Autohome Inc. Announces Unaudited First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM) reported its Q1 2025 financial results, showing a decline in key metrics. Net revenues decreased to RMB1,453.8 million (US$200.3 million) from RMB1,609.1 million in Q1 2024. Net income fell to RMB356.6 million (US$49.1 million) from RMB394.5 million year-over-year. The company's mobile daily active users grew by 10.8% to 76.92 million in March 2025. Autohome has expanded its retail network to nearly 200 Autohome Space and satellite franchised stores. The company launched an upgraded app featuring AI smart assistant powered by DeepSeek. As of May 2, 2025, Autohome had repurchased 4,781,999 ADSs for approximately US$128.0 million. The company maintained a strong balance sheet with RMB21.93 billion in cash and short-term investments.

Positive

• Mobile daily active users increased by 10.8% YoY to 76.92 million
• Expanded retail network to nearly 200 Autohome Space stores
• Strong cash position of RMB21.93 billion (US$3.02 billion)
• Launched upgraded app with AI smart assistant
• Active share repurchase program with US$128.0 million in buybacks

Negative

• Net revenues declined 9.7% YoY to RMB1,453.8 million
• Net income decreased 9.6% YoY to RMB356.6 million
• Media services revenues dropped significantly due to reduced ICE automaker advertising
• Leads generation services revenues decreased YoY

Insights

Financial Analyst

Autohome faces revenue decline despite user growth; balancing cost controls with strategic investments while maintaining strong liquidity.

Autohome's Q1 2025 financial performance reveals declining revenue and profitability metrics amid challenging market conditions in China's automotive sector. Total revenue dropped 9.7% year-over-year to RMB1,453.8 million (US$200.3 million), with media services revenue experiencing the steepest decline of 26% to RMB242.2 million, explicitly attributed to reduced advertising spending from traditional internal combustion engine automakers.

The company's bottom line similarly contracted, with operating profit falling 15.5% to RMB233.4 million and net income decreasing 9.6% to RMB356.6 million. Non-GAAP adjusted net income showed an even sharper decline of 14.8% to RMB420.8 million.

Notably, management has implemented significant cost-cutting measures, reducing total operating expenses by 15.8% year-over-year. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 15.2% to RMB543.6 million, while product development expenses fell 18.4% to RMB274.1 million.

Despite financial headwinds, user engagement shows positive momentum, with mobile daily active users growing 10.8% year-over-year to 76.92 million in March 2025. This disconnect between growing user numbers and declining revenue suggests Autohome faces monetization challenges or is prioritizing audience growth over short-term revenue generation.

The company maintains exceptional balance sheet strength with RMB21.93 billion (US$3.02 billion) in cash and short-term investments. Management continues returning capital to shareholders through share repurchases, having bought back 4,781,999 ADSs for approximately US$128.0 million.

Autohome's strategic initiatives indicate a company in transition - expanding its offline network to nearly 200 Autohome Space and satellite franchised stores while deploying AI technology across its platform, including an AI smart assistant powered by DeepSeek. These investments in future capabilities, combined with growth in the new energy vehicle segment (which is reportedly outperforming the broader industry), represent potential catalysts amid the overall revenue decline.

BEIJING, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights^[1]

• Net revenues in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB1,453.8 million (US$200.3 million), compared to RMB1,609.1 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• Net income attributable to Autohome in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB356.6 million (US$49.1 million), compared to RMB394.5 million in the corresponding period of 2024, while net income attributable to ordinary shareholders in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB340.5 million (US$46.9 million), compared to RMB379.8 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP)^[2] in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB420.8 million (US$58.0 million), compared to RMB493.9 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• Share repurchase: As of May 2, 2025, the Company had repurchased 4,781,999 American depositary shares ("ADSs") for a total cost of approximately US$128.0 million.

Mr. Song Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "In the first quarter, we made significant progress in strengthening our business foundation and driving the execution of our innovation initiatives. We effectively deployed AI technology across various business areas, most notably with the launch of the upgraded Autohome App in late March, featuring an AI smart assistant powered by DeepSeek and our proprietary big data resources. These features significantly enhance the user question-and-answer experience and improve user decision-making efficiency across the automotive vertical."

"Our new retail network continues to steadily expand, with nearly 200 Autohome Space and satellite franchised stores now in operation. These stores offer local partners cutting-edge technological capabilities, premium offline resources, and robust ecosystem support. Looking forward, we will further enhance user value and capitalize on new growth opportunities, building a seamless online-to-offline ecosystem for services and deliver a more comprehensive and convenient one-stop solution for consumers and business partners alike."

Mr. Craig Yan Zeng, Chief Financial Officer of Autohome, added, "We delivered another solid quarter of operational and financial results. Our user base continues to expand, with March 2025 average mobile daily active users increasing by 10.8% year-over-year to 76.92 million, according to QuestMobile, primarily driven by category expansion and our ongoing investments in premium content. Revenue growth in our new energy vehicle business also outperformed the broader industry, supported by our robust new retail initiatives. We look forward to collaborating with our new partner and propelling Autohome into the next phase of growth."

Unaudited First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues were RMB1,453.8 million (US$200.3 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB1,609.1 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

• Media services revenues were RMB242.2 million (US$33.4 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB327.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024, primarily due to reduced advertising spending by internal combustion engine ("ICE") automakers amid shrinking sales volumes in the ICE segment.
• Leads generation services revenues were RMB645.1 million (US$88.9 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB726.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• Online marketplace and others revenues were RMB566.5 million (US$78.1 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB555.2 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB315.5 million (US$43.5 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB300.9 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Share-based compensation expenses included in cost of revenues in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB2.4 million (US$0.3 million), compared to RMB0.9 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were RMB948.8 million (US$130.7 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB1,126.9 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

• Sales and marketing expenses were RMB543.6 million (US$74.9 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB641.3 million in the corresponding period of 2024, primarily due to a decrease in marketing and promotional expenses. Share-based compensation expenses included in sales and marketing expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB12.3 million (US$1.7 million), compared to RMB12.8 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• General and administrative expenses were RMB131.0 million (US$18.1 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB149.5 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Share-based compensation expenses included in general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB11.2 million (US$1.5 million), compared to RMB12.0 million in the corresponding period of 2024.
• Product development expenses were RMB274.1 million (US$37.8 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB336.1 million in the corresponding period of 2024, primarily due to a decrease in personnel-related expenses. Share-based compensation expenses included in product development expenses in the first quarter of 2025 were RMB19.6 million (US$2.7 million), compared to RMB22.6 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

Operating Profit

Operating profit was RMB233.4 million (US$32.2 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB276.1 million in the corresponding period of 2024. 

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was RMB56.3 million (US$7.8 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to an income tax expense of RMB68.4 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

Net Income attributable to Autohome

Net income attributable to Autohome was RMB356.6 million (US$49.1 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB394.5 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

Net Income attributable to Ordinary Shareholders and Earnings per Share/ADS

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB340.5 million (US$46.9 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB379.8 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") were RMB0.72 (US$0.10) and RMB0.71 (US$0.10), respectively, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to basic and diluted EPS of RMB0.78 and RMB0.78, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2024. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB2.86 (US$0.39) and RMB2.85 (US$0.39), respectively, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB3.14 and RMB3.13, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2024.

Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP) and Non-GAAP EPS/ADS

Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome (Non-GAAP) was RMB420.8 million (US$58.0 million) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to RMB493.9 million in the corresponding period of 2024. Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS were RMB0.88 (US$0.12) and RMB0.88 (US$0.12), respectively, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS of RMB1.02 and RMB1.02, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2024. Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB3.54 (US$0.49) and RMB3.52 (US$0.49), respectively, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB4.08 and RMB4.07, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2024.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB21.93 billion (US$3.02 billion). Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2025 was RMB134.7 million (US$18.6 million).

Employees

The Company had 4,345 employees as of March 31, 2025, including 1,299 employees from TTP Car, Inc.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 8, 2025 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the registration link provided below. Upon registering, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which will be used to join the conference call.

Registration Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI29659c4e82a24979ba0e64eb6aad011d

Please use the conference access information to join the call 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at https://ir.autohome.com.cn and a replay of the webcast will be available following the session.

About Autohome

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to relentlessly reduce auto industry decision-making and transaction costs driven by advanced technology. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit https://www.autohome.com.cn/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, Autohome's business outlook, Autohome's strategic and operational plans and quotations from management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Autohome may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Autohome's goals and strategies; Autohome's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online automobile advertising market in China; Autohome's ability to attract and retain users and advertisers and further enhance its brand recognition; Autohome's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; competition in the online automobile advertising industry; relevant government policies and regulatory environment of China; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement net income presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we use Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome, Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS and earnings per ADS, Adjusted net margin and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP financial measures. We define Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome as net income attributable to Autohome excluding share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisition, and loss/(gain) pickup of equity method investments, with all the reconciliation items adjusted for related income tax effects. We define non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares. We define non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of ADSs. We define Adjusted net margin as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome divided by total net revenues. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Autohome before income tax expense, depreciation expenses of property and equipment, amortization expenses of intangible assets and share-based compensation expenses. We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, in addition to net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are important to help investors understand our operating and financial performance, compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and assess our core operating results, as they exclude certain non-cash charges or items that are non-operating in nature. The use of the above non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations as they excluded certain items that have been and will continue to be incurred in the future, but such items should be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Autohome Inc.
Sterling Song
Investor Relations Director  
Tel: +86-10-5985-7483
E-mail: ir@autohome.com.cn 

Christensen China Limited 
Suri Cheng
Tel: +86-185-0060-8364
E-mail:  suri.cheng@christensencomms.com

 

 

AUTOHOME INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA
(Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)
	For three months ended March 31,
	2024		2025
	RMB			RMB		US$
Net revenues:
Media services	327,431			242,179		33,373
Leads generation services	726,423			645,143		88,903
Online marketplace and others	555,211			566,496		78,065
Total net revenues	1,609,065			1,453,818		200,341
Cost of revenues	(300,892)			(315,520)		(43,480)
Gross profit	1,308,173			1,138,298		156,861
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing expenses	(641,276)			(543,639)		(74,915)
General and administrative expenses	(149,545)			(131,023)		(18,055)
Product development expenses	(336,067)			(274,141)		(37,778)
Total operating expenses	(1,126,888)			(948,803)		(130,748)
Other operating income, net	94,793			43,860		6,044
Operating profit	276,078			233,355		32,157
Interest and investment income, net	219,974			177,071		24,401
Share of results of equity method investments	(49,133)			(11,636)		(1,603)
Income before income taxes	446,919			398,790		54,955
Income tax expense	(68,401)			(56,329)		(7,762)
Net income	378,518			342,461		47,193
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	15,981			14,174		1,953
Net income attributable to Autohome	394,499			356,635		49,146
Accretion of mezzanine equity	(41,671)			(45,654)		(6,291)
Accretion attributable to noncontrolling interests	26,948			29,469		4,061
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders	379,776			340,450		46,916
Earnings per share attributable to ordinary      shareholders
Basic	0.78			0.72		0.10
Diluted	0.78			0.71		0.10
Earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders      (one ADS equals for four ordinary shares)
Basic	3.14			2.86		0.39
Diluted	3.13			2.85		0.39
Weighted average shares used to compute earnings per share attributable to      ordinary shareholders:
Basic	484,278,900			475,483,227		475,483,227
Diluted	485,253,760			478,030,619		478,030,619

 

 

AUTOHOME INC. UNAUDITED RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP AND GAAP RESULTS (Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)
	For three months ended March 31,
	2024		2025
	RMB		RMB		US$
Net income attributable to Autohome	394,499		356,635		49,146
Plus: income tax expense	69,742		57,669		7,947
Plus: depreciation of property and equipment	33,534		27,370		3,772
Plus: amortization of intangible assets	9,650		9,621		1,326
EBITDA	507,425		451,295		62,191
Plus: share-based compensation      expenses	48,307		45,490		6,269
Adjusted EBITDA	555,732		496,785		68,460
Net income attributable to Autohome	394,499		356,635		49,146
Plus: amortization of intangible assets resulting from business      acquisition	9,583		9,583		1,321
Plus: share-based compensation expenses	48,307		45,490		6,269
Plus: Loss on equity method investments, net	49,133		11,636		1,603
Plus: tax effects of the adjustments	(7,594)		(2,574)		(355)
Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome	493,928		420,770		57,984
Net income attributable to Autohome	394,499		356,635		49,146
Net margin	24.5 %		24.5 %		24.5 %
Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome	493,928		420,770		57,984
Adjusted net margin	30.7 %		28.9 %		28.9 %
Non-GAAP earnings per share
Basic	1.02		0.88		0.12
Diluted	1.02		0.88		0.12
Non-GAAP earnings per ADS (one ADS equals for four ordinary shares)
Basic	4.08		3.54		0.49
Diluted	4.07		3.52		0.49
Weighted average shares used to compute non-GAAP      earnings per share:
Basic	484,278,900		475,483,227		475,483,227
Diluted	485,253,760		478,030,619		478,030,619

 

 

AUTOHOME INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Amount in thousands, except as noted)
	As of December 31,		As of March 31,
	2024		2025
	RMB		RMB		US$
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	1,693,597		2,157,997		297,380
Restricted cash	88,515		106,086		14,619
Short-term investments	21,621,992		19,773,374		2,724,844
Accounts receivable, net	1,358,849		1,579,851		217,709
Amounts due from related parties, current	63,957		65,855		9,075
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	336,941		308,481		42,510
Total current assets	25,163,851		23,991,644		3,306,137
Non-current assets
Restricted cash, non-current	5,000		5,000		689
Property and equipment, net	204,049		186,432		25,691
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	4,069,637		4,051,081		558,254
Long-term investments	339,247		327,611		45,146
Deferred tax assets	308,246		308,246		42,477
Amounts due from related parties, non-current	3,521		5,419		747
Other non-current assets	128,074		136,141		18,761
Total non-current assets	5,057,774		5,019,930		691,765
Total assets	30,221,625		29,011,574		3,997,902
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other payables	2,931,869		2,233,599		307,799
Advance from customers	106,276		104,550		14,407
Deferred revenue	276,894		690,524		95,157
Income tax payable	185,976		177,422		24,449
Amounts due to related parties	38,250		50,470		6,955
Dividends payable	990,529		-		-
Total current liabilities	4,529,794		3,256,565		448,767
Non-current liabilities
Other liabilities	23,103		35,102		4,837
Deferred tax liabilities	468,078		465,300		64,120
Total non-current liabilities	491,181		500,402		68,957
Total liabilities	5,020,975		3,756,967		517,724
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Convertible redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,931,529		1,977,183		272,463
EQUITY
Total Autohome shareholders' equity	23,951,737		24,003,691		3,307,797
Noncontrolling interests	(682,616)		(726,267)		(100,082)
Total equity	23,269,121		23,277,424		3,207,715
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity	30,221,625		29,011,574		3,997,902

 

[1] The reporting currency of the Company is Renminbi ("RMB"). For readers' convenience, certain amounts throughout the release are presented in US dollars ("US$"). Unless otherwise noted, all conversions from RMB to US$ are translated at the noon buying rate of US$1.00 to RMB7.2567 on March 31, 2025 in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at such rate.

[2] For more information on this and other non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of Non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release.

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SOURCE Autohome Inc.

FAQ

What were Autohome's (ATHM) Q1 2025 earnings results?

Autohome reported Q1 2025 net revenues of RMB1,453.8 million (US$200.3 million) and net income of RMB356.6 million (US$49.1 million), both showing YoY decreases of approximately 9.6-9.7%.

How many active users does Autohome have in 2025?

According to QuestMobile, Autohome's average mobile daily active users reached 76.92 million in March 2025, representing a 10.8% increase year-over-year.

What is Autohome's (ATHM) cash position in Q1 2025?

As of March 31, 2025, Autohome had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB21.93 billion (US$3.02 billion).

How many shares has ATHM repurchased in its buyback program?

As of May 2, 2025, Autohome had repurchased 4,781,999 American depositary shares (ADSs) for a total cost of approximately US$128.0 million.

What new technologies has Autohome implemented in 2025?

In late March 2025, Autohome launched an upgraded app featuring an AI smart assistant powered by DeepSeek and proprietary big data resources to enhance user experience and decision-making efficiency.