Financial Performance - Full Year Adjusted Net Income reached RMB9.0 billion, growing 32.3% year over year[1] - Fourth Quarter Revenues were RMB10,619.4 million (US$1,495.7 million), a 7.6% increase from RMB9,871.3 million in Q4 2022[2] - Gross profit for Q4 was RMB3,128.2 million (US$440.6 million), up 12.8% from RMB2,772.6 million in the same period last year[2] - Net income for Q4 was RMB2,209.8 million (US$311.2 million), reflecting a 3.8% increase from RMB2,129.3 million in Q4 2022[2] - Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year was RMB14,107.3 million (US$1,987.0 million), a 25.0% increase from RMB11,289.1 million in 2022[3] - Total Revenues increased by 8.6% to RMB38,418.9 million (US$5,411.2 million) from RMB35,376.9 million last year, driven by a 9.8% increase in express delivery revenue[17] - Net income rose by 31.5% to RMB8,754.5 million (US$1,233.0 million) compared to RMB6,659.0 million in the previous year[24] - Basic and diluted earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders were RMB10.83 (US$1.53), up from RMB8.41 last year, reflecting a significant increase[25] - Adjusted EBITDA reached RMB14,107.3 million (US$1,987.0 million), compared to RMB11,289.1 million last year, indicating strong operational performance[25] - Operating margin improved to 26.0%, up from 21.9% in the previous year, showcasing enhanced profitability[22] Expenses and Income - Total Operating Expenses were RMB1,654.6 million (US$233.0 million), an increase from RMB1,302.8 million last year, primarily due to higher compensation and benefit expenses[21] - Interest income increased to RMB706.8 million (US$99.5 million) from RMB503.7 million last year, reflecting improved financial management[22] - Gross Profit increased by 29.0% to RMB11,662.5 million (US$1,642.6 million), with a gross margin rate improvement to 30.4% from 25.6% last year[21] - Other operating income, net was RMB770.7 million (US$108.5 million), slightly down from RMB774.6 million last year, indicating stable supplementary income sources[22] - Interest expenses for Q4 2023 decreased to RMB61,804 from RMB76,147 in Q4 2022, a reduction of 18.7%[47] - Income tax expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023, were RMB1,938,600, up from RMB1,633,330 in 2022, reflecting an increase of 18.7%[47] Dividends and Shareholder Returns - The company approved a regular dividend policy starting with US$0.62 per share for 2023, with a minimum payout ratio of 40% for 2024[7] - The company declared a cash dividend of US$0.62 per ADS, representing a 68% increase compared to the previous fiscal year[26] - The Company has approved a semi-annual regular cash dividend policy starting from 2024, with a minimum of 40% of distributable profit to be distributed each year[27] - The share repurchase program has been increased to US$2.0 billion, with US$437.0 million remaining available for repurchase as of December 31, 2023[28] Operational Metrics - Annual parcel volume increased to 30.2 billion, expanding market share to 22.9%[1] - The number of parcel delivery outlets exceeded 31,000, with over 10,000 self-owned line-haul vehicles as of December 31, 2023[4] - The core express average selling price (ASP) declined by 11.3% in 2023, primarily due to intense price competition[7] - The parcel volume for 2024 is expected to be between 34.73 billion and 35.64 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 15% to 18%[29] Cash Flow and Assets - Capital spending for 2023 was RMB6.7 billion, with operating cash flow growing 16.4% to RMB13.4 billion[7] - Total current assets increased to RMB 26,953,548 as of December 31, 2023, from RMB 24,475,027 as of December 31, 2022, representing an increase of 10.1%[43] - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were RMB 12,333,884, up from RMB 11,692,773 at the end of 2022, indicating an increase of 5.5%[46] - Total liabilities increased to RMB 28,184,813 as of December 31, 2023, from RMB 24,051,116 as of December 31, 2022, marking an increase of 17.2%[43] - Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was RMB 13,360,967, an increase of 16.4% from RMB 11,479,308 in 2022[44] - Total equity increased to RMB 60,280,408 as of December 31, 2023, from RMB 54,472,470 as of December 31, 2022, reflecting an increase of 10.5%[43] - Short-term bank borrowing rose to RMB 7,765,990 as of December 31, 2023, compared to RMB 5,394,423 as of December 31, 2022, an increase of 43.9%[43] Earnings and Share Metrics - Basic earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023, was RMB 10.83, down from RMB 10.60 in 2022, reflecting a decrease of 1.9%[41] - Basic earnings per share for Q4 2023 was RMB 2.72, up from RMB 2.67 in Q4 2022, indicating a 1.9% increase[48] - Diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2023, was RMB 10.60, compared to RMB 8.36 in 2022, marking a 26.8% increase[48] - The weighted average shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share for Q4 2023 was 837,291,253, slightly down from 841,226,602 in Q4 2022[48] Other Financial Metrics - Adjusted net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, reached RMB 9,005,920, up 32.5% from RMB 6,805,999 in 2022[47] - EBITDA for Q4 2023 was RMB 3,647,210, a 7.1% increase compared to RMB 3,406,549 in Q4 2022[47] - Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2023, was RMB 14,107,290, reflecting a 25.5% growth from RMB 11,289,073 in 2022[47] - The Company reported an income from operations of RMB 10,007,924 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to RMB 7,736,481 in 2022, marking an increase of approximately 29.5%[40] - Interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was RMB 201,383, compared to RMB 111,768 for the same period in 2022, reflecting an increase of approximately 80%[40] - The company reported a foreign currency translation adjustment of RMB 70,677 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to RMB 35,752 for the same period in 2022, indicating a significant increase[41] - The effective exchange rate used for translating Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars was RMB 7.0999 to US$1 as of December 29, 2023[30] - The Company emphasizes the importance of non-GAAP financial measures for understanding underlying business trends and operational performance[32]

RMB9.0 Billion Full Year Adjusted Net Income Grew 32.3% 30.2 Billion Annual Parcels Expanded Market Share to 22.9%US$0.62 per Share Annual Dividend Increased 68%Upsizes Share Repurchase Program by USD500 million SHANGHAI, March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China ("ZTO" or the "Company"), today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2023[1]. The ...

Core Viewpoint - ZTO Express is set to report its fourth-quarter 2023 results on March 19, with a history of outperforming earnings estimates, averaging a 17.31% beat over the last four quarters [1]. Group 1: Q4 Expectations - Fourth-quarter 2023 revenues for ZTO Express are anticipated to benefit from strong performance in the express delivery services unit [2]. - However, rising operating expenses, particularly in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), are expected to negatively impact ZTO's profitability, with SG&A costs driven up by increases in compensation, benefits, and office expenditures [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ZTO's fourth-quarter 2023 earnings has been revised downward by 7.5% over the past 90 days [2]. Group 2: Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for ZTO Express, as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3]. - A combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) typically increases the likelihood of an earnings beat, which is not applicable in this case [3]. Group 3: Highlights of Q3 - In the third quarter of 2023, ZTO Express reported earnings of 39 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents, and showing year-over-year improvement [4]. - Total revenues for Q3 were $1,244 million, which fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,452.5 million [4].

SHANGHAI, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 and its unaudited annual results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, after the U.S. market closes on March 19, 2024. ZTO's management team will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 P.M. U.S. Eastern Tim ...

SHANGHAI, Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On 23 January 2024, ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK:2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, held its National Network Conference at its headquarters in Shanghai. The conference aimed to fully implement the spirit of the 2024 National Postal Management Work Conference by the State Post Bureau. During the conference, the Company summarized and reviewed its achievements in 2023, outlined key work tasks f ...

Subscribers to Schaeffer's flagship Options Advisor publication more than doubled their money with our recommendation to buy the ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc (NYSE:ZTO) February 21 put.At the time of our recommendation on Dec. 21, the logistics stock had just crossed below $21.50 that was an area of resistance in 2018 and 2019, as well as a potential area of support. ZTO also gapped lower after the company's mid-November earnings report, with its 52-week low in December coming amid implied volatility (IV) that ...

ZTO Express (ZTO) is currently mired in multiple headwinds, which, we believe, have made it an unimpressive investment option.Let’s delve deeper.Southward Earnings Estimate Revisions: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2023 earnings has been revised 16% downward over the past 90 days. For 2023, the consensus mark for earnings has moved 1.3% south in the same time frame. The unfavorable estimate revisions indicate brokers’ lack of confidence in the stock.Weak Zacks Rank: ZTO Express currently ca ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2023, ZTO's parcel volume increased by 18.1% to 7.52 billion, with an adjusted net profit of RMB2.34 billion, representing a 25% year-over-year growth [4][5][15] - Total revenue rose by 1.5% to RMB9.1 billion, while the average selling price (ASP) for the core express delivery business decreased by 13.5% [15][16] - Gross profit increased by 10.7% to RMB2.7 billion, with a gross profit margin of 29.8% [16][17] - Operating cash flow was RMB2.94 billion, and EBITDA was RMB3.45 billion [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The total cost of revenue was RMB6.4 billion, which decreased by 2%, while the combined unit cost of sorting and transportation decreased by 11% [15][16] - The unit cost of line haul transportation decreased by 11.4% to RMB0.43, and unit sorting costs decreased by 10.4% to RMB0.25 [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - ZTO's market share rose slightly by 0.3 points to 22.4% [15] - The express delivery industry in China grew by 16.7% year-over-year [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - ZTO aims to maintain high service quality while focusing on long-term growth and operational effectiveness [5][12] - The company plans to enhance its network foundation, expand product offerings, and improve operational efficiency through digitization [9][10] - ZTO is committed to diversifying its services, including increasing non-e-commerce volume and enhancing last-mile delivery capabilities [10][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the competitive landscape and emphasized the importance of maintaining service quality and customer satisfaction to capture market share [22][23] - The company is optimistic about achieving a parcel volume of 29.27 billion to 30.24 billion for 2023, representing a 20% to 24% increase year-over-year [18] Other Important Information - During the Double 11 shopping festival, ZTO achieved a peak daily parcel volume of over 160 million [11] - The company is focused on improving reverse logistics capabilities and expanding last-mile facilities [40][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the competition strategy for 2024? - ZTO will continue to focus on long-term growth, maintaining a balance between profitability and market share, and will not engage in loss-making businesses [22][23] Question: What is the visibility on dividend payout? - ZTO intends to increase the dividend payout ratio gradually as the business operates optimally and generates healthy free cash flow [24] Question: How does ZTO view the competitive landscape moving forward? - ZTO believes that maintaining high-quality services and operational efficiency will strengthen its market position despite competitive pressures [28][30] Question: What is the current state of reverse logistics and last-mile facilities? - ZTO is actively improving its reverse logistics capabilities and currently operates over 10,000 last-mile facilities, with plans for further expansion [40][41]

3Q 2023 INVESTOR PRESENTATION Safe Harbor Statement and Disclaimer This presentation contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to 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,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook ...

Financial Performance - Adjusted net income increased by 25.0% year-over-year to RMB2.34 billion, with net income rising 24.0% to RMB2.35 billion[2][6] - Total revenues reached RMB9.08 billion (US$1.24 billion), marking a 1.5% increase from RMB8.94 billion in the same period of 2022[2][7] - Gross profit rose by 10.7% to RMB2.71 billion, with gross margin improving to 29.8% from 27.3% year-over-year[2][12] - Income from operations increased by 11.4% to RMB2,423.6 million (US$332.2 million) from RMB2,174.8 million year-over-year[13] - Operating margin improved to 26.7%, up from 24.3% in the same period last year[13] - Net income rose by 24.0% to RMB2,349.6 million (US$322.0 million) compared to RMB1,895.5 million in the same period last year[15] - EBITDA increased to RMB3,449.5 million (US$472.8 million) from RMB3,031.8 million in the same period last year[15] - Comprehensive income attributable to ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. for the three months ended September 2023 was RMB 2,312,326, compared to RMB 1,969,531 in the same period of 2022, indicating a growth of 17.4%[30] - Net income for the three months ended September 2023 was RMB 2,349,610 thousand, up from RMB 1,895,455 thousand in the same period of 2022, indicating a growth of 23.93%[36] Revenue and Cost Management - Total cost of revenues decreased by 2.0% to RMB6.37 billion, with combined unit sorting and transportation costs down over 11%[8][9] - Cash flow from operating activities was RMB2.94 billion, compared to RMB2.82 billion in the same period of 2022[2][6] - Other operating income was RMB150.9 million (US$20.7 million), a decrease from RMB171.8 million in the same period last year[13] - Total operating expenses for the nine months ended September 2023 were RMB 1,281,448, an increase of 29.3% from RMB 990,067 in the same period of 2022[30] Parcel Volume and Market Share - Parcel volume grew by 18.1% year-over-year to 7.52 billion parcels, contributing to a market share increase to 22.4%[1][3] - The company is on track to achieve parcel volume between 29.27 billion and 30.24 billion for the year, representing a growth of 20% to 24% year-over-year[6] - The company expects parcel volume for 2023 to be between 29.27 billion and 30.24 billion, representing a 20% to 24% year-over-year increase[17] Shareholder Returns - Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB2.91 (US$0.40) and RMB2.84 (US$0.39), respectively, compared to RMB2.39 and RMB2.37 in the same period last year[15] - The company has repurchased 40,258,978 ADSs at an average price of US$25.16 as part of its share repurchase program[19] - Basic net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2023, was RMB 2.91, a 21.8% increase from RMB 2.39 in the same period of 2022[38] - Diluted net earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2023, was RMB 2.84, compared to RMB 2.37 in the same period of 2022, reflecting a growth of 19.8%[38] Investments and Capital Expenditures - Capital spending for the quarter was RMB1.3 billion, reflecting ongoing investments in capacity upgrades and operational improvements[6][12] - Long-term investments increased significantly from RMB 7,322,545 thousand as of December 31, 2022, to RMB 14,239,247 thousand as of September 2023, a growth of 94.5%[31] - The company reported a net cash used in investing activities of RMB (4,025,760) thousand for the three months ended September 2023, a decrease from RMB (4,736,716) thousand in the same period of 2022, indicating improved cash flow management[33] Tax and Interest Income - Interest income was RMB246.4 million (US$33.8 million), up from RMB162.4 million in the same period last year[13] - Income tax expenses decreased to RMB271.4 million (US$37.2 million) from RMB439.4 million in the same period last year, with an overall income tax rate decrease of 8.3 percentage points[14] Operational Efficiency - The number of sorting hubs increased to 97, with 482 sets of automated sorting equipment enhancing operational efficiencies[3][10] - Core express average selling price (ASP) decreased by 13.5%, influenced by a decline in average parcel weight and increased volume incentives[6][7] Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued growth in net income and earnings per share for the upcoming quarters based on current market trends and operational strategies[38] - The company is focused on expanding its market presence and enhancing its product offerings through ongoing research and development initiatives[38]