iQIYI Inc logo

iQIYI Inc(IQ)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$0.91
11/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for IQ

11/09/2026: IQ (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

iQIYI Inc is a prominent Chinese online video streaming platform that has transitioned from a focus on aggressive subscriber growth to prioritizing operational profitability. The company differentiates itself through a robust library of original content, which acts as a key driver for membership revenue. Its primary investment story centers on its ability to maintain high-quality content output while optimizing production costs. However, it faces significant risks from intense competition, regulatory volatility in China, and the threat of short-form video platforms. The stock may suit growth-oriented investors who are comfortable with the inherent volatility of the Chinese internet sector and wish to monitor its path toward sustained profitability.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers growth potential through streaming monetization but faces significant hurdles in a saturated and regulated market.
Momentum investorWeak fitMomentum is highly sensitive to regulatory news and quarterly earnings beats, making this a high-risk play for pure momentum traders.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock may appear undervalued on certain metrics, but the underlying volatility and business model complexity demand caution.
Dividend investorWeak fitiQIYI does not pay a dividend and has no stated policy to initiate one.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe volatility associated with Chinese ADRs and the streaming industry makes this unsuitable for conservative portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is subject to sharp price fluctuations driven by industry sentiment and macro news.
Valuation riskMedium / highMarket pricing often shifts rapidly based on the company's ability to maintain profitability.
Competition risk (streaming services)HighIntense competition from larger platforms and short-form video apps threatens market share.
Business qualityMediumWhile the content library is high-quality, the business is capital-intensive.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThere is no income generation for shareholders.
Execution riskMedium / highFailure to produce successful original content can lead to immediate subscriber churn.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -45.37%
Avg. Invested days 25
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
IQ receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
IQ has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, soft growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, growth and ownership metrics are mixed: negative earnings growth (-127.0%), soft cash generation (FCF margin 0.0%), negative revenue growth (-6.6%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
IQ's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (0.0% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
IQ's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being revenue growth at -6.6% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while earnings growth (-127.0%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-99.5%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 65.0% and approximately 98.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.27%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. 9.30%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 3.24%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 1.61%
UBS Group AG 1.60%
BlackRock Inc 1.33%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
IQ generates approximately $211 of gross profit, $8 of operating income, and $0 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and weak capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -242.92% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
IQ has a liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 879.33M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 1.34
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 1.34
Volume (30-day avg) 6.1M shares
Beta 0.1
52 Weeks Range 0.81 - 2.30
Updated Date 11/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 0.81 - 2.30
Updated Date 11/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.13

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Membership ServicesMonthly/annual subscription fees for ad-free access.This is the primary way they convert viewers into recurring revenue.
Advertising ServicesBrand ads and performance-based marketing on the platform.This revenue segment depends heavily on the overall health of the Chinese digital ad market.
Geography: ChinaThe vast majority of the company's operations and users are located within mainland China.Investors are primarily exposed to the domestic Chinese consumer market and regulatory environment.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 17.21
Enterprise Value 2.42B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.03
Enterprise Value 2.42B
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.03
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.62
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 54.54
Shares Outstanding 530.58M
Shares Floating 524.51M
Shares Outstanding 530.58M
Shares Floating 524.51M
Percent Insiders 0.27
Percent Institutions 65.02

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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