iQIYI unveils AI drama as analysts keep iQIYI stock at Hold

Published on 10/07/2026 at 03:03 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

iQIYI stock costs EUR 0.90 on October 6, 2026 after EUR 0.90. Q2 revenue was RMB 6.29 billion, down 5.00 percent year over year.

IQ, US46267X1081, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

iQIYI, Inc. (ISIN US46267X1081) unveiled a hybrid AI multi-season drama on September 23, 2026, while analysts kept iQIYI stock at a Hold rating. GlobeNewswire reported that the first season of Immortals Over Mortal Love is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026, with 16 episodes. MarketBeat reported a consensus Hold rating from six analysts.

AI pipeline gains a commercial test

The new series comprises three seasons and is produced on iQIYI's NadouPro platform, which the company describes as a studio-grade production system. The release gives the AI strategy a measurable content milestone, but the fourth-quarter premiere remains a future operating test rather than a reported financial result.

The September 23 announcement also placed AI inside iQIYI's broader content strategy. The platform is combining live-action performances with generative production tools, seeking lower production costs while keeping professionally produced entertainment at the center of its offering.

Revenue pressure meets mix improvement

Second-quarter revenue fell 5.00 percent year over year to RMB 6.29 billion, according to Boerse Express. The same report said membership revenue declined 4.00 percent sequentially to RMB 4.00 billion, while content distribution revenue increased 90.00 percent sequentially to RMB 681.50 million.

The second-quarter earnings call supplied a counterpoint to the top-line decline. Yahoo Finance reported that operating cash flow rose to RMB 339.60 million from RMB 186.40 million in the first quarter, while the non-GAAP operating loss narrowed 8.00 percent sequentially to RMB 130.30 million. For investors, the key tension is clear: the AI pipeline aims to improve efficiency while the membership business remains under pressure.

Analysts remain cautious on valuation

MarketBeat said JPMorgan cut its price objective from USD 2.20 to USD 1.20 on August 20, 2026, retaining a neutral rating, while Goldman Sachs issued a USD 1.40 objective with a neutral rating on the same date. MarketBeat placed the average 12-month target at USD 1.73 and described the analyst consensus as Hold.

The market context remains demanding. iQIYI's market capitalization was USD 974.0 million as of October 6, 2026, and its 52-week range was USD 0.86 to USD 2.50. Those figures frame the AI strategy as an execution story: the company must convert content experimentation and distribution growth into stronger membership economics.

Stock stays near its yearly low

iQIYI was last at EUR 0.90 at Lang & Schwarz on October 6, 2026 at 10:58 p.m. CEST, matching the EUR 0.90 prior close at Lang & Schwarz on October 5, 2026. The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of iQIYI stock.