BEIJING, June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhihu Inc. ("Zhihu"
or the "Company") (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390), a leading online content
community in China, today
announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended
March 31, 2024.
First Quarter 2024 Highlights
- Total revenues were RMB960.9
million (US$133.1 million) in
the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB994.2 million in the same period of 2023.
- Gross margin expanded to 56.6% in the first quarter of
2024 from 51.5% in the same period of 2023.
- Net loss was RMB165.8
million (US$23.0 million) in
the first quarter of 2024, narrowed by 7.4% from the same period of
2023.
- Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP)[1] was
RMB135.7 million (US$18.8 million) in the first quarter of 2024,
compared with RMB120.2 million in the
same period of 2023.
- Average monthly active users (MAUs)[2] were
89.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.
- Average monthly subscribing
members[3] were 14.8 million in the first
quarter of 2024.
"We are delighted to start 2024 with a solid financial and
operating performance," said Mr. Yuan Zhou, chairman and chief
executive officer of Zhihu. "We made substantial strides
toward our break-even target by enhancing operating efficiency and
accelerating loss reduction. Furthermore, our efforts to enhance
'trustworthiness' within the Zhihu community continued to drive
community prosperity, resulting in significant increases in core
users' engagement and retention rates, as well as our
DAU time spent. We believe that our AI search
feature's emerging potential and the value we continue to unlock
across the trustworthy Zhihu community will provide fresh momentum
for our sustainable growth and a clear path to profitability for
the remaining quarters of the year."
Mr. Han Wang, chief financial
officer of Zhihu, added, "We optimized our cost structure and
enhanced monetization efficiency during the quarter. Our gross
profit margin has improved year-over-year for six consecutive
quarters. In terms of operating expenses, we significantly reduced
community-related new user acquisition costs and maintained a high
ROI across our multiple business lines, while investing prudently
in AI. We are confident that with continued strong strategic
execution, we will remain on track to achieve our profitability
goals."
First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Total revenues were RMB960.9
million (US$133.1 million) in
the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB994.2 million in the same period of 2023.
Marketing services revenue was RMB330.5 million (US$45.8
million), compared with RMB392.1
million in the same period of 2023. The decrease was
primarily due to our ongoing refinement of service offerings to
strategically focus on margin improvement.
Paid membership revenue was RMB449.7 million (US$62.3
million), compared with RMB454.8
million in the same period of 2023. The slight decrease was
primarily attributable to a slight decline in our average monthly
subscribing members.
Vocational training revenue was RMB145.4 million (US$20.1
million), representing a 35.9% increase from RMB107.0 million in the first quarter of 2023.
The increase was primarily due to our further enriched online
course offerings.
Other revenues were RMB35.2
million (US$4.9 million),
compared with RMB40.3 million in the
same period of 2023.
Cost of revenues decreased by 13.4% to RMB417.4 million (US$57.8
million) from RMB482.0 million
in the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a
decrease in content and operating costs in connection with the
decline in our revenues.
Gross profit was RMB543.5
million (US$75.3 million),
representing a 6.1% increase from RMB512.2
million in the same period of 2023. Gross margin
expanded to 56.6% from 51.5% in the same period of 2023, primarily
attributable to our monetization enhancements.
Total operating expenses were RMB768.2 million (US$106.4
million) in the first quarter of 2024, compared with
RMB729.0 million in the same period
of 2023.
Selling and marketing expenses increased to RMB478.0 million (US$66.2
million) from RMB445.6 million
in the same period of 2023. The increase reflects our continued
efforts in promoting our product and service offerings.
Research and development expenses increased to
RMB197.4 million (US$27.3 million) from RMB183.0 million in the same period of 2023. The
increase was primarily due to our increased spending on technology
innovation.
General and administrative expenses decreased to
RMB92.9 million (US$12.9 million) from RMB100.4 million in the same period of 2023. The
decrease was primarily due to lower share-based compensation
expenses.
Loss from operations was RMB224.7
million (US$31.1 million) in
the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB216.7 million in the same period of 2023.
Adjusted loss from operations (non-GAAP)[1]
was RMB193.6 million (US$26.8 million) in the first quarter of 2024,
compared with RMB157.3 million in the
same period of 2023.
Net loss was RMB165.8
million (US$23.0 million) in
the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB179.0 million in the same period of 2023.
Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP)[1] was
RMB135.7 million (US$18.8 million) in the first quarter of 2024,
compared with RMB120.2 million in the
same period of 2023.
Diluted net loss per American depositary share
("ADS")[4] was RMB1.76
(US$0.24), compared with RMB1.78 in the same period of 2023.
Cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term
investments
As of March 31, 2024, the Company
had cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term
investments of RMB5,216.9 million
(US$722.5 million), compared with
RMB5,462.9 million as of December 31, 2023.
Share Repurchase Programs
As of March 31, 2024, the Company
had repurchased 31.1 million Class A ordinary shares (including
Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs) for a total price of
US$66.5 million on both the New York
Stock Exchange and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under
the Company's existing US$100 million
share repurchase program (the "2022 Repurchase Program")
established in May 2022, extended in
May 2023, and effective until
June 10, 2024. The repurchases made
under the 2022 Repurchase Program were covered by the general
unconditional mandate to purchase the Company's own shares approved
by shareholders at the Company's annual general meetings held on
June 10, 2022 and June 30, 2023, respectively.
The board of directors of the Company has approved an extension
of the 2022 Repurchase Program until June
26, 2025, which is subject to shareholder approval for
granting a general mandate to the board of directors to repurchase
shares and/or ADSs of the Company not exceeding 10% of the total
number of issued shares of the Company (excluding any treasury
shares) as of the date of such approval (the "2024 Repurchase
Mandate") at the forthcoming annual general meeting of the Company
to be held on June 26, 2024 (the
"2024 Shareholder Approval").
The board of directors of the Company further announces that, in
addition to the extended 2022 Repurchase Program, it proposes to
conduct a concurrent share repurchase program effective until
June 26, 2025 (the "2024 Repurchase
Program"). The maximum number of shares (including shares
underlying the ADSs) that can be repurchased under the 2024
Repurchase Program, together with the remaining number of shares
(including shares underlying the ADSs) that can be repurchased
under the 2022 Repurchase Program, will not exceed the 2024
Repurchase Mandate, subject to the 2024 Shareholder Approval. The
Company's proposed repurchases, if approved, may be made from time
to time in the open market at prevailing market prices or through
other legally permissible means, depending on market conditions and
in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The Company
plans to fund any such repurchases from its existing cash
balance.
[1]
Adjusted loss from operations and adjusted net loss are non-GAAP
financial measures. For more information on the non-GAAP financial
measures, please see the section "Use of Non-GAAP Financial
Measures" and the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of
GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press
release.
|
[2]
MAUs refers to the sum of the number of mobile devices that launch
our mobile apps at least once in a given month, or mobile MAUs, and
the number of logged-in users who visit our PC or mobile website at
least once in a given month, after eliminating duplicates.
|
[3]
Monthly subscribing members refers to the number of our Yan
Selection members in a specified month. Average monthly subscribing
members for a period is calculated by dividing the sum of monthly
subscribing members for each month during the specified period by
the number of months in such period.
|
[4]
On May 10, 2024, we effected a change in the ratio of our ADSs to
Class A ordinary shares from two ADSs representing one Class A
ordinary share to a new ratio of one ADS representing three Class A
ordinary shares. Basic and diluted net loss per ADS have been
retrospectively adjusted to reflect this ADS ratio change for all
periods presented.
|
Conference Call
The Company's management will host an earnings conference call
at 7:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on
June 12, 2024 (7:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong
Kong time on June 12,
2024).
All participants wishing to join the conference call must
pre-register online using the link provided below. Once the
pre-registration has been completed, each participant will receive
a set of dial-in numbers, a passcode, and a unique registrant ID
which can be used to join the conference call. Participants may
pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start
time.
Participant Online Registration:
https://dpregister.com/sreg/10189533/fc960a34f7
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call
will be available on the Company's investor relations website
at https://ir.zhihu.com.
A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately
one hour after the conclusion of the live call, until June 19, 2024, by dialing the following telephone
numbers:
United States (toll
free):
|
+1-877-344-7529
|
International:
|
+1-412-317-0088
|
Replay Access
Code:
|
6946527
|
About Zhihu Inc.
Zhihu Inc. (NYSE: ZH; HKEX: 2390) is a leading online content
community in China where people
come to find solutions, make decisions, seek inspiration, and have
fun. Since the initial launch in 2010, we have grown from a Q&A
community into one of the top comprehensive online content
communities and the largest Q&A-inspired online content
community in China. For more
information, please visit https://ir.zhihu.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses
non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted loss from operations
and adjusted net loss, to supplement the review and assessment of
its operating performance. The Company defines non-GAAP financial
measures by excluding the impact of share-based compensation
expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business
acquisitions and the tax effects of the non-GAAP adjustments, which
are non-cash expenses. The Company believes that the non-GAAP
financial measures facilitate comparisons of operating performance
from period to period and company to company by adjusting for
potential impacts of items, which the Company's management
considers to be indicative of its operating performance. The
Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide
useful information to investors and others in understanding and
evaluating the Company's consolidated results of operations in the
same manner as it helps the Company's management.
The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP
and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The
presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures may not be
comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other
companies. The use of the non-GAAP financial measures has
limitations as an analytical tool, and investors should not
consider it in isolation from, or as a substitute for analysis of,
our results of operations or financial condition as reported under
U.S. GAAP. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures,
please see the tables captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP
and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press
release.
Exchange Rate Information
This announcement contains translations of certain Renminbi
amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the
convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all
translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at a rate of
RMB7.2203 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of
March 29, 2024 as set forth in the
H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that
are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's
beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results
to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be
identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect,"
"anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan,"
"believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to," or other
similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other
risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's
filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All
information provided in this press release is as of the date of
this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to
update such information, except as required under applicable
law.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Zhihu Inc.
Email: ir@zhihu.com
Piacente Financial Communications
Helen Wu
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
In the United States:
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Phone: +1-212-481-2050
Email: zhihu@tpg-ir.com
ZHIHU
INC.
|
UNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
(All amounts in
thousands, except share, ADS, per share data and per ADS
data)
|
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended
|
|
March
31,
2023
|
|
December
31,
2023
|
|
March
31,
2024
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
US$
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketing
services
|
|
392,137
|
|
465,153
|
|
330,542
|
|
45,780
|
Paid
membership
|
|
454,769
|
|
455,906
|
|
449,724
|
|
62,286
|
Vocational
training
|
|
106,998
|
|
169,272
|
|
145,436
|
|
20,143
|
Others
|
|
40,316
|
|
47,966
|
|
35,161
|
|
4,870
|
Total
revenues
|
|
994,220
|
|
1,138,297
|
|
960,863
|
|
133,079
|
Cost of
revenues
|
|
(482,001)
|
|
(465,197)
|
|
(417,384)
|
|
(57,807)
|
Gross
profit
|
|
512,219
|
|
673,100
|
|
543,479
|
|
75,272
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and marketing
expenses
|
|
(445,565)
|
|
(527,604)
|
|
(477,954)
|
|
(66,196)
|
Research and
development expenses
|
|
(182,960)
|
|
(232,585)
|
|
(197,356)
|
|
(27,333)
|
General and
administrative expenses
|
|
(100,438)
|
|
(91,069)
|
|
(92,917)
|
|
(12,869)
|
Total operating
expenses
|
|
(728,963)
|
|
(851,258)
|
|
(768,227)
|
|
(106,398)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from
operations
|
|
(216,744)
|
|
(178,158)
|
|
(224,748)
|
|
(31,126)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income/(expenses):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment
income
|
|
6,006
|
|
12,279
|
|
16,902
|
|
2,341
|
Interest
income
|
|
39,493
|
|
38,828
|
|
30,763
|
|
4,261
|
Fair value change of
financial instruments
|
|
(3,582)
|
|
14,780
|
|
9,408
|
|
1,303
|
Exchange
(losses)/gains
|
|
(5,649)
|
|
(937)
|
|
120
|
|
17
|
Others, net
|
|
6,333
|
|
15,032
|
|
3,043
|
|
421
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income
tax
|
|
(174,143)
|
|
(98,176)
|
|
(164,512)
|
|
(22,783)
|
Income tax
expense
|
|
(4,829)
|
|
(4,929)
|
|
(1,284)
|
|
(178)
|
Net
loss
|
|
(178,972)
|
|
(103,105)
|
|
(165,796)
|
|
(22,961)
|
Net (income)/loss
attributable to
noncontrolling interests
|
|
(2,383)
|
|
(666)
|
|
950
|
|
132
|
Net loss
attributable to Zhihu Inc.'s
shareholders
|
|
(181,355)
|
|
(103,771)
|
|
(164,846)
|
|
(22,829)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per
share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
(0.59)
|
|
(0.36)
|
|
(0.59)
|
|
(0.08)
|
Diluted
|
|
(0.59)
|
|
(0.36)
|
|
(0.59)
|
|
(0.08)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per ADS
(One ADS represents
three Class A ordinary shares)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
(1.78)
|
|
(1.07)
|
|
(1.76)
|
|
(0.24)
|
Diluted
|
|
(1.78)
|
|
(1.07)
|
|
(1.76)
|
|
(0.24)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average
number of ordinary
shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
305,245,036
|
|
291,056,615
|
|
281,549,707
|
|
281,549,707
|
Diluted
|
|
305,245,036
|
|
291,056,615
|
|
281,549,707
|
|
281,549,707
|
ZHIHU
INC.
|
UNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
|
(All amounts in
thousands, except share, ADS, per share data and per ADS
data)
|
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended
|
|
March
31,
2023
|
|
December
31,
2023
|
|
March
31,
2024
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
US$
|
Share-based
compensation expenses included in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of
revenues
|
|
4,400
|
|
1,575
|
|
2,497
|
|
346
|
Selling and marketing
expenses
|
|
8,758
|
|
(7,001)
|
|
3,272
|
|
453
|
Research and
development expenses
|
|
21,205
|
|
(57)
|
|
3,680
|
|
510
|
General and
administrative expenses
|
|
21,555
|
|
12,983
|
|
16,363
|
|
2,266
|
ZHIHU
INC.
|
UNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
(All amounts in
thousands)
|
|
|
As of December
31,
2023
|
|
As of March
31,
2024
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
US$
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
2,106,639
|
|
2,194,419
|
|
303,923
|
Term
deposits
|
|
1,586,469
|
|
1,553,663
|
|
215,180
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
1,769,822
|
|
1,468,801
|
|
203,427
|
Trade
receivables
|
|
664,615
|
|
638,226
|
|
88,393
|
Amounts due from
related parties
|
|
18,319
|
|
31,277
|
|
4,332
|
Prepayments and other
current assets
|
|
232,016
|
|
239,814
|
|
33,214
|
Total current
assets
|
|
6,377,880
|
|
6,126,200
|
|
848,469
|
Non-current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and
equipment, net
|
|
10,849
|
|
10,794
|
|
1,495
|
Intangible assets,
net
|
|
122,645
|
|
117,113
|
|
16,220
|
Goodwill
|
|
191,077
|
|
191,077
|
|
26,464
|
Long-term
investments
|
|
44,621
|
|
51,176
|
|
7,088
|
Right-of-use assets
|
|
40,211
|
|
31,141
|
|
4,313
|
Other non-current
assets
|
|
7,989
|
|
7,875
|
|
1,090
|
Total non-current
assets
|
|
417,392
|
|
409,176
|
|
56,670
|
Total
assets
|
|
6,795,272
|
|
6,535,376
|
|
905,139
|
LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities
|
|
1,038,531
|
|
1,023,973
|
|
141,819
|
Salary and welfare
payables
|
|
342,125
|
|
332,077
|
|
45,992
|
Taxes
payables
|
|
21,394
|
|
16,328
|
|
2,261
|
Contract
liabilities
|
|
303,574
|
|
310,307
|
|
42,977
|
Amounts due to related
parties
|
|
26,032
|
|
9,491
|
|
1,314
|
Short term lease
liabilities
|
|
42,089
|
|
33,729
|
|
4,672
|
Other current
liabilities
|
|
171,743
|
|
165,873
|
|
22,973
|
Total current
liabilities
|
|
1,945,488
|
|
1,891,778
|
|
262,008
|
Non-current
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long term lease
liabilities
|
|
3,642
|
|
2,861
|
|
396
|
Deferred tax
liabilities
|
|
22,574
|
|
21,505
|
|
2,979
|
Other
non-current liabilities
|
|
121,958
|
|
111,664
|
|
15,465
|
Total non-current
liabilities
|
|
148,174
|
|
136,030
|
|
18,840
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
2,093,662
|
|
2,027,808
|
|
280,848
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Zhihu Inc.'s
shareholders' equity
|
|
4,599,810
|
|
4,393,324
|
|
608,468
|
Noncontrolling
interests
|
|
101,800
|
|
114,244
|
|
15,823
|
Total shareholders'
equity
|
|
4,701,610
|
|
4,507,568
|
|
624,291
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
and shareholders' equity
|
|
6,795,272
|
|
6,535,376
|
|
905,139
|
ZHIHU
INC.
|
UNAUDITED
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
|
(All amounts in
thousands)
|
|
|
For the Three Months
Ended
|
|
March
31,
2023
|
|
December
31,
2023
|
|
March
31,
2024
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
RMB
|
|
US$
|
Loss from
operations
|
|
(216,744)
|
|
(178,158)
|
|
(224,748)
|
|
(31,126)
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based
compensation expenses
|
|
55,918
|
|
7,500
|
|
25,812
|
|
3,575
|
Amortization of
intangible assets resulting
from business acquisitions
|
|
3,490
|
|
5,365
|
|
5,365
|
|
743
|
Adjusted loss from
operations
|
|
(157,336)
|
|
(165,293)
|
|
(193,571)
|
|
(26,808)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
(178,972)
|
|
(103,105)
|
|
(165,796)
|
|
(22,961)
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based
compensation expenses
|
|
55,918
|
|
7,500
|
|
25,812
|
|
3,575
|
Amortization of
intangible assets resulting
from business acquisitions
|
|
3,490
|
|
5,365
|
|
5,365
|
|
743
|
Tax effects on
non-GAAP adjustments
|
|
(600)
|
|
(1,069)
|
|
(1,069)
|
|
(148)
|
Adjusted net
loss
|
|
(120,164)
|
|
(91,309)
|
|
(135,688)
|
|
(18,791)
|
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zhihu-inc-reports-unaudited-first-quarter-2024-financial-results-302170647.html
SOURCE Zhihu Inc.