BEIJING, March 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE: STG) (“Sunlands” or the “Company”), a leader in China’s adult online education market and China’s adult personal interest learning market, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024. Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial and Operational Snapshots Net revenues were RMB483.5 million (US$66.2 million), compared to RMB541.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.Gross billings ( ...

Company Announcement No. 01/2025  Copenhagen, 6 March 2025 STG Global Finance B.V. – Annual Report of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S On 6 March 2025, Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S published its Annual Report 2024 and its consolidated interim report for 1 January – 31 December 2024. The Annual Report and company announcement of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S relating to the published reports are available at: https://www.st-group.com/investor/. For further information, please contact: Torben Sand, Direct ...

Company Overview - Sunlands Technology Group (NYSE:STG) is a leader in China's adult online education market and personal interest learning market, formerly known as Sunlands Online Education Group [4] - The company offers a variety of online professional courses and educational content, including interest courses aimed at professional certification exams and skill enhancement [4] - Sunlands utilizes a live streaming platform and provides access to its services through PC and mobile applications, fostering a personalized and interactive learning environment [4] Upcoming Financial Results - Sunlands will report its fourth quarter and full year 2024 unaudited financial results on March 21, 2025, before the U.S. markets open [1] - A conference call will be hosted by the management team at 6:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the same day [2] Conference Call Details - Participants wishing to join the conference call must complete online registration 30 minutes prior to the call [3] - A live webcast and an archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sunlands' website [3]

Core Insights - Sunlands Technology Group has fully integrated DeepSeek, an advanced AI model, into its operations to enhance its leadership in China's adult online education market [1][2][3] Technological Transformation - The integration of DeepSeek marks a significant phase in Sunlands' technological transformation, aiming to drive innovation and optimize key business functions such as teaching, customer acquisition, and operational management [1][2] - DeepSeek's capabilities are expected to fundamentally transform the education model, providing personalized and efficient educational services while optimizing internal processes for sustainable growth [3] Addressing Diverse Needs - Adult education presents unique challenges due to the diversity of student backgrounds and learning goals, which DeepSeek is designed to address by offering tailored educational experiences [4] Empowerment in Key Business Areas - **Teaching and Research Enhancement**: DeepSeek will analyze student learning data to provide data-driven teaching recommendations and optimize course design, enhancing instructional quality [5] - **AI-Powered Student Support**: The AI assistant will offer instant, accurate responses to student inquiries, allowing teachers to focus on content improvement [6][7] - **Customer Acquisition and Marketing Optimization**: DeepSeek's data analysis will help Sunlands understand student preferences and improve marketing effectiveness through personalized course recommendations [8][9] - **Data-Driven Decision-Making and Operational Efficiency**: DeepSeek will enhance Sunlands' data-first strategy by identifying business bottlenecks and automating internal processes, leading to more efficient operations [10][11] Market Outlook - The adult education market in China is projected to reach 788.3 billion yuan by 2024, driven by supportive government policies and increasing demand for diverse learning opportunities [12] - AI technology is seen as a key enabler for meeting students' learning needs and enhancing overall competitiveness in the adult education sector [13]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2024 was RMB491.3 million, a slight sequential decline of 0.2% compared to the previous quarter [6] - Net profit increased by 8.6% to RMB89.3 million from the previous quarter, indicating effective strategic realignment [6] - Net revenues decreased by 6.4% year-over-year from RMB524.6 million in Q3 2023 [17] - Gross profit decreased by 11.1% to RMB409.2 million in Q3 2024 from RMB460.5 million in Q3 2023 [18] - Operating expenses increased by 1.4% to RMB343.4 million in Q3 2024 [19] - Basic and diluted net income per share was RMB13.08 in Q3 2024 [21] - Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024, were RMB535.9 million, down from RMB766.4 million at the end of 2023 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The interest, professional skills, and professional certification preparation sector contributed 33.6% of total revenues, showing strong growth potential [10] - Traditional degree or diploma-oriented programs contributed 9.2% to total revenues, reflecting ongoing demand for accessible education [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total enrollments grew by 11.2% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2024, indicating effective strategies in adapting to market needs [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen brand presence, enhance user experience, and innovate educational offerings to cater to diverse learning needs [8][9] - Focus on optimizing cost structure and directing resources towards promising opportunities to drive sustainable profitability [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain steady growth despite external pressures and highlighted the importance of long-term value generation [6][7] - For Q4 2024, the company expects net revenues to be between RMB450 million to RMB470 million, reflecting a decrease of 13.2% to 16.9% year-over-year [23] Other Important Information - The company has maintained strong cash flow from operating activities, allowing for strategic adjustments and risk management [16] Q&A Session Summary - The Q&A session did not contain any specific questions or answers as the call concluded without further inquiries [24][25]

Core Viewpoint - Sunlands Technology Group reported a decline in net revenues and gross profit for the third quarter of 2024, but managed to achieve a net income of RMB89.3 million, indicating resilience in a challenging market environment [4][12]. Financial Performance - Net revenues for Q3 2024 were RMB491.3 million (US$70.0 million), a decrease of 6.4% from RMB524.6 million in Q3 2023 [2][7]. - Gross billings (non-GAAP) were RMB360.3 million (US$51.3 million), down from RMB390.0 million in Q3 2023 [2][30]. - Gross profit decreased by 11.1% to RMB409.2 million (US$58.3 million) compared to RMB460.5 million in Q3 2023 [2][9]. - Net income was RMB89.3 million (US$12.7 million), down from RMB131.6 million in Q3 2023, with a net income margin of 18.2% compared to 25.1% in the previous year [2][12]. Operational Highlights - New student enrollments increased to 158,395 in Q3 2024 from 154,299 in Q3 2023 [2][3]. - The deferred revenue balance as of September 30, 2024, was RMB920.6 million (US$131.2 million), down from RMB1,113.9 million as of December 31, 2023 [2][15]. Cost Structure - Cost of revenues rose by 28.0% to RMB82.1 million (US$11.7 million) in Q3 2024, primarily due to increased costs from sales of goods [2][8]. - Operating expenses were RMB343.4 million (US$48.9 million), a 1.4% increase from RMB338.5 million in Q3 2023, with sales and marketing expenses increasing by 2.7% [2][10]. Future Outlook - For Q4 2024, the company expects net revenues to be between RMB450 million to RMB470 million, representing a year-over-year decrease of 13.2% to 16.9% [25]. - The company aims to strengthen its brand presence and enhance user experience while optimizing its cost structure to drive sustainable profitability growth [5][6].

Core Points - Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S published its consolidated interim report for the period of January 1 to September 30, 2024 [1] Group 1 - The interim report was released on November 12, 2024 [1] - The report is accessible through the company's investor news section on their website [1]

Company Overview - Sunlands Technology Group is a leader in China's adult online education market and personal interest learning market, formerly known as Sunlands Online Education Group [4] - The company offers a variety of online professional courses and educational content, including interest courses and post-secondary degree-oriented programs [4] - Sunlands utilizes a live streaming platform to create a personalized and interactive learning environment, featuring a virtual learning community and a vast library of educational content [4] Upcoming Financial Results - Sunlands will report its third quarter 2024 unaudited financial results on November 22, 2024, before the U.S. market opens [1] - A conference call will be hosted by the management team at 5:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the same day [2] Conference Call Details - Participants wishing to join the conference call must complete online registration 30 minutes prior to the call [3] - A live webcast and an archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sunlands' website [3]

Core Insights - Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S published its consolidated interim report for the first half of 2024, covering the period from January 1 to June 30, 2024 [1] Group 1 - The interim report is accessible on the company's investor relations website [1] - The announcement regarding the interim report is also available on the company's news section [1] - For further inquiries, contact information for the Head of IR & Communication is provided [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved net revenue of RMB 492.2 million, a decrease of 6.5% from RMB 526.4 million in Q2 2023 [17] - Net income for Q2 2024 was RMB 82.3 million, down from RMB 173.9 million in Q2 2023 [19] - Gross margin was 84.4% and net margin was 16.67%, maintaining profitability for the 13th consecutive quarter [15] - Cash position as of June 30, 2024, included RMB 758.6 million in cash and equivalents, compared to RMB 766.4 million at the end of 2023 [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Interest cost offerings contributed 76.7% of total revenue, with an anticipated 11% year-over-year increase [8] - Degree-oriented post-secondary courses accounted for 10.7% of total revenue, consistent with near-term goals [9] - Education peripheral products and services represented 11.5% of total revenue for the quarter [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New student enrollments increased by 9.1% year-over-year, leading to an 8.4% increase in gross billings [6] - The adult online education market is evolving, with diverse learning objectives and significant opportunities in interest-based education [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance brand awareness and improve product quality while expanding and refining offerings [7] - Focus on technology as a key driver for innovation, integrating AI for personalized learning support and assignment grading [11][12] - Commitment to developing quality products and services in response to government policies promoting high-quality service consumption [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term prospects despite challenging macroeconomic conditions [15] - The company expects Q3 2024 net revenues to be between RMB 490 million to RMB 510 million, reflecting a decrease of 2.8% to 6.6% year-over-year [20] Other Important Information - The company has successfully expanded into educational travel, achieving revenues six times that of the same period last year [10] - The introduction of AI-driven tools is aimed at enhancing teaching efficiency and student engagement [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: No questions were raised during the Q&A session - The operator indicated that there were no further questions, concluding the session [21]