlier.

The company also said it is quite solid in terms of finances, noting it was cash flow-positive in the first quarter, representing a third consecutive quarter in positive territory for that metric.

And what do we make of the company&rsquo;s previously mentioned proclamation that it now anticipates &ldquo;considerable year-over-year growth for the second quarter and this year&rdquo; in both &ldquo;scale&rdquo; and net profit? Analysts polled by Yahoo Finance weren&rsquo;t expecting much, at least in terms of revenue growth, forecasting only 2% growth in the second quarter and 4.3% for the whole year.

It&rsquo;s quite possible we might see some upward revisions to those forecasts in the weeks ahead, and perhaps even one or two ratings upgrades. At the end of the day, Dingdong does seem to be sharpening its focus by concentrating on big cities where it can operate profitably, and also on improving its efficiency by gaining more direct control of its supply chain. It will always be a grocer when all is said and done, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean it can&rsquo;t become a leader in the huge Chinese grocery market.

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga&#39;s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Missfresh

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Latest news for Missfresh (OTC:MFLTY) Stock

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