iQIYI: Mixed View Of Q1 Miss And Mid-Term Positives

I am maintaining a 'Hold' rating for iQIYI after evaluating its outlook across different time horizons. IQ's 1Q2026 net loss of CNY234M was worse than what analysts forecasted; its near-term profitability is likely to remain under pressure due to elevated programming spend. China's regulatory crackdowns on piracy and the opportunity for AI-driven cost reductions offer potential medium-term tailwinds for the company.