Andy Yeung
Analyst · Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead
Thank you, Sheng. Hello, everyone. As you read in the press release, I will be resigning from Cheetah Mobile effective March 31, 2017. A new CFO search is being conducted by our Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the Board has appointed Francis Ng, CFO of Kingsoft and a Board member of Cheetah Mobile, as the interim CFO until a replacement is onboard. On a personal note, I would like to thank Fu Sheng, the Board and the rest of the management team for providing me the confidence, trust and opportunity to work with one of the most dynamic global companies emerging out of China. It has been a pleasure to work with you all. For all the investors and analysts who have covered our company ever since we went IPO and subsequently, thank you for your interest in the company and respect you have for me and the team. It has been a pleasure to work with you all as well. Cheetah Mobile has been an amazing company with hundreds of millions of users globally. It will remain one of the most dynamic names in the mobile Internet space and continue to rapidly evolve and lead in the mobile Internet ongoing evolution. I wish you the best of luck and success going forward. Moving on, we are delighted to have delivered solid financial results in the fourth quarter of 2016. In the second quarter of 2016, we set a clear goal to rejuvenate revenue growth and improve our financial conditions and both of our revenues and portfolio continue to improve in the second half of 2016. In fourth quarter 2016, our total revenues, mobile revenues and overseas revenues all hit record highs, driven by the steady and sustained revenue growth generated [ph] by our utility apps. Importantly, we also further expanded our portfolio in the past quarter. Our non-GAAP operating profit grew more than 200% as compared with the previous quarter. In addition, we generated RMB419 million in free cash flow in the fourth quarter 2016. Going forward, we will remain focused on the execution of our mobile content strategy, which will lay a strong foundation for another round of strong monetization, revenue growth and portfolio improvement in the coming quarters. Now let me walk you through the details of our fourth quarter financials and full year 2016 financial performance. All financial numbers are in RMB unless otherwise noted. In December 2016, the number of mobile MAUs was 623 million, an 11 million increase from quarter-over-quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2016, total revenues increased by 11% year-over-year and 13% quarter-over-quarter to RMB1.27 billion, which was slightly above the high end of our guidance. For the full year of 2016, total revenues increased by 21% year-over-year to RMB4.56 billion, primarily driven by the steady and sustained revenue growth from our user apps and the contribution from our new content driven apps, Live.me and News Republic. By platform, for the fourth quarter of 2016, mobile revenues increased by 28% year-over-year and 15% quarter-over-quarter to RMB1.03 billion. Mobile revenues accounted for 81% of our total revenues in the fourth quarter, up from 70% in the prior year period and 80% from the third quarter 2016. For the full year of 2016, mobile revenues increased by 43% year-over-year to RMB3.53 billion. Mobile revenues accounted for 77% of our total revenues in 2016, up from 66% in 2015. For the fourth quarter, PC revenues declined by 29% year-over-year, but increased by 5% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to the migration of Internet traffic from PC to mobile in China and a quarter-over-quarter increase was mainly due to high PC game revenues in the fourth quarter 2016. For the full year of 2016, PC revenue declined by 20% year-over-year. By region, for the fourth quarter, overseas revenues increased by 31% year-over-year and 16% quarter-over-quarter to RMB833 million. Overseas revenues accounted for 65% of our total revenues in the quarter. For the full year, overseas revenues increased by 42% year-over-year to RMB2.75 billion. Overseas revenues accounted for 60% of total revenue. For the fourth quarter of 2016, China revenue declined by 14% [ph] year-over-year, but increased 8% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase – decrease was mainly due to the decline in PC revenues and the quarter-over-quarter increase was mainly due to higher mobile advertising revenues in the fourth quarter 2016. For the full year, China revenue declined by 1.2% year-over-year. By segment, revenue from online marketing services for the fourth quarter were RMB1.03 billion, which remains stable year-over-year and increased by 5% quarter-over-quarter. For the full year, revenues from online marketing services increased by 20% to RMB3.95 billion, driven by higher demand from mobile advertiser and monetization of light causal games to in-game advertising. Revenue from IVAS for the fourth quarter of 2016 were approximately RMB209 million, which increased by 134% year-over-year and 89% quarter-over-quarter. For the full year 2016, revenues from IVAS increased by 27% to RMB501 million, primarily driven by our initial monetization of Live.me in the overseas market. Going forward, we will continue to experiment with innovative monetization model for Live.me, which include a one step proven to be successful in China. Revenue from Internet security services and others for the fourth quarter were approximately RMB33 million, which increased by 36% year-over-year and 5% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher mobile Internet services platform, software and licensing revenue. For the full year, revenue from Internet security services and others increased by 19% to RMB113 million. Moving to our costs and expenses, to help facilitate the discussion of the company’s operating performance in addition to financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the following discussion will also provide financial information relating to non-GAAP basis, which excludes stock-based compensation expenses. For detailed financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, please refer to our press release, which is available on our website. Total SBC expenses for the quarter declined by 45% year-over-year and 25% quarter-over-quarter to RMB54 million, for the full year of 2016, SBC expenses decreased by 3% to RMB306 million, which was mainly due to changes in the estimated or future rate of our share-based compensation expenses. Cost of revenues for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 57% year-over-year and 15% quarter-over-quarter to RMB464 million. Non-GAAP cost of revenues for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 56% year-over-year and 15% quarter-over-quarter to RMB463 million. For the full year, cost of revenue increased by 61% year-over-year to RMB1.54 billion. Non-GAAP cost of revenue for the full year increased by 62% to RMB1.54 billion, which was primarily due to step-up investment in content for our content driven products and an increase in bandwidth, Internet data center costs associated with increased user traffic and data analytics. Gross profit for the fourth quarter decreased by 5% year-over-year, but increased by 12% quarter-over-quarter to RMB810 million. Non-GAAP gross profit for the quarter decreased by 5% year-over-year, but increased by 12% quarter-over-quarter to RMB811 million. For the full year 2016, gross profit increased by 7% year-over-year to RMB3.02 billion. Non-GAAP gross profit for the full year of 2016 increased by 7% to RMB3.02 billion. Gross profit margin for the fourth quarter 2016 was 63.6% as compared with 74.3% in the prior year period and 64.2% in the third quarter of 2016. Non-GAAP gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 63.6% as compared to 34.2% in the prior year period and 64.2% in the third quarter of 2016. For the full year of 2016, gross margin was 66.2% as compared with 74.7% in the prior year. Non-GAAP gross margin for the full year of 2016 was 66.2% compared to 74.7% in the prior year period. Now R&D expenses for the quarter increased by 12% year-over-year and slight [ph] quarter-over-quarter to RMB235 million. Non-GAAP R&D expenses for the quarter of 2016 increased by 32% year-over-year and 7% quarter-over-quarter to RMB213 million. For the full year, R&D expenses increased by 30% year-over-year to RMB906 million. Non-GAAP R&D expenses for the full year of 2016 increased by 37% year-over-year to RMB758 million, primarily due to the increased headcount associated with our step-up investments in big data analytics and new product development. At the end of 2016, we had approximately 1,700 R&D personnel. Selling and marketing expenses for the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased by 21% year-over-year, but increased by 4% quarter-over-quarter to RMB408 million. Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the fourth quarter decreased by 20% year-over-year, but increased by 6% quarter-over-quarter to RMB408 million. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to lower expenses on promotional activities as a result of our strategy to implement cost control for our utility apps, which was partially offset by increased product promotional activities for our content driven applications and an increase in direct sales personnel. The quarter-over-quarter increase was mainly due to increased mobile product promotional activities in the quarter. For the full year 2016, sales and marketing expenses increased by 10% year-over-year to RMB1.65 billion. Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the full year 2016 increased by 10% to RMB1.64 billion. G&A expenses for the quarter increased by 29% year-over-year and decreased by 10% quarter-over-quarter to RMB127 million. Non-GAAP G&A expenses for the fourth quarter 2016 increased by 82% year-over-year and decreased by 14% quarter-over-quarter to RMB96 million. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to higher personnel – professional services fee and increased excellence in G&A function and the quarter-over-quarter decline was mainly due to a decrease in professional service fee. Now for the full year, G&A expenses increased by 25% year-over-year to RMB552 million. Non-GAAP G&A expenses for the full year increased by 42% to RMB419 million. Operating profit for the quarter was RMB62 million as compared with operating profit of RMB80 million in prior year and an operating loss of RMB34 million in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased by 35% year-over-year, but increased by 205% quarter-over-quarter to RMB116 million. For the full year, operating loss was about RMB12 million as compared to an operating income of RMB217 million in 2015. Non-GAAP operating profit for the year decreased by 45% to RMB294 million. Operating margin for the quarter was 4.9% as compared to 6.9% in the prior year period and operating loss margin of 3% in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP operating profit margin for the fourth quarter was 9.1% as compared to 15.5% in the prior year period and 3.4% in the third quarter 2016. The year-over-year decrease was mainly attributable to increased investments in content driven applications and the quarter-over-quarter increase was mainly due to total revenues increase and cost control measures. For the full year 2016, operating loss margin was 0.3% as compared to operating margins of 5.7% in 2015. Non-GAAP operating margins was 6.4% in 2016 as compared to 14.4% in 2015. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 4% year-over-year and 13x quarter-over-quarter to RMB59 million. Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was RMB113 million, which decreased by 27% year-over-year, but increased by 56% quarter-over-quarter. For the full year of 2016, net loss was RMB81 million as compared to net income of RMB176 million in ‘15. Non-GAAP net income for the full year of 2016 decreased by 54% year-over-year to RMB226 million. Diluted net income per ADS for the quarter was RMB0.41 or $0.06 as compared to RMB0.40 in the prior year period and breakeven in the prior quarter. Non-GAAP diluted net income per ADS was RMB0.80 or $0.12 as compared to RMB1.08 in the prior year period and RMB0.51 in the previous quarter. For the full year of 2016, diluted loss per ADS was RMB0.58 or $0.08 as compared to diluted income per ADS of RMB1.24 in 2015. Non-GAAP diluted net income for ADS for the full year was RMB1.59 as compared to RMB3.45 in the 2015 period. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was RMB159 million. For the full year 2016, adjusted EBITDA was RMB457 million. Looking ahead, for the first quarter of 2017, we currently expect total revenues to be between RMB1.15 billion and RMB1.19 billion, representing a 3% to 7% year-over-year increase and a 7% to 10% quarter-over-quarter decrease. The estimated quarter-over-quarter revenue decrease is primarily due to our user seasonality. Please note that this forecast reflect the company’s current and preliminary view and is subject to change. Before we start the Q&A session, I would like to remind everyone that on March 16, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a 1 year share repurchase program, which allow the company to buyback up to $100 million in aggregate values of its ADS. During the 1 year period, the company has repurchased a total of RMB2.54 million ADS, representing RMB25.4 million Class A ordinary share at an average price of $10.75 per ADS under the share repurchase program that expired on March 16, 2017. This concludes our prepared remarks. Operator, we are now ready to take questions.