Group 1 - The author focuses on value investing opportunities in Asia, particularly in the Hong Kong market, targeting deep value balance sheet bargains and wide moat stocks [1] - The investing group provides a range of watch lists with monthly updates for value investors [1]

Core Viewpoint - Zhihu has achieved profitability for the first time since its IPO, marking a significant milestone for the company as it aims to align with market expectations for profitability in 2024 [1][4][29] Financial Performance - In 2024, Zhihu's revenue decreased by 14.3% year-on-year to 3.599 billion yuan, while net loss narrowed by 79.9% to 169 million yuan, and adjusted net loss reduced by 85.4% to 96.3 million yuan [3] - For Q4 2024, revenue fell by 25% year-on-year to 859 million yuan, with net profit of 86.4 million yuan compared to a net loss of 103 million yuan in the same period of 2023 [3][4] - Operating profit for Q4 2024 was 11.9 million yuan, a turnaround from an operating loss of 178 million yuan in Q4 2023 [3][4] Cost Management - Zhihu's cost expenditures decreased by 31.5% year-on-year in Q4 2024, and total operating expenses fell by 37.9% [6] - For the entire year of 2024, operating expenses (including sales, R&D, and administration) decreased by 21%, while gross margin improved from 54.7% in 2023 to 60.6% in 2024 [6] Business Segments - Zhihu's revenue streams are primarily driven by three main segments: marketing services, paid memberships, and vocational education [7] - Paid membership revenue in Q4 2024 decreased by 7.9% to 420 million yuan, accounting for 48.9% of total revenue [8] - Marketing services revenue dropped by 32% to 316 million yuan in Q4 2024, representing 36.8% of total revenue [10] - Vocational education revenue plummeted by 50.3% to 84 million yuan in Q4 2024, with a revenue share of 9.8% [11] User Engagement - Average monthly active users (MAU) for Q4 2024 were 81.4 million, a slight increase of 300,000 from the previous quarter, but significantly lower than the 85 million MAU at the time of Zhihu's IPO in 2021 [12][13] - The user base remains predominantly young, with 73.8% of active users under 30 years old and nearly 51% being female [17] AI Integration - Zhihu has shifted focus towards AI, leveraging its high-quality content and community engagement to enhance its offerings [18][22] - The company has launched its self-developed AI model "Zhihai Map AI" and introduced AI search products to improve user experience and operational efficiency [24][25] - Despite a 37% year-on-year decrease in R&D spending to 147 million yuan in Q4 2024, the CFO believes that AI presents a historic opportunity for Zhihu to integrate high-quality content into its business model [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Zhihu achieved significant milestones in its 2024 annual report, marking its first quarter of comprehensive profitability since its IPO, with a total revenue of 3.6 billion yuan and a fourth-quarter revenue of 860 million yuan, exceeding market expectations [1][2]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for Zhihu in 2024 was 3.6 billion yuan, with a fourth-quarter revenue of 860 million yuan and an adjusted net profit of 97.1 million yuan [1]. - Marketing services revenue decreased to 1.247 billion yuan from 1.653 billion yuan in 2023, attributed to a strategic focus on optimizing service product offerings [2]. - Paid membership revenue slightly declined to 1.762 billion yuan from 1.826 billion yuan in 2023, due to a decrease in average revenue per subscriber [2]. - The company’s gross margin improved from 54.7% in 2023 to 60.6% in 2024, reflecting enhanced commercialization capabilities and operational efficiency [2]. User Engagement and Community Growth - As of the end of Q4 2024, Zhihu had over 77 million creators on its platform, with a content creation volume of 870 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 12.9% [1][3]. - The average monthly active users reached 81.4 million, continuing to show quarter-on-quarter growth, while the average monthly subscription members totaled 14.1 million [1]. Strategic Focus and AI Integration - Zhihu is investing in AI applications to enhance user interaction and community engagement, with a self-developed AI model "Zhihai Map AI" and an AI search product "Zhihu Direct Answer" [4][5]. - The integration of AI is expected to amplify the value of professional content and improve operational efficiency, with the user base of Zhihu Direct Answer growing from one million to ten million monthly active users [4][5]. - The company aims to strengthen the interaction between community content and AI tools, which is anticipated to enhance user retention and content quality, while exploring new business models and growth opportunities [5].

Core Insights - Zhihu has achieved profitability for the first time since its IPO, reporting a net profit of 86.4 million yuan in Q4 2024, compared to a net loss of 103 million yuan in the same period of 2023 [1][2] - The company is focusing on integrating AI into its operations, viewing it as a historic opportunity for growth, despite the potential for slight annual losses as it pursues AI-related opportunities [1][6] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q4 2024 was 859 million yuan, down 24.52% from 1.138 billion yuan in Q4 2023 [2] - Paid membership revenue decreased slightly to 420 million yuan in Q4 2024 from 456 million yuan in the same period last year, with an average monthly subscriber count of 14.1 million [2] - Marketing services revenue fell to 316 million yuan in Q4 2024 from 465 million yuan in Q4 2023, attributed to strategic optimization of service products [3] - The cost of revenue decreased by 31.5% to 319 million yuan in Q4 2024, down from 465 million yuan in the same period of 2023 [3] Strategic Focus - The company is investing heavily in AI, enhancing its self-developed large model "Zhihai Map AI" and improving its AI search product "Zhihu Direct Answer" [6][8] - The integration of AI is expected to enhance the quality of content and user interaction, with a focus on leveraging the expert network within the community [6][8] - The CEO emphasized that AI will not replace Zhihu but will instead promote its development by enhancing the credibility and efficiency of content production [6][7] Future Outlook - The CFO indicated that the company may opt for a slight annual loss in pursuit of AI opportunities, reflecting a long-term growth strategy [1] - The company holds a strong cash position of 4.86 billion yuan as of the end of Q4 2024, providing a buffer for future investments [5]

Core Viewpoint - After years of continuous losses, Zhihu has finally achieved profitability, marking a significant milestone in its financial journey [1][7][32] Financial Performance - In the fiscal year 2024, Zhihu reported a revenue of 3.6 billion RMB, still in a declining trend, but the net loss narrowed to 169 million RMB, a year-on-year reduction of 79.9% [1] - For Q4 2024, Zhihu achieved a revenue of 860 million RMB and a net profit of 86.4 million RMB, compared to a net loss of 103.1 million RMB in the same period of 2023 [1][2] - The adjusted net profit for Q4 was 97.1 million RMB, with an adjusted operating profit of 23.1 million RMB, all exceeding market expectations [1][2] Cost Management - Zhihu significantly reduced costs and expenses in Q4 2024, with costs down by 31.5% to 318.5 million RMB, and expenses down by 37.9% to 528.8 million RMB [9] - The cost reduction was attributed to lower content and operational costs, improved technical efficiency, and stricter management of promotional and personnel-related expenses [9][10] Strategic Focus - The company has prioritized achieving profitability over revenue growth, indicating a strategic shift towards cost control and efficiency [12][14] - Despite a revenue decline of 24.5% year-on-year in Q4, Zhihu's gross profit margin improved from 54.7% in 2023 to 60.6% in 2024, with Q4 reaching 62.9% [11][12] AI Integration - Zhihu views AI as a historic opportunity, launching its AI product "Zhihu Direct Answer" which has seen its monthly active users (MAU) grow to over 10 million [3][6][18] - The integration of AI aims to enhance user interaction and content discovery, leveraging Zhihu's unique content pool to differentiate itself from competitors [19][20][22] Market Reaction - The capital market responded positively to Zhihu's financial results, with its stock price rising over 30% year-to-date [2][3] - Analysts recognize Zhihu's potential in the AI space, highlighting its unique content advantages and the ability to leverage its community for growth [23][32] Future Outlook - Zhihu aims to continue its path towards profitability while exploring AI opportunities, with a target to significantly reduce losses or achieve profitability by 2025 [16][32] - The company is also focusing on expanding its membership services, which contributed nearly half of its revenue in 2024, indicating room for growth in this area [26][27]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that Zhihu has achieved its first quarterly profit, primarily due to significant cost reductions, despite facing declines in annual revenue and monthly active users [1][2][3] - In Q4 2024, Zhihu reported a net profit of 86.4 million yuan, compared to a net loss of 103.1 million yuan in the same period of 2023 [1] - The adjusted net profit for Q4 2024 was 97.1 million yuan, while the adjusted net loss for Q4 2023 was 91.3 million yuan [1] Group 2 - Zhihu's total revenue for 2024 was 3.6 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year decline of 14.3%, with Q4 revenue at 859 million yuan, down 25% year-on-year [2] - The monthly active user count for 2024 was 81.4 million, a decrease of 21% from 105 million in the previous year [2] - The company aims to focus on AI business development, having launched products like Zhihu Zhidao, which has reached millions of monthly active users within six months [3]

Core Insights - Zhihu reported a total revenue of 3.599 billion yuan for 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 14.3%, while net loss narrowed to 169 million yuan, a reduction of 79.9% compared to the previous year [1] - The fourth quarter of 2024 marked a significant milestone for Zhihu, achieving a net profit of 97.1 million yuan, the first time the company has reached profitability since its IPO [2][3] - The CEO emphasized the importance of 2024 as a turning point for Zhihu, highlighting the successful execution of strategic plans and the integration of AI into community interactions [1][4] Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, Zhihu's revenue was 860 million yuan, with an adjusted net profit of 97.1 million yuan and an adjusted operating profit of 23.1 million yuan, marking the first quarter of comprehensive profitability [2] - The revenue structure for Q4 included 420 million yuan from paid memberships (48.9% of total revenue), 320 million yuan from marketing services (36.8%), and 84 million yuan from vocational education [2] - For the full year 2024, paid membership and marketing services were the main revenue contributors, generating 1.762 billion yuan and 1.247 billion yuan respectively, with a decline in revenue across major business segments compared to 2023 [3] Operational Efficiency - Zhihu improved operational efficiency and cost management, resulting in a gross margin increase of 3.8 percentage points to 62.9% and a 37.9% reduction in operating expenses year-on-year [2][3] - As of the end of Q4 2024, Zhihu had cash and cash equivalents totaling 4.86 billion yuan, providing a solid foundation for continued profitability enhancement [3] AI Investment and Strategy - Zhihu has increased investments in AI, enhancing its self-developed large model "Zhihai Map AI" and improving various model capabilities [4] - The integration of AI into Zhihu's operations has significantly boosted business efficiency, with the AI search product "Zhihu Direct Answer" undergoing multiple iterations to enhance community and creator value [4] - The CEO stated that AI will greatly promote Zhihu's development, as the platform's expert network is essential in addressing trust issues in the AI era [5] User Engagement - By the end of Q4 2024, Zhihu's content creation volume reached 870 million, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, with over 77 million creators actively participating [5] - The average monthly active users (MAUs) reached 81.4 million, showing continued quarter-on-quarter growth, while the average monthly subscription members reached 14.1 million [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, the company reported an adjusted net income of RMB97.1 million, a significant turnaround from an adjusted net loss of RMB91.3 million in the same period last year [8] - The adjusted operating profit improved from a loss of RMB165.3 million in Q4 2023 to a profit of RMB23.1 million in Q4 2024 [8] - Total revenues for Q4 2024 were RMB859.2 million, down from RMB1,138.3 million in Q4 2023, reflecting a strategic shift away from lower-quality revenue [39][41] - The gross margin expanded to 62.9%, driven by improved operational efficiency and disciplined cost management [44] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Paid membership revenue was RMB420.2 million, a decrease from RMB455.9 million in Q4 2023, with average monthly paid members slightly declining by 0.8% year-over-year [41][25] - Vocational training revenue decreased by 50.4% year-over-year to RMB84 million, primarily due to strategic refinements in the acquired business [32][42] - Marketing services revenue reached RMB315.9 million, down from RMB465.2 million in Q4 2023, but showed a sequential growth of 23.1% [28][41] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The average monthly active users (MAUs) were 81.4 million, reflecting a 0.3% sequential increase despite a significant reduction in promotional expenses [13] - The community of content creators grew to 77.7 million, an increase of 8.9% year-over-year, with income-generating creators rising by over 22% year-over-year [18][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing community trust and user experience while forgoing some peripheral users to drive profitability [9][23] - AI is viewed as a historic opportunity, with plans to deepen integration between AI and the community to improve content quality and user engagement [10][36] - The company aims to strengthen its position as a trusted content platform by expanding into specialized verticals and introducing new original IPs [58] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategic roadmap and execution capabilities, highlighting a transformative turnaround in 2024 [7] - The CEO emphasized the importance of trustworthiness in the AI era, stating that the expert network is essential for combating AI-generated content issues [52] - The company plans to maintain a focus on profitability while exploring new opportunities arising from AI integration [74] Other Important Information - The company repurchased a total of 75.3 million Class A ordinary shares for an aggregate value of US$1.2 billion since its Hong Kong IPO [46] - The company achieved a double-digit non-GAAP net profit margin of 11% in Q4 2024, marking a significant milestone in its financial performance [72] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Zhihu Zhida user size data and its benefits to the community - The CEO reported that Zhida's MAUs grew from about 1 million to 10 million, driven by high repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth [51] - The expert network is crucial in the AI era, as it provides trustworthy content amidst the rise of AI-generated content [52] Question: Expected changes and innovations on the product side this year - The CEO mentioned a focus on strengthening social interactions and enhancing the brand as a trusted content platform, with developments in social circles and new content formats [58][61] Question: How AI and large language models can benefit Zhihu's online marketing product - The CFO noted that AI is changing the monetization model of advertising, with a shift towards content marketing and brand reputation management on the platform [66][69] Question: Long-term margin profile and cash utilization outlook - The CFO indicated that the company achieved a double-digit net profit margin and sees AI as a historical opportunity for growth, with plans for share repurchases due to undervaluation [72][74]

Core Viewpoint - Zhihu has achieved profitability for the first time since its listing, marking a significant milestone in its financial performance [2][3] Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, Zhihu reported revenue of 859 million yuan and a net profit of 86.4 million yuan, compared to a net loss of 103 million yuan in the same period of 2023 [1] - Zhihu's marketing service revenue decreased to 316 million yuan from 465 million yuan year-on-year, while paid membership revenue fell to 420 million yuan from 456 million yuan [4] - The overall cost of revenue decreased from 465 million yuan to 319 million yuan, leading to a gross profit of 540 million yuan and a gross margin increase from 59.1% to 62.9% [5] Operational Efficiency - Zhihu improved its operational efficiency, reducing total operating expenses from 851 million yuan to 529 million yuan, resulting in an operating profit of 11.9 million yuan [5] - As of the end of Q4, Zhihu had over 77 million creators and a total content creation volume of 870 million pieces, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.9% [5] AI Integration - AI has become a key focus for Zhihu's future development, with ongoing investments in AI applications to enhance user interaction and competitive advantage [2] - Zhihu has launched AI search products like "Zhihu Direct Answer," which have undergone multiple iterations to improve search result quality and user engagement [7] - The integration of AI technologies has not only transformed Zhihu's business but also enhanced the professional value of its content community [8]

知乎2024年第四季度营收同比下降24.5%，首次实现盈利，主要归功于其在成本控制方面的进步。毛利率扩大至62.9%，较去年同期的59.1%上升了3.8个 百分点。 26日，知乎发布2024年第四季度及全年业绩报告： 1）主要财务数据： | | | For the Three Months Ended | | | | For the Year Ended | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | December 31. | September 30. | December 31. | | December 31. | December 31. | | | | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | | 2023 | 2024 | | | | RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | | Revenues: | | | | | | | | | Marketing services | 465,153 | 256,631 | 315.940 | 43,284 | 1,652,992 | 1.24 ...