After Changxin, Yushu Takes the Lead: The Value and Weight of the First Humanoid Robot Stock
On August 19, 2026, Unitree Robotics (688836.SH), known as China's "first humanoid robotics stock," officially listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's STAR Market. The stock opened at 1,100 yuan, a surge of 629.44% from its 150.80 yuan IPO price, with its market capitalization briefly reaching 445 billion yuan. This highlights intense market enthusiasm for the humanoid robot sector.
The IPO was characterized by high demand and low circulation, with only 7.44% of shares initially tradable. This scarcity, coupled with strong investor interest (record-high participation and a low 0.0181% lottery win rate), contributed to the dramatic price surge. Founder Wang Xingxing, holding over 31% of shares, saw his wealth exceed 110 billion yuan, making him China's wealthiest "post-90s" entrepreneur. Major institutional backers like Meituan, DeepSeek, Tencent, and Sequoia China also reaped substantial gains.
Key to the valuation is Unitree's status as a profitable company in a field where many competitors are not. In 2025, it achieved 600 million yuan in adjusted net profit and delivered over 5,500 humanoid robots, ranking first globally in shipments. However, over 70% of its humanoid revenue still comes from R&D and education, with industrial applications accounting for only about 9%, indicating early-stage commercialization.
The company faces competition from global players like Figure AI (est. $39-40B valuation), Boston Dynamics, and Tesla's Optimus, as well as domestic rivals like Zhiyuan and Ubtech. To become the "global humanoid robotics leader," its market cap would need to exceed 500 billion yuan.
Market opinions on its future are divided: optimists cite its profitability, leading shipments, and strategic tie-up with DeepSeek; the cautious point to high valuations and unproven mass-market adoption; a neutral view expects a post-surge consolidation into an "earnings verification phase."
Risks include high valuation digestion pressure, slower-than-expected commercialization in industrial/household settings, potential US FCC regulatory impacts on new models, intense competition, rapid technological iteration, and short-term stock volatility. The IPO marks a significant milestone, but Unitree's path to becoming a global leader remains challenging.
Odaily星球日报18m ago