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 2020

 

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

 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 99.1          Press Release regarding Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2020 issued by Weibo Corporation on May 19, 2020

 


 

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 20, 2020

 

By:

/s/ Fei Cao

 

 

 

Fei Cao

 

 

 

Vice President, Finance

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

Weibo Reports First Quarter 2020 Unaudited Financial Results

 

BEIJING, China — May 19, 2020 — 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, 2020.

 

“We are satisfied with our first quarter result amid the coronavirus pandemic,” said Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo. “In this challenging period, Weibo has further demonstrated its indispensable value as a leading social media platform to keep the public informed, connected and engaged. In March, we delivered our strongest user growth in terms of net additions of MAUs and DAUs on a year-over-year basis. On monetization, we have seen a gradual recovery trend since March for most brands and merchants from the trough in February, although there are still uncertainties brought forth by the pandemic. We will continue to focus on optimizing ad products and enhancing ad performance for advertisers to further tap into advertisers’ social ad wallet and improve our monetization efficiency.” said Mr. Wang.

 

First Quarter 2020 Highlights

 

·                  Net revenues were $323.4 million, a decrease of 19% year-over-year or 15% year-over-year on a constant currency basis [1].

 

·                  Advertising and marketing revenues were $275.4 million, a decrease of 19% year-over-year.

 

·                  Value-added service (“VAS”) revenues were $48.0 million, a decrease of 17% year-over-year.

 

·                  Net income attributable to Weibo was $52.1 million and diluted net income per share was $0.23.

 

·                  Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo was $67.4 million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.30.

 

·                  Monthly active users (“MAUs”) were 550 million in March 2020, a net addition of approximately 85 million users on year over year basis. Mobile MAUs represented approximately 94% of MAUs.

 

·                  Average daily active users (“DAUs”) were 241 million in March 2020, a net addition of approximately 38 million users on year over year basis.

 


[1] On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, we assume that the exchange rate in the first quarter of 2020 had been the same as it was in the first quarter of 2019, or RMB 6.73=US$1.00.

 


 

First Quarter 2020 Financial Results

 

For the first quarter of 2020, Weibo’s total net revenues were $323.4 million, a decrease of 19% compared to $399.2 million for the same period last year.

 

Advertising and marketing revenues for the first quarter of 2020 were $275.4 million, a decrease of 19% compared to $341.1 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues from key accounts (“KAs”) and small & medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) were $247.9 million, a decrease of 24% compared to $324.5 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily resulted from the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the overall advertising demand, decrease in barter transaction revenues as well as negative currency translation impact.

 

VAS revenues for the first quarter of 2020 were $48.0 million, a decrease of 17% year-over-year compared to $58.0 million for the same period last year, primarily due to the decrease of revenues from live streaming business and was partially offset by the increase of membership revenues.

 

Costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2020 totaled $265.4 million, compared to $276.1 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP costs and expenses were $249.3 million, compared to $262.4 million for the same period last year.

 

Income from operations for the first quarter of 2020 was $58.0 million, compared to $123.1 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $74.1 million, compared to $136.8 million for the same period last year.

 

Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2020 was $10.0 million, compared to $48.6 million for the same period last year. Non-operating income for the first quarter of 2020 mainly included (i) a $12.9 million net interest and other income; (ii) a $2.9 million net loss on sale of investments and fair value changes on investments, which is excluded under non-GAAP measures.

 

Income tax expenses were $15.9 million, compared to $21.1 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily resulted from reduced earnings, and was partially offset by the estimated increase of effective tax rate for China operations primarily due to the expiration of the preferential tax treatment of one of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries in 2020.

 

Net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2020 was $52.1 million, compared to $150.4 million for the same period last year. Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2020 was $0.23, compared to $0.66 for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2020 was $67.4 million, compared to $128.5 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo for the first quarter of 2020 was $0.30, compared to $0.56 for the same period last year.

 

As of March 31, 2020, Weibo’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $2.35 billion. For the first quarter of 2020, cash provided by operating activities was $63.6 million, capital expenditures totaled $7.3 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $6.8 million.

 


 

Business Outlook

 

For the second quarter of 2020, Weibo estimates its net revenues to decrease by 7% to 12% year-over-year on a constant currency basis. 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 19, 2020 (or 7 PM — 8 PM Beijing Time on May 19, 2020) to present an overview of the Company’s financial performance and business operations.

 

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with a calendar invite with participant dial-in numbers, passcode, and a unique access pin by email.

 

PRE-REGISTER LINK: https://s1.c-conf.com/DiamondPass/10006805-invite.html

 

To join the conference, simply dial the number in the calendar invite you receive after preregistering, enter the passcode followed by your pin, and you will join the conference instantly. Additionally, a live webcast of the call will be available through the Company’s corporate website at http://ir.weibo.com.

 

A telephone replay will be available 1 hour after the end of the conference and may be accessed at the following number until May 27, 2020:

 

United States:               1855 883 1031

Hong Kong:                  800 930 639

International:               +61 7 3107 6325

Replay PIN:                  10006805

 


 

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/loss on sale of 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, provision for income tax related to the amortization of intangible assets and fair value change of investments (other non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items have no tax effect), and amortization of convertible debt and senior notes issuance cost. Adjusted EBITDA represents non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo, excluding 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. 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. 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. Designed with a “mobile first” philosophy, Weibo displays content in a simple information feed format and offers native advertisement that conform to the information feed on our platform. To support the mobile format, we have developed and 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 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 5898-3336

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,

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing

 

$

275,422

 

$

341,141

 

$

405,921

 

Value-added service

 

47,967

 

58,036

 

62,227

 

Net revenues

 

323,389

 

399,177

 

468,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (1)

 

74,110

 

82,817

 

90,566

 

Sales and marketing (1)

 

99,102

 

106,151

 

123,372

 

Product development (1)

 

74,409

 

69,853

 

75,187

 

General and administrative (1)

 

17,753

 

17,287

 

28,286

 

Total costs and expenses

 

265,374

 

276,108

 

317,411

 

Income from operations

 

58,015

 

123,069

 

150,737

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value change of investments, net

 

(2,938

)

37,797

 

(38,372

)

Interest and other income , net

 

12,905

 

10,781

 

13,253

 

 

 

9,967

 

48,578

 

(25,119

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income tax expenses

 

67,982

 

171,647

 

125,618

 

Income tax expenses

 

(15,883

)

(21,073

)

(31,056

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

52,099

 

150,574

 

94,562

 

Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(9

)

132

 

(506

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Weibo

 

$

52,108

 

$

150,442

 

$

95,068

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.23

 

$

0.67

 

$

0.42

 

Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.23

 

$

0.66

 

$

0.42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

226,392

 

224,924

 

226,000

 

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

 

227,029

 

232,894

 

226,844

 

 


(1) Stock-based compensation in each category:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

$

1,347

 

$

1,112

 

$

1,488

 

Sales and marketing

 

2,216

 

2,039

 

2,761

 

Product development

 

6,909

 

6,058

 

8,124

 

General and administrative

 

4,822

 

3,686

 

4,990

 

 


 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,131,229

 

$

1,452,985

 

Short-term investments

 

1,215,361

 

951,235

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

386,969

 

422,225

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

455,577

 

424,905

 

Amount due from SINA(1)

 

389,109

 

384,828

 

Current assets subtotal

 

3,578,245

 

3,636,178

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

47,026

 

46,729

 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

44,913

 

46,513

 

Long-term investments

 

1,070,391

 

1,027,459

 

Other assets

 

54,607

 

47,307

 

Total assets

 

$

4,795,182

 

$

4,804,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

105,993

 

$

126,247

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

402,306

 

465,580

 

Deferred revenues

 

154,464

 

108,783

 

Income tax payable

 

99,841

 

100,245

 

Current liabilities subtotal

 

762,604

 

800,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible debt

 

889,301

 

888,266

 

Senior notes

 

794,319

 

793,985

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

37,568

 

39,261

 

Total liabilities

 

2,483,792

 

2,522,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity :

 

 

 

 

 

Weibo shareholders’ equity

 

2,312,852

 

2,283,267

 

Non-controlling interests

 

(1,462

)

(1,448

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

2,311,390

 

2,281,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

4,795,182

 

$

4,804,186

 

 


(1) Included short-term loans to and interest receivable from SINA of $235.5 million as of  March 31, 2020 and $236.6 million as of December 31, 2019.

 


 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

March 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP

 

 

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

Results

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

Results

 

Actual

 

Adjustments

 

Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing

 

$

275,422

 

 

 

$

275,422

 

$

341,141

 

 

 

$

341,141

 

$

405,921

 

 

 

$

405,921

 

Value-added service

 

47,967

 

 

 

47,967

 

58,036

 

 

 

58,036

 

62,227

 

 

 

62,227

 

Net revenues

 

$

323,389

 

 

 

$

323,389

 

$

399,177

 

 

 

$

399,177

 

$

468,148

 

 

 

$

468,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(15,294

)(a)

 

 

 

 

(12,895

)(a)

 

 

 

 

(17,363

)(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(828

)(b)

 

 

 

 

(860

)(b)

 

 

 

 

(821

)(b)

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

$

265,374

 

$

(16,122

)

$

249,252

 

$

276,108

 

$

(13,755

)

$

262,353

 

$

317,411

 

$

(18,184

)

$

299,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,294

(a)

 

 

 

 

12,895

(a)

 

 

 

 

17,363

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

828

(b)

 

 

 

 

860

(b)

 

 

 

 

821

(b)

 

 

Income from operations

 

$

58,015

 

$

16,122

 

$

74,137

 

$

123,069

 

$

13,755

 

$

136,824

 

$

150,737

 

$

18,184

 

$

168,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,294

(a)

 

 

 

 

12,895

(a)

 

 

 

 

17,363

(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

828

(b)

 

 

 

 

860

(b)

 

 

 

 

821

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,938

(c)

 

 

 

 

(37,797

)(c)

 

 

 

 

38,372

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5,285

)(d)

 

 

 

 

1,249

(d)

 

 

 

 

2,118

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

(e)

 

 

 

 

(45

)(e)

 

 

 

 

6

(e)

 

 

 

 

 

 

172

(f)

 

 

 

 

(126

)(f)

 

 

 

 

21,354

(f)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,369

(g)

 

 

 

 

1,035

(g)

 

 

 

 

1,371

(g)

 

 

Net income attributable to Weibo

 

$

52,108

 

$

15,319

 

$

67,427

 

$

150,442

 

$

(21,929

)

$

128,513

 

$

95,068

 

$

81,405

 

$

176,473

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo

 

$

0.23

 

 

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.66

*

 

 

$

0.56

*

$

0.42

 

 

 

$

0.77

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

227,029

 

 

 

227,029

 

232,894

 

 

 

232,894

 

226,844

 

6,753

(h)

233,597

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo

 

 

 

 

 

$

67,427

 

 

 

 

 

$

128,513

 

 

 

 

 

$

176,473

 

Interest income,net

 

 

 

 

 

(13,349

)

 

 

 

 

(14,208

)

 

 

 

 

(13,652

)

Income tax expenses

 

 

 

 

 

15,711

 

 

 

 

 

21,199

 

 

 

 

 

9,702

 

Depreciation expenses

 

 

 

 

 

5,974

 

 

 

 

 

5,305

 

 

 

 

 

5,719

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

$

75,763

 

 

 

 

 

$

140,809

 

 

 

 

 

$

178,242

 

 


(a)    To exclude stock-based compensation.

(b)    To exclude amortization of intangible assets.

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

(d)    To exclude the non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity method investments.

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

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

The Company considered the tax implication arising from the reconciliation items and part of these items recorded in entities in tax free jurisdictions were without relevant tax implications.

For impairment on investments, valuation allowances were made for those differences the Company does not expect they can be realized in the foreseeable future.

(g)    To exclude the amortization of convertible debt and senior notes issuance cost.

(h)    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,

 

 

 

2020

 

2019

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertising and marketing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key accounts and small & medium-sized enterprises

 

$

247,855

 

$

324,506

 

$

368,061

 

Alibaba

 

27,567

 

16,635

 

37,860

 

Subtotal

 

275,422

 

341,141

 

405,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value-added service

 

47,967

 

58,036

 

62,227

 

 

 

$

323,389

 

$

399,177

 

$

468,148