51Talk Online Education Group Announces Second Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE American: COE) reported strong Q2 2024 results, with gross billings up 61.3% to $15.9 million and net revenues increasing 75.1% to $11.0 million year-over-year. The company saw an 83.2% increase in active students to 54,400. Despite growth, 51Talk reported an operating loss of $2.4 million, improved from $3.0 million in Q2 2023. The company's gross margin slightly decreased to 78.1% from 78.4% last year. 51Talk's CEO highlighted strategic investments in diverse markets and localization efforts as key drivers of growth. For Q3 2024, the company expects net gross billings between $17.0-$18.0 million, representing 7.2% to 13.5% sequential growth.

Positive

• Gross billings increased 61.3% year-over-year to $15.9 million
• Net revenues grew 75.1% year-over-year to $11.0 million
• Active students with attended lesson consumption increased 83.2% to 54,400
• Operating loss improved to $2.4 million from $3.0 million in Q2 2023
• Q3 2024 guidance projects continued growth with net gross billings between $17.0-$18.0 million

Negative

• Operating loss of $2.4 million, despite improvement from previous year
• Slight decrease in gross margin to 78.1% from 78.4% in Q2 2023
• Total operating expenses increased 39.7% year-over-year to $11.0 million
• Cash, cash equivalents, and time deposits decreased to $21.0 million from $23.4 million at end of 2023

Insights

Financial Analyst

51Talk's Q2 2024 results show impressive growth across key metrics. Gross billings increased by 61.3% year-over-year to $15.9 million, while net revenues jumped 75.1% to $11.0 million. The company's active student base grew by 83.2%, indicating strong market traction.

Despite the revenue growth, 51Talk still reported an operating loss of $2.4 million, though this is an improvement from the $3.0 million loss in Q2 2023. The company's focus on global expansion and localization efforts appears to be paying off, but continued investment in growth is impacting profitability in the short term.

The Q3 2024 outlook of $17.0-18.0 million in gross billings suggests continued momentum. However, investors should monitor the path to profitability as the company scales its operations.

EdTech Specialist

51Talk's strategic focus on AI-enabled platform strength and localization is a smart move in the competitive EdTech landscape. By tailoring their offerings to specific market needs, they're likely to see improved customer retention and organic growth through referrals.

The 83.2% increase in active students is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests their product-market fit is improving. However, the EdTech sector is known for high customer acquisition costs, which may explain the increased sales and marketing expenses.

The company's emphasis on exploring new market opportunities aligned with their existing offerings could lead to efficient expansion. As they continue to leverage AI for efficiency, we might see improvements in their cost structure and eventual profitability.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 51Talk Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE American: COE), a global online education platform with core expertise in English education, announced its unaudited results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial and Operating Highlights

• Gross billings¹ for the second quarter of 2024 were US$15.9 million, a 61.3% growth from the second quarter of 2023.
  
  
• Net revenues were US$11.0 million for the second quarter of 2024, a 75.1% increase from US$6.3 million for the second quarter of 2023.
  
  
• The number of quarterly active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 54,400 in the second quarter of 2024, representing a 83.2% increase from approximately 29,700 for the second quarter of 2023.

Key Financial and Operating Data	For the three months ended
	June 30,		June 30,		Y-o-Y
	2023		2024		Change
Net Revenues (in US$ millions)	6.3		11.0		75.1 %
Gross Margin	78.4 %		78.1 %		-0.3ppt
Gross Billings (in US$ millions)	9.8		15.9		61.3 %
Active students with attended lesson consumption2 (in thousands)	29.7		54.4		83.2 %

"We have achieved strong growth in Q2, exceeding our Q2 guidance, and anticipate sustained momentum in the foreseeable future, as reflected in our Q3 guidance. Our strategic investments across a diverse portfolio of markets are yielding positive results, propelling us towards our objective of becoming a globally leading EdTech company." stated Jack Jiajia Huang, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk.

"Through our localization efforts, we have gained a deeper understanding of individual markets, allowing us to meet specific local needs. This approach has improved our product market fit. Additionally, we actively explore new market opportunities that align with our strategic direction and existing product offerings."

"Our strategy hinges on global expansion based on local needs and platform strength enabled by AI. We make targeted investments to enhance team efficiency and local customer experience, aiming to drive higher retention rates and more customer referrals." Jack Jiajia Huang concluded.

1 Gross billings for a specific period, which is one of the Company's key operating data, is defined as the total amount of cash received and receivable from third party payment platforms for the sale of course packages and services in such period, net of the total amount of refunds in such period. The gross billings data included herein was from the Company's business system and converted with quarterly corresponding exchange rate, which may lead to differences with bank records

2 An "active student with attended lesson consumption" for a given period refers to a student who attended at least one paid lesson, excluding those students who only attended paid live broadcasting lessons or trial lessons.

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Net Revenues and Gross Margin

Net revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were US$11.0 million, a 75.1% increase from US$6.3 million for the same quarter last year. The number of active students with attended lesson consumption was approximately 54,400 in the second quarter of 2024, a 83.2% increase from 29,700 for the same quarter last year.

Cost of revenues for the second quarter of 2024 was US$2.4 million, a 77.3% increase from US$1.4 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to the increase in total service fees paid to teachers, mainly resulting from an increased number of paid lessons.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2024 was US$8.6 million, a 74.5% increase from US$4.9 million for the same quarter last year.

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2024 was 78.1%, compared with 78.4% for the same quarter last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$11.0 million, a 39.7% increase from US$7.9 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to the increase in sales and marketing expenses.  

Sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$7.3 million, a 43.6% increase from US$5.1 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to higher sales personnel costs related to increases in the number of sales and marketing personnel. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$7.3 million, a 44.0% increase from US$5.1 million for the same quarter last year.

Product development expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$0.9 million, a 22.6% increase from US$0.7 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher product development personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$0.8 million, a 25.7% increase from US$0.7 million for the same quarter last year. 

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$2.8 million, a 35.8% increase from US$2.1 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to higher general and administrative personnel costs. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2024 were US$2.6 million, a 35.4% increase from US$1.9 million for the same quarter last year.

Loss from Operations

Operating loss for the second quarter of 2024 was US$2.4 million, compared with operating loss of US$3.0 million for the same quarter last year.

Non-GAAP operating loss for the second quarter of 2024 was US$2.2 million, compared with non-GAAP operating loss of US$2.8 million for the same quarter last year.

Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders

Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 was US$1.2 million, compared with net loss of US$2.9 million for the same quarter last year.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP net loss for the second quarter of 2024 was US$1.0 million, compared with non-GAAP net loss of US$2.7 million for the same quarter last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 was US$0.004, compared with basic and diluted net loss per share of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 was US$0.003, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.01 for the same quarter last year.

Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 was US$0.22, compared with basic and diluted net loss per ADS of US$0.51 for the same quarter last year. Each ADS represents 60 Class A ordinary shares.

Excluding share-based compensation expenses of US$0.2 million, non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the second quarter of 2024 was US$0.18, compared with non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders of US$0.48 for the same quarter last year.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had total cash, cash equivalents and time deposits of US$21.0 million, compared with US$23.4 million as of December 31, 2023.

The Company had advances from students³ of US$34.5 million as of June 30, 2024, compared with US$27.2 million as of December 31, 2023.

3 "Advances from students" is defined as the amount of obligation to transfer goods or service to students or business partners for which consideration has been received from students in advance. The deposits from students are also presented in the total amount of "advances from students"

Outlook

For the third quarter of 2024, the Company currently expects net gross billings to be between $17.0 million and $18.0 million, which would represent a sequential growth of 7.2% to 13.5%.

The foregoing outlook is based on current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on August 23, 2024 (8:00 PM Singapore/Hong Kong time on August 23, 2024).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States (toll free):	1-888-346-8982
International:	1-412-902-4272
Singapore (toll free):	800-120-6157
Mainland China (toll free):	4001-201203
Hong Kong (toll free):	800-905945
Hong Kong (local toll):	852-301-84992

Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "51Talk Online Education Group."

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.51talk.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible until August 30, 2024, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States (toll free):	1-877-344-7529
International:	1-412-317-0088
Replay Access Code:	1167367

About 51Talk Online Education Group

51Talk Online Education Group (NYSE American: COE) is a global online education platform with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students to take live interactive English lessons, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students.  

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating its business, 51Talk considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss), non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders, and non-GAAP net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders per share and per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release.

51Talk believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. 51Talk believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to 51Talk's historical performance. 51Talk computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. 51Talk believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the 51Talk's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this press release provides more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "aims", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "likely to" and similar statements. Among other things, 51Talk's quotations from management in this announcement, as well as 51Talk's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, 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 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 51Talk's goals and strategies; 51Talk's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and platform; 51Talk's ability to retain and increase its student enrollment; 51Talk's ability to offer new courses; 51Talk's ability to engage, train and retain new teachers; 51Talk's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; 51Talk's ability to maintain and improve infrastructure necessary to operate its education platform; competition in the online education industry in its international markets; the expected growth of, and trends in, the markets for 51Talk's course offerings in its international markets; relevant government policies and regulations relating to 51Talk's corporate structure, business and industry; general economic and business condition in the Philippines, its international markets and elsewhere; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

 

		51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP
		UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
		(In thousands)
			As of
				Dec. 31,		Jun. 30,
				2023		2024
				US$		US$
ASSETS
	Current assets
		Cash and cash equivalents		21,298		16,686
		Time deposits		2,091		4,311
		Inventory		-		29
		Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,394		10,424
	Total current assets			29,783		31,450
	Non-current assets
		Property and equipment, net		138		181
		Intangible assets, net		92		86
		Right-of-use assets		723		1,413
		Deferred tax assets		72		69
		Other non-current assets		348		340
	Total non-current assets			1,373		2,089
	Total assets			31,156		33,539
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICITS
	Current liabilities
		Advances from students		27,214		34,497
		Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		6,189		6,353
		Amounts due to related parties		4,077		3,620
		Lease liabilities		590		820
		Taxes payable		1,060		741
	Total current liabilities			39,130		46,031
	Non-current liabilities
		Lease liabilities		41		519
		Other non-current liabilities		176		274
	Total non-current liabilities			217		793
	Total liabilities			39,347		46,824
	Total shareholders' deficits			(8,340)		(13,617)
	Noncontrolling interests			149		332
	Total deficits			(8,191)		(13,285)
	Total liabilities and shareholders' deficits			31,156		33,539

 

51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP
UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)
		For the three months ended						For the six months ended
		Jun. 30,		Mar. 31,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,
		2023		2024		2024		2023		2024
		US$		US$		US$		US$		US$
Net revenues		6,260		9,446		10,960		11,812		20,406
Cost of revenues		(1,354)		(2,128)		(2,400)		(2,596)		(4,528)
Gross profit		4,906		7,318		8,560		9,216		15,878
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing expenses		(5,109)		(7,728)		(7,335)		(9,550)		(15,063)
Product development expenses		(694)		(945)		(851)		(1,356)		(1,796)
General and administrative expenses		(2,053)		(2,589)		(2,789)		(3,812)		(5,378)
Total operating expenses		(7,856)		(11,262)		(10,975)		(14,718)		(22,237)
Loss from operations		(2,950)		(3,944)		(2,415)		(5,502)		(6,359)
Interest income		36		82		63		69		145
Other (expenses)/income, net		(45)		141		1,131		(120)		1,272
Loss before income tax benefit/(expenses)		(2,959)		(3,721)		(1,221)		(5,553)		(4,942)
Income tax benefit/(expenses)		61		(22)		(41)		52		(63)
Net loss		(2,898)		(3,743)		(1,262)		(5,501)		(5,005)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		-		(19)		(15)		-		(34)
Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders		(2,898)		(3,724)		(1,247)		(5,501)		(4,971)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share		340,329,892		345,124,338		346,701,530		339,836,750		345,913,731

 

51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)
			For the three months ended					For the six months ended
			Jun. 30,		Mar. 31,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,
			2023		2024		2024		2023		2024
			US$		US$		US$		US$		US$
Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders
	Basic and diluted		(0.01)		(0.01)		(0.00)		(0.02)		(0.01)
Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders
	Basic and diluted		(0.51)		(0.65)		(0.22)		(0.97)		(0.86)
Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating expenses as follows:
Sales and marketing expenses			(37)		(29)		(31)		(85)		(60)
Product development expenses			(36)		(33)		(24)		(90)		(57)
General and administrative expenses			(126)		(225)		(180)		(246)		(405)

 

51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures
(In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)
			For the three months ended						For the six months ended
			Jun. 30,		Mar. 31,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,			Jun. 30,
			2023		2024		2024		2023			2024
			US$		US$		US$		US$			US$
Sales and marketing expenses			(5,109)		(7,728)		(7,335)		(9,550)			(15,063)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(37)		(29)		(31)		(85)			(60)
Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses			(5,072)		(7,699)		(7,304)		(9,465)			(15,003)
Product development expenses			(694)		(945)		(851)		(1,356)			(1,796)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(36)		(33)		(24)		(90)			(57)
Non-GAAP product development expenses			(658)		(912)		(827)		(1,266)			(1,739)
General and administrative expenses			(2,053)		(2,589)		(2,789)		(3,812)			(5,378)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(126)		(225)		(180)		(246)			(405)
Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses			(1,927)		(2,364)		(2,609)		(3,566)			(4,973)
Operating expenses			(7,856)		(11,262)		(10,975)		(14,718)			(22,237)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(199)		(287)		(235)		(421)			(522)
Non-GAAP operating expenses			(7,657)		(10,975)		(10,740)		(14,297)			(21,715)
Loss from operations			(2,950)		(3,944)		(2,415)		(5,502)			(6,359)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(199)		(287)		(235)		(421)			(522)
Non-GAAP loss from operations			(2,751)		(3,657)		(2,180)		(5,081)			(5,837)

 

51TALK ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures
(In thousands except for number of shares and per share data)
			For the three months ended						For the six months ended
			Jun. 30,		Mar. 31,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,		Jun. 30,
			2023		2024		2024		2023		2024
			US$		US$		US$		US$		US$
Income tax benefit/(expenses)			61		(22)		(41)		52		(63)
Less: Tax impact of Share-based compensation expenses			-		-		-		-		-
Non-GAAP income tax benefit/(expenses)			61		(22)		(41)		52		(63)
Net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders			(2,898)		(3,724)		(1,247)		(5,501)		(4,971)
Less: Share-based compensation expenses			(199)		(287)		(235)		(421)		(522)
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders			(2,699)		(3,437)		(1,012)		(5,080)		(4,449)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in computing basic and diluted loss per share			340,329,892		345,124,338		346,701,530		339,836,750		345,913,731
Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders
	Basic and Diluted		(0.01)		(0.01)		(0.00)	(0.01)			(0.01)
Non-GAAP net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders
	Basic and Diluted		(0.48)		(0.60)		(0.18)	(0.90)			(0.77)

 

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SOURCE 51Talk Online Education Group

FAQ

What was 51Talk's (COE) revenue growth in Q2 2024?

51Talk (COE) reported a 75.1% year-over-year increase in net revenues to $11.0 million for Q2 2024.

How many active students did 51Talk (COE) have in Q2 2024?

51Talk (COE) had approximately 54,400 active students with attended lesson consumption in Q2 2024, an 83.2% increase from Q2 2023.

What is 51Talk's (COE) gross billings guidance for Q3 2024?

51Talk (COE) expects net gross billings to be between $17.0 million and $18.0 million for Q3 2024, representing a sequential growth of 7.2% to 13.5%.

Did 51Talk (COE) report a profit or loss in Q2 2024?

51Talk (COE) reported an operating loss of $2.4 million in Q2 2024, an improvement from the $3.0 million loss in Q2 2023.