Shareholders might have noticed that Kanzhun Limited (NASDAQ:BZ) filed its quarterly result this time last week. The early response was not positive, with shares down 3.8% to US$13.80 in the past week. It was a credible result overall, with revenues of CN¥2.1b and statutory earnings per share of CN¥5.90 both in line with analyst estimates, showing that Kanzhun is executing in line with expectations. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. Readers will be glad to know we've aggregated the latest statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their mind on Kanzhun after the latest results.

Following the latest results, Kanzhun's 21 analysts are now forecasting revenues of CN¥9.31b in 2026. This would be a meaningful 11% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to accumulate 7.4% to CN¥7.98. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of CN¥9.26b and earnings per share (EPS) of CN¥7.08 in 2026. Although the revenue estimates have not really changed, we can see there's been a solid gain to earnings per share expectations, suggesting that the analysts have become more bullish after the latest result.

There's been no major changes to the consensus price target of US$21.17, suggesting that the improved earnings per share outlook is not enough to have a long-term positive impact on the stock's valuation. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. Currently, the most bullish analyst values Kanzhun at US$29.47 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$15.70. Even so, with a relatively close grouping of estimates, it looks like the analysts are quite confident in their valuations, suggesting Kanzhun is an easy business to forecast or the the analysts are all using similar assumptions.

Of course, another way to look at these forecasts is to place them into context against the industry itself. We would highlight that Kanzhun's revenue growth is expected to slow, with the forecast 14% annualised growth rate until the end of 2026 being well below the historical 20% p.a. growth over the last five years. By way of comparison, the other companies in this industry with analyst coverage are forecast to grow their revenue at 6.6% annually. Even after the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that Kanzhun is also expected to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us is the consensus earnings per share upgrade, which suggests a clear improvement in sentiment around Kanzhun's earnings potential next year. Happily, there were no major changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Kanzhun. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for Kanzhun going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You can also see our analysis of Kanzhun's Board and CEO remuneration and experience, and whether company insiders have been buying stock.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.