SOHU.COM REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2025 UNAUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS
- One-time tax benefit of $199 million improved GAAP net income significantly
- Online game revenues showed 7% quarter-over-quarter growth
- Strong liquidity position with $1.2 billion in cash and investments
- Active share repurchase program with $67 million in buybacks completed
- Total revenues declined 3% year-over-year to $136 million
- Marketing services revenue dropped 15% year-over-year
- Non-GAAP net loss of $16 million continues operational losses
- Projected Q2 2025 online game revenues to decrease 28-35% year-over-year
Insights
Sohu.com reports mixed Q1 results with significant tax benefit boosting GAAP profit while core business still operates at a loss.
Sohu's Q1 2025 results present a complex financial picture worth unpacking. The headline GAAP net income of $182 million appears impressive but requires careful analysis. This profit stems almost entirely from a $199 million tax benefit from the reversal of previously accrued uncertain tax positions related to a one-time transition tax. When examining core operations through the non-GAAP figures, Sohu actually posted a net loss of $16 million.
Total revenues declined 3% year-over-year to $136 million, with particular weakness in marketing services (down 15% YoY). The online gaming segment was flat year-over-year at $117 million but showed sequential improvement, up 7% quarter-over-quarter. This suggests stabilization in their core gaming business, which constitutes approximately 86% of total revenue.
Gross margins remain healthy at 76%, though this represents a slight compression from 77% in Q1 2024. The company's operating loss improved to $19 million compared to $27 million in the year-ago quarter, indicating some progress in cost management with operating expenses down 9% year-over-year.
Looking forward, the Q2 guidance suggests continued challenges, with projected online game revenues between $96-106 million (potentially down 28-35% year-over-year) and an expected non-GAAP net loss of $20-30 million. This expected significant decline in gaming revenue is concerning for a company where this segment represents the vast majority of total revenue.
From a liquidity perspective, Sohu maintains a strong position with approximately $1.2 billion in cash and investments. The company continues its share repurchase program, having bought back 5.48 million ADSs worth $67 million out of the authorized $150 million.
The Changyou gaming division shows mixed user metrics – PC game monthly active users increased 3% year-over-year to 2.3 million, while mobile game MAUs declined 22% year-over-year to 2.1 million. This divergence between PC and mobile performance suggests challenges in maintaining their mobile gaming audience despite some successful new title launches.
First Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues were
US , down$136 million 3% year-over-year and up1% quarter-over-quarter. - Marketing services[1] revenues were US
$14 million , down15% year-over-year and27% quarter-over-quarter. - Online game revenues were US
$117 million , flat year-over-year and up7% quarter-over-quarter. - GAAP net income[2] attributable to Sohu.com Limited was
US , compared with a net loss of US$182 million $25 million in the first quarter of 2024 and a net loss ofUS in the fourth quarter of 2024.$21 million - Non-GAAP[3] net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited was
US , compared with a net loss of US$16 million $22 million in the first quarter of 2024 and a net loss ofUS in the fourth quarter of 2024.$15 million
Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Sohu.com Limited, commented, "In the first quarter of 2025, both our marketing services revenues and non-GAAP bottom line performance reached the high end of our previous guidance, while our online game revenues were well above our expectations. For the Sohu media platform, in addition to devoting efforts in product refinements and technology improvements, we continued to concentrate on strengthening the distinctive social features of our platform. Through various unique events, we were able to engage with more users, while promoting vigorous social interactions and distributions on our platform and generating massive premium content at the same time. Leveraging our competitive advantage as a mainstream media platform and our unique IPs, we proactively explored greater monetization opportunities. Our online games business also achieved a satisfactory performance, thanks to the high-quality content updates and continual improvements to our games."
[1] Starting in the first quarter of 2025, the Company has changed the name of its "brand advertising business," as described in its previous annual and other reports with the |
[2] In the first quarter of 2025, due to the expiration during the quarter of the statutory period for the |
[3] Non-GAAP results exclude share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments; and the income tax benefit in connection with the Toll Charge and related accrued interest expense. Explanation of the Company's non-GAAP financial measures and related reconciliations to GAAP financial measures are included in the accompanying "Non-GAAP Disclosure" and "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results of Operation Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures." |
First Quarter Financial Results
Revenues
Total revenues were
Marketing services revenues were US
Online game revenues were US
Gross Margin
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin were
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the marketing services business were
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for online games were
Operating Expenses
GAAP operating expenses were US
Operating Loss
Both GAAP and non-GAAP operating loss were
Income Tax Expense/(Benefit)
GAAP income tax benefit was US
Non-GAAP income tax expense was
Net Income/(Loss)
GAAP net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited was
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited was
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term time deposits totaled approximately
Supplementary Information for Changyou Results[4]
First Quarter 2025 Operating Results
- For PC games, total average monthly active user accounts[5] (MAU) were 2.3 million, an increase of
3% year-over-year and flat quarter-over-quarter. Total quarterly aggregate active paying accounts[6] (APA) were 1.0 million, an increase of2% year-over-year and a decrease of3% quarter-over-quarter. - For mobile games, total average MAU were 2.1 million, a decrease of
22% year-over-year and17% quarter-over-quarter. Total quarterly APA were 0.4 million, an increase of6% year-over-year and a decrease of16% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease in MAU was mainly due to the natural decline of Haikyu!!FLY HIGH, which was launched inJapan andSouth Korea during the first quarter of 2024. The year-over-year increase in APA was mainly from New Westward Journey and its international version Journey Renewed: Fate Fantasy, which were launched during recent quarters. The quarter-over-quarter decreases in MAU and APA were mainly due to the natural decline of Journey Renewed: Fate Fantasy.
[4] "Changyou Results" consist of the results of Changyou's online games business and its 17173.com Website. |
[5] Monthly active user accounts refers to the number of registered accounts that are logged in to these games at least once during the month. |
[6] Quarterly aggregate active paying accounts refers to the number of accounts from which game points are utilized at least once during the quarter. |
First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results
Total revenues were
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross profit were
GAAP operating expenses were
Non-GAAP operating expenses were
GAAP operating profit was
Non-GAAP operating profit was
Recent Development
Under the previously-announced share repurchase program of up to
Business Outlook
For the second quarter of 2025, Sohu estimates:
- Marketing services revenues to be between
US and$16 million US ; this implies an annual decrease of$17 million 14% to19% , and a sequential increase of17% to24% . - Online game revenues to be between US
$96 million and US$106 million ; this implies an annual decrease of28% to35% , and a sequential decrease of10% to18% . - Both non-GAAP and GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited to be between US
$20 million and US$30 million .
For the second quarter 2025 guidance, the Company has adopted a presumed exchange rate of
This forecast reflects Sohu's management's current and preliminary view, which is subject to substantial uncertainty.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
Sohu's management believes excluding share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments; and the income tax benefit in connection with the Toll Charge and related accrued interest expense from the Company's non-GAAP financial measures is useful for itself and investors. Further, the impact of share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments; and the income tax benefit in connection with the Toll Charge and related accrued interest expense could not be anticipated by management and business line leaders and these expenses were not built into the annual budgets and quarterly forecasts that have been the basis for information Sohu provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance. As share-based compensation expense, and changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments do not involve subsequent cash outflow or are reflected in the cash flows at the equity transaction level, Sohu does not factor in their impact when evaluating and approving expenditures or when determining the allocation of its resources to its business segments. As a result, in general, the monthly financial results for internal reporting and any performance measures for commissions and bonuses are based on non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation expense and changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments, and also exclude the income tax benefit in connection with the Toll Charge and related accrued interest expense.
The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of Sohu's current financial performance and prospects for the future. A limitation of using non-GAAP gross profit, operating profit/(loss), net income/(loss), net income/(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Limited, and diluted net income/(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Limited per ADS excluding share-based compensation expense is that this expense has been and can be expected to continue to recur in Sohu's business. It is also possible that changes in fair value recognized in the Company's consolidated statements of operations with respect to the Company's investments, will recur in the future. In order to mitigate these limitations Sohu has provided specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables include details on the reconciliation between the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures that have been presented.
Notes to Financial Information
Financial information in this press release other than the information indicated as being non-GAAP is derived from Sohu's unaudited financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. It is currently expected that the Business Outlook will not be updated until release of Sohu's next quarterly earnings announcement; however, Sohu reserves right to update its Business Outlook at any time for any reason. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sohu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, instability in global financial and credit markets and its potential impact on the Chinese economy; exchange rate fluctuations, including their potential impact on the Chinese economy and on Sohu's reported
Conference Call and Webcast
Sohu's management team will host a conference call at 7:30 a.m.
The live Webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sohu's website at https://investors.sohu.com/.
About Sohu
Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU) was established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of
As a mainstream media platform with social features, Sohu is indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese, providing to a vast number of users a network of web properties and community based products, which offer a broad array of content such as news, information, text, picture, video, and live broadcasting. Sohu also attracts users to be highly engaged in content generation and distribution, and actively interact with each other on the platform. Sohu's online games business is conducted by its subsidiary Changyou which develops and operates a diverse portfolio of PC and mobile games, such as the well-known Tian Long Ba Bu ("TLBB") PC and Legacy TLBB Mobile.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In
Ms. Pu Huang
Sohu.com Limited
Tel: +86 (10) 6272-6645
E-mail: ir@contact.sohu.com
In
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Christensen
Tel: +1 (480) 614-3004
E-mail: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com
SOHU.COM LIMITED | |||||||
Three Months Ended | |||||||
Mar. 31, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2024 | Mar. 31, 2024 | |||||
Revenues: | |||||||
Marketing services[7] | $ | 13,725 | $ | 18,865 | $ | 16,070 | |
Online games | 117,347 | 109,859 | 117,812 | ||||
Others | 4,573 | 5,960 | 5,508 | ||||
Total revenues | 135,645 | 134,684 | 139,390 | ||||
Cost of revenues: | |||||||
Marketing services | 12,341 | 17,787 | 15,848 | ||||
Online games | 18,136 | 18,133 | 14,482 | ||||
Others | 2,669 | 1,113 | 2,389 | ||||
Total cost of revenues | 33,146 | 37,033 | 32,719 | ||||
Gross profit | 102,499 | 97,651 | 106,671 | ||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Product development (includes share-based | 62,972 | 61,584 | 66,209 | ||||
Sales and marketing (includes share-based compensation | 45,586 | 48,588 | 54,806 | ||||
General and administrative (includes share-based | 12,969 | 12,672 | 12,534 | ||||
Total operating expenses | 121,527 | 122,844 | 133,549 | ||||
Operating loss | (19,028) | (25,193) | (26,878) | ||||
Other income, net | 4,199 | 8,448 | 4,489 | ||||
Interest income | 7,708 | 8,632 | 11,358 | ||||
Exchange difference | (119) | 1,240 | (19) | ||||
Loss before income tax expense | (7,240) | (6,873) | (11,050) | ||||
Income tax expense/(benefit)[8] | (189,391) | 14,387 | 13,924 | ||||
Net income/(loss) | 182,151 | (21,260) | (24,974) | ||||
Less: Net income/(loss) attributable to the | (9) | 31 | - | ||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Limited | 182,160 | (21,291) | (24,974) | ||||
Basic net income/(loss) per share/ADS attributable to | $ | 6.07 | $ | (0.69) | $ | (0.76) | |
Shares/ADSs used in computing basic net income/(loss) | 30,008 | 30,799 | 33,033 | ||||
Diluted net income/(loss) per share/ADS attributable to | $ | 6.07 | $ | (0.69) | $ | (0.76) | |
Shares/ADSs used in computing diluted net income/(loss) | 30,008 | 30,799 | 33,033 | ||||
[7] See footnote 1. |
SOHU.COM LIMITED | ||||
As of Mar. 31, 2025 | As of Dec. 31, 2024 | |||
ASSETS | ||||
Current assets: | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 130,026 | $ | 159,927 |
Restricted cash | 79 | - | ||
Short-term investments | 745,696 | 744,498 | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 49,402 | 53,762 | ||
Prepaid and other current assets | 87,258 | 83,575 | ||
Total current assets | 1,012,461 | 1,041,762 | ||
Fixed assets, net | 250,148 | 252,860 | ||
Goodwill | 46,965 | 46,944 | ||
Long-term investments, net | 43,105 | 43,120 | ||
Intangible assets, net | 6,472 | 7,695 | ||
Long-term time deposits | 333,836 | 331,290 | ||
Other assets | 10,494 | 10,995 | ||
Total assets | $ | 1,703,481 | $ | 1,734,666 |
LIABILITIES | ||||
Current liabilities: | ||||
Accounts payable | $ | 37,678 | $ | 36,043 |
Accrued liabilities | 94,838 | 97,138 | ||
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue | 50,111 | 51,007 | ||
Accrued salary and benefits | 35,627 | 47,232 | ||
Taxes payables | 17,189 | 14,225 | ||
Other short-term liabilities | 79,009 | 76,322 | ||
Total current liabilities | $ | 314,452 | $ | 321,967 |
Long-term other payables | 2,863 | 2,807 | ||
Long-term tax liabilities | 290,707 | 485,545 | ||
Other long-term liabilities | 1,289 | 1,659 | ||
Total long-term liabilities | $ | 294,859 | $ | 490,011 |
Total liabilities | $ | 609,311 | $ | 811,978 |
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | ||||
Sohu.com Limited shareholders' equity | 1,093,826 | 922,335 | ||
Noncontrolling interest | 344 | 353 | ||
Total shareholders' equity | $ | 1,094,170 | $ | 922,688 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 1,703,481 | $ | 1,734,666 |
SOHU.COM LIMITED | ||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended Mar. 31, 2025 | Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2024 | Three Months Ended Mar. 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
GAAP | Non-GAAP | Non-GAAP | GAAP | Non-GAAP | Non-GAAP | GAAP | Non-GAAP | Non-GAAP | ||||||||||
- | (a) | - | (a) | 0 | (a) | |||||||||||||
Marketing services gross profit | $ | 1,384 | $ | - | $ | 1,384 | $ | 1,078 | $ | - | $ | 1,078 | $ | 222 | $ | 0 | $ | 222 |
Marketing services gross margin | 10 % | 10 % | 6 % | 6 % | 1 % | 1 % | ||||||||||||
- | (a) | - | (a) | 0 | (a) | |||||||||||||
Online games gross profit | $ | 99,211 | $ | - | $ | 99,211 | $ | 91,726 | $ | - | $ | 91,726 | $ | 103,330 | $ | 0 | $ | 103,330 |
Online games gross margin | 85 % | 85 % | 83 % | 83 % | 88 % | 88 % | ||||||||||||
- | (a) | - | (a) | - | (a) | |||||||||||||
Others gross profit | $ | 1,904 | $ | - | $ | 1,904 | $ | 4,847 | $ | - | $ | 4,847 | $ | 3,119 | $ | - | $ | 3,119 |
Others gross margin | 42 % | 42 % | 81 % | 81 % | 57 % | 57 % | ||||||||||||
- | (a) | - | (a) | 0 | (a) | |||||||||||||
Gross profit | $ | 102,499 | $ | - | $ | 102,499 | $ | 97,651 | $ | - | $ | 97,651 | $ | 106,671 | $ | 0 | $ | 106,671 |
Gross margin | 76 % | 76 % | 73 % | 73 % | 77 % | 77 % | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses | $ | 121,527 | $ | (392) | (a) $ | 121,135 | $ | 122,844 | $ | (242) | (a) $ | 122,602 | $ | 133,549 | $ | (84) | (a) $ | 133,465 |
392 | (a) | 242 | (a) | 84 | (a) | |||||||||||||
Operating loss | $ | (19,028) | $ | 392 | $ | (18,636) | $ | (25,193) | $ | 242 | $ | (24,951) | $ | (26,878) | $ | 84 | $ | (26,794) |
Operating margin | -14 % | -14 % | -19 % | -19 % | -19 % | -19 % | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense/(benefit) | $ | (189,391) | $ | 199,018 | (c)$ | 9,627 | $ | 14,387 | $ | (3,961) | (c)$ | 10,426 | $ | 13,924 | $ | (3,691) | (c)$ | 10,233 |
392 | (a) | 242 | (a) | 84 | (a) | |||||||||||||
- | 2,087 | (b) | (398) | (b) | ||||||||||||||
(199,018) | (c) | 3,961 | (c) | 3,691 | (c) | |||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) before non- | $ | 182,151 | $ | (198,626) | $ | (16,475) | $ | (21,260) | $ | 6,290 | $ | (14,970) | $ | (24,974) | $ | 3,377 | $ | (21,597) |
392 | (a) | 242 | (a) | 84 | (a) | |||||||||||||
- | 2,087 | (b) | (398) | (b) | ||||||||||||||
(199,018) | (c) | 3,961 | (c) | 3,691 | (c) | |||||||||||||
Net income/( loss) attributable to | $ | 182,160 | $ | (198,626) | $ | (16,466) | $ | (21,291) | 6,290 | (15,001) | $ | (24,974) | 3,377 | (21,597) | ||||
Diluted net income/( loss) per | $ | 6.07 | (0.55) | $ | (0.69) | (0.49) | $ | (0.76) | (0.65) | |||||||||
Shares/ADSs used in computing | 30,008 | 30,008 | 30,799 | 30,799 | 33,033 | 33,033 | ||||||||||||
Note: | ||||||||||||||||||
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SOURCE Sohu.com Limited