Jackson Ding
Analyst · UBS. Please ask your question, Felix. Felix, your line is open. Please ask your question
Thank you, Alex. I am pleased to share with you some details about the progress we made in the fiscal second quarter across all core business lines. Please note that all financial data for the quarter are unaudited. I’ll start with our learning services and others business, which includes a broad range of learning programs for our customers. Learning services continued its development momentum in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. Revenue increased year-over-year propelled by advancements across multiple product lines. The largest revenue contributor in this business line remains Peiyou’s small class offerings, which maintained their upward trajectory. Peiyou’s growth was primarily driven by enrollment growth supported by the expansion of our operating capacity. We carefully assessed both user demand and our operational capacity. We struck a balance that allowed us to meet the growing demand during the summer vacation period while managing teaching quality, business sustainability and operational efficiency. Key efficiency indicators such as retention rate remained relatively stable quarter-over-quarter. For our online enrichment learning business, we remain focused on adapting to evolving market landscape and user needs through consistent innovation. By introducing new products and interactive formats, we create value for our learners and deliver learning efficacy and experience [ph]. Based on user feedback and market insights, we continue to invest in strengthening our online product capabilities as well as operational and marketing strategies. This allows us to expand our current operations while building a solid foundation for long-term competitiveness. Next, our content solutions business. Its revenue continued to grow this quarter. Thanks to our efforts to optimize products, enhance user experiences, and strengthen our sales channels. We believe our learning devices are companions for at home self-learning, which is why we closely monitor user feedback and experience. As a result, amid rising sales and an expanding user base, user engagement and time spent on our devices remained at healthy levels this quarter. In August, we launched Xbook, further enriching our product lineup. The latest generation tablet features a color e-paper display and offers three modes, learning, practicing, and reading, catering to various learning scenarios. We developed a tiered practicing system, making practice easier and more efficient. Additionally, it comes with a comprehensive, multilayered content ecosystem. Along with our proprietary shares of content, we partnered with well-known educational publishers and youth content providers to offer a wide range of study aids and reading materials. During this fiscal quarter, we also upgraded our existing xPad learning devices. The newly enhanced reading section includes over 3,000 eBooks featuring essential reading materials, classic literature, and children’s publications. We also developed a leveled reading system that caters to children’s various developmental periods. It aligns with the new curriculum standards and covers levels from primary school to high school. Moreover, our newly launched [indiscernible] 2.0, introduced in June, offers a host of AI features, making it a more intelligent and practical learning companion. With that overview, I would now like to share our key financial results for the second fiscal quarter. Our net revenues were US$619.4 million or RMB4.4739 billion, an increase of 50.4% and 50.8% year-over-year in U.S. dollar and RMB terms, respectively. Cost of revenue increased by 59.8% to US$270.6 million from US$169.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. Non-GAAP cost of revenues, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, increased by 60.7% to US$268.8 million from US$167.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. Gross profit increased in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, rising by 43.8% year-over-year to US$348.7 million from US$242.5 million for the same period last year. Gross margin decreased to 56.3% from 58.9% for the same period last year. Selling and marketing expenses for the quarter were $181.9 million, representing an increase of 56.4% from $116.3 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which exclude share-based compensation expenses increased by 61.6% to $177.9 million from $110.1 million for the same period last year. Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total net revenues increased from 28.2% to 29.4% year-over-year. General and administrative expenses increased by 23.1% to $119.5 million from $97.1 million in the same period of last year. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excluded share-based compensation costs, increased by 28.3% year-over-year to $108.3 million, from $84.4 million for the same period of last year. Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses as a percentage of total net revenues decreased from 20.5% to 17.5% year-over-year. Total share-based compensation expenses allocated to the related operating costs and expenses decreased by 19.1% to $16.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 from $20.9 million in the same period of last year. Income from operations was $47.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, compared with an income from operations of $31.8 million in the same period of last year. Non-GAAP income from operations, which includes – which excluded, excuse me, share-based compensation expenses, was $46.5 [ph] million, compared with a non-GAAP income from operations of $52.7 million in the same period of the prior year. Net income attributable to TAL was $57.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, compared to net income attributable to TAL of $37.9 million in the same period of last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, was $74.3 million, compared to a non-GAAP net income attributable to TAL of $58.8 million in the same period of last year. Moving on to our balance sheet; as of August 31, 2024, we had $2,085.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, $1,368.4 million in short-term investments and $295.1 million in current and non-current restricted cash. Our deferred revenue balance was $5117.6 million as of the end of the second fiscal quarter. Now turning to our cash flow statement; net cash used in operating activities for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 was $0.6 million. In April 2024, the Company's Board of Directors authorized to extend its share repurchase program launched in April 2021 by 12 months. Pursuant to the extended share repurchase program, the Company may spend up to approximately $503.8 million to purchase its common shares through April 30, 2025. As of August 31, 2024, the Company has purchased approximately 500,000 common shares at an aggregate consideration of approximately $13.1 million under the share repurchase program. That concludes the financial section. I will now hand the call back to Alex to briefly update you on our business outlook. Alex, please go ahead?