Hello Group Inc. Announces Unaudited Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2025
- Net income increased significantly to RMB358.0M from RMB5.2M YoY
- Overseas revenues grew 71.9% YoY to RMB414.6M
- Special cash dividend of US$0.30 per ADS declared and paid
- Ongoing share repurchase program with US$194.8M remaining
- Strong cost reduction and efficiency improvements in mainland PRC business
- Total net revenues decreased 1.5% YoY
- Tantan MAUs declined to 10.7M from 13.7M YoY
- Momo paying users dropped to 4.2M from 7.1M YoY
- Q2 2025 guidance projects revenue decline of 0.8-4.5% YoY
- Soft consumer sentiment among top users in current macro environment
Insights
Hello Group shows dramatic profit growth despite user decline; overseas expansion offsets domestic weakness with 72% revenue growth.
Hello Group's Q1 2025 results reveal a remarkable profit transformation despite ongoing user challenges. Net income surged to
The company's geographic revenue mix is undergoing a significant shift. While mainland China revenue fell
The profit surge stems primarily from substantial tax efficiency improvements. Q1 2024 included a one-time
User metrics show concerning trends across both major platforms. Tantan's MAUs dropped
The company continues prioritizing shareholder returns through a
First Quarter of 2025 Highlights
- Net revenues decreased by
1.5% year over year toRMB2,520.8 million (US *) in the first quarter of 2025.$347.4 million - Net revenues from overseas increased by
71.9% year over year toRMB414.6 million (US ) in the first quarter of 2025.$57.1 million - Net income attributable to Hello Group Inc. increased to
RMB358.0 million (US ) in the first quarter of 2025, from$49.3 million RMB5.2 million in the same period of 2024. - Non-GAAP net income attributable to Hello Group Inc. (note 1) increased to
RMB403.8 million (US ) in the first quarter of 2025, from$55.6 million RMB59.9 million in the same period of 2024. - Diluted net income per American Depositary Share ("ADS") was
RMB2.07 (US ) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to$0.29 RMB0.03 in the same period of 2024. - Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS (note 1) was
RMB2.34 (US ) in the first quarter of 2025, compared to$0.32 RMB0.31 in the same period of 2024. - Monthly Active Users ("MAU") on Tantan app were 10.7 million in March 2025, compared to 13.7 million in March 2024.
- For the Momo app total paying users was 4.2 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to 7.1 million for the same period last year. Tantan had 0.8 million paying users for the first quarter of 2025 compared to 1.1 million from the year ago period.
* This press release contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into |
"Q1 marked a strong start to 2025," commented Yan Tang, Chairman and CEO of Hello Group. "Our mainland PRC businesses continue to deliver solid profits, thanks to our ongoing efforts in cost reduction and efficiency improvement, as well as gradual stabilization of external factors. Meanwhile, our overseas business growth has accelerated, driven by further localization of existing products and the initial monetization of new apps. We expect the overseas products to make an increasingly meaningful contribution to the Group's financials in the coming quarters."
First Quarter of 2025 Financial Results
Net revenues
Total net revenues were
Starting from the first quarter of 2025, the Company combined the live video service and value-added services lines, which are now collectively referred to as value-added services. This change reflects the increasing convergence of the two business lines in terms of user mentality and product format. The combined reporting more accurately reflects user behavior and spending across the Company's social entertainment ecosystem. Additionally, the Company consolidated mobile marketing services, mobile games and other services, which are now collectively reported under "other services."
Value-added service revenues mainly include virtual gift revenues from various audio, video and text- based scenarios, and membership subscription revenues. Total value-added service revenues were
Other services revenues were
Net revenues from Chinese mainland decreased from
Cost and expenses
Cost and expenses were
Non-GAAP cost and expenses (note 1) were
Income from operations
Income from operations was
Non-GAAP income from operations (note 1) was
Income tax expenses
Income tax expenses were
Net income
Net income was
Non-GAAP net income (note 1) was
Net income attributable to Hello Group Inc.
Net income attributable to Hello Group Inc. was
Non-GAAP net income (note 1) attributable to Hello Group Inc. was
Net income per ADS
Diluted net income per ADS was
Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS (note 1) was
Cash and cash flow
As of March 31, 2025, the Company's cash, cash equivalents, short-term deposits, long-term deposits, short-term restricted cash and long-term restricted cash totaled
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2025 was
Change in Segment Reporting
Effective from the first quarter of 2025, the Company implemented the strategic decision to integrate the operations of Momo, Tantan, and QOOL into a unified business structure, and as a result, changed its segment disclosure from three operating segments to a single operating segment. This change reflects the Company's strategic focus and aligns with the financial information that the Company's chief operating decision maker currently receives and uses to allocate resources and assess performance of the Company. Prior period segment information has been retrospectively revised to conform to the current presentation.
Recent Development
Payment of a special cash dividend
In March 2025, Hello Group's board of directors declared a special cash dividend in the amount of
Share repurchase program
As of June, 5, 2025, the Company has repurchased 47.8 million ADSs for
Business Outlook
For the second quarter of 2025, the Company expects total net revenues to be between
Note 1: Non-GAAP measures
To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with
Reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures to our
Our non-GAAP financial information is provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the historical and current financial performance of our continuing operations and our prospects for the future. Our non-GAAP financial information should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to the GAAP results. In addition, our calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.
Our non-GAAP information (including non-GAAP cost and operating expenses, income from operations, net income, net income attributable to Hello Group Inc., and diluted net income per ADS) is adjusted from the most comparable GAAP results to exclude share-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets from business acquisitions, and such adjustments has no impact on income tax. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that share-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets from business acquisitions have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future significant recurring expenses in our results of operations. We compensate for such limitation by providing reconciliations of our non-GAAP measures to our
Conference Call
Hello Group's management will host an earnings conference call on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing / Hong Kong Time on June 5, 2025).
Participants can register for the conference call by navigating to:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10047425-78qg9r.html.
Upon registration, each participant will receive details for the conference call, including dial-in numbers, conference call passcode and a unique access PIN. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.
A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through June 12, 2025. The dial-in details for the replay are as follows:
Passcode: 10047425
Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Hello Group's website at https://ir.hellogroup.com.
About Hello Group Inc.
We are a leading player in
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Hello Group Inc.
Investor Relations
Phone: +86-10-5731-0538
Email: ir@hellogroup.com
Christensen
In
Ms. Xiaoyan Su
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com
In
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to our management quotes, our financial outlook for the second quarter of 2025, as well as the amount of, timing, methods and funding sources for repurchases of our shares under the share repurchase program.
Our forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding expected results and events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Our actual results and other circumstances may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and events indicated in these forward-looking statements. Announced results for the first quarter of 2025 are preliminary, unaudited and subject to audit adjustment. In addition, we may not meet our financial outlook for the second quarter of 2025 and may be unable to grow our business in the manner planned. We may also modify our strategy for growth. Moreover, there are other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from what we currently anticipate, including those relating to our ability to retain and grow our user base, our ability to attract and retain sufficiently trained professionals to support our operations, our ability to anticipate and develop new services and enhance existing services to meet the demand of our users or customers, the market price of the Company's stock prevailing from time to time, the nature of other investment opportunities presented to the Company from time to time, the Company's cash flows from operations, general economic conditions, and other factors. For additional information on these and other important factors that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, please see our filings with the
All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this release, except as required by law. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
Hello Group Inc. | |||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations | |||||||
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
Three months | |||||||
Ended March 31 | |||||||
2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||
Net revenues(i): | |||||||
Value-added service | 2,532,917 | 2,489,902 | 343,118 | ||||
Other services | 27,503 | 30,933 | 4,262 | ||||
Total net revenues | 2,560,420 | 2,520,835 | 347,380 | ||||
Cost and expenses: | |||||||
Cost of revenues | (1,503,008) | (1,569,074) | (216,224) | ||||
Research and development | (192,191) | (195,769) | (26,978) | ||||
Sales and marketing | (293,431) | (329,178) | (45,362) | ||||
General and administrative | (131,381) | (140,511) | (19,363) | ||||
Total cost and expenses | (2,120,011) | (2,234,532) | (307,927) | ||||
Other operating income, net | 19,906 | 13,182 | 1,817 | ||||
Income from operations | 460,315 | 299,485 | 41,270 | ||||
Interest income | 121,107 | 120,338 | 16,583 | ||||
Interest expense | (23,698) | (30,659) | (4,225) | ||||
Other gain or loss, net | (9,245) | - | - | ||||
Income before income tax and share of income on equity method | 548,479 | 389,164 | 53,628 | ||||
Income tax expenses | (557,613) | (70,406) | (9,702) | ||||
(Loss) income before share of income on equity method | (9,134) | 318,758 | 43,926 | ||||
Share of income on equity method investments | 14,318 | 39,731 | 5,475 | ||||
Net income | 5,184 | 358,489 | 49,401 | ||||
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest | - | 495 | 68 | ||||
Net income attributable to the shareholders of Hello Group Inc. | 5,184 | 357,994 | 49,333 | ||||
Net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders | |||||||
Basic | 0.01 | 1.05 | 0.15 | ||||
Diluted | 0.01 | 1.04 | 0.14 | ||||
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per ordinary | |||||||
Basic | 374,650,649 | 339,405,347 | 339,405,347 | ||||
Diluted | 389,278,806 | 345,905,274 | 345,905,274 | ||||
(i) The following table presents revenues by geographic area based on the addresses of our customers of our users: | |||||||
Three months | |||||||
Ended March 31 | |||||||
2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||
Chinese mainland | 2,319,223 | 2,106,233 | 290,247 | ||||
Overseas | 241,197 | 414,602 | 57,133 | ||||
Total | 2,560,420 | 2,520,835 | 347,380 |
Hello Group Inc. | |||||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income | |||||||||
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||||
Three months | |||||||||
Ended March 31 | |||||||||
2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |||||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||
Net income | 5,184 | 358,489 | 49,401 | ||||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 54,894 | (43,338) | (5,972) | ||||||
Comprehensive income | 60,078 | 315,151 | 43,429 | ||||||
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributed to the non-controlling | 3,084 | (599) | (83) | ||||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Hello Group Inc. | 56,994 | 315,750 | 43,512 |
Hello Group Inc. | |||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | |||||
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||
December 31 | March 31 | March 31 | |||
2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |||
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||
Assets | |||||
Current assets | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 4,122,659 | 5,381,833 | 741,636 | ||
Short-term deposits | 2,026,245 | 762,835 | 105,121 | ||
Restricted cash | 4,566,477 | 2,637,531 | 363,461 | ||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of | 192,317 | 222,213 | 30,622 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,104,172 | 1,099,969 | 151,580 | ||
Total current assets | 12,011,870 | 10,104,381 | 1,392,420 | ||
Long-term deposits | 3,059,860 | 3,051,340 | 420,486 | ||
Long-term restricted cash | 953,285 | 952,391 | 131,243 | ||
Right-of-use assets, net | 252,169 | 216,054 | 29,773 | ||
Property and equipment, net | 897,036 | 916,423 | 126,286 | ||
Intangible assets, net | 86,661 | 191,927 | 26,448 | ||
Rental deposits | 13,280 | 13,387 | 1,845 | ||
Long-term investments | 825,533 | 863,342 | 118,972 | ||
Other non-current assets | 110,960 | 133,420 | 18,386 | ||
Deferred tax assets | 36,066 | 35,726 | 4,923 | ||
Goodwill | 136,250 | 249,412 | 34,370 | ||
Total assets | 18,382,970 | 16,727,803 | 2,305,152 | ||
Liabilities and equity | |||||
Current liabilities | |||||
Accounts payable | 615,254 | 619,824 | 85,414 | ||
Deferred revenue | 427,702 | 437,351 | 60,269 | ||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 704,410 | 652,234 | 89,880 | ||
Lease liabilities due within one year | 141,971 | 127,765 | 17,606 | ||
Income tax payable | 157,057 | 56,565 | 7,795 | ||
Deferred consideration in connection with business acquisitions-current | 28,027 | 27,863 | 3,840 | ||
Convertible Senior Notes-current | 20,191 | 20,090 | 2,768 | ||
Dividends payable | - | 347,403 | 47,873 | ||
Long-term borrowings, current portion | 1,938,385 | 1,939,245 | 267,235 | ||
Short-term borrowings | 2,365,535 | 675,000 | 93,017 | ||
Total current liabilities | 6,398,532 | 4,903,340 | 675,697 | ||
Deferred consideration in connection with business acquisitions-non current | 65,694 | 65,310 | 9,000 | ||
Lease liabilities | 115,105 | 92,338 | 12,725 | ||
Deferred tax liabilities | 241,915 | 254,530 | 35,075 | ||
Long-term borrowings | - | 3,227 | 445 | ||
Other non-current liabilities | 129,051 | 143,552 | 19,782 | ||
Total liabilities | 6,950,297 | 5,462,297 | 752,724 | ||
Shareholder's equity (ii) | 11,432,673 | 11,265,506 | 1,552,428 | ||
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity | 18,382,970 | 16,727,803 | 2,305,152 | ||
(ii): As of March 31, 2025, the number of ordinary shares outstanding was 321,338,936. |
Hello Group Inc. | |||||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows | |||||||
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
Three months | |||||||
Ended March 31 | |||||||
2024 | 2025 | 2025 | |||||
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | 5,184 | 358,489 | 49,401 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation of property and equipment | 14,310 | 12,391 | 1,708 | ||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,279 | 6,191 | 853 | ||||
Share-based compensation | 54,670 | 40,860 | 5,631 | ||||
Share of income on equity method investments | (14,318) | (39,731) | (5,475) | ||||
Returns on investments | - | 508 | 70 | ||||
Loss on long-term investments | 9,245 | - | - | ||||
Gain or loss on disposal of property and equipment | 258 | (102) | (14) | ||||
Provision of loss on receivable and other assets | 1,776 | 5,405 | 745 | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | 10,980 | (19,144) | (2,638) | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (9,677) | 11,375 | 1,568 | ||||
Rental deposits | (802) | (110) | (15) | ||||
Deferred tax assets | (2,498) | 340 | 47 | ||||
Other non-current assets | (7,597) | 35,046 | 4,829 | ||||
Accounts payable | (17,454) | (13,543) | (1,866) | ||||
Income tax payable | 6,036 | (100,979) | (13,915) | ||||
Deferred revenue | 16,674 | 9,035 | 1,245 | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | (56,800) | (70,983) | (9,782) | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities | 365,011 | 12,713 | 1,752 | ||||
Other non-current liabilities | 23,893 | (8,040) | (1,108) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 400,170 | 239,721 | 33,036 | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Purchase of property and equipment | (44,176) | (27,814) | (3,833) | ||||
Payment for business acquisition | - | (194,390) | (26,788) | ||||
Cash received on maturity of short-term deposits | 300,000 | 1,107,245 | 152,582 | ||||
Purchase of long-term deposits | (718,860) | - | - | ||||
Cash received on maturity of long-term deposits | 718,860 | 150,000 | 20,671 | ||||
Cash received from sales of long-term investment | 2,000 | - | - | ||||
Loan to a third-party company | - | (27,478) | (3,787) | ||||
Other investing activities | 385 | 192 | 26 | ||||
Net cash provided by investing activities | 258,209 | 1,007,755 | 138,871 | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Proceeds from exercise of share options | 11 | 2 | - | ||||
Repurchase of ordinary shares | (112,261) | (201,529) | (27,771) | ||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings | 1,331,635 | - | - | ||||
Repayment of short-term borrowings | (215) | (1,690,535) | (232,962) | ||||
Repayment of long-term borrowings | - | (395) | (54) | ||||
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities | 1,219,170 | (1,892,457) | (260,787) | ||||
Effect of exchange rate changes | 20,814 | (25,685) | (3,541) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 1,898,363 | (670,666) | (92,421) | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of period | 8,282,912 | 9,642,421 | 1,328,761 | ||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of period | 10,181,275 | 8,971,755 | 1,236,340 |
Hello Group Inc. | |||||||||||||||
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures | |||||||||||||||
(All amounts in thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
1. | Reconciliation of Non-GAAP cost and operating expenses, income from operations, and net income to comparable GAAP measures. | ||||||||||||||
Three months | Three months | Three months | |||||||||||||
Ended March 31, 2024 | Ended March 31, 2025 | Ended March 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||
GAAP | Share-based | Non-GAAP | GAAP | Amortization of | Share-based | Non-GAAP | GAAP | Amortization of | Share-based | Non-GAAP | |||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ | US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||
Cost of revenues | (1,503,008) | 1,882 | (1,501,126) | (1,569,074) | 1,263 | 1,774 | (1,566,037) | (216,224) | 174 | 244 | (215,806) | ||||
Research and development | (192,191) | 8,786 | (183,405) | (195,769) | 859 | 9,060 | (185,850) | (26,978) | 118 | 1,249 | (25,611) | ||||
Sales and marketing | (293,431) | 6,117 | (287,314) | (329,178) | 2,790 | 4,311 | (322,077) | (45,362) | 384 | 594 | (44,384) | ||||
General and administrative | (131,381) | 37,885 | (93,496) | (140,511) | - | 25,715 | (114,796) | (19,363) | - | 3,544 | (15,819) | ||||
Cost and operating expenses | (2,120,011) | 54,670 | (2,065,341) | (2,234,532) | 4,912 | 40,860 | (2,188,760) | (307,927) | 676 | 5,631 | (301,620) | ||||
Income from operations | 460,315 | 54,670 | 514,985 | 299,485 | 4,912 | 40,860 | 345,257 | 41,270 | 676 | 5,631 | 47,577 | ||||
Net income attributable to Hello Group Inc. | 5,184 | 54,670 | 59,854 | 357,994 | 4,912 | 40,860 | 403,766 | 49,333 | 676 | 5,631 | 55,640 |
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hello-group-inc-announces-unaudited-financial-results-for-the-first-quarter-of-2025-302474121.html
SOURCE Hello Group Inc.