Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 6-K

 


 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of May 2017

 

Commission File Number: 001-36397

 


 

Weibo Corporation

(Registrant’s Name)

 


 

8/F, QIHAO Plaza, No. 8 Xinyuan S. Road

Chaoyang District, Beijing 100027

People’s Republic of China

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x      Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Signatures

 

 

 

Press Release regarding Financial Results of First Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 Issued by Weibo Corporation on May 16, 2017

 

2



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

Date: May 17, 2017

By:

/s/Herman Yu

 

 

Herman Yu

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

Weibo Reports First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

 

BEIJING, China — May 16, 2017 — 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, 2017.

 

First Quarter 2017 Highlights

 

·                  Net revenues totaled $199.2 million, an increase of 67% year-over-year, exceeding the Company’s guidance between $185 million and $190 million.

·                  Advertising and marketing revenues were $169.3 million, an increase of 71% year-over-year.

·                  Other revenues were $29.9 million, an increase of 49% year-over-year.

·                  Net income attributable to Weibo was $46.9 million, an increase of 561% year-over-year, and diluted net income per share was $0.21, compared to $0.03 for the same period last year.

·                  Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo was $57.8 million, an increase of 254% year-over-year, and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.26, compared to $0.07 for the same period last year.

·                  Adjusted EBITDA was $70.5 million, an increase of 272% year-over-year, or 35% of net revenues, compared to 16% for the same period last year.

·                  Monthly active users (“MAUs”) in March 2017 was 340 million, an increase of 30% year-over-year, 91% of which were mobile users. Average daily active users in March 2017 was 154 million, an increase of 28% year-over-year.

 

“Our relentless focus to build the best social media experience in China is reflected in Weibo’s strong performance in the first quarter of 2017, with revenues growing 67% year over year, or 76% on a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA margin reaching 35% and MAUs reaching 340 million,” said Gaofei Wang, Weibo’s CEO. “Looking ahead, we continue to see strong momentum, as we further optimize Weibo to share, discover and consume information, especially for the mobile, social and video environment.”

 

First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

 

For the first quarter of 2017, Weibo reported net revenues of $199.2 million, compared to $119.3 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues totaled $169.3 million, compared to $99.2 million for the same period last year; and advertising and marketing revenues from small & medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) and key accounts were $161.5 million, compared to $88.1 million for the same period last year. Other revenues totaled $29.9 million, compared to $20.0 million for the same period last year.

 

Costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $143.4 million, compared to $112.1 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP costs and expenses were $132.5 million, compared to $103.4 million for the same period last year. The increase in non-GAAP costs and expenses was primarily due to an increase in marketing expenses, as well as an increase in turnover taxes resulting from higher revenues.

 



 

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2017 was $55.9 million, compared to $7.2 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $66.7 million, compared to $15.9 million for the same period last year.

 

Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2017 was $2.1 million, compared to $0.6 million for the same period last year. Income tax expenses were $11.3 million, compared to $0.5 million for the same period last year, primarily due to higher profitability and the change in tax status of the Company’s PRC subsidiary from being fully tax exempted to being subject to 50% of the enterprise income tax rate in 2017.

 

Net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2017 was $46.9 million, or diluted net income per share of $0.21, compared to $7.1 million for the same period last year, or diluted net income per share of $0.03. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2017 was $57.8 million, or diluted net income per share of $0.26, compared to $16.4 million for the same period last year, or diluted net income per share of $0.07.

 

As of March 31, 2017, Weibo’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $444.2 million. For the first quarter of 2017, cash provided by operating activities was $72.5 million, capital expenditures totaled $4.5 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $3.4 million.

 

Business Outlook

 

For the second quarter of 2017, Weibo estimates that its net revenues to be between $240 million and $250 million, which assumes a RMB to US dollar average exchange rate of 6.9. 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 16, 2017 (or 7 PM — 8 PM Beijing Time on May 16, 2017) 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:  18358362

 



 

A replay of the conference call will be available through midnight, Eastern Time on May 23, 2017. The dial-in number is +61 2-8199-0299. The passcode for the replay is 18358362.

 

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 gain on the sale of investments and impairment on investments, non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the loss attributable to non-controlling interest, and provision for income tax related to the amortization of intangible assets (other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no tax effect). Adjusted EBITDA excludes interest income, 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 Chinese-language content. It provides an unprecedented and simple way for people and organizations to publicly express themselves in real time, interact with others and stay connected with the world. Any user can post a feed and attach multi-media or 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 its customers, ranging from large companies to small and medium-sized enterprises to individuals. The Company generates a substantial majority of revenues from the sale of advertising and marketing services, including the sale of social display ads and promoted feeds. 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-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the SEC on April 27, 2017 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,

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing revenues

 

$

169,297

 

$

99,246

 

$

187,870

 

Other revenues

 

29,904

 

20,044

 

24,878

 

Total net revenues

 

199,201

 

119,290

 

212,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (a)

 

46,450

 

36,626

 

49,454

 

Sales and marketing (a)

 

47,163

 

30,041

 

48,006

 

Product development (a)

 

39,191

 

36,934

 

39,869

 

General and administrative (a)

 

10,546

 

8,538

 

11,762

 

Total costs and expenses

 

143,350

 

112,139

 

149,091

 

Income from operations

 

55,851

 

7,151

 

63,657

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of and impairment on investments, net

 

(122

)

(868

)

(24,232

)

Interest and other income , net

 

2,222

 

1,420

 

2,885

 

 

 

2,100

 

552

 

(21,347

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expenses

 

57,951

 

7,703

 

42,310

 

Income tax expenses

 

(11,316

)

(548

)

(55

)

Net income

 

46,635

 

7,155

 

42,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(296

)

57

 

(715

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Weibo

 

$

46,931

 

$

7,098

 

$

42,970

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.20

 

Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.21

 

$

0.03

 

$

0.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in computing basic net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

218,296

 

212,269

 

217,464

 

Shares used in computing diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

224,632

 

219,626

 

224,359

 

 


(a) Stock-based compensation in each category:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

$

695

 

$

508

 

$

801

 

Sales and marketing

 

1,604

 

1,018

 

1,655

 

Product development

 

4,994

 

3,555

 

3,716

 

General and administrative

 

3,400

 

3,406

 

3,547

 

 



 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

225,734

 

$

364,766

 

Short-term investments

 

218,469

 

31,188

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

129,914

 

116,054

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

127,813

 

66,664

 

Amount due from SINA

 

4,962

 

18,565

 

Current assets subtotal

 

706,892

 

597,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

23,935

 

22,816

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

11,453

 

11,366

 

Investments

 

420,674

 

399,933

 

Other assets

 

7,588

 

5,592

 

Total assets

 

$

1,170,542

 

$

1,036,944

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

60,323

 

$

48,997

 

Accrued and other liabilities

 

232,993

 

180,142

 

Deferred revenues

 

57,056

 

48,964

 

Current liabilities subtotal

 

350,372

 

278,103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term liability

 

1,356

 

1,483

 

Total liabilities

 

351,728

 

279,586

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity :

 

 

 

 

 

Weibo shareholders’ equity

 

814,949

 

753,225

 

Non-controlling interest

 

3,865

 

4,133

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

818,814

 

757,358

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

1,170,542

 

$

1,036,944

 

 



 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2017

 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

 

 

Results

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

 

 

Results

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

 

 

Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing revenues

 

$

169,297

 

 

 

 

 

$

169,297

 

$

99,246

 

 

 

 

 

$

99,246

 

$

187,870

 

 

 

 

 

$

187,870

 

Other revenues

 

29,904

 

 

 

 

 

29,904

 

20,044

 

 

 

 

 

20,044

 

24,878

 

 

 

 

 

24,878

 

Net revenues

 

$

199,201

 

 

 

 

 

$

199,201

 

$

119,290

 

 

 

 

 

$

119,290

 

$

212,748

 

 

 

 

 

$

212,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,693

)

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

(8,487

)

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

(9,719

)

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(155

)

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

(241

)

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

(154

)

(b)

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

$

143,350

 

$

(10,848

)

 

 

$

132,502

 

$

112,139

 

$

(8,728

)

 

 

$

103,411

 

$

149,091

 

$

(9,873

)

 

 

$

139,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,693

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

8,487

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

9,719

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

155

 

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

241

 

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

154

 

(b)

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

$

55,851

 

$

10,848

 

 

 

$

66,699

 

$

7,151

 

$

8,728

 

 

 

$

15,879

 

$

63,657

 

$

9,873

 

 

 

$

73,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,693

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

8,487

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

9,719

 

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

155

 

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

241

 

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

154

 

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

122

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

868

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

24,232

 

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(29

)

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

(280

)

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

(72

)

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(39

)

(e)

 

 

 

 

 

(60

)

(e)

 

 

 

 

 

(39

)

(e)

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Weibo

 

$

46,931

 

$

10,902

 

 

 

$

57,833

 

$

7,098

 

$

9,256

 

 

 

$

16,354

 

$

42,970

 

$

33,994

 

 

 

$

76,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.21

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.26

 

$

0.03

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.07

 

$

0.19

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in computing diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

224,632

 

 

 

 

 

224,632

 

219,626

 

 

 

 

 

219,626

 

224,359

 

 

 

 

 

224,359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

57,833

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

16,354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

76,964

 

Interest income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,911

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,300

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,158

)

Income tax expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

608

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

94

 

Depreciation expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,338

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

70,522

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

18,962

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

78,238

 

 


(a)  To exclude stock-based compensation.

(b)  To exclude amortization of intangible assets.

(c)  To exclude net gain on the sale of investments and impairment on 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.

 



 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small & medium-sized enterprises and key accounts

 

$

161,506

 

$

88,126

 

$

163,187

 

Alibaba

 

7,791

 

11,120

 

24,683

 

Subtotal

 

169,297

 

99,246

 

187,870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other revenues

 

29,904

 

20,044

 

24,878

 

 

 

$

199,201

 

$

119,290

 

$

212,748