Weibo Reports Third Quarter 2022 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, Nov. 17, 2022 /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 third quarter ended September 30, 2022.

“We had solid execution of operating efficiency improvement in the third quarter,” said Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo. “In the third quarter, our user community and engagement remained solid, as we continued to improve operation efficiency on the user front. As our business entered into a gradual recovery trajectory, we continued to optimize cost structure to improve operating efficiency and cash generation capability, aiming to remain competitive in the long-run.”

Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

  • Net revenues were $453.6 million, a decrease of 25% year-over-year or a decrease of 20% year-over-year on a constant currency basis [1].
  • Advertising and marketing revenues were $393.4 million, a decrease of 27% year-over-year.
  • Value-added services (“VAS”) revenues were $60.1 million, a decrease of 14% year-over-year.
  • Income from operations was $123.2 million, representing an operating margin of 27%.
  • Net loss attributable to Weibo’s shareholders was $17.1 million and diluted net loss per share was $0.07.
  • Non-GAAP income from operations was $162.1 million, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 36%.
  • Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders was $119.0 million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was $0.50.
  • Monthly active users (“MAUs”) were 584 million in September 2022, a net addition of approximately 11 million users on a year-over-year basis. Mobile MAUs represented 95% of MAUs.
  • Average daily active users (“DAUs”) were 253 million in September 2022, a net addition of approximately 5 million users on a year-over-year basis.

[1] On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, we assume that the exchange rate in the third quarter of 2022 had been the same as it was in the third quarter of 2021, or RMB6.46=US$1.00.

Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

For the third quarter of 2022, Weibo’s total net revenues were $453.6 million, a decrease of 25% compared to $607.4 million for the same period last year.

Advertising and marketing revenues for the third quarter of 2022 were $393.4 million, a decrease of 27% compared to $537.6 million for the same period last year. Advertising and marketing revenues excluding ad revenues from Alibaba were $378.4 million, a decrease of 27% compared to $516.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease was primarily due to weak advertising demand amid macro headwinds and disruptions from COVID-19 resurgence in mainland China, as well as unfavorable foreign exchange impact on a year-over-year basis.

VAS revenues for the third quarter of 2022 were $60.1 million, a decrease of 14% year-over-year compared to $69.8 million for the same period last year. The decrease of VAS revenues was mainly due to less revenue contribution from membership service.

Costs and expenses for the third quarter of 2022 totaled $330.3 million, a decrease of 16% compared to $394.4 million for the same period last year. As the Company further implemented efficiency initiatives to optimize its cost structure and improve operating efficiency, all components of costs and expenses decreased on a year-over-year basis.

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2022 was $123.2 million, compared to $213.0 million for the same period last year. Operating margin was 27%, compared to 35% last year. Non-GAAP income from operations was $162.1 million, compared to $248.7 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 36%, compared to 41% last year.

Non-operating loss for the third quarter of 2022 was $120.4 million, compared to an income of $0.2 million for the same period last year. Non-operating loss for the third quarter of 2022 mainly included (i) a $91.5 million net loss from fair value change of investments in Didi Global Inc. and INMYSHOW Digital Technology (Group) Co., Ltd. (SHH: 600556), which was excluded under non-GAAP measures; (ii) a $14.6 million investment related impairment, which was excluded under non-GAAP measures; and (iii) a $14.5 million net interest and other loss.

Income tax expenses were $19.8 million, compared to $31.4 million for the same period last year.

Net loss attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $17.1 million, compared to an income of $181.7 million for the same period last year. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.07, compared to diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders of $0.78 for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $119.0 million, compared to $209.6 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s shareholders for the third quarter of 2022 was $0.50, compared to $0.90 for the same period last year.

As of September 30, 2022, Weibo’s cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $3.0 billion. For the third quarter of 2022, cash provided by operating activities was $74.0 million, capital expenditures totaled $4.6 million, and depreciation and amortization expenses amounted to $13.2 million.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company announced in March 2022 that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $500 million of its American depositary shares (“ADSs”) over the next 12 months, ending on March 31, 2023. As of September 30, 2022, approximately 3.1 million ADSs had been repurchased under this program for a total cost of $57.7 million.

Conference Call

Weibo’s management team will host a conference call from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time on November 17, 2022 (or 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Beijing Time on November 17, 2022) 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 instruction will be in the confirmation email upon registering.

Participants Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIffdf69efe5064f169d617b509bd74ee9

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will 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, non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest shareholders, impairment 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, income tax expense related to the amortization and impairment 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 convertible debt and senior notes 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. 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 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 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. 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; the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations and on general economic conditions; risks associated with weak or uncertain global economic conditions and their impact on the level of expenditures on advertising; risks associated with unrest, terrorist threats and the war in Ukraine and the associated global effects; 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 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


Nine months ended



September 30,


June 30,


September 30,



2022


2021


2022


2022


2021

Net revenues:










     Advertising and marketing

$  393,426


$  537,620


$  385,559


$ 1,206,106


$ 1,429,969

     Value-added services

60,134


69,814


64,593


182,228


210,827


Net revenues

453,560


607,434


450,152


1,388,334


1,640,796












Costs and expenses:










     Cost of revenues (1)

94,383


102,978


95,314


294,498


275,296

     Sales and marketing (1)

113,619


140,839


115,512


354,442


439,207

     Product development (1)

97,025


118,821


106,403


315,862


316,806

     General and administrative (1)

25,322


31,747


28,809


93,358


94,597

     Impairment of intangible assets



10,176


10,176



Total costs and expenses

330,349


394,385


356,214


1,068,336


1,125,906

Income from operations

123,211


213,049


93,938


319,998


514,890












Non-operating income (loss):










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

        investments, net 

(105,901)


646


(25,676)


(309,527)


(134,368)

    Interest and other income (loss), net

(14,460)


(489)


(21,721)


(21,765)


24,489



(120,361)


157


(47,397)


(331,292)


(109,879)












Income (loss) before income tax expenses

2,850


213,206


46,541


(11,294)


405,011

     Income tax expenses

(19,760)


(31,405)


(17,502)


(48,978)


(93,260)












Net income (loss)

(16,910)


181,801


29,039


(60,272)


311,751

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

interests

227


63


739


(3,911)


(835)

Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

$   (17,137)


$  181,738


$    28,300


$     (56,361)


$    312,586























Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo’s

  shareholders

$       (0.07)


$         0.79


$         0.12


$          (0.24)


$           1.37

Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to Weibo’s

  shareholders

$       (0.07)


$         0.78


$         0.12


$          (0.24)


$           1.36












Shares used in computing basic net income (loss) per share










    attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

235,894


228,675


235,521


235,543


228,185

Shares used in computing diluted net income (loss) per share










    attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

235,894


237,183


237,025


235,543


229,765












(1) Stock-based compensation in each category:











Cost of revenues

$        2,544


$        2,450


$        2,716


$           7,597


$           5,690


Sales and marketing

5,107


4,700


5,502


15,224


10,249


Product development

14,424


11,047


16,760


44,520


29,260


General and administrative

7,749


6,840


6,483


20,995


16,059

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)














September 30,


December 31,






2022


2021









Assets


Current assets:








Cash and cash equivalents


$          2,758,901


$          2,423,703




Short-term investments


201,356


711,062




Accounts receivable, net


488,837


723,089




Prepaid expenses and other current assets


409,639


450,726




Amount due from SINA(1)


485,845


494,200




      Current assets subtotal


4,344,578


4,802,780










Property and equipment, net


57,922


68,396


Goodwill and intangible assets, net


242,223


297,335


Long-term investments


988,532


1,207,651


Other non-current assets


1,194,375


1,143,360


Total assets


$          6,827,630


$          7,519,522









Liabilities, Redeemable Non-controlling Interests and Shareholders’ Equity 


Liabilities:







Current liabilities:








Accounts payable


$             158,871


$             197,643




Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


632,779


828,952




Deferred revenues


86,940


91,136




Income tax payable


84,912


144,747




Convertible debt


899,647


896,541




     Current liabilities subtotal


1,863,149


2,159,019











Long-term liabilities:








Unsecured senior notes


1,540,142


1,538,415




Other long-term liabilities


119,151


134,068




     Total liabilities


3,522,442


3,831,502










Redeemable non-controlling interests


69,637


66,622










Shareholders’ equity :







Weibo shareholders’ equity 


3,214,804


3,593,821



Non-controlling interests


20,747


27,577




Total shareholders’ equity 


3,235,551


3,621,398


Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and

    shareholders’ equity


$          6,827,630


$          7,519,522










(1) Included short-term loans to and interest receivable from SINA of $450.5 million as of September 30,

2022 and $479.6 million as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION


UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS


(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data)























Three months ended


Nine months ended





September 30,


June 30,


September 30,





2022


2021


2022


2022


2021




















Income from operations

$

123,211


$

213,049


$

93,938


$

319,998


$

514,890


  Add:

Stock-based compensation


29,824



25,037



31,461



88,336



61,258



Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business

  acquisitions


4,381



5,478



4,895



15,027



14,873



Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest

  shareholders


4,689



5,140



4,824



15,587



18,420



Impairment of intangible assets






10,176



10,176




Non-GAAP income from operations

$

162,105


$

248,704


$

145,294


$

449,124


$

609,441




















Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

$

(17,137)


$

181,738


$

28,300


$

(56,361)


$

312,586


  Add:

Stock-based compensation


29,824



25,037



31,461



88,336



61,258



Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business

  acquisitions


4,381



5,478



4,895



15,027



14,873



Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest

  shareholders


4,689



5,140



4,824



15,587



18,420



Impairment of intangible assets






10,176



10,176





Net results of impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value

  change of investments


105,901



(646)



25,676



309,527



134,368



Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity

  method investments 


(3,503)



(1,715)



8,571



2,414



(10,881)



Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the income/loss

  attributable to non-controlling interests


(154)



(233)



(278)



(5,063)



(72)



Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments(1)


(6,605)



(6,856)



(5,541)



(22,917)



(12,356)



Amortization of convertible debt and unsecured senior notes

  issuance cost


1,611



1,611



1,611



4,833



4,834


Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

$

119,007


$

209,554


$

109,695


$

361,559


$

523,030




















Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo’s

  shareholders

$

0.50

*

$

0.90

*

$

0.46

*

$

1.52

*

$

2.25

*



















Shares used in computing GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share

  attributable to Weibo’s shareholders


235,894



237,183



237,025



235,543



229,765


  Add:

The number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt(2)


6,753





6,753



6,753



6,753



The number of shares for dilution resulted from unvested restricted

  share units(2)


1,550







1,167




Shares used in computing non-GAAP diluted net income per share

  attributable to Weibo’s shareholders


244,197



237,183



243,778



243,463



236,518




















Adjusted EBITDA:

















Net income (loss) attributable to Weibo’s shareholders

$

(17,137)


$

181,738


$

28,300


$

(56,361)


$

312,586



Non-GAAP adjustments


136,144



27,816



81,395



417,920



210,444



Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo’s shareholders


119,007



209,554



109,695



361,559



523,030




Interest income, net


(8,896)



(701)



(8,443)



(28,325)



(8,488)




Income tax expenses


26,365



38,261



23,043



71,895



105,616




Depreciation expenses


8,268



8,141



8,616



25,614



24,254



Adjusted EBITDA

$

144,744


$

255,255


$

132,911


$

430,743


$

644,412






































(1)

To adjust the income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments, which primarily related to amortization and impairment 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.




















(2)

To adjust the number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt and unvested restricted share units which were anti-dilutive under

GAAP measures.




















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


 

 

WEIBO CORPORATION


UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
















Three months ended


Nine months ended




September 30,


June 30,


September 30,




2022


2021


2022


2022


2021














Net revenues












Advertising and marketing












     Non-Ali advertisers

$  378,378


$  516,818


$  361,831


$ 1,141,405


$ 1,335,901



     Alibaba – as an advertiser

15,048


20,802


23,728


64,701


94,068



         Subtotal

393,426


537,620


385,559


1,206,106


1,429,969















Value-added services

60,134


69,814


64,593


182,228


210,827




$  453,560


$  607,434


$  450,152


$ 1,388,334


$ 1,640,796














 

 

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SOURCE Weibo Corporation

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