NEW ORIENTAL(US:EDU) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-11-20 08:50Core Points - The recent internal letter from the chairman of New Oriental, Yu Minhong, while celebrating the company's 32nd anniversary, has sparked controversy due to his presence in Antarctica while employees are reportedly working overtime [1][4][8] - Yu Minhong emphasized the importance of employee feedback and expressed plans to take selected employees to Antarctica next winter, highlighting the company's tradition of allowing employee grievances [1][4] - The letter's theme of resilience and hope, likening the struggles of New Oriental to the survival of penguins in extreme conditions, was overshadowed by employee dissatisfaction regarding the disconnect between the chairman's vacation and their work pressures [7][9] Company Overview - New Oriental is currently undergoing a critical transformation phase, facing significant operational pressures, as evidenced by a 73.7% drop in net profit to $7.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, primarily due to losses in the Oriental Selection business and goodwill impairment [20] - The company's revenue growth has slowed, with fiscal year 2025 revenue growth decreasing from 43.9% to 13.6% [20] - In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, New Oriental reported net revenue of $1.523 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, driven by new educational business initiatives [20] Future Plans - New Oriental plans to establish a youth exploration center aimed at fostering children's understanding and appreciation of nature, with potential Antarctic exploration trips for youth set to begin next winter [14][18] - The chairman's recent activities in Antarctica are seen as part of a broader strategy to expand into the cultural tourism sector, which could provide new growth opportunities for the company [18][20]