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China investors stay bullish on Cambricon despite index reshuffle

Cambricon Technologies, often dubbed China’s Nvidia, faces more than 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) in passive outflows due to a quarterly rebalancing of the STAR50 Index, but analysts say investor confidence in the AI chipmaker remains intact.

The company’s stock, which more than doubled in August, exceeded the 10% cap for individual weightings in the tech-heavy index. Though Cambricon shares fell 14% last week on profit-taking and rebalancing fears, they have since rebounded 10%, hovering near record highs.

Valuations are eye-watering—Cambricon trades at 521 times earnings, compared with Nvidia’s multiple of 50—but Beijing’s push for tech self-sufficiency, the DeepSeek AI breakthrough, and large-scale investments by Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu continue to fuel the rally.

“Maybe some investors will use it as a reason to take profit, but I don’t think that will affect the long-term trend,” said Shihao Li, analyst at CLSA. Gavekal’s Tilly Zhang added that optimism is growing that China’s AI sector has entered a “self-sustaining cycle of rising investment and higher profitability.”

Cambricon’s fundamentals have helped power the surge. First-half revenue jumped to 2.9 billion yuan ($407 million) from just 64.8 million yuan a year earlier, swinging to a 1 billion yuan profit. The company forecasts 5–7 billion yuan in operating revenue for 2025.

Still, risks remain. Some fund managers warn of a speculative bubble, while others argue that growth potential tied to China’s strategic need to replace foreign AI chips may justify lofty valuations.

Broader Chinese markets are riding the same wave. The CSI AI Index is up 60% this year, far outpacing the 15% gain in the CSI300, and the Shanghai Composite has hit levels not seen in a decade.

The spotlight now shifts to whether Cambricon can sustain profitability and meet surging demand for AI chips—critical to maintaining its role as the flagship of China’s AI boom.

Chinese Robotics Startup Unitree Targets $7B IPO Valuation Amid Tech Push

Chinese humanoid robotics firm Unitree Robotics is preparing for a landmark IPO on Shanghai’s STAR Market, seeking a valuation of up to 50 billion yuan ($7 billion), according to sources. The company, founded in 2016 by Wang Xingxing, has gained global attention with viral videos of robots walking, climbing, and carrying loads.

Unitree confirmed last week that IPO preparations are underway, with a formal application expected in Q4, though it disputed reports on the exact valuation. If successful, this would be one of China’s largest onshore tech listings in years, underscoring Beijing’s drive to fund domestic “unicorns” and bolster self-sufficiency in robotics and AI.

The potential listing comes after a funding round in June that included investments from Alibaba, Tencent, and Geely, boosting Unitree’s valuation to 12 billion yuan. Sources say the company is already profitable, with annual revenue above 1 billion yuan, and poised for rapid growth.

Unitree’s IPO plans coincide with China’s heavy investment in robotics and AI to counter U.S. tech rivalry and address an aging population. The humanoid robot industry enjoys strong government subsidies and policy support, making Unitree a likely beneficiary.

The company’s targeted valuation would mark a sharp jump from its last funding round, testing investor appetite for humanoid robotics — a field where China is positioning itself as a global leader.