iQIYI Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

iQIYI (Nasdaq: IQ) reported its Q1 2024 financial results, showing a 5% year-over-year revenue decline to RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion). Despite this, operating income increased by 10% to RMB944.8 million (US$130.8 million), with an improved operating margin of 12%. Net income attributable to iQIYI rose by 6% to RMB655.3 million (US$90.8 million), but non-GAAP net income decreased by 10% to RMB844.3 million (US$116.9 million). Membership services revenue fell by 13%, while online advertising grew by 6%, and content distribution surged by 27%. Cost of revenues and content costs decreased by 5%. Operating cash flow was RMB937.8 million (US$129.9 million).

Positive

• Operating income increased 10% to RMB944.8 million (US$130.8 million).
• Operating income margin improved to 12%.
• Net income attributable to iQIYI rose 6% to RMB655.3 million (US$90.8 million).
• Online advertising revenue grew by 6% year over year.
• Content distribution revenue surged by 27% year over year.
• Cost of revenues decreased by 5%, reflecting improved content strategy and operating efficiency.
• Operating cash flow was positive at RMB937.8 million (US$129.9 million).
• Free cash flow remained strong at RMB915.3 million (US$126.8 million).

Negative

• Total revenues decreased by 5% year over year to RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion).
• Membership services revenue fell by 13% to RMB4.8 billion (US$664.6 million).
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI decreased by 10% to RMB844.3 million (US$116.9 million).
• Total other expense increased by 25% year over year, mainly due to foreign exchange loss and less interest income.
• Operating cash flow decreased from RMB1.0 billion to RMB937.8 million (US$129.9 million).

Insights

Financial Analyst

iQIYI's operating income showed impressive growth, rising from RMB858.6 million to RMB944.8 million, which is a substantial improvement in their operating income margin from 10% to 12%. This suggests that the company is becoming more efficient in its operations, despite a 5% drop in total revenues year over year. It's important to note the decrease in membership services revenue by 13% due to high comparative results from the previous year, implying potential challenges in retaining or growing their subscription base.

On the other hand, the company experienced a significant rise in online advertising services revenue and content distribution revenue by 6% and 27% respectively. This shift indicates a diversification in revenue streams which can be seen as a positive long-term strategic move, reducing dependency on one single revenue source.

The substantial decrease in cost of revenues by 5% primarily due to reduced content costs indicates improved operational efficiency. This is reinforced by the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses by 17%.

However, investors should be cautious about the decrease in non-GAAP net income from RMB939.5 million to RMB844.3 million, reflecting a 10% decline, potentially signaling underlying issues in the company's financial health when adjusted for one-time items.

Market Research Analyst

The integration of generative AI into iQIYI's operations represents a potentially transformative development, as highlighted by the CEO. The ability to leverage AI for content creation and operational efficiency can provide a competitive edge. This move might positively influence their content output and user engagement metrics in the long-term, though the impact is still in its early stages.

The company's ability to maintain positive operating cash flow for eight consecutive quarters is a positive sign of fiscal discipline and operational stability. This consistency makes their business more attractive to investors, indicating potential for sustained growth.

However, the drop in membership services revenue should be watched closely. The success of their AI integration and overall content strategy will be critical in reversing this trend.

BEIJING, May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Total revenues were RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion¹), decreasing 5% year over year.
• Operating income was RMB944.8 million (US$130.8 million) and operating income margin was 12%, compared to operating income of RMB858.6 million and operating income margin of 10% in the same period in 2023.
• Non-GAAP operating income² was RMB1.1 billion (US$150.4 million) and non-GAAP operating income margin was 14%, compared to non-GAAP operating income of RMB1.0 billion and non-GAAP operating income margin of 12% in the same period in 2023.
• Net income attributable to iQIYI was RMB655.3 million (US$90.8 million), compared to net income attributable to iQIYI of RMB618.1 million in the same period in 2023.
• Non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI² was RMB844.3 million (US$116.9 million), compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI of RMB939.5 million in the same period in 2023.
  

“Our operating profits and corresponding margins reached historical highs, thanks to our quality execution and increased operating efficiency,” commented Mr. Yu Gong, Founder, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of iQIYI. “The initial integration of generative AI into our operations is already yielding promising results. We are eager to harness the power of this innovative technology to improve our capacity for delivering top-tier content and to expand our growth possibilities.”

“We have been generating positive operating cash flow for eight consecutive quarters, and our balance sheet continued to improve,” commented Mr. Jun Wang, Chief Financial Officer of iQIYI. “This makes our business more defensible and offers us more tools to improve shareholder value over time.”

First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
		Three Months Ended
(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”), except for per ADS data, unaudited)		March 31,		December 31,		March 31,
		2023		2023		2024
		RMB		RMB		RMB
Total revenues		8,348,807		7,706,468		7,927,355
Operating income		858,631		773,709		944,753
Operating income (non-GAAP)		1,034,296		927,818		1,085,762
Net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc.		618,109		466,233		655,317
Net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc. (non-GAAP)		939,533		682,026		844,325
Diluted net income per ADS		0.64		0.48		0.68
Diluted net income per ADS (non-GAAP)2		0.97		0.70		0.87

Footnotes:
[1] Unless otherwise noted, RMB to USD was converted at an exchange rate of RMB7.2203 as of March 29, 2024, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Translations are provided solely for the convenience of the reader.

[2] Non-GAAP measures are defined in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section (see also “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures” for more details).

First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Total revenues reached RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion), decreasing 5% year over year.

Membership services revenue was RMB4.8 billion (US$664.6 million), decreasing 13% year over year. The decrease was primarily due to the high base effect in the same period last year.

Online advertising services revenue was RMB1.5 billion (US$205.3 million), increasing 6% year over year. The increase was primarily driven by the growth of performance-based advertising business.

Content distribution revenue was RMB928.0 million (US$128.5 million), increasing 27% year over year, primarily driven by the distribution of several major titles.

Other revenues were RMB718.4 million (US$99.5 million), increasing 8% year over year, primarily driven by the increase of revenue derived from third-party cooperation.

Cost of revenues was RMB5.6 billion (US$779.9 million), decreasing 5% year over year. Content costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB4.0 billion (US$553.5 million), decreasing 5% year over year. The decrease in content cost was driven by our improvement in content strategy and operating efficiency.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB922.0 million (US$127.7 million), decreasing 17% year over year. The decrease was primarily due to disciplined marketing spending and reversal of allowance for credit losses.

Research and development expenses were RMB429.3 million (US$59.5 million), flat year over year.

Operating income was RMB944.8 million (US$130.8 million), increasing 10% year over year. Operating income margin was 12%, compared to operating income margin of 10% in the same period in 2023. Non-GAAP operating income was RMB1.1 billion (US$150.4 million), increasing 5% year over year. Non-GAAP operating income margin was 14%, compared to non-GAAP operating income margin of 12% in the same period in 2023.

Total other expense was RMB261.3 million (US$36.2 million), increasing 25% year over year, primarily due to loss from foreign exchange, less interest income and non-operating income related to the repurchase of convertible senior notes, partially offset by less loss pick-up from equity method investments.

Income before income taxes was RMB683.5 million (US$94.7 million), compared to income before income taxes of RMB650.4 million in the same period in 2023.

Income tax expense was RMB17.6 million (US$2.4 million), compared to income tax expense of RMB24.6 million in the same period in 2023.

Net income attributable to iQIYI was RMB655.3 million (US$90.8 million), increasing 6% year over year. Diluted net income attributable to iQIYI per ADS was RMB0.68 (US$0.09) for the first quarter of 2024, compared to diluted net income attributable to iQIYI per ADS of RMB0.64 in the same period of 2023. Non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI was RMB844.3 million (US$116.9 million), decreasing 10% year over year. Non-GAAP diluted net income attributable to iQIYI per ADS was RMB0.87 (US$0.12), compared to non-GAAP diluted net income attributable to iQIYI per ADS of RMB0.97 in the same period of 2023.

Operating cash flow was RMB937.8 million (US$129.9 million), compared to operating cash flow of RMB1.0 billion in the same period of 2023. Free cash flow was RMB915.3 million (US$126.8 million), compared to free cash flow of RMB1.0 billion in the same period of 2023.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term restricted cash included in prepayments and other assets of RMB7.3 billion (US$1.0 billion).

Conference Call Information

iQIYI's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:00 AM on May 16, 2024, U.S. Eastern Time (7:00 PM on May 16, 2024, Beijing Time).

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

Participant Online Registration: https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10038227-kjuy76.html  

It will automatically direct you to the registration page of "iQIYI First Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call ", where you may fill in your details for RSVP.

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through May 23, 2024.

Dial-in numbers for the replay are as follows:
International Dial-in	+1 855 883 1031
Passcode:	10038227

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.iqiyi.com/.

About iQIYI, Inc.

iQIYI, Inc. is a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China. It combines creative talent with technology to foster an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. It produces, aggregates and distributes a wide variety of professionally produced content, as well as a broad spectrum of other video content in a variety of formats. iQIYI distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. Over time, iQIYI has built a massive user base and developed a diversified monetization model including membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, online games, IP licensing, talent agency, online literature, etc.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under 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," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as iQIYI's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. iQIYI may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 but not limited to statements about iQIYI'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: iQIYI's strategies; iQIYI's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; iQIYI's ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, and expand its service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; changes in iQIYI's revenues, costs or expenditures; Chinese governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and iQIYI undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement iQIYI’s consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, iQIYI uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income margin, non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI, non-GAAP diluted net income attributable to iQIYI per ADS and free cash flow. The presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

iQIYI believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its operating performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its business operating results, such as operating performance excluding non-cash charges or non-operating in nature. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to the 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 iQIYI’s historical operating performance. The Company believes the 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 these non-GAAP financial measures is that the non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant component in the Company’s results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data.

Non-GAAP operating income represents operating income excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc. represents net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc. excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations, disposal gain or loss, impairment of long-term investments, fair value change of long-term investments, adjusted for related income tax effects. iQIYI’s share of equity method investments for these non-GAAP reconciling items, primarily amortization and impairment of intangible assets not on the investees’ books, accretion of their redeemable non-controlling interests, and the gain or loss associated with the issuance of shares by the investees at a price higher or lower than the carrying value per share, adjusted for related income tax effects, are also excluded.

Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS represents diluted net income per ADS calculated by dividing non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares expressed in ADS.

Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations
iQIYI, Inc.
ir@qiyi.com

iQIYI, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In RMB thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
		2023			2023			2024
		RMB			RMB			RMB
		(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
Revenues:
Membership services		5,547,305			4,808,727			4,798,861
Online advertising services		1,403,752			1,650,513			1,482,052
Content distribution		731,907			506,059			928,009
Others		665,843			741,169			718,433
Total revenues		8,348,807			7,706,468			7,927,355
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues		(5,956,003	)		(5,533,082	)		(5,631,239	)
Selling, general and administrative		(1,105,855	)		(947,806	)		(922,035	)
Research and development		(428,318	)		(451,871	)		(429,328	)
Total operating costs and expenses		(7,490,176	)		(6,932,759	)		(6,982,602	)
Operating income		858,631			773,709			944,753
Other income/(expense):
Interest income		104,986			55,098			58,740
Interest expenses		(285,964	)		(284,301	)		(282,135	)
Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net		36,982			10,660			(31,551	)
(Loss)/gain from equity method investments		(85,109	)		(1,284	)		13,514
Others, net		20,862			(39,972	)		(19,859	)
Total other expense, net		(208,243	)		(259,799	)		(261,291	)
Income before income taxes		650,388			513,910			683,462
Income tax expense		(24,632	)		(38,473	)		(17,633	)
Net income		625,756			475,437			665,829
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		7,647			9,204			10,512
Net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc.		618,109			466,233			655,317
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders		618,109			466,233			655,317
Net income per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares:
Basic		0.09			0.07			0.10
Diluted		0.09			0.07			0.10
Net income per ADS (1 ADS equals 7 Class A ordinary shares):
Basic		0.66			0.49			0.68
Diluted		0.64			0.48			0.68
Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares used in net income per share computation:
Basic		6,569,658,687			6,713,897,712			6,717,652,924
Diluted		6,754,965,091			6,834,735,594			6,788,073,126

iQIYI, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In RMB thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)
		December 31,			March 31,
		2023			2024
		RMB			RMB
					(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		4,434,525			5,045,322
Restricted cash		6,120			-
Short-term investments		941,738			985,970
Accounts receivable, net		2,169,042			2,727,305
Prepayments and other assets		2,794,259			2,602,327
Amounts due from related parties		1,707,024			1,716,816
Licensed copyrights, net		582,521			724,610
Total current assets		12,635,229			13,802,350
Non-current assets:
Fixed assets, net		863,813			845,380
Long-term investments		2,260,785			2,217,918
Licensed copyrights, net		6,966,508			6,920,485
Intangible assets, net		309,534			333,395
Produced content, net		13,376,985			13,613,389
Prepayments and other assets		3,518,210			3,845,572
Operating lease assets		683,897			661,171
Goodwill		3,820,823			3,820,823
Amounts due from related parties		158,590			239,328
Total non-current assets		31,959,145			32,497,461
Total assets		44,594,374			46,299,811
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts and notes payable		5,671,074			5,897,266
Amounts due to related parties		2,953,658			2,839,277
Customer advances and deferred revenue		4,373,208			4,650,902
Convertible senior notes, current portion		2,802,442			2,854,578
Short-term loans		3,571,637			3,520,199
Long-term loans, current portion		2,000			23,000
Operating lease liabilities, current portion		100,883			97,214
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,866,632			3,111,662
Total current liabilities		22,341,534			22,994,098
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term loans		97,990			326,830
Convertible senior notes		8,143,994			8,357,217
Deferred tax liabilities		824			560
Amounts due to related parties		80,566			75,569
Operating lease liabilities		523,747			499,599
Other non-current liabilities		1,220,804			1,276,089
Total non-current liabilities		10,067,925			10,535,864
Total liabilities		32,409,459			33,529,962
Shareholders’ equity:
Class A ordinary shares		237			237
Class B ordinary shares		193			193
Additional paid-in capital		54,971,469			55,122,923
Accumulated deficit		(44,573,428	)		(43,918,111	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		1,688,047			1,508,392
Non-controlling interests		98,397			56,215
Total shareholders’ equity		12,184,915			12,769,849
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		44,594,374			46,299,811

iQIYI, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In RMB thousands, except for number of shares and per share data)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2023			2023			2024
	RMB			RMB			RMB
	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,001,765			633,586			937,773
Net cash provided by/(used for) investing activities(1,2)	166,845			(1,430,634	)		(222,755	)
Net cash (used for)/provided by financing activities	(3,356,630	)		(22,484	)		261,136
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(8,862	)		(31,445	)		14,606
Net (decrease)/increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(2,196,882	)		(850,977	)		990,760
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period	7,861,556			6,131,585			5,280,608
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period	5,664,674			5,280,608			6,271,368
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,529,267			4,434,525			5,045,322
Restricted cash	6,120			6,120			-
Long-term restricted cash	1,129,287			839,963			1,226,046
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows	5,664,674			5,280,608			6,271,368
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,001,765			633,586			937,773
Less: Capital expenditures(2)	(241	)		(19,231	)		(22,429	)
Free cash flow	1,001,524			614,355			915,344

(1)   Net cash provided by or used for investing activities primarily consists of net cash flows from loans provided to related party, investing in debt securities, purchase of long-term investments and capital expenditures.
(2)   Capital expenditures are incurred primarily in connection with construction in process, computers and servers.

iQIYI, INC. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures (Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”), except for per ADS information, unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
	2023			2023			2024
	RMB			RMB			RMB
Operating income	858,631			773,709			944,753
Add: Share-based compensation expenses	169,046			152,576			139,476
Add: Amortization of intangible assets(1)	6,619			1,533			1,533
Operating income (non-GAAP)	1,034,296			927,818			1,085,762
Net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc.	618,109			466,233			655,317
Add: Share-based compensation expenses	169,046			152,576			139,476
Add: Amortization of intangible assets(1)	6,619			1,533			1,533
Add: Impairment of long-term investments	118,984			62,231			70,745
Add: Fair value loss/(gain) of long-term investments	9,445			(323	)		(22,482	)
Add: Reconciling items on equity method investments(2)	18,351			-			-
Add: Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments(3)	(1,021	)		(224	)		(264	)
Net income attributable to iQIYI, Inc. (non-GAAP)	939,533			682,026			844,325
Diluted net income per ADS	0.64			0.48			0.68
Add: Non-GAAP adjustments to earnings per ADS	0.33			0.22			0.19
Diluted net income per ADS (non-GAAP)	0.97			0.70			0.87

(1)    This represents amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations.
(2)    This represents iQIYI’s share of equity method investments for other non-GAAP reconciling items, primarily amortization and impairment of intangible assets not on the investee’s books, accretion of their redeemable noncontrolling interests, and the gain or loss associated with the issuance of shares by the investees at a price higher or lower than the carrying value per share.
(3)    This represents tax impact of all relevant non-GAAP adjustments.

FAQ

What were iQIYI's total revenues for Q1 2024?

iQIYI's total revenues for Q1 2024 were RMB7.9 billion (US$1.1 billion), a 5% decrease year over year.

How did iQIYI's operating income perform in Q1 2024?

iQIYI's operating income increased by 10% to RMB944.8 million (US$130.8 million) in Q1 2024.

What was iQIYI's net income attributable to shareholders in Q1 2024?

Net income attributable to iQIYI was RMB655.3 million (US$90.8 million), a 6% increase year over year.

How did iQIYI's membership services revenue fare in Q1 2024?

iQIYI's membership services revenue decreased by 13% to RMB4.8 billion (US$664.6 million) in Q1 2024.

What was the impact of online advertising on iQIYI's revenues in Q1 2024?

Online advertising revenue for iQIYI increased by 6% year over year to RMB1.5 billion (US$205.3 million) in Q1 2024.

What is the non-GAAP net income for iQIYI in Q1 2024?

The non-GAAP net income attributable to iQIYI decreased by 10% to RMB844.3 million (US$116.9 million) in Q1 2024.

What were the operating cash flow figures for iQIYI in Q1 2024?

iQIYI's operating cash flow for Q1 2024 was RMB937.8 million (US$129.9 million).