Sunlands Technology Group Announces Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Core Viewpoint - Sunlands Technology Group reported its financial results for Q4 and full year 2024, highlighting a decrease in revenues and net income, while emphasizing its commitment to innovation and market expansion in the adult online education sector [1][4][5]. Financial Results for Q4 2024 - Net revenues for Q4 2024 decreased by 10.8% to RMB483.5 million (US$66.2 million) from RMB541.7 million in Q4 2023, primarily due to a decline in gross billings from post-secondary courses [6][8]. - Gross profit for Q4 2024 was RMB401.8 million (US$55.0 million), down 14.1% from RMB468.0 million in Q4 2023 [10]. - Net income for Q4 2024 was RMB57.8 million (US$7.9 million), a significant decrease from RMB155.2 million in Q4 2023, resulting in a net income margin of 12.0% compared to 28.6% in the previous year [14][8]. Financial Results for Full Year 2024 - For the full year 2024, net revenues decreased by 7.8% to RMB1,990.2 million (US$272.7 million) from RMB2,159.6 million in 2023 [19]. - Gross profit for the year was RMB1,672.6 million (US$229.2 million), down 11.7% from RMB1,894.1 million in 2023 [21]. - Net income for 2024 was RMB342.1 million (US$46.9 million), a decrease from RMB640.8 million in 2023, with a net income margin of 17.2% compared to 29.7% in the previous year [25][26]. Operational Highlights - The company welcomed approximately 675,000 new students in 2024, marking a historic record and indicating significant market expansion potential [4]. - Interest-based courses became the core growth point for the company, aligning with broader economic and demographic trends [5]. Outlook - For Q1 2025, Sunlands expects net revenues to be between RMB470 million to RMB490 million, representing a decrease of 6.4% to 10.2% year-over-year [27]. Cash and Investments - As of December 31, 2024, the company had RMB507.2 million (US$69.5 million) in cash and cash equivalents, down from RMB766.4 million in the previous year [16]. - The deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2024, was RMB916.5 million (US$125.6 million), compared to RMB1,113.9 million at the end of 2023 [17]. Share Repurchase Program - The company has a share repurchase program authorized for up to US$15.0 million, with approximately US$3.9 million spent on repurchasing 689,935 ADSs as of March 19, 2025 [18]. Company Overview - Sunlands Technology Group is a leader in China's adult online education market, offering a variety of courses through a live streaming platform, focusing on personalized and interactive learning experiences [31].