Weibo Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2021 Unaudited Financial Results
Weibo Corporation (NASDAQ: WB) reported solid financial results for Q4 and FY 2021, with total revenues of $616.3 million for Q4, up 20% year-over-year, and $2.26 billion for the full year, a 34% increase. Advertising revenues in Q4 were $550.8 million, marking a 21% increase. The company achieved a net income of $115.7 million in Q4 and $428.3 million for the year. Monthly active users reached 573 million in December 2021, with a substantial growth in mobile engagement. Weibo expects to enhance its product offerings and drive customer value in 2022.
- Total revenue for FY 2021 reached $2.26 billion, a 34% increase year-over-year.
- Net income for FY 2021 was $428.3 million, up from $313.4 million in 2020.
- Monthly active users (MAUs) increased to 573 million, with a net addition of 52 million users year-over-year.
- Advertising revenues for Q4 2021 rose by 21% to $550.8 million.
- Total costs and expenses for Q4 2021 rose by 31% to $433.8 million, impacting margins.
- Non-operating loss in Q4 2021 was $36.8 million, compared to $175.8 million the previous year, indicating continued volatility.
BEIJING, March 3, 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 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
"We closed 2021 on a solid note with decent growth of the fourth quarter, with strong execution of our growth strategies," said Gaofei Wang, CEO of Weibo. "In 2021, we have achieved solid growth of user community and engagement, leveraging Weibo's unique advantage and competitiveness in the social media sector. On monetization, we surpassed the
Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights
- Net revenues were
$616.3 million , an increase of20% year-over-year or an increase of16% year-over-year on a constant currency basis[1]. - Advertising and marketing revenues were
$550.8 million , an increase of21% year-over-year. - Value-added service ("VAS") revenues were
$65.5 million , an increase of9% year-over-year. - Income from operations was
$182.5 million , representing an operating margin of30% . - Net income attributable to Weibo was
$115.7 million and diluted net income per share was$0.50 . - Non-GAAP income from operations was
$219.8 million , representing a non-GAAP operating margin of36% . - Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo was
$195.5 million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was$0.83 . - Monthly active users ("MAUs") were 573 million in December 2021, a net addition of approximately 52 million users on year-over-year basis. Mobile MAUs represented
95% of MAUs. - Average daily active users ("DAUs") were 249 million in December 2021, a net addition of approximately 25 million users on year-over-year basis.
Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights
- Net revenues were
$2.26 billion , an increase of34% year-over-year or an increase of25% year-over-year on a constant currency basis[2]. - Advertising and marketing revenues were
$1.98 billion , an increase of33% year-over-year. - VAS revenues were
$276.3 million , an increase of36% year-over-year. - Income from operations was
$697.4 million , representing an operating margin of31% . - Net income attributable to Weibo was
$428.3 million and diluted net income per share was$1.86 . - Non-GAAP income from operations was
$829.2 million , representing a non-GAAP operating margin of37% . - Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo was
$718.5 million and non-GAAP diluted net income per share was$3.08 .
[1] On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, we assume that the exchange rate in the fourth quarter of 2021 had been the same as it was in the fourth quarter of 2020, or RMB 6.64=US |
[2] On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, we assume that the average exchange rate of 2021 had been the same as 2020, or RMB 6.91=US |
Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Results
For the fourth quarter of 2021, Weibo's total net revenues were
Advertising and marketing revenues for the fourth quarter of 2021 were
VAS revenues for the fourth quarter of 2021 were
Costs and expenses for the fourth quarter of 2021 totaled
Income from operations for the fourth quarter of 2021 was
Non-operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2021 was
Income tax expense were
Net income attributable to Weibo for the fourth quarter of 2021 was
As of December 31, 2021, Weibo's cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled
Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results
For fiscal year 2021, Weibo's total net revenues were
Advertising and marketing revenues for 2021 were
VAS revenues for 2021 were
Costs and expenses for 2021 totaled
Income from operations for 2021 was
Non-operating loss for 2021 was
Income tax expenses for 2021 were
Net income attributable to Weibo for 2021 was
For fiscal year 2021, cash provided by operating activities was
Secondary Listing in Hong Kong
On December 8, 2021, Weibo successfully listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "9898" through a global offering of 11,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The gross proceeds totaled HK
Conference Call
Weibo's management team will host a conference call from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time on March 3, 2022 (or 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Beijing Time on March 3, 2022) 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 dial-in numbers, passcode and unique registrant ID by email. To join the conference, please use the conference access information provided in the email received at the point of registering.
PRE-REGISTER LINK: http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/4087626
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 from 22:00 PM China Standard Time on March 3, 2022 to 20:59 PM China Standard Time on March 11, 2022. To access the recording, please use the following dial-in information listed below:
United States: | +1 855 452 5696 |
Hong Kong: | 800 963 117 |
Mainland China: | 400 602 2065 |
International: | +61 2 8199 0299 |
Replay PIN: | 4087626 |
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, 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 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 (benefit), 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 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; 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.
WEIBO CORPORATION | ||||||||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data) | ||||||||||
Three months ended | Twelve months ended | |||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Net revenues: | ||||||||||
Advertising and marketing | $ 550,826 | $ 453,477 | $ 537,620 | $ 1,980,795 | $ 1,486,155 | |||||
Value-added service | 65,461 | 59,933 | 69,814 | 276,288 | 203,776 | |||||
Net revenues | 616,287 | 513,410 | 607,434 | 2,257,083 | 1,689,931 | |||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||
Cost of revenues(1) | 128,545 | 87,288 | 102,978 | 403,841 | 302,180 | |||||
Sales and marketing(1) | 152,475 | 139,136 | 140,839 | 591,682 | 455,619 | |||||
Product development(1) | 113,867 | 90,229 | 118,821 | 430,673 | 324,110 | |||||
General and administrative(1) | 38,878 | 15,113 | 31,747 | 133,475 | 101,224 | |||||
Total costs and expenses | 433,765 | 331,766 | 394,385 | 1,559,671 | 1,183,133 | |||||
Income from operations | 182,522 | 181,644 | 213,049 | 697,412 | 506,798 | |||||
Non-operating income (loss): | ||||||||||
Impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value | (41,976) | (185,371) | 646 | (176,344) | (174,717) | |||||
Interest and other income (expense), net | 5,161 | 9,531 | (489) | 29,650 | 43,832 | |||||
(36,815) | (175,840) | 157 | (146,694) | (130,885) | ||||||
Income before income tax expenses | 145,707 | 5,804 | 213,206 | 550,718 | 375,913 | |||||
Income taxe benefits (expenses) | (45,581) | 25,314 | (31,405) | (138,841) | (61,316) | |||||
Net income | 100,126 | 31,118 | 181,801 | 411,877 | 314,597 | |||||
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to | (15,607) | 2,076 | 63 | (16,442) | 1,233 | |||||
Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders | $ 115,733 | $ 29,042 | $ 181,738 | $ 428,319 | $ 313,364 | |||||
Basic net income per share attributable to Weibo's | $ 0.50 | $ 0.13 | $ 0.79 | $ 1.87 | $ 1.38 | |||||
Diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's | $ 0.50 | $ 0.13 | $ 0.78 | $ 1.86 | $ 1.38 | |||||
Shares used in computing basic net income | ||||||||||
per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders | 230,679 | 227,495 | 228,675 | 228,814 | 226,921 | |||||
Shares used in computing diluted net income | ||||||||||
per share attributable to Weibo's shareholders | 231,506 | 228,489 | 237,183 | 230,206 | 227,637 | |||||
(1) Stock-based compensation in each category: | ||||||||||
Cost of revenues | $ 2,422 | $ 1,475 | $ 2,450 | $ 8,112 | $ 5,384 | |||||
Sales and marketing | 5,043 | 3,097 | 4,700 | 15,292 | 9,983 | |||||
Product development | 14,362 | 10,203 | 11,047 | 43,622 | 33,093 | |||||
General and administrative | 4,911 | 4,545 | 6,840 | 20,970 | 18,645 |
WEIBO CORPORATION | |||||||
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars) | |||||||
December 31, | December 31, | ||||||
2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets: | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 2,423,703 | $ 1,814,844 | |||||
Short-term investments | 711,062 | 1,682,048 | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | 723,089 | 492,010 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 450,726 | 296,757 | |||||
Amount due from SINA(1) | 494,200 | 548,900 | |||||
Current assets subtotal | 4,802,780 | 4,834,559 | |||||
Property and equipment, net | 68,396 | 60,632 | |||||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 297,335 | 208,688 | |||||
Long-term investments | 1,207,651 | 1,179,466 | |||||
Other non-current assets | 1,143,360 | 51,772 | |||||
Total assets | $ 7,519,522 | $ 6,335,117 | |||||
Liabilities, Redeemable Non-controlling Interests and Shareholders' Equity | |||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Current liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ 197,643 | $ 149,509 | |||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 828,952 | 562,333 | |||||
Deferred revenues | 91,136 | 143,684 | |||||
Income tax payable | 144,747 | 102,844 | |||||
Convertible debt | 896,541 | - | |||||
Current liabilities subtotal | 2,159,019 | 958,370 | |||||
Long-term liabilities: | |||||||
Convertible debt | - | 892,399 | |||||
Unsecured senior notes | 1,538,415 | 1,536,112 | |||||
Other long-term liabilities | 134,068 | 61,906 | |||||
Total liabilities | 3,831,502 | 3,448,787 | |||||
Redeemable non-controlling interests | 66,622 | 57,714 | |||||
Shareholders' equity: | |||||||
Weibo shareholders' equity | 3,593,821 | 2,812,425 | |||||
Non-controlling interests | 27,577 | 16,191 | |||||
Total shareholders' equity | 3,621,398 | 2,828,616 | |||||
Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interests and | $ 7,519,522 | $ 6,335,117 | |||||
(1) Included short-term loans to and interest receivable from SINA of |
WEIBO CORPORATION | |||||||||||||||||
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS | |||||||||||||||||
(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||||
Three months ended | Twelve months ended | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||||||||
Income from operations | $ | 182,522 | $ | 181,644 | $ | 213,049 | $ | 697,412 | $ | 506,798 | |||||||
Add: | Stock-based compensation | 26,738 | 19,320 | 25,037 | 87,996 | 67,105 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business | 5,716 | 3,174 | 5,478 | 20,589 | 5,654 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest | 4,826 | - | 5,140 | 23,246 | - | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP income from operations | $ | 219,802 | $ | 204,138 | $ | 248,704 | $ | 829,243 | $ | 579,557 | |||||||
Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders | $ | 115,733 | $ | 29,042 | $ | 181,738 | $ | 428,319 | $ | 313,364 | |||||||
Add: | Stock-based compensation | 26,738 | 19,320 | 25,037 | 87,996 | 67,105 | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business | 5,716 | 3,174 | 5,478 | 20,589 | 5,654 | ||||||||||||
Non-cash compensation cost to non-controlling interest | 4,826 | - | 5,140 | 23,246 | - | ||||||||||||
Net results of impairment on, gain/loss on sale of and fair value | 41,976 | 185,371 | (646) | 176,344 | 174,717 | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items on the share of equity | 4,343 | (6,399) | (1,715) | (6,538) | (11,953) | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items for the income/loss | (16,844) | (562) | (233) | (16,916) | (468) | ||||||||||||
Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments(1) | 11,405 | (18,889) | (6,856) | (951) | (6,897) | ||||||||||||
Amortization of convertible debt and unsecured senior notes | 1,611 | 1,611 | 1,611 | 6,445 | 5,944 | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders | $ | 195,504 | $ | 212,668 | $ | 209,554 | $ | 718,534 | $ | 547,466 | |||||||
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share attributable to Weibo's | $ | 0.83 | * | $ | 0.92 | * | $ | 0.90 | * | $ | 3.08 | * | $ | 2.38 | * | ||
Shares used in computing GAAP diluted net income per share | 231,506 | 228,489 | 237,183 | 230,206 | 227,637 | ||||||||||||
Add: | The number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible | 6,753 | 6,753 | - | 6,753 | 6,753 | |||||||||||
Shares used in computing non-GAAP diluted net income per share | 238,259 | 235,242 | 237,183 | 236,959 | 234,390 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA: | |||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders | $ | 115,733 | $ | 29,042 | $ | 181,738 | $ | 428,319 | $ | 313,364 | |||||||
Non-GAAP adjustments | 79,771 | 183,626 | 27,816 | 290,215 | 234,102 | ||||||||||||
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Weibo's shareholders | 195,504 | 212,668 | 209,554 | 718,534 | 547,466 | ||||||||||||
Interest income,net | (4,231) | (4,021) | (701) | (12,719) | (34,345) | ||||||||||||
Income tax expenses | 34,176 | (6,425) | 38,261 | 139,792 | 68,213 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation expenses | 8,593 | 7,511 | 8,141 | 32,847 | 26,453 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 234,042 | $ | 209,733 | $ | 255,255 | $ | 878,454 | $ | 607,787 | |||||||
(1) | To exclude the income tax expenses primarily related to amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and fair value change | ||||||||||||||||
(2) | To adjust the number of shares for dilution resulted from convertible debt 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 | Twelve months ended | ||||||||||
December 31, | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||
2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net revenues | |||||||||||
Advertising and marketing | |||||||||||
Non-Ali advertisers | $ 505,333 | $ 393,945 | $ 516,818 | $ 1,841,234 | |||||||
Alibaba - as an advertiser | 45,493 | 59,532 | 20,802 | 139,561 | 152,000 | ||||||
Subtotal | 550,826 | 453,477 | 537,620 | 1,980,795 | 1,486,155 | ||||||
Value-added service | 65,461 | 59,933 | 69,814 | 276,288 | 203,776 | ||||||
$ 616,287 | $ 513,410 | $ 607,434 | $ 2,257,083 |
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SOURCE Weibo Corporation
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