Press Release: Weibo Announces First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

Dow Jones
05-21

BEIJING, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Weibo Corporation ("Weibo" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: WB and HKEX: 9898), a leading social media in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

"We are pleased with our progresses made on the AI product front," said Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo. "On the user front, we remain committed to creating user value by focusing on the integration of Weibo's social features and upgrade of the recommendation system. In the first quarter, we further grew our user community and deepened user engagement. On the AI application front, we have made Weibo Intelligent Search, our AI-powered search function, available to all users. During the first quarter, both the user base and daily search queries of Weibo Intelligent Search achieved decent sequential growth. On the monetization front, we delivered solid performance of ad business, leveraging our strengths in content marketing and enhanced ad placement efficiency of our real-time-bidding information feed ad products. Benefiting from solid execution of disciplined spending strategy, our operating efficiency further improved, which laid foundation for us to invest for our product competitiveness, AI technology, as well as shareholder return."

First Quarter 2025 Highlights

   -- Net revenues were US$396.9 million, flat year-over-year or an increase of 
      1% year-over-year on a constant currency basis [1]. 
 
   -- Advertising and marketing revenues were US$339.1 million, flat 
      year-over-year or an increase of 1% year-over-year on a constant currency 
      basis [1]. 
 
   -- Value-added services ("VAS") revenues were US$57.7 million, an increase 
      of 2% year-over-year or 3% year-over-year on a constant currency basis 
      [1]. 
 
   -- Income from operations was US$110.3 million, representing an operating 
      margin of 28%. 
 
   -- Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders was US$107.0 million and 
      diluted net income per share was US$0.41. 
 
   -- Non-GAAP income from operations was US$129.5 million, representing a 
      non-GAAP operating margin of 33%. 
 
   -- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders was US$119.5 
      million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was US$0.45. 
 
   -- Monthly active users ("MAUs") were 591 million in March 2025. 
 
   -- Average daily active users ("DAUs") were 261 million in March 2025. 
 
([1]) We define constant currency (non-GAAP) by assuming that the average 
exchange rate in the first quarter of 2025 was the same as it was in the first 
quarter of 2024, or RMB7.15=US$1.00. 
 

First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2025, Weibo's total net revenues were US$396.9 million, relatively flat compared to US$395.5 million for the same period last year.

Advertising and marketing revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were US$339.1 million, relatively flat compared to US$339.0 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues excluding advertising revenues from Alibaba were US$296.5 million, a decrease of 6% compared to US$316.4 million for the same period last year. The decrease mainly resulted from less revenue contributions from the online gaming and handset manufacturing sectors on a year over year basis, primarily due to high base effect and difference of handset product launch schedule respectively. Advertising and marketing revenues from Alibaba were US$42.6 million, an increase of 89% compared to US$22.6 million, mainly attributable to its strong promotional demand related to Spring Festival Gala, as well as incremental ad spend in promoting its AI-related products.

VAS revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were US$57.7 million, an increase of 2% compared to US$56.5 million for the same period last year, primarily driven by the growth of membership services revenues.

Costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2025 totaled US$286.5 million, a decrease of 3% compared to US$295.8 million for the same period last year, primarily resulting from the decrease in sales and marketing expenses.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2025 was US$110.3 million, compared to US$99.7 million for the same period last year. Operating margin was 28%, compared to 25% last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was US$129.5 million, compared to US$125.8 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 33%, compared to 32% last year.

Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2025 was US$22.1 million, compared to non-operating loss of US$23.6 million for the same period last year. Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2025 mainly included (i) net interest and other income of US$13.7 million; and (ii) gain from fair value change of investments of US$8.1 million, which was excluded under non-GAAP measures.

Income tax expenses for the first quarter of 2025 were US$24.3 million, compared to US$25.0 million for the same period last year.

Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$107.0 million, compared to US$49.4 million for the same period last year. Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.41, compared to US$0.19 for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$119.5 million, compared to US$106.6 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders for the first quarter of 2025 was US$0.45, compared to US$0.41 for the same period last year.

As of March 31, 2025, Weibo's cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled US$2.08 billion, compared to US$2.35 billion as of December 31, 2024. The decrease of Weibo's cash, cash equivalent and short-term investments mainly resulted from the purchase of long-term wealth management products in the first quarter of 2025. For the first quarter of 2025, cash provided by operating activities was US$113.2 million, capital expenditures totaled US$9.4 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to US$13.6 million.

Conference Call

Weibo's management team will host a conference call from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM Eastern Time on May 21, 2025 (or 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Beijing Time on May 21, 2025) to present an overview of the Company's financial performance and business operations.

Participants who wish to dial in to the teleconference must register through the below public participant link. Dial-in and instructions will be provided in the confirmation email upon registering.

Participants Registration Link:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIbb5c504e4aeb43a380f69d373cfb8ca0

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at http://ir.weibo.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders, non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders and adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, measures of the Company's financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company's non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions, net results of impairment and provision on investments, gain/loss on sale of investments and fair value change of investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity method investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the income/loss attributable to non-controlling interests, income tax expense related to the amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and fair value change of investments (other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no tax effect), and amortization of issuance cost of convertible senior notes, unsecured senior notes and long-term loans. Adjusted EBITDA represents non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders before interest income/expense, net, income tax expenses/benefits, and depreciation expenses.

The Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in their financial and operating decision-making, because management believes these measures reflect the Company's ongoing operating performance in a manner that allows more meaningful period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in the following ways: (i) in comparing the Company's current financial results with the Company's past financial results in a consistent manner, and (ii) in understanding and evaluating the Company's current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gains/losses and other items (i) that are not expected to result in future cash payments or (ii) that are non-recurring in nature or may not be indicative of the Company's core operating results and business outlook.

Use of non-GAAP financial measures has limitations. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures do not include all income and expense items that affect the Company's operations. They may not be comparable to non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Accordingly, care should be exercised in understanding how the Company defines its non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures are set forth in the section below titled "Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Results."

About Weibo

Weibo is a leading social media for people to create, share and discover content online. Weibo combines the means of public self-expression in real time with a powerful platform for social interaction, content aggregation and content distribution. Any user can create and post a feed and attach multi-media and long-form content. User relationships on Weibo may be asymmetric; any user can follow any other user and add comments to a feed while reposting. This simple, asymmetric and distributed nature of Weibo allows an original feed to become a live viral conversation stream.

Weibo enables its advertising and marketing customers to promote their brands, products and services to users. Weibo offers a wide range of advertising and marketing solutions to companies of all sizes. Weibo generates a substantial majority of its revenues from the sale of advertising and marketing services, including the sale of social display advertisement and promoted marketing offerings. Weibo displays content in a simple information feed format and offers native advertisement that conform to the information feed on our platform. We are continuously refining our social interest graph recommendation engine, which enables our customers to perform people marketing and target audiences based on user demographics, social relationships, interests and behaviors, to achieve greater relevance, engagement and marketing effectiveness.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "confidence," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, Weibo's expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, as described, without limitation, in quotations from management in this press release, contain forward-looking statements. Weibo may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. 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. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, Weibo's limited operating history in certain new businesses; failure to sustain or grow active user base and the level of user engagement; the uncertain regulatory landscape in China; fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results; the Company's reliance on advertising and marketing sales for a majority of its revenues; failure to successfully develop, introduce, drive adoption of or monetize new features and products; failure to compete effectively for advertising and marketing spending; failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses; risks associated with the Company's investments, including equity pick-up and impairment; failure to compete successfully against new entrants and established industry competitors; changes in the macro-economic environment, including the depreciation of the Renminbi; and adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government and its impact on the Chinese economy. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Weibo's annual reports on Form 20-F and other filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date hereof, and Weibo assumes no obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Weibo Corporation

Phone: +86 10 5898-3336

Email: ir@staff.weibo.com

 
                            WEIBO CORPORATION 
        UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
          (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data) 
 
 
                                             Three months ended 
                                  ---------------------------------------- 
                                       March 31,            March 31, 
                                         2024                 2025 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
Net revenues: 
    Advertising and marketing         $       338,951      $       339,106 
    Value-added services                       56,546               57,749 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
 Net revenues                                 395,497              396,855 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Costs and expenses: 
    Cost of revenues (1)                       86,821               88,802 
    Sales and marketing (1)                   103,627               95,810 
    Product development (1)                    80,726               76,021 
    General and administrative 
     (1)                                       24,586               25,912 
 Total costs and expenses                     295,760              286,545 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
Income from operations                         99,737              110,310 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Non-operating income (loss): 
    Investment related income 
     (loss), net                              (4,970)                8,357 
    Interest and other income 
     (loss), net                             (18,611)               13,746 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
                                             (23,581)               22,103 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Income before income tax 
 expenses                                      76,156              132,413 
    Less: Income tax expenses                  25,044               24,291 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
 
Net income                                     51,112              108,122 
    Less: Net income 
     attributable to 
     non-controlling interests                    548                  334 
              Accretion to 
               redeemable 
               non-controlling 
               interests                        1,126                  824 
                                  -------------------  ------------------- 
Net income attributable to 
 Weibo's shareholders                $         49,438      $       106,964 
                                  ===================  =================== 
 
 
Basic net income per share 
 attributable to Weibo's 
 shareholders                     $              0.21  $              0.45 
Diluted net income per share 
 attributable to Weibo's 
 shareholders                     $              0.19  $              0.41 
 
Shares used in computing basic 
net income per share 
attributable 
   to Weibo's shareholders                    236,694              238,284 
Shares used in computing diluted 
net income per share 
attributable 
   to Weibo's shareholders                    263,644              266,494 
 
(1) Stock-based compensation in 
each category: 
 Cost of revenues                   $           1,773   $            1,239 
 Sales and marketing                            3,823                2,929 
 Product development                           10,438                6,840 
 General and administrative                     4,978                4,039 
 
 
                         WEIBO CORPORATION 
          UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
                   (In thousands of U.S. dollars) 
 
                                               As of 
                                ------------------------------------ 
                                  December 31,         March 31, 
                                      2024               2025 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
 
                               Assets 
 Current assets: 
   Cash and cash equivalents     $      1,890,632   $      1,205,765 
   Short-term investments                 459,852            878,054 
   Accounts receivable, net               339,754            357,201 
   Prepaid expenses and other 
    current assets                        348,774            341,241 
   Amount due from SINA(1)                452,769            452,988 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
        Current assets 
         subtotal                       3,491,781          3,235,249 
 
 Property and equipment, net              215,034            226,867 
 Goodwill and intangible 
  assets, net                             272,004            269,088 
 Long-term investments                  1,389,199          1,408,323 
 Other non-current assets               1,136,481          1,519,352 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
 Total assets                    $      6,504,499   $      6,658,879 
                                =================  ================= 
 
Liabilities, Redeemable Non-controlling Interests and Shareholders' 
                               Equity 
 Liabilities: 
  Current liabilities: 
   Accounts payable             $         158,435  $         164,823 
   Accrued expenses and other 
    current liabilities                   652,369            649,888 
   Income tax payable                      84,690             89,589 
   Deferred revenues                       72,642             86,537 
   Dividends payable                            -            200,643 
       Current liabilities 
        subtotal                          968,136          1,191,480 
 
  Long-term liabilities: 
   Convertible senior notes               320,803            321,588 
   Unsecured senior notes                 744,662            744,904 
   Long-term loans                        795,311            796,228 
   Other long-term liabilities             96,701             96,461 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
       Total liabilities                2,925,613          3,150,661 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
 
 Redeemable non-controlling 
  interests                                45,103             24,523 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
 
 Shareholders' equity : 
  Weibo shareholders' equity            3,482,771          3,432,055 
  Non-controlling interests                51,012             51,640 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
   Total shareholders' equity           3,533,783          3,483,695 
                                -----------------  ----------------- 
 Total liabilities, redeemable 
  non-controlling interests 
  and    shareholders' equity    $      6,504,499   $      6,658,879 
                                =================  ================= 
 
 
 (1) Included short-term loans to and interest receivable from SINA 
  of US$417.7 million as of December 31, 2024 and US$413.5 million 
  as of March 31, 2025. 
 
 
 
                      WEIBO CORPORATION 
    UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS 
    (In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data) 
 
                                        Three months ended 
                                      ----------------------- 
                                       March 31,    March 31, 
                                         2024         2025 
                                      -----------   --------- 
 
Income from operations                 $   99,737   $ 110,310 
                 Stock-based 
Add:              compensation             21,012      15,047 
 Amortization of 
  intangible assets 
  resulting from 
  business 
  acquisitions                              5,059       4,122 
Non-GAAP income from operations        $  125,808   $ 129,479 
                                          =======    ======== 
 
Net income attributable to Weibo's 
 shareholders                          $   49,438   $ 106,964 
                 Stock-based 
Add:              compensation             21,012      15,047 
 Amortization of 
  intangible assets 
  resulting from 
  business 
   acquisitions                             5,059       4,122 
 Investment related 
  gain/loss, net 
  (1)                                       4,970     (8,357) 
 Non-GAAP to GAAP 
  reconciling items 
  on the share of 
  equity  method 
  investments                              25,358       1,039 
 Non-GAAP to GAAP 
  reconciling items 
  for the 
  income/loss 
   attributable to 
  non-controlling 
  interests                                 (436)       (492) 
 Tax effects on 
  non-GAAP 
  adjustments (2)                         (1,103)       (734) 
 Amortization 
  of issuance cost 
  of convertible 
  senior notes, 
  unsecured  senior 
  notes and 
  long-term loans                           2,314       1,943 
Non-GAAP net income attributable to 
 Weibo's shareholders                  $  106,612   $ 119,532 
                                          =======    ======== 
 
Non-GAAP diluted net income per 
 share attributable to Weibo's 
  shareholders                         $     0.41  *$    0.45  * 
 
Shares used in computing GAAP 
 diluted net income per share 
 attributable  to Weibo's 
 shareholders                             263,644     266,494 
Shares used in computing non-GAAP 
 diluted net income per share 
  attributable to Weibo's shareholders    263,644     266,494 
 
Adjusted EBITDA: 
   Net income attributable to 
    Weibo's shareholders               $   49,438   $ 106,964 
   Non-GAAP adjustments                    57,174      12,568 
                                          -------    -------- 
   Non-GAAP net income attributable 
    to Weibo's shareholders               106,612     119,532 
 Interest income, 
  net                                     (9,151)    (13,986) 
 Income tax 
  expenses                                 26,147      25,025 
 Depreciation 
  expenses                                  9,417       9,149 
Adjusted EBITDA                        $  133,025   $ 139,720 
                                          =======    ======== 
 
Net revenues                           $  395,497   $ 396,855 
 
Non-GAAP operating margin                    32 %        33 % 
 
            (1)  To adjust impairment and 
                  provision on investments, 
                  gain/loss on sale of 
                  investments and fair value 
                  change of investments. 
 
            (2)  To adjust the income tax effects of non-GAAP 
                  adjustments, which primarily related to 
                  amortization of intangible assets resulting 
                  from business acquisitions and fair value 
                  change of investments. Other non-GAAP 
                  adjustment items have no tax effect, 
                  because (i) they were recorded in entities 
                  established in tax free jurisdictions, or 
                  (ii) full valuation allowances were 
                  provided for related deferred tax assets as 
                  it is more-likely-than-not they will not be 
                  realized. 
 
       *         Net income attributable to Weibo's 
                  shareholders is adjusted for interest 
                  expense of convertible senior notes for 
                  calculating diluted EPS. 
 
 
 
                      WEIBO CORPORATION 
               UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
                (In thousands of U.S. dollars) 
 
                                     Three months ended 
                              -------------------------------- 
                                 March 31,        March 31, 
                                   2024             2025 
                              ---------------  --------------- 
 
Net revenues 
 Advertising and marketing 
     Non-Ali advertisers      $       316,400  $       296,494 
     Alibaba                           22,551           42,612 
                              ---------------  --------------- 
         Subtotal                     338,951          339,106 
 
 Value-added services                  56,546           57,749 
                              ---------------  --------------- 
                              $       395,497  $       396,855 
                              ===============  =============== 
 
 

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 21, 2025 05:00 ET (09:00 GMT)

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