Core Viewpoint - The internet insurance technology company Waterdrop reported strong performance in its unaudited financial results for Q4 and the full year of 2024, achieving positive profitability for the 12th consecutive quarter, with significant growth in first-year premium scale and overall revenue, despite facing challenges in its insurance business and reduced R&D investment [1][3][10]. Financial Performance - In Q4 2024, Waterdrop's first-year premium scale reached 1.898 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 24.5%, significantly improving from the declines of -16.17% and -4.2% in Q4 2022 and 2023 respectively [3][4]. - For the full year 2024, the first-year premium scale totaled 7.473 billion RMB, up 5.1% from 2023, contrasting with previous years' performance where it saw declines of -58.13% and a slight increase of 3.75% [3][4]. Revenue Breakdown - In Q4 2024, Waterdrop's total revenue was 6.87 billion RMB, a 4.25% increase from the previous year, while the insurance-related revenue slightly decreased by 0.92% to 5.82 billion RMB [5][6]. - The overall revenue for 2024 was 2.772 billion RMB, reflecting a 5.4% growth compared to 2023, with insurance revenue at 2.364 billion RMB, a modest increase of 0.98% [5][7]. Cost Management - Waterdrop managed to control its operating costs, with total operating costs and expenses for 2024 at 2.594 billion RMB, a decrease of 1.66% from 2023 [7][8]. - R&D expenses were significantly reduced by 27.61% to 217 million RMB, attributed to lower personnel costs and stock-based compensation [7][8]. Profitability - The company achieved a substantial increase in operating profit, with Q4 2024 operating profit at 53 million RMB, up 98.81% year-on-year, and a full-year operating profit of 178 million RMB, a turnaround from a loss in the previous year [10][11]. - Despite a decline in insurance business profits, the reduction in losses from crowdfunding and other operations contributed to the overall profitability [10][11]. Net Profit - Waterdrop reported a net profit of 91 million RMB in Q4 2024, a 63.51% increase from the previous year, and a full-year net profit of 351 million RMB, up 114.36% from 2023 [12][13]. Strategic Developments - The crowdfunding business has been recognized as a pioneer in standardized medical crowdfunding in China, enhancing its market position [13]. - Waterdrop is embracing digital transformation with the integration of AI-driven models to improve its insurance ecosystem [13]. Stock Performance and Shareholder Returns - Following the positive financial results, Waterdrop's stock price increased by 7.38% on the day of the earnings release, although it has seen a significant decline of over 88% since its IPO [15][16]. - The company has initiated multiple share buyback programs and announced a cash dividend of 0.02 USD per ADS, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [15][16].