BEIJING, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- China Finance Online Co. Limited ("China Finance Online", or the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") /quotes/zigman/94566/quotes/nls/jrjc JRJC -1.05% , the technology-driven, user-focused market leader in China in providing vertically integrated financial services and products including news, data, analytics and brokerage-related services through web portals, desktop solutions and mobile handsets, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011.
2011 Second Quarter Financial Highlights
Net revenues were $13.8 million, compared to $15.3 million in the second quarter of 2010;
Gross profit was $11.6 million with a gross margin of 84.3%, compared to $13.2 million and 86.2% in the second quarter of 2010;
A non-cash investment impairment of $1.48 million was recorded as a result of the unprofitable operations of Ocean Butterflies Holdings Inc. ("Ocean Butterflies"). This impairment has no adverse impact on China Finance Online's core business and the carrying balance of the investment has now been reduced to zero with no further downside;
Net loss attributable to China Finance Online was $1.8 million;
Excluding share-based compensation expenses and investment impairment, non-GAAP net income attributable to China Finance Online in the second quarter of 2011 was $63,000 with diluted non-GAAP net earnings per ADS attributable to China Finance Online at break-even.
Second Quarter Results
Net revenues for the second quarter of 2011 were $13.8 million, compared to $15.3 million for the second quarter of 2010. The main sources of the Company's net revenues were from subscription fees from individual customers, subscription fees from institutional customers, advertising revenues and revenues from brokerage-related services, which contributed 80%, 5%, 9% and 6%, respectively, to total revenues compared to 80%, 4%, 11%, and 5%, respectively, for the comparable period in 2010. Revenues from subscription fees paid by individual customers decreased 9.3% year-over-year reflecting diminished investor confidence as a result of a downtrending stock market in China, global macroeconomic uncertainties, as well as transitional impact on sales and marketing due to the new Provisional Regulations on Securities Investment Advisory Business. Advertising revenues decreased 29.8% year-over-year during a substantially weakening domestic stock market. Institutional subscription revenues increased 27.7% year-over-year to $0.7 million and revenues from brokerage-related services increased 8.8% year-over-year to $0.8 million. The increase in the Company's Daily Growth's brokerage related services was mainly attributable to interest income from margin clients.
For the second quarter of 2011, gross profit was $11.6 million compared to $13.2 million for the comparable period in 2010. Gross margin for the second quarter of 2011 was 84.3% compared to 86.2% for the second quarter of 2010. The year-over-year decrease in gross margin was mainly due to lowered revenues in the second quarter of 2011 while cost of revenue remained in line with the same quarter a year ago.
General and administrative ("G&A") expenses for the second quarter of 2011 were $2.6 million, or 19.0% of net revenues, down from $3.7 million, or 23.9% for the comparable period in 2010. Excluding share-based compensation expenses of $0.3 million and $1.8 million for the second quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively, adjusted G&A expenses for the second quarter of 2011 were $2.3 million, or 16.6% of net revenues, compared to $1.9 million, or 12.6% of net revenues in the second quarter of 2010. Increase in G&A expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses, was mainly due to increase in professional services fees.
Sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter of 2011 were $6.0 million or 43.8% of net revenues, down from $6.9 million, or 45.4% in the second quarter of 2010. The year-over-year decrease in sales and marketing expenses, excluding share-based compensation expenses, in both absolute value and as a percentage of quarterly net revenues was primarily due to lower marketing expenses and sales commission on reduced sales revenue.
Product development expenses for the second quarter of 2011 were $3.3 million, in line with the same quarter in 2010. Product development expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 23.6%, up from 21.7% in the same quarter of the previous year. Management remains committed to further investment in the Company's data, product, internet, and technical capabilities.
Total operating expenses for the second quarter of 2011 were $11.9 million, down from $13.9 million in the second quarter of 2010. Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased to 62.8% in the second quarter of 2011 from 69.3% in the second quarter of 2010. Excluding total share-based compensation expenses, adjusted operating expenses were $11.5 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared to adjusted operating expenses of $12.1 million for the second quarter of 2010.
GAAP net loss attributable to China Finance Online for the second quarter of 2011 was $1.8 million compared with GAAP net income $0.4 million in the 2010 second quarter. Non-GAAP net income attributable to China Finance Online, which excluded the share-based compensation expenses of $0.38 million and investment impairment of $1.48 million in Ocean Butterflies, was $63,000 for the 2011 second quarter, compared to a non-GAAP net income of $2.2 million for the same quarter of 2010. Diluted non-GAAP net earnings per ADS attributable to China Finance Online broke even for the second quarter of 2011.
As of June 30, 2011, total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were $89.9 million. As of June 30, 2011, accounts receivable in non-margin related business was $4.2 million while Daily Growth's margin-related accounts receivables increased to $16.7 million due to higher customer demand for margin financing. Daily Growth continues to implement strict margin account screening and ongoing monitoring to ensure the safe return of capital. As of June 30, 2011, the short-term investments were $20.6 million.
The Company's total shareholders' equity was $107.8 million as of June 30, 2011, compared to $105.9 million as of December 31, 2010.
The combined current and non-current deferred revenues at the end of the second quarter of 2011, which represented prepaid service fees made by customers for subscription services that have not been rendered as of June 30, 2011, were $36.4 million.
As of June 30, 2011, the number of active paid subscribers of the Company was approximately 135,000. The decrease in active paid subscribers reflected a combination of macroeconomic and industry factors including the underperforming Chinese stock market and the new regulatory environment.
Six Month Results
Total net revenues for the first six months ended June 30, 2011 was $28.7 million compared to $30.5 million in the first six months last year. Gross profit for the first six months of 2011 was $24.3 million compared to $26.5 million in the same period a year ago. Gross margin was 84.7% for the first six months of 2011, compared to 86.9% in the same period in 2010. GAAP net loss attributable to China Finance Online for the first six months of 2011 was $0.4 million, compared to GAAP net income of $0.5 million in the same period in 2010.
Investment Impairment in Ocean Butterflies
During the second quarter of 2011, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment of $1.48 million on its investment in Ocean Butterflies Holdings Inc. ("Ocean Butterflies") as a result of Ocean Butterflies' unprofitable operations. This impairment has no adverse impact on China Finance Online's core business and the carrying balance of the investment has now been reduced to zero with no further downside.
Resignation of Chief Operating Officer (COO)
The Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Chief Operating Officer (COO) Dr. Caogang Li for personal reasons. His chief responsibilities will be distributed among senior management during the interim period until the company finds a suitable successor.
Commenting on Dr. Caogang Li's departure, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Zhiwei Zhao stated, "Throughout his tenure at various positions, Caogang has been an integral part of China Finance Online's development over the years. In particular, his contribution toward organically integrating our telemarketing capabilities with our internet media platforms have had long-lasting impacts in allowing our users to gain exposure to a diversified portfolio of financial products and services. We are grateful for his efforts and wish him well in his future endeavors."
Business Outlook
The Company maintains its net revenues guidance of $55 million for fiscal year 2011. Non-GAAP net income, which is defined as net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and non-cash goodwill and investment impairment, for the 2011 year is anticipated to be a loss of $1 million.
The above forecast reflects the Company's current views, which are subject to change. A number of important factors that are outside the Company's control including without limitation, the overall Chinese macroeconomic outlook, fluctuations in the Chinese stock market and further regulatory changes, could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in the above guidance.
Given the deteriorating global economic environment and the challenging stock market in China, the Company remains cautious with respect to its business outlook for the rest of fiscal year 2011.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call and a simultaneous webcast, on August 30, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time/August 31, 2011 8:00 a.m. Beijing Time. Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing approximately five minutes before the call start time at U.S. +1-877-847-0047, Hong Kong +852-3006-8101, Singapore +8008-523-396, or China +800-876-5011, and the pass code for all regions is 653431.
A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the event through 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 6, 2011 (or 11:00 a.m. Beijing Time on September 7)(or 11:2011). The dial-in details for the replay: U.S. +1-866-572-7808, Singapore +800-101-2157, China +800-876-5013, and Hong Kong +852-3012-8000. Access code: 653431.
The conference call will be available on webcast live and replay at: http://tinyurl.com/JRJC-2Q11-Call
About China Finance Online
China Finance Online Co. Limited is the technology-driven, user-focused market leader in China in providing vertically integrated financial services and products including news, data, analytics and brokerage-related services through web portals, desktop solutions, and mobile handsets. Through its web portals, www.jrj.com and www.stockstar.com , the Company provides individual users with subscription-based service packages that integrate financial and listed-company data, information and analytics from multiple sources with features and functions such as data and information search, retrieval, delivery, storage and analysis. These features and functions are delivered through proprietary software available by download, through the internet or through mobile handsets. Through its subsidiary, Genius, the Company provides financial information database and analytics to institutional customers including domestic securities and investment firms. Through its subsidiary, Daily Growth, the Company provides securities brokerage services for stocks listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in 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, this release contains the following forward-looking statements regarding:
our net revenues and non-GAAP net income guidance for 2011;
potential business consolidation amidst the new regulatory environment; and
the transition period to adapt to the new compliance requirements.
Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, which risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following:
the changing regulations that we are subject to;
the uneven sector-growth of the Chinese economy that could lead to volatility in the equity markets and affect our operating results in the coming quarters;
global macroeconomic uncertainties;
wavering investor confidence that could impact our business; and
possible non-cash goodwill and investment impairment may adversely affect our net income.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F under "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors". The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.
Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information presented in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), the Company uses non-GAAP measures of income from operations, net income, and diluted net income per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the share-based compensation expenses and non-cash goodwill and investment impairment. The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the investors' overall understanding of the Company's current and past financial performance in on-going core operations as well as prospects for the future. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results. Management uses both GAAP and non-GAAP information in evaluating and operating business internally and therefore deems it important to provide all of this information to investors. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliation of the Company's GAAP financial measures to Non-GAAP financial measures" set forth at the end of this release.