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Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, non-GAAP net income increased by 59.9% year over year to RMB 1.93 billion, while non-GAAP EPS on a fully diluted basis rose by 78.5% to RMB 13.5 [7][28] - Total revenue for Q1 was RMB 4.69 billion, compared to RMB 4.48 billion in Q4 and RMB 4.15 billion a year ago [22] - The take rate for the quarter reached 5.7%, up 2.2 percentage points year over year [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from credit-driven services was RMB 3.11 billion in Q1, up from RMB 2.89 billion in Q4 and RMB 3.02 billion a year ago [22] - Revenue from platform services was RMB 1.58 billion in Q1, slightly down from RMB 1.59 billion in Q4 but up from RMB 1.14 billion a year ago [23] - Loan facilitation and origination volume increased by 15.8% year over year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company added 1,540,000 new credit line users in Q1, up 6% year over year, with new borrowers increasing approximately 41% year over year to 1,130,000 [12] - The delinquency rate after thirty-day collections (C:M2) remained stable at 0.6% [11][26] - The average internal rate of return (IRR) of loans originated was 21.4%, compared to 21.3% in the prior quarter [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on an AI plus credit strategy, aiming to build the industry's first AI agent platform to enhance core credit processes [8] - Plans to recruit an additional 100 algorithm engineers by the end of the year to accelerate transformation into an AI-native organization [8] - The company expects to maintain high-quality growth in its core loan facilitation business while empowering financial institutions through technology solutions [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the macroeconomic environment, noting early signs of recovery in China's economy [6][18] - The company plans to enhance operational efficiency and optimize capital allocation while maintaining a prudent approach to risk management [18][66] - The outlook for Q2 2025 includes expected non-GAAP net income between RMB 1.75 billion and RMB 1.85 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 24-31% [32] Other Important Information - The company issued RMB 6.6 billion in asset-backed securities (ABS) in Q1, a year-over-year increase of approximately 25% [12] - The effective tax rate for Q1 was 18%, higher than the typical rate of approximately 15% due to withholding tax provisions [28] - The company has initiated a share repurchase program, expecting total repurchases this year to be no less than USD 680 million [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of new loan facilitation rules and credit quality trends - Management indicated that new regulations are a positive signal for the industry, promoting orderly development and recognizing the value of leading loan facilitation platforms [36] - Asset quality remains stable, with the C2M2 ratio at 0.6%, significantly better than previous periods [39] Question: Asset quality indicators and credit demand trends - The increase in day one delinquency was attributed to changes in loan mix, with a higher percentage from embedded finance channels [44] - Credit demand has shown early signs of recovery, but macro uncertainties persist [47] Question: Impact of US-China trade tensions and potential delisting risk - The direct impact of tariffs on the business is limited, with only a small percentage of loan volume related to exports [50] - The company has a clear plan to address potential ADR delisting risks, including a secondary listing in Hong Kong [54] Question: Customer acquisition costs and strategies - The increase in customer acquisition costs was driven by a change in business mix, with a focus on efficiency rather than just cost [60] - The company plans to adjust acquisition strategies based on macro conditions and customer demand [62] Question: Loan demand trends and funding liquidity - Recent policy measures to boost consumption have positively impacted credit demand, and funding costs are expected to decrease slightly [66] - The company will maintain a prudent lending strategy while pursuing sustainable growth [67]

Core Viewpoint - SoundHound AI reported strong revenue growth in Q1 2025 but continued to incur significant losses, leading to a stock decline due to revenue falling short of Wall Street expectations [2][3]. Financial Performance - Q1 2024 revenue was $11.6 million, while Q1 2025 revenue increased to $29.1 million, representing a 151% growth [3]. - GAAP operating income flipped from a loss of $28.5 million in Q1 2024 to a positive income of $128.1 million in Q1 2025 [3]. - GAAP net income also flipped from a loss of $33 million in Q1 2024 to a positive income of $129.9 million in Q1 2025 [3]. - Adjusted net income showed a widening loss from $20.2 million in Q1 2024 to $22.3 million in Q1 2025, a 10% increase in losses [3]. - GAAP earnings per share (EPS) improved from a loss of $0.12 to a profit of $0.31, while adjusted EPS narrowed its loss from $0.07 to $0.06 [3]. Cash Flow and Liquidity - The company used $19.2 million in cash for operations, slightly better than the negative $21.9 million in the same period last year [7]. - Free cash flow was negative $19.3 million, compared to negative $25.7 million in the prior year [7]. - SoundHound ended the quarter with $246 million in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt, with a cash burn rate that allows for approximately 12.7 quarters of operation [7]. Growth Strategy - Recent acquisitions have contributed to revenue growth, although the organic growth rate remains unclear [5]. - The company has diversified its customer base, with no single customer accounting for more than 10% of revenue in the quarter [5]. Future Guidance - For full-year 2025, revenue is expected to range from $157 million to $177 million, indicating an annual growth of 85% to 90% [9]. - The company aims to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA by the end of 2025, following a previous guidance that was not met [15][9]. Competitive Landscape - The conversational AI market is competitive, with significant players including large tech companies, raising questions about SoundHound's ability to grow revenue and achieve profitability [17][18].