TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) Q3 2026 Earnings call January 29, 2026 07:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsAlex Peng - President and CFOFang Liu - Director of Investor RelationsJackson Ding - Deputy CFOConference Call ParticipantsCharlotte Wei - AnalystFelix Liu - AnalystLiping Zhao - AnalystTimothy Zhao - AnalystOperatorLadies and gentlemen, good day and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the TAL Education Group's Fiscal 2026 third quarter earnings conference call. All participants will be in a listen-only m ...

Core Viewpoint - The Guangxi region has made significant progress in education during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, focusing on prioritizing education development and achieving key goals in educational planning [1] Group 1: Educational Development Achievements - The region has established a comprehensive ideological and political education system across 14 cities, promoting national unity and awareness [1] - By 2024, the gross enrollment rate for preschool education is expected to reach 93.7%, with a 96.9% retention rate for nine-year compulsory education and a 92.9% gross enrollment rate for high school [2] - The number of new basic education seats has increased by 660,000, and 17 new public university campuses have been established [2] Group 2: Quality of Education - The number of students enrolled in ordinary undergraduate and vocational colleges is projected to reach 1.515 million by 2025, a 27.9% increase from 2020 [3] - The number of full-time teachers has increased to 762,700, a 12.85% rise since 2020, with a notable increase in teachers holding bachelor's degrees [3] - The region has achieved full coverage of public kindergartens in towns and a 95.1% enrollment rate for children of migrant workers in public compulsory education schools [2] Group 3: Support and Service Capabilities - During the "14th Five-Year Plan," higher education institutions have trained 1.996 million talents, with vocational education supplying over 70% of new high-quality skilled workers [4] - Guangxi universities have established partnerships with nearly 200 institutions in ASEAN countries, contributing to the development of 17 China-ASEAN Modern Craftsman Colleges [4] - The region has optimized vocational education structures and established multiple industry-education integration communities [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net revenues of RMB 21.7 million for Q1 2025, a 15% decrease from RMB 25.5 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to reduced revenues from district-level projects as resources were reallocated to school-based subscription models [7][14][17] - Gross margin for Q1 2025 was 36.2%, down from 38.4% in Q1 2024 [15] - The net loss on a GAAP basis for Q1 2025 was RMB 30.9 million, a significant decrease of 44.8% from RMB 56.1 million in Q1 2024 [15][19] - Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) for Q1 2025 was RMB 22.4 million, down 47.5% from RMB 42.7 million in Q1 2024 [15][20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The SaaS subscriptions business saw growth as more educational organizations adopted AI-powered solutions, leading to a strong retention rate and increased adoption of value-added offerings [7][10] - The district-level teaching and learning staff business remained steady, contributing significantly to revenue recognition [8][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced heightened demand for its offerings in partner schools, reflected in a higher retention rate, with over 90% of renewal customers opting to continue their subscriptions [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on AI-powered product upgrades to enhance teaching and learning efficiency, aiming to transform education services from knowledge transmission to competency development [7][10] - Strategic market penetration is prioritized through diversified distribution methods and collaborations, aligning product development with emerging educational trends [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term sustainability of the business, emphasizing the importance of operational efficiency and strategic decision-making [8] - The company aims to maintain growth momentum while enhancing operational efficiency and driving long-term stable development [24] Other Important Information - The company welcomed Mr. Rui Jia as an independent director and appointed Ms. Sushu Zhou as the acting Chief Financial Officer, highlighting their extensive experience in fintech and education sectors [21][22] - The company has cash reserves of RMB 333.3 million as of March 31, 2025, down from RMB 359.3 million as of December 31, 2024 [15][21] Q&A Session Summary - No questions were raised during the Q&A session, indicating a lack of immediate inquiries from participants [25]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Service revenue for Q4 2024 was $292.6 million, an increase of $14.3 million or 5.1% compared to $278.3 million in Q4 2023 [18] - Operating income for Q4 2024 was $100 million with an operating margin of 34.2%, while excluding impairment charges, operating income was $101.9 million, up $4.1 million from $97.8 million in Q4 2023 [19][24] - Net income increased by 1.4% to $81.9 million in Q4 2024 compared to $80.7 million in Q4 2023 [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Online enrollment growth was 7.1% in Q4 2024, with new starts expected to increase in the mid to high single digits for Q1 2025 [3][8] - Ground campus enrollments were slightly down year over year, but GCU plans to grow its traditional campus to 50,000 students [8][9] - Hybrid campus enrollment increased by 9.8% year over year in Q4 2024, with an expected growth rate in the low to mid teens for 2025 [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New starts from employer partnerships increased by 12.5% year over year in Q4 2024, focusing on industries like education and healthcare [6] - The company has rolled out 148 new programs since the pandemic, directly tied to labor market opportunities [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to address workforce challenges by providing relevant programs and creative delivery models [4] - GCE continues to invest in initiatives for university partners, believing in the untapped potential of the workforce [3] - The company is focused on maintaining low tuition increases, averaging about 1% per year since 2018 [7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about enrollment growth, citing positive trends in registrations and retention rates [41] - The company anticipates a slight decline in margins in the first half of 2025 due to increased investments but expects margins to expand in the second half [33] - Management highlighted the importance of producing strong outcomes in education to align with regulatory expectations and market needs [65] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for Q4 2024 was 21.2%, an increase from 19.9% in Q4 2023, primarily due to higher state income taxes [25] - The company repurchased 416,497 shares at a cost of approximately $64.8 million in Q4 2024, with an additional 226,258 shares repurchased since [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the demand and growth goals for the Grand Campus intake? - Management noted that adjustments to the Discover GCU process have led to a significant increase in conversion rates, with registrations ahead of last year [39][41] Question: What are the academic outcomes for ABSN students? - The outcomes reported are for all ABSN students, with high success rates for those entering the program [42][44] Question: What is the status of the GCU contract? - The GCU contract continues without expiration, with discussions about early extension due to positive outcomes [50][51] Question: How many hybrid locations are currently open? - There are currently 45 hybrid sites open, with plans to open 6 to 8 more per year [52] Question: What are the impacts of regulatory changes on the company? - Management indicated that the focus on outcomes in education aligns well with the company's model, which is producing strong results [56][65] Question: Any updates on the court ruling regarding nonprofit status? - The court ruled in favor of GCU, affirming its nonprofit status, and the case has been remanded back to the Department of Education [67][70] Question: Will the hybrid pillar return to profitability in 2025? - Management expects the hybrid pillar to cross back to profitability in 2025 based on current site margins [71]