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Weibo Reports First Quarter 2018 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, May 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Weibo Corporation ("Weibo" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: WB), a leading social media in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

"We continue to see great momentum in our business with advertising and marketing revenue growing 79% year over year in the first quarter. With ad budget shifting toward mobile, social and video, we are seeing our revenues benefiting from this secular trend." said Gaofei Wang, Weibo's CEO. "Our focus to grow users scale, deepen the collaboration with top IP content providers, media, celebrities and KOLs on content, strengthen platform effect and social impact will further help attracting more advertisers to increase their ad spending on Weibo."

Adoption of New Revenue Guidance

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted new revenue guidance ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under Topic 606 ('New Basis'), while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's historic accounting method under Topic 605 ('Old Basis'). The New Basis requires the presentation of value added tax ('VAT') recognized in revenues from "gross" to "net", which results in equal decrease in revenues and cost of revenues, and recognition of revenues and expenses at fair value for advertising barter transactions ('Barter Transaction').

The Company recorded a net reduction to opening retained earnings of $0.6 million resulting from Barter Transactions as of January 1, 2018 due to the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606.

Adoption of the standards related to revenue recognition impacted the current period reported results as follows:

 


Three months ended


March 31, 2018




Adjustments




Old Basis
ASC 6051


VAT


Barter
Transaction


New Basis
ASC6062


($ In thousands, except for percentage)









Net revenues

360,047


(19,894)


9,730


349,883









Cost of revenues

82,796


(19,894)


-


62,902

Operating expenses








-Sales and
marketing expenses

93,161


-


12,702


105,863

Income from
operations

112,351


-


(2,972)


109,379

Operating margin

31.2%






31.3%

 

Note 1. This financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is presented under ASC
Topic 605.

Note 2. This financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is presented under ASC
Topic 606.

 

First Quarter 2018 Highlights

  • Net revenues totaled $349.9 million, an increase of 76% year-over-year, exceeding the Company's guidance between $335 million and $345 million.
  • Advertising and marketing revenues were $302.9 million, an increase of 79% year-over-year.
  • Value-added service ("VAS") revenues were $46.9 million, an increase of 57% year-over-year.
  • Net income attributable to Weibo was $99.1 million, an increase of 111% year-over-year, and diluted net income per share was $0.44, compared to $0.21 for the same period last year.
  • Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo was $112.6 million, an increase of 95% year-over-year, and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.50, compared to $0.26 for the same period last year.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $124.6 million, an increase of 77% year-over-year, or 36% of net revenues, compared to 35% for the same period last year.
  • Monthly active users ("MAUs") had a net addition of approximately 70 million users year over year and reached 411 million in March 2018. Mobile MAUs represented 93% of MAUs.
  • Average daily active users ("DAUs") had a net addition of approximately 30 million users year over year and reached 184 million in March 2018.

 

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

For the first quarter of 2018, Weibo reported net revenues of $349.9 million, compared to $199.2 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues totaled $302.9 million, compared to $169.3 million for the same period last year, and advertising and marketing revenues from small & medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") and key accounts were $276.6 million, compared to $161.5 million for the same period last year, or an increase of 71% year-over-year. VAS revenues totaled $46.9 million, compared to $29.9 million for the same period last year.

Costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2018 totaled $240.5 million, compared to $143.4 million for the same period last year. Other than the inclusion of marketing expense related to advertising barter transactions under ASC Topic 606 as illustrated above, the increase in costs and expenses was primarily attributable to more marketing expenses incurred for channels, marketing campaigns and development expenditures incurred in relations to the personnel-related cost. Non-GAAP costs and expenses were $229.3 million, compared to $132.5 million for the same period last year.

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2018 was $109.4 million, compared to $55.9 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $120.6 million, compared to $66.7 million for the same period last year.

Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2018 was $7.6 million, compared to a non-operating income of $2.1 million for the same period last year. Income tax expenses were $18.3 million, compared to $11.3 million for the same period last year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher profitability with a relatively stable tax rates in the Company's PRC operation.

Net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2018 was $99.1 million, or diluted net income per share of $0.44, compared to $46.9 million for the same period last year, or diluted net income per share of $0.21. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2018 was $112.6 million, or diluted net income per share of $0.50, compared to $57.8 million for the same period last year, or diluted net income per share of $0.26.

As of March 31, 2018, Weibo's cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.92 billion. For the first quarter of 2018, cash provided by operating activities was $84.8 million, capital expenditures totaled $4.3 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $4.7 million.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2018, Weibo estimates its net revenues to be between $420 million and $430 million, which assumes an average exchange rate of RMB 6.35 to US$1.00. This forecast reflects Weibo's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.                  

Conference Call

Weibo's management team will host a conference call from 7 AM - 8 AM Eastern Time on May 9, 2018 (or 7 PM - 8 PM Beijing Time on May 9, 2018) to present an overview of the Company's financial performance and business operations. A live webcast of the call will be available through the Company's corporate website at http://ir.weibo.com. The conference call can be accessed as follows:

 

US Toll Free:

+1 866-519-4004

Hong Kong Toll Free:

800-906-601

China Toll Free:

400-620-8038

International:

+65 6713-5090

Passcode for all regions:

6599995

 

A replay of the conference call will be available from 10:00 AM Eastern Time on May 9, 2018 - 9:59 AM Eastern time on May 17, 2018. The dial-in number is +61 2-8199-0299. The passcode for the replay is 6599995.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP costs and expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo, non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo 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, net results of impairment on, gain on sale of and fair value change of investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the loss attributable to non-controlling interests, provision for income tax related to the amortization of intangible assets (other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no tax effect), and amortization of convertible debt issuance cost. Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest income, net, income tax expenses, 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, if they so choose. 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. It 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. The Company 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 has developed and is continuously refining its social interest graph recommendation engine, which enables its 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 that relate to, among other things, Weibo's expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans (as described, without limitation, in the "Business Outlook" section and in quotations from management in this press release. Weibo may also make forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), 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. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "confidence," "estimates" and similar 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 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 report on Form 20-Fs and other filings with the SEC. 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 5898-3017
Email: ir@staff.weibo.com

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)






















Three months ended





March 31,


December 31,





2018


2017


2017











Net revenues (1):








     Advertising and marketing


$        302,949


$        169,297


$        332,305


     Value-added service


46,934


29,904


45,140


             Net revenues



349,883


199,201


377,445











Costs and expenses:








     Cost of revenues (1)(2)


62,902


46,450


72,005


     Sales and marketing (1)(2)


105,863


47,163


92,665


     Product development(2)


60,523


39,191


57,904


     General and administrative(2)


11,216


10,546


9,592


Total costs and expenses



240,504


143,350


232,166


Income from operations


109,379


55,851


145,279











Non-operating income:

















    Impairment on, gain on sale of and
        fair value change of investments, net (3)


(1,499)


(122)


(2,683)


    Interest and other income , net


9,128


2,222


4,363





7,629


2,100


1,680











Income before income tax expenses


117,008


57,951


146,959


     Income tax expenses


(18,297)


(11,316)


(17,045)


Net income


98,711


46,635


129,914











    Less: Net loss attributable to
    noncontrolling interests

(374)


(296)


(1,068)











Net income attributable to Weibo

$           99,085


$           46,931


$        130,982




















Basic net income per share attributable to Weibo

$               0.44


$               0.21


$               0.59


Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

$               0.44


$               0.21


$               0.58











Shares used in computing basic








   net income per share attributable to Weibo

222,902


218,296


222,189


Shares used in computing diluted








   net income per share attributable to Weibo

225,971


224,632


230,465




















(1)  On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" using the modified
retrospective method, which means amounts for 2018 are reported on the new basis while prior periods amount will be
reported on a historical basis. Under the new accounting standard, the main impact to the Company is that it now
reports the revenue net of value added tax and recognizes revenues and expenses at fair value for the advertising
barter transaction.













(2) Stock-based compensation in each category:








             Cost of revenues



$               1,011


$                  695


$               1,067


             Sales and marketing



1,968


1,604


2,216


             Product development



5,051


4,994


5,248


             General and administrative



2,984


3,400


3,504











(3)  The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 "Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments" beginning the
first quarter of fiscal year 2018. After the adoption of this new accounting update, the Company will measure long-term
investments other than equity method investments at fair value through earnings. For those investments without
readily determinable fair values, the Company will elect to record these investments at cost, less impairment, and plus
or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes. Changes in the basis of these investments will be
reported in current earnings.The impact of adopting the new update to earnings was immaterial for the first quarter of
2018.




 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)















March 31,


December 31,







2018


2017












Assets


Current assets:









Cash and cash equivalents

$

282,809

$

1,000,953





Short-term investments


1,632,629


791,730





Accounts receivable, net


204,420


170,100





Prepaid expenses and other current assets


74,555


69,233





Amount due from SINA


67,635


16,356





      Current assets subtotal


2,262,048


2,048,372












Property and equipment, net


38,272


33,793



Goodwill and intangible assets, net


14,227


13,937



Long-term investments


453,953


452,337



Other assets


14,314


13,380



Total assets

$

2,782,814

$

2,561,819












Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity 


Liabilities:








Current liabilities:









Accounts payable

$

93,846

$

64,043





Accrued and other liabilities


281,232


268,615





Deferred revenues


100,239


81,311





Income tax payable(1)


91,661


70,907





     Current liabilities subtotal


566,978


484,876













Long-term liabilities:









Convertible debt


881,018


879,983





Other long-term liabilities


2,092


2,166





     Total liabilities


1,450,088


1,367,025












Shareholders' equity :








Weibo shareholders' equity(2)


1,330,819


1,192,587




Non-controlling interests


1,907


2,207





Total shareholders' equity 


1,332,726


1,194,794












Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 

$

2,782,814

$

2,561,819




















(1) Commencing on January 1, 2018, in order to enhance comparability with industry peers, income tax payable
has been presented as a single line item in balance sheet as opposed to be part of accounts payable. To conform
with current period presentation, the relevant amount of $70.9 million as of December 31, 2017 has been adjusted accordingly.










(2) The Company adopted ASU 2016-1 "Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments" beginning
the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. After the adoption of this new accounting update, the Company will
measure long-term investment other than equity method investments at fair value through earnings. For those investments without
readily determinable fair values, the Company will elect to record these investments at
cost, less impairment, and plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes. Changes in the
basis of these investments will be reported in current earnings. The cumulative impact arising from the adoption
of this update was immaterial to retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. 

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS

(In thousands, except per share data)



























Three months ended






March 31, 2018


March 31, 2017


December 31, 2017
























Non-GAAP






Non-GAAP






Non-GAAP






Actual


Adjustments


Results


Actual


Adjustments


Results


Actual


Adjustments


Results
























Advertising and marketing


$  302,949




$  302,949


$  169,297




$  169,297


$  332,305




$  332,305


Value-added service


46,934




46,934


29,904




29,904


45,140




45,140



Net revenues


$  349,883




$  349,883


$  199,201




$  199,201


$  377,445




$  377,445






























(11,014)

 (a) 





(10,693)

 (a) 





(12,035)

 (a) 









(169)

 (b) 





(155)

 (b) 





(163)

 (b) 



Total costs and expenses


$  240,504


$    (11,183)


$  229,321


$  143,350


$    (10,848)


$  132,502


$  232,166


$    (12,198)


$  219,968






























11,014

 (a) 





10,693

 (a) 





12,035

 (a) 









169

 (b) 





155

 (b) 





163

 (b) 



Income from operations


$  109,379


$      11,183


$  120,562


$    55,851


$      10,848


$    66,699


$  145,279


$      12,198


$     157,477






























11,014

 (a) 











12,035

 (a) 









169

 (b) 





10,693

 (a) 





163

 (b) 









1,499

 (c) 





155

 (b) 





2,683

 (c) 









(118)

 (d) 





122

 (c) 





(528)

 (d) 









(42)

 (e) 





(29)

 (d) 





(41)

 (e) 









1,035

 (f) 





(39)

 (e) 





690

 (f) 



Net income attributable to Weibo

$    99,085


$      13,557


$  112,642


$    46,931


$      10,902


$    57,833


$  130,982


$      15,002


$  145,984
























Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

$          0.44




$          0.50

*

$          0.21




$          0.26


$          0.58

*



$          0.64

*























Shares used in computing  diluted




















    net income per share attributable to Weibo

225,971


6,753

 (g) 

232,724


224,632




224,632


230,465




230,465
























Adjusted EBITDA:











































Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo





$    112,642






$      57,833






$    145,984




Interest income,net






(10,909)






(1,911)






(5,562)




Income tax expenses






18,339






11,355






17,086




Depreciation expenses






4,521






3,245






4,350



Adjusted EBITDA






$    124,593






$      70,522






$    161,858














































(a)  To exclude stock-based compensation.



















(b)  To exclude amortization of intangible assets.



















(c)  To exclude net results of impairment on, gain on sale of and fair value change of investments.














(d)  To exclude non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the loss attributable to non-controlling interests.













(e)  To exclude the provision for income tax related to item (b). Other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no income tax effect.










     Most of the reconciliation items were recorded in entities in tax free jurisdictions hence no income tax implications. 

     For impairment on investments, valuation allowances were made for those differences the Company does not expect to realize the benefit in the foreseeable future.

(f)  To exclude the amortization of convertible debt issuance cost. 


















(g) To adjust the number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt which were anti-dilutive under GAAP measures.

































*  Net income attributable to Weibo is adjusted for interest expense of convertible debt for calculating diluted EPS.












 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(In thousands)











Three months ended




March 31,


December 31,



2018


2017


2017









Net revenues








Advertising and marketing








     Small & medium-sized enterprises and key accounts

$     276,613


$      161,506


$       293,951



     Alibaba

26,336


7,791


38,354



         Subtotal

302,949


169,297


332,305











Value-added service

46,934


29,904


45,140




$     349,883


$     199,201


$       377,445










 

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