BEIJING, Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 36Kr Holdings Inc. ("36Kr" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: KRKR), a prominent brand and pioneering platform dedicated to serving New Economy participants in China, today highlighted significant progress on its path to profitability, based on its performance in the six months ended June 30, 2025. The Company’s performance highlights significant strides in cost optimization, profitability, and strategic growth initiatives. Key achievements for the first half of 2025 incl ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the first half of 2025, total revenue was RMB 93.2 million, a decrease from RMB 102.4 million in the same period last year [24] - Gross profit increased by 10% year over year, with gross profit margin rising to 54.4%, up from 44.4% [5][25] - Operating expenses decreased by 52% to RMB 55.9 million from RMB 117 million in the same period last year [26] - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB 4.8 million from RMB 95.9 million year over year, representing a 95% improvement [5][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Online advertising services revenue was RMB 74.5 million, down from RMB 80.4 million, attributed to advertisers adjusting strategies due to macro pressures [24] - Revenue from enterprise value-added services decreased to RMB 12.2 million from RMB 13.4 million, focusing on margin improvement [24] - Subscription services revenue fell to RMB 6.4 million from RMB 8.6 million, due to changes in the training services business model [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Internet clients increased by 52% year over year, while revenue from the FMCG segment grew by 27% [15] - Revenue from sub-vertical media channels for younger audiences increased by 30% year over year, with brand client spending doubling [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has focused on content innovation, commercialization, and technological applications to optimize organizational structure and improve efficiency [5] - A strategic partnership was signed with Hangzhou Tiantang New Era Construction and Investment Group to support global expansion initiatives [17] - The company aims to enhance its competitive edge in content creation and further leverage AI technology to empower development among New Economy stakeholders [23] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted that operational efforts over the past two years led to significant cost reductions and efficiency improvements, predicting profitability by the end of 2025 [32][33] - The company plans to continue expanding its overseas ventures and strengthen its global network [37] - Management emphasized the importance of integrating AI technology into content production to unlock new avenues for success [40] Other Important Information - The company hosted multiple events in the first half of 2025, including the AI Partner Summit and the Industrial Future Conference, to foster collaboration and innovation [12][38] - The launch of new content channels and live streaming series aims to engage younger audiences and enhance the company's influence in emerging industries [8][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company achieve financial turnaround and what is the outlook for 2025? - The company implemented cost reduction measures, streamlined operations, and improved workforce efficiency, resulting in a significant decrease in operating expenses and net loss [32] - The company predicts achieving profitability by the end of 2025 through continued improvements in content creation and product metrics [33] Question: What are the future plans for the Industrial Service business? - The company will continue hosting legacy IP events and has restructured its content layout and business strategy for the industrial service business, aiming for sustained profitability [36] - The company plans to expand its global network and collaborate with service providers to support enterprises seeking global expansion [37] Question: How does the company position itself in generative AI across content? - The company launched new content channels and live streaming series focused on AI, aiming to enhance user engagement and maintain its edge in AI trends [39] - The company plans to roll out a user review and discovery platform for AI tools, integrating community engagement and product guidance [40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the first half of 2025, total revenue was RMB 93.2 million, a decrease from RMB 102.4 million in the same period last year [25] - Gross profit increased by 10% year-over-year, with gross profit margin rising to 54.4%, up from 44.4% [6][27] - Operating expenses decreased by 52% year-over-year to RMB 55.9 million from RMB 117 million [28] - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB 4.8 million from RMB 95.9 million in the same period last year, representing a 95% improvement [6][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Online advertising services revenue was RMB 74.5 million, down from RMB 80.4 million, attributed to advertisers adjusting strategies due to macro pressures [25] - Revenue from enterprise value-added services decreased to RMB 12.2 million from RMB 13.4 million, focusing on margin improvement [26] - Subscription services revenue fell to RMB 6.4 million from RMB 8.6 million, primarily due to changes in the training services business model [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue directly generated by Internet clients increased by 52% year-over-year, while revenue from the FMCG segment grew by 27% [15] - Revenue from sub-vertical media channels for younger audiences increased by 30% year-over-year, with brand client spending doubling [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has focused on content innovation, commercialization, and technological applications to optimize organizational structure and improve efficiency [6] - A strategic partnership was established with Hangzhou Tiantang New Era Construction and Investment Group to support global expansion initiatives [17] - The company aims to continue enhancing its content creation capabilities and optimize product metrics, with a focus on achieving profitability by the end of 2025 [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted that operational efforts over the past two years led to significant cost reductions and efficiency improvements [32] - The company anticipates profits by the end of 2025, driven by ongoing improvements in content creation and product offerings [34] - Management expressed confidence in sustaining globalization momentum and expanding overseas ventures [37] Other Important Information - The company has hosted multiple events related to AI and industrial services, enhancing its influence in emerging industries [12][38] - The launch of new content channels and live streaming series has been aimed at engaging younger audiences and expanding the company's reach [10][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company achieve financial turnaround and what is the full year outlook for 2025? - The company implemented cost reduction and efficiency measures, resulting in a significant decrease in operating expenses and a narrowed net loss. The gross profit margin rebounded to over 50% [32][34] Question: What are the future plans for the Industrial Service business? - The company will continue hosting legacy IP events and has restructured its content layout and business strategy for the industrial service business, aiming for sustained profitability [36][38] Question: How does the company position itself in generative AI across content and product offerings? - The company has launched new initiatives in AI content, including video channels and live streaming series, and plans to roll out a user review platform for AI tools [39][40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the first half of 2025, total revenue was RMB 93.2 million, a decrease from RMB 102.4 million in the same period last year [25] - Gross profit increased by 10% year over year, with gross profit margin rising to 54.4%, up from 44.4% [6][27] - Operating expenses decreased by 52% to RMB 55.9 million from RMB 117 million in the same period last year [28] - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB 4.8 million from RMB 95.9 million year over year, representing a 95% improvement [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Online advertising services revenue was RMB 74.5 million, down from RMB 80.4 million, attributed to advertisers adjusting strategies due to macro pressures [25] - Revenue from enterprise value-added services decreased to RMB 12.2 million from RMB 13.4 million, focusing on margin improvement [26] - Subscription services revenue fell to RMB 6.4 million from RMB 8.6 million, due to changes in the training services business model [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Internet clients increased by 52% year over year, while revenue from the FMCG segment grew by 27% [15] - Revenue from sub-vertical media channels for younger audiences increased by 30% year over year, with brand client spending doubling [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on content innovation, commercialization, and technological applications to optimize organizational structure and improve efficiency [6] - A strategic partnership was signed with Hangzhou Tiantang New Era Construction and Investment Group to support global expansion initiatives [17] - The company plans to continue enhancing its content creation capabilities and aims for profitability by the end of 2025 [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted that operational efforts over the past two years led to significant cost reductions and efficiency improvements [32] - The company anticipates continued improvements in content creation and product metrics, aiming for profitability by the end of 2025 [34] Other Important Information - The company hosted multiple events in the first half of 2025, including the AI Partner Summit and the Industrial Future Conference, to strengthen its market presence [12][38] - The launch of new content channels and live streaming series, such as AI Insider, aims to enhance user engagement and expand the audience [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company achieve financial turnaround and what is the outlook for 2025? - The company implemented cost reduction measures, streamlined operations, and improved workforce efficiency, resulting in a significant decrease in operating expenses and net loss [32] - The company predicts achieving profitability by the end of 2025 [34] Question: What are the future plans for the Industrial Service business? - The company will continue hosting legacy IP events and has restructured its content layout and business strategy for the industrial service sector [36] - Plans include expanding overseas ventures and collaborating with service providers for global expansion [37] Question: How does the company position itself in generative AI across content offerings? - The company launched new content channels and live streaming series focused on AI, aiming to enhance its content ecosystem and user engagement [39] - The company plans to roll out a user review and discovery platform for AI tools to assist users in identifying suitable AI products [40]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the first half of 2025, total revenue was RMB 93.2 million, a decrease from RMB 102.4 million in the same period last year [25] - Gross profit increased by 10% year over year, with gross profit margin rising to 54.4%, up from 44.4% [6][26] - Operating expenses decreased by 52% to RMB 55.9 million from RMB 117 million in the same period last year [27] - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB 4.8 million from RMB 95.9 million year over year, representing a 95% improvement [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Online advertising services revenue was RMB 74.5 million, down from RMB 80.4 million, primarily due to advertisers adjusting strategies [25] - Revenue from enterprise value-added services decreased to RMB 12.2 million from RMB 13.4 million, reflecting a focus on margin improvement [25] - Subscription services revenue fell to RMB 6.4 million from RMB 8.6 million, attributed to changes in the training services business model [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from Internet clients increased by 52% year over year, while revenue from the FMCG segment grew by 27% [15] - Revenue from sub-vertical media channels for younger audiences increased by 30% year over year, with brand client spending doubling [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on content innovation, commercialization, and technological applications to enhance operational efficiency [6] - A strategic partnership was established with Hangzhou Tiantang New Era Construction and Investment Group to support global expansion initiatives [17] - The company plans to continue expanding its influence in emerging industries and enhance its content creation capabilities [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted that the financial turnaround was achieved through cost reduction and efficiency measures, with expectations of profitability by the end of 2025 [34] - The company aims to optimize its product metrics and enhance content creation capabilities in the second half of 2025 [35] Other Important Information - The company has maintained stable cash reserves, with cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $75.1 million as of June 13, 2025 [30] - The company has launched various new content channels and initiatives, including AI-focused content and live streaming series [40][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: How did the company achieve financial turnaround and what is the full year outlook for 2025? - The company implemented cost reduction measures, streamlined operations, and optimized its product portfolio, leading to a significant decrease in operating expenses and net loss [34] - The company predicts profitability by the end of 2025, focusing on improving content creation capabilities [35] Question: What are the future plans for the Industrial Service business? - The company will continue hosting legacy IP events and has restructured its content layout and business strategy for the industrial service business [37] - Plans include expanding overseas ventures and collaborating with service providers to support global expansion [38] Question: How does the company position itself in generative AI across content and product offerings? - The company has launched new AI-focused content initiatives and plans to develop an AI tools discovery platform for users [40][41] - The company aims to maintain its edge in covering AI trends and integrate AIGC technology into content production [41]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is preparing for a significant day with investors awaiting crucial inflation data that may impact the Federal Reserve's monetary policy [1] - U.S. stock futures are showing slight gains, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 0.1% to 0.16%, Dow Jones futures up around 0.1% to 0.23%, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbing about 0.06% to 0.12% [2] - European markets opened higher, with the Stoxx Europe 600 climbing 0.4%, while Asian markets saw declines, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 0.9% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 1.3% [3] Recent Index Performance - All three major U.S. indexes closed lower for the third consecutive day, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.38%, S&P 500 down 0.50%, and Nasdaq Composite down 0.50% [4] - The downturn was attributed to stronger-than-expected economic data, including a decline in weekly jobless claims to 218,000 and an upward revision of second-quarter GDP growth to 3.8% [4] Upcoming Economic Events - The August Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index is set to be released, with forecasts indicating a 0.3% month-over-month increase in headline PCE and a 2.7% year-over-year rise [5] - Core PCE is expected to increase by 0.25% monthly and 3% annually, with any significant deviation potentially triggering market volatility [5] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve recently cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.00%-4.25%, marking the first reduction since December [6] - Policymakers have indicated the possibility of two more rate cuts by year-end, depending on incoming economic data [6] Corporate Developments - President Trump's announcement of new 100% tariffs on branded or patented pharmaceutical products effective October 1, 2025, is impacting major pharmaceutical companies globally, including Sumitomo Pharma, Chugai Pharmaceutical, and AstraZeneca [8] - New 25% tariffs on imported heavy trucks are affecting the auto industry, with PACCAR Inc. seeing premarket gains while European counterparts like Daimler Truck have experienced declines [9] Notable Stock Movements - Intel's stock surged over 8% to 9% on reports of potential investments from Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. [13] - Tesla shares fell 4% following a decline in European August car sales, while Oracle dropped 5% in the same trading session [13] - CarMax tumbled 20% after reporting weaker-than-expected earnings, while Costco saw a slight decline despite beating Wall Street expectations [13] - Nike is showing a slight premarket rise of 0.5% after a 2.8% drop yesterday, while Goldman Sachs maintains a "Buy" rating ahead of its earnings report [13] - Lithium Americas surged following reports of potential government interest in acquiring a stake, with Albemarle also seeing stock price increases [13] - Accenture beat fourth-quarter revenue estimates and announced an $865 million restructuring plan to align its workforce with growing demand in digital and AI services [13]

Core Viewpoint - 36Kr Holdings Inc. reported significant improvements in profitability and operational efficiency in the first half of 2025, despite a decrease in total revenues compared to the same period in 2024 [4][8][10]. Financial and Operational Highlights - Total revenues for the first half of 2025 were RMB93.2 million (US$13.0 million), down from RMB102.4 million in the same period of 2024 [4][8]. - Revenues from online advertising services decreased to RMB74.5 million (US$10.4 million) from RMB80.4 million [4][12]. - Revenues from enterprise value-added services were RMB12.2 million (US$1.7 million), down from RMB13.4 million [4][12]. - Subscription services revenues fell to RMB6.4 million (US$0.9 million) from RMB8.6 million [4][12]. - Gross margin increased to 54.4%, up 10 percentage points from 44.4% in the same period of 2024 [4][10]. - Operating expenses were reduced by 52.3% to RMB55.9 million (US$7.8 million) from RMB117.0 million [4][11]. - Net loss narrowed significantly to RMB4.8 million (US$0.7 million), a 95% decrease from RMB95.9 million in the same period of 2024 [4][16]. Customer and Subscriber Metrics - The number of online advertising services end customers increased slightly to 226 from 222 [3]. - The average revenue per online advertising services end customer decreased to RMB329.7 thousand from RMB362.1 thousand [3]. - The number of enterprise value-added services end customers decreased to 49 from 56 [3]. - The number of individual subscribers was reported as 16, with an average revenue of RMB24,637.5 [3]. - The number of institutional investors decreased to 102 from 139, while the average revenue per institutional investor increased to RMB63.1 thousand from RMB59.2 thousand [3]. Strategic Insights - The company emphasized its commitment to enhancing profitability through strategic execution in content innovation, commercialization, and technology applications [4][5]. - The company achieved a 10% year-over-year increase in followers, reaching over 36 million as of June 30, 2025 [4][5]. - Future plans include deepening the content moat, expanding product offerings, and leveraging AI technology for sustainable development [4][5].

Core Viewpoint - 36Kr Holdings Inc. is set to report its unaudited financial results for the first half of 2025 on September 26, 2025, before U.S. market opening [1] Group 1: Earnings Conference Call - The management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on September 26, 2025 [2] - Participants can join the call by completing pre-registration and dialing in 5 minutes prior to the start time [2][3] - A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website [3] Group 2: Company Overview - 36Kr Holdings Inc. is a leading platform serving New Economy participants in China, focusing on empowering them to achieve more [4] - The Company began with high-quality New Economy-focused content and has expanded to include business services such as online advertising and enterprise value-added services [4] - 36Kr is supported by a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities, positioning it to capture growth in China's New Economy [4]

Group 1: US-China Economic Talks - Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead a delegation to Spain from September 14 to 17 to discuss US unilateral tariff measures, export controls, and TikTok among other economic issues [1] - China emphasizes its commitment to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its companies and insists on a fair business environment for Chinese firms operating in the US [1] Group 2: Fiscal Policy Outlook - The Ministry of Finance indicates that there is still ample room for future fiscal policy to stimulate growth, with the government debt ratio at 68.7% and total government debt projected to reach 92.6 trillion yuan by the end of 2024 [2] - The government will maintain policy continuity and stability while enhancing flexibility and foresight to support high-quality economic development [2] Group 3: Semiconductor Industry Developments - The Ministry of Commerce has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imported analog chips from the US, responding to domestic industry requests [3] - The Chinese Semiconductor Industry Association supports the investigation, advocating for a fair competitive environment and encouraging technological innovation [3][4] Group 4: Financial Regulations and Corporate Governance - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has announced administrative penalties against Beijing Oriental Tong Technology Co., Ltd. for financial fraud, proposing fines totaling 2.29 billion yuan and initiating delisting procedures [5] - The CSRC will also transfer any criminal evidence to law enforcement agencies as part of its regulatory responsibilities [5] Group 5: Digital Currency and E-Document Regulations - The National Internet Information Office is drafting regulations to promote and standardize the use of electronic documents, encouraging financial institutions to explore the use of digital currency for cross-border payments [6] Group 6: Automotive Industry Initiatives - Eight government departments have jointly released a work plan to stimulate growth in the automotive industry, focusing on technological innovation and the development of smart and connected vehicles [7] - The plan includes initiatives to enhance the application of intelligent networked technologies and support the development of competitive Chinese automotive brands [7] Group 7: Stock Market Performance - The Nasdaq Composite Index reached a new all-time high, with significant gains in major tech stocks such as Tesla, which rose over 7% [8] - The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index saw mixed performance among Chinese concept stocks, with notable increases in companies like Bilibili and Weibo [8] Group 8: Upcoming Economic Data Releases - Key economic data, including industrial output and fixed asset investment, will be released by the National Bureau of Statistics on September 15, while the Federal Reserve is expected to announce interest rate decisions on September 18 [9]

Group 1 - The Chinese and US sides will hold talks in Spain from September 14 to 17 to discuss unilateral tariff measures, export controls, and TikTok issues [2] - The Chinese government emphasizes its commitment to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its companies, particularly regarding data privacy and security [2] - The Ministry of Finance indicates that there is still ample room for fiscal policy to exert influence, with a government debt ratio of 68.7% and total debt amounting to 92.6 trillion yuan [3] Group 2 - The Ministry of Commerce has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imported analog chips from the US, responding to domestic industry requests [4] - The semiconductor industry in China supports the investigation, advocating for a fair environment for healthy development [4] - Preliminary evidence shows that the price of the investigated products from the US has significantly decreased, with a dumping margin exceeding 300% [5] Group 3 - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has announced penalties against Beijing Oriental Tong Technology Co., Ltd. for serious financial fraud, proposing fines totaling 229 million yuan [6] - The CSRC plans to initiate delisting procedures for the company due to significant violations of securities laws [6] Group 4 - The State Internet Information Office is drafting regulations to promote and standardize the application of electronic documents, encouraging the use of digital currency for cross-border payments [7] - The automotive industry is set to receive support from eight departments, focusing on technological innovation and the development of smart and connected vehicles [9] Group 5 - The Nasdaq Composite Index reached a new high, with significant gains in major tech stocks, including Tesla, which rose over 7% [10] - Upcoming economic data releases include industrial value-added and fixed asset investment figures, with expectations of a 92% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve [11] Group 6 - The CSRC has approved the IPO registration of Xiamen Hengkun New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and five new stocks are set to be issued this week [12] - A total of 54 companies will have their restricted shares released this week, amounting to 6.275 billion shares and a total market value of approximately 195.03 billion yuan [14]