WB(US:WB)2022-03-03 17:08Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2021, Weibo's total revenue reached $616.3 million, a 20% increase year-over-year. For the full year 2021, total revenues were $2.26 billion, up 34% year-over-year [6][7][28] - Advertising and marketing revenues in Q4 were $550.8 million, a 21% increase year-over-year, with mobile revenues accounting for 94% of total ad revenues [7][29] - Non-GAAP operating income for Q4 was $219.8 million, representing a non-GAAP operating margin of 36%. For the full year, non-GAAP operating income was $829.9 million, a 43% increase year-over-year, with a margin of 37% [7][28][37] - Net income attributable to Weibo for Q4 was $195.5 million, with a net margin of 32%. For the full year, net income was $718.5 million, maintaining a net margin of 32% [28][38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The advertising and marketing segment saw a revenue increase of 33% year-over-year, reaching $1.98 billion for the full year 2021 [7][29] - Value-added service (VAS) revenue was $65.5 million in Q4, a 9% increase, and $276.3 million for the full year, a 36% increase [36][28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Weibo's MAUs reached 573 million, and average DAUs were 249 million in December 2021, representing a 10% and 11% increase year-over-year, respectively [7][27] - The top three verticals contributing to revenue were FMCG, e-commerce, and 3C products, with luxury being the fastest-growing vertical [30][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to enhance its core competitiveness by focusing on social attributes and improving monetization efficiency through strategic partnerships in media, entertainment, gaming, and sports [16][19] - In 2022, Weibo plans to invest in key content verticals such as sports and online gaming to tap into a broader user community and improve engagement [27][49] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that despite macroeconomic and regulatory headwinds, the advertising business showed resilience, particularly in sectors like beauty, food and beverage, and automobiles [21][22] - The company expects softness in the overall advertising market in 2022 but believes the headwinds could be transient rather than structural [35] Other Important Information - Weibo successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 8, 2021, and will no longer provide financial guidance on net revenue growth [40] - The company generated $778.9 million in free cash flow in 2021, an increase of 10% year-over-year [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can management provide insights on advertiser sentiment in January or February? - Management indicated strong growth in advertisement placements in FMCG, 3C products, and luxury sectors, but noted negative growth in education and live streaming e-commerce due to regulatory headwinds [42][43] Question: Can management elaborate on the verticalization strategy for 2022, especially for sports and online gaming? - Management highlighted the importance of the sports vertical, especially with upcoming events like the Asia Games and World Cup, and emphasized investment in content to drive traffic and user engagement [45][49]