Cost reduction and efficiency improvement

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Hello (MOMO) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-06-05 13:02
Financial Performance - For Q1 2025, total group revenue was RMB2.52 billion, slightly down 1.5% year over year, exceeding the high end of guidance [7][28] - Domestic revenue reached RMB2.11 billion, down 9% year over year, while overseas revenue was RMB415 million, with accelerated year over year growth of 72% [7][18] - Adjusted operating income was RMB315 million, down 33% from the previous year, with a margin of 14%, down six percentage points [8][34] Business Line Performance - Momo's value-added services revenue totaled RMB1.78 billion, down less than 10% year over year, attributed to operational adjustments completed by the end of 2024 [12][28] - Tantan's revenue from the onshore business was close to RMB100 million, down 19% year over year, primarily due to declines in paying user accounts [15][28] - Overseas revenue from value-added services was RMB4 million, up 73% year over year, driven by rapid expansion of Sochill and initial monetization of emerging brands [29][30] Market Performance - Overseas revenue accounted for 16% of total revenue, up from less than 10% in Q1 2024, indicating significant growth in international markets [6][18] - Sochill generated close to RMB300 million in overseas revenue, representing nearly 40% year over year growth, despite challenges from political unrest and seasonal factors [22][49] - Tantan's overseas business remains a key player among overseas Chinese communities and Southeast Asian markets, with expectations for growth in developed regions [49][56] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company aims to deepen its presence in overseas markets, enhance brand portfolios, and build long-term growth engines [8][24] - A focus on improving user experience and engagement through technology, such as AI-generated greetings, is central to maintaining user retention and scaling operations [10][63] - The competitive landscape in the MENA region is described as fragmented, allowing for multiple platforms to coexist without significant pressure [42][49] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macroeconomic factors and regulatory environments significantly influence domestic revenue performance, with expectations of a decline in the low teens percentage for Q2 [66][68] - The company anticipates a gradual stabilization of domestic business, with potential for group-level revenue growth in the second half of the year [71] - Future growth is expected to be driven by both social entertainment in MENA and the rebound of the dating business, particularly through Tantan [57][58] Other Important Information - The company has introduced geographical breakdowns of revenue to reflect the growing significance of overseas business [26] - Non-GAAP gross margin for Q1 was 37.9%, down 3.5 percentage points year over year, primarily due to a higher contribution from overseas revenue [30][77] - The company expects a decline in gross margin for the full year 2025, projecting a range between 36% to 37% [77] Q&A Session Summary Question: Concerns about Sochill's revenue slowdown - Management attributed the slowdown to a high base effect and political unrest in the Middle East, but noted efforts to enhance user engagement and retention [40][41] Question: Revenue contribution from other apps - Management confirmed that Sochill is the largest contributor to overseas revenue, with other apps also showing significant growth potential [47][48] Question: Outlook for Momo and Tantan in 2025 - Management emphasized the importance of stabilizing user engagement and profitability, with expectations of a narrowing decline in domestic revenue for Tantan [61][66] Question: Profit outlook and expense management - Management expects a decline in gross margin due to increased overseas revenue contribution, with operating expenses managed through personnel optimization and ROI-driven marketing investments [76][78]
Hello (MOMO) - 2024 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-03-12 17:22
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2024, total group revenue was RMB2.64 billion, down 12% year-over-year. Adjusted operating income was RMB280 million, with a margin of 10.6% [9][51]. - For fiscal 2024, total group revenue was RMB10.6 billion, compared to RMB12 billion in the previous year. Adjusted operating income was RMB1.173 billion with a margin of 16.3% [12][13]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the Momo app and standalone new apps totaled RMB2.42 billion, down 11% year-over-year, with Momo app revenue decreasing by 18% [10][13]. - Tantan's Q4 revenue totaled RMB213 million, down 22% year-over-year due to a decrease in paying users [12][34]. - Revenue from value-added services (VAS), excluding Tantan, totaled RMB1.2 billion in Q4, down 5% year-over-year [26][55]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overseas business maintained robust growth, contributing significantly to the group's financial standing [8]. - The Momo app had 5.7 million paying users, a sequential decrease of 1.2 million due to cost reduction strategies [22]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain the productivity of the Momo app while focusing on improving user experience and optimizing operational efficiency [15][48]. - For Tantan, the strategic goal is to reduce costs and improve efficiency while exploring dating experiences suitable for agents [48][110]. - The company plans to increase investments in overseas markets, particularly in the MENA region, to drive growth and innovation [41][104]. Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by the macroeconomic environment and regulatory changes but expressed confidence in the resilience of the Momo platform [80][83]. - The company expects a revenue decline in Q1 2025 but anticipates a slight rebound in Q2, depending on macroeconomic conditions [68][86]. Other Important Information - The Board approved a special cash dividend of $0.30 per ADS, totaling approximately $50 million, marking the seventh consecutive year of cash dividends [49]. - The company is focusing on optimizing headcount and improving marketing efficiency to absorb top-line pressure while reallocating resources to overseas business [88]. Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: What caused the significant drop in paying users for the Momo app? - Management indicated that the drop was due to a strategic shift away from acquiring low-return paying users, which has historically pressured profitability [74][76]. Question: What adjustments have been made to live streaming and VAS products? - Management stated that after improving Momo's content, no further changes to reduce earnings are planned, focusing instead on adding engaging features [77]. Question: What is the outlook for Tantan's revenue and profit in 2025? - Management expects a revenue decline of 20% to 30% year-over-year for Tantan in 2025, but profitability is anticipated to improve due to better ROI from reduced marketing spend [120].