Geely Automobile Holdings (00175.HK) shares surged 5.63% during intraday trading on Friday, reaching a one-week high as investors responded positively to the company's robust earnings outlook for the first quarter of 2025.

The Chinese automaker expects its profit attributable for the three-month period ended March to be in the range of 5.2 billion to 5.8 billion yuan ($710.13-$792.07 million), representing a significant year-on-year increase of 220%-270%. This impressive growth is attributed to record-high sales volume and robust expansion in Geely's new energy vehicle business, which has become a key driver of the company's performance.

Analysts have taken note of Geely's strong performance, with UOB Kay Hian maintaining a "market weight" rating on the automobile sector and listing Geely among its top "BUY" recommendations. The stock's surge comes amid a broader market decline, with Geely outperforming the Hang Seng Index, which slipped 0.7%. Despite potential headwinds from global trade tensions, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese autos, Geely's stock has shown resilience, up 4.2% year-to-date, reflecting investor confidence in the company's growth trajectory and its position in the competitive electric vehicle market.