Weibo: AI Bet Faces The Test Of Relevance In A Shifting Social Media Landscape

  • Weibo's Q1 results were stable, with flat revenue and slight net margin beat, but growth relies heavily on Alibaba and faces sector declines. We question Weibo's relevance amid rising competition from short-form video and lifestyle apps, despite sequential DAU/MAU growth showing signs of deceleration. AI initiatives are driving some engagement and ad efficiency, but monetization and ad sector headwinds limit meaningful topline impact.