Shares of LIANLIAN (02598) soared more than 7% during Wednesday's trading session before paring gains, with the stock last up 4.16% at HK$3.885, on turnover of HK$3.81 million.

The rally follows the company's release of its first-half 2026 results, which showed revenue reaching RMB 876 million, a year-on-year increase of 11.9%. Adjusted operating profit surged 147.3% to RMB 156 million, driven primarily by higher gross margins, increased customer asset returns, and reduced adjusted selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Breaking down the segment performance, global payment revenue climbed 27.1% year-on-year to RMB 601 million, while total payment volume (TPV) expanded 25.9% to RMB 249.9 billion. Value-added services emerged as a key growth driver, with revenue jumping 83.2% to RMB 164 million, establishing itself as the company's second growth engine.

Huatai Securities noted that the global payment business continues to grow steadily, with payment fee rates showing early signs of stabilization. The brokerage believes that, given the company's extensive global payment network and licensing moat, global payments will likely serve as the primary growth catalyst going forward. Additionally, Huatai highlighted that the innovative AI-enabled payment business could unlock further long-term expansion opportunities, leading the firm to maintain its "Buy" rating on the stock.