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SINA Reports Q3 2006 Financial Results

SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA), a leading online media company and mobile value-added service (MVAS) provider for China and for the global Chinese communities, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

    Q3 2006 Highlights

    - Net revenues increased 13% year-over-year to $56.1 million, exceeding
      the Company's previous guidance of between $51.0 million and $54.0
      million.
    - Advertising revenues increased 42% year-over-year to $32.7 million,
      exceeding the Company's previous guidance of between $31.0 million and
      $32.0 million.
    - Non-advertising revenues declined 12% year-over-year to $23.4 million,
      exceeding the Company's previous guidance of between $20.0 million and
      $22.0 million.
    - GAAP net income was $10.7 million, or $0.19 diluted net income per
      share.
    - Non-GAAP net income* was $14.6 million, or $0.25 non-GAAP diluted net
      income per share.

    * Non-GAAP measures are described below and reconciled to the
      corresponding GAAP measures in the section below titled "Reconciliation
      of Non-GAAP to GAAP Results."

"We are very pleased with another record revenue quarter for our advertising business, which grew 46% year over year in China and 42% worldwide. Our ability to leverage our brand strength, lead with broader and more superior content offerings and create innovative products has enabled us to grow our advertising business above 40% for the first nine months of 2006, compared to last year." said Charles Chao, CEO of SINA. "On the mobile side, despite a much tougher operating environment, our team also showed solid execution as we managed to limit the decline of our MVAS revenues to 3% sequentially."

Financial Results

For the third quarter of 2006, SINA reported net revenues of $56.1 million, compared to $49.6 million in the same period last year and $53.7 million last quarter.

Advertising revenues for the third quarter of 2006 totaled $32.7 million, representing a 42% increase from the same period last year and an 11% increase from last quarter. The growth in advertising revenues came primarily from the acquisition of new customers and, to a lesser extent, higher spending per advertiser. Advertising revenues in the third quarter of 2006 represented 58% of the Company's total revenues, up from 46% for the same period last year and 55% for last quarter.

Non-advertising revenues for the third quarter of 2006 totaled $23.4 million, a 12% decrease from the same period last year and a 4% decrease from last quarter. Revenues from MVAS for the third quarter of 2006 were $21.8 million, representing a decline of 10% from the same period last year and a decline of 3% from last quarter. MVAS revenues for the third quarter of 2006 were higher than the Company's original estimate primarily due to certain IVR promotions and initiatives with China Unicom. The Company expects the MVAS industry in China to continue to face a challenging and uncertain environment and, thus, expects further decline in its MVAS revenues in the future.

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2006 was 64%, down from 68% for the same period last year and up from 63% for last quarter. The advertising gross margin for the third quarter of 2006 was 65%, compared to 68% for the same period last year and 65% in the previous quarter. Advertising gross margin in the second and third quarters of 2006 included the impact of $0.4 million and $0.6 million in stock-based compensation, respectively, resulting from the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (revised 2004) "Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS 123R") starting January 1, 2006. Non-GAAP advertising gross margin for the third quarter of 2006 was 67%, compared to 66% in the previous quarter.

MVAS gross margin for the third quarter of 2006 was 62%, compared to 66% for the same period last year and 60% last quarter. The year-over-year decline in MVAS gross margin was primarily a result of increased content costs and transmission costs paid to mobile operators.

Operating expenses for the third quarter of 2006 amounted to $25.6 million. Non-GAAP operating expenses for the third quarter of 2006 were $23.0 million, a decline of 3% from the same period last year and a decline of 1% from the previous quarter. The decreases were mainly a result of lower marketing spending in the third quarter of 2006, partially offset by higher payroll-related expenditures and bad debt expenses. Compared to the previous quarter, bad debt expenses increased by $1.0 million primarily as a result of aging receivables from the mobile business.

Net income for the third quarter of 2006 was $10.7 million. Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2006 was $14.6 million, an increase of 46% from the same period last year and 19% from the previous quarter. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share for the third quarter of 2006 was $0.25, compared to $0.17 in the same period last year and $0.21 last quarter.

As of September 30, 2006, SINA's cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities amounted to $345.3 million as compared to $312.5 million as of June 30, 2006. Cash flow from operating activities for the third quarter of 2006 was $27.7 million.

Business Outlook

The Company estimates its total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2006 to be between $53.0 million and $56.0 million, with advertising revenues to be between $34.0 million and $35.0 million and non-advertising revenues to be between $19.0 million and $21.0 million. Stock-based compensation for the fourth quarter of 2006 is expected to be approximately $2.4 million, which excludes any new shares that may be granted.

Conference Call

SINA will host a conference call at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to present an overview of the Company's financial performance and business operations for the third quarter ended September 30, 2006. The dial-in number for the call is 617-847-3007. The pass code is 68414515. A live Webcast of the call will be available from 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 2, 2006 (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Beijing Time on November 3, 2006). The call can be accessed through SINA's corporate web site at http://corp.sina.com. The call will be archived for 12 months on SINA's corporate web site at http://corp.sina.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through November 9, 2006 at midnight eastern time. The dial-in number is 617- 801-6888. The pass code for the replay is 99922654.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes as well as to enhance the investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted net income per share and non-GAAP advertising gross margin.

The Company believes the non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses, gains and losses (i) that are not expected to result in future cash payments or (ii) that are non-recurring in nature or may not be indicative of its core operating results and business outlook. In addition, because the Company has historically reported certain non-GAAP results to investors, the Company believes the inclusion of non-GAAP measures provides consistency in the reporting of the Company's financial results.

The Company's reference to these measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Reconciliations of the Company's non-GAAP measures to the nearest GAAP measures are set forth in the section below titled "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Results."

The Company's management believes excluding stock-based compensation from its non-GAAP financial measures is useful for itself and investors as such expense will not result in future cash payment and is otherwise unrelated to the Company's core operating results. Non-GAAP measures that exclude stock- based compensation also enhance the comparability of results against prior periods.

The Company's management believes excluding the non-cash amortization expense of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions from its non-GAAP financial measures of operating expenses, income from operations and net income and excluding the non-cash amortization expense of intangible assets resulting from equity-method investments from its non-GAAP financial measure of net income are useful for itself and investors because they enable a more meaningful comparison of the Company's cash performance between reporting periods. In addition, such charges will not result in cash settlement in the future.

The Company's management believes excluding non-cash amortization expense of issuance cost relating to convertible bonds from its non-GAAP financial measure of net income is useful for itself and investors as such expense does not have any impact on cash earnings.

The Company's management believes excluding gains and losses on the sale of a business and investments from its non-GAAP financial measure of net income is useful for itself and investors because such gains and losses are not indicative of the Company's core operating results.

The Company's management believes excluding gains and losses on investment from its non-GAAP financial measure of net income is useful for itself and investors because the Company does not typically invest in common stock of other companies. Therefore, these charges are otherwise unrelated to the Company's ongoing business operations.

About SINA

SINA Corporation (Nasdaq: SINA) is a leading online media company and value-added information service (VAS) provider for China and for global Chinese communities. With a branded network of localized web sites targeting Greater China and overseas Chinese, SINA provides services through five major business lines including SINA.com (online news and content), SINA Mobile (mobile value-added services), SINA Online (community-based services and games), SINA.net (search and enterprise services) and SINA E-Commerce (online shopping). Together these provide an array of services including region- focused online portals, mobile value-added services, search and directory, interest-based and community-building channels, free and premium email, online games, virtual ISP, classified listings, fee-based services, e-commerce and enterprise e-solutions.

Safe Harbor Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that relate to, among other things, SINA's expected financial performance (as described without limitation in the "Business Outlook" section and in quotations from management in this press release) and SINA's strategic and operational plans. SINA may also make forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8- K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in its proxy statements, in its offering circulars and prospectuses, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. SINA assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements in this release and elsewhere. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. 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, SINA's historical losses, its limited operating history, the uncertain regulatory landscape in the People's Republic of China, the recent changes by China Mobile to its policies for MVAS (as described in the Company's press release dated July 7, 2006), the Company's ability to develop and market other usage- based SMS products, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, the Company's reliance on MVAS and online advertising sales for a majority of its revenues, the Company's reliance on mobile operators in China to provide MVAS, any failure to successfully develop and introduce new products and any failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in SINA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                               SINA CORPORATION
          UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
              (U.S. Dollar in thousands, except per share data)

                                     Three months ended     Nine months ended
                                   September 30,   June 30,   September 30,
                                   2006     2005     2006     2006     2005
    Net revenues:
        Advertising               $32,697  $22,968  $29,454  $84,332  $59,989
        Non-advertising            23,362   26,656   24,224   72,117   81,613
                                   56,059   49,624   53,678  156,449  141,602
    Cost of revenues:
        Advertising  (a)           11,333    7,410   10,317   29,948   19,845
        Non-advertising             8,715    8,670    9,343   27,805   25,504
                                   20,048   16,080   19,660   57,753   45,349
    Gross profit                   36,011   33,544   34,018   98,696   96,253

    Operating expenses:
        Sales and marketing (a)    12,210   15,735   13,497   37,512   37,937
        Product development (a)     5,082    3,816    4,993   14,685   11,038
        General and
         administrative (a)         7,832    4,210    7,427   20,416   13,985
        Amortization of
         intangibles                  468      602      469    1,405    2,684
                                   25,592   24,363   26,386   74,018   65,644
    Income from operations         10,419    9,181    7,632   24,678   30,609

    Non-operating income:
       Interest and other income    2,156    1,698    2,012    6,108    4,794
       Gain (loss) on sale of
        business and investments,
        net                          (134)   1,487    2,006    1,660    1,487
       Loss on investments, net      (270)  (1,458)     -       (270)  (2,740)
       Loss on equity investments    (185)    (996)    (162)    (690)  (2,420)
       Amortization of
        convertible debt issuance
        cost                         (172)    (172)    (171)    (514)    (514)
                                    1,395      559    3,685    6,294      607

    Income before income taxes     11,814    9,740   11,317   30,972   31,216
    Provision for income taxes     (1,095)    (647)    (878)  (2,778)  (1,860)

    Net income                    $10,719   $9,093  $10,439  $28,194  $29,356


    Basic net income per share      $0.20    $0.17    $0.19    $0.53    $0.56
    Diluted net income per share    $0.19    $0.16    $0.18    $0.49    $0.51

    Shares used in computing
     basic net income per share    53,690   53,099   53,554   53,561   52,214
    Shares used in computing
     diluted net income per share  58,419   58,774   58,444   58,484   58,680

    Net income used for diluted
     net income per share
     calculation:
    Net income                    $10,719   $9,093  $10,439  $28,194  $29,356
    Amortization of convertible
     debt issuance cost               172      172      171      514      514
                                  $10,891   $9,265  $10,610  $28,708  $29,870


    (a) Stock-based compensation
     included under SFAS 123R was
     as follows:
       Cost of revenues -
        advertising                  $568     $-       $350   $1,268     $-
       Sales and marketing            531      -        353    1,145      -
       Product development            606      -        377    1,317      -
       General and administrative   1,001      -      1,943    3,515      -
                                   $2,706     $-     $3,023   $7,245     $-



                               SINA CORPORATION
                  RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP TO GAAP RESULTS
              (U.S. Dollar in thousands, except per share data)


                          Three months ended            Three months ended
                          September 30, 2006           September 30, 2005
                                        Non-GAAP                      Non-GAAP
                    Actual  Adjustments  Results  Actual  Adjustments  Results

                                568(a)
    Gross profit   $36,011     $568     $36,579  $33,544      $-      $33,544

                             (2,138)(a)
                               (468)(b)
    Operating                                               (602)(b)
     expenses      $25,592  $(2,606)    $22,986  $24,363   $(602)     $23,761

                              2,706(a)
                                468(b)
    Income from                                              602(b)
     operations    $10,419   $3,174     $13,593   $9,181    $602       $9,783

                              2,706(a)
                                468(b)                       602(b)
                                172(c)                       172(c)
                                134(d)                    (1,487)(d)
                                270(e)                     1,458(e)
                                145(b)                       191(b)
    Net income     $10,719   $3,895     $14,614   $9,093    $936      $10,029


    Diluted net
     income per
     share           $0.19                $0.25    $0.16                $0.17

    Shares used
     in
     computing
     diluted
     net income
     per share      58,419               58,419   58,774               58,774

    Net income
     used in
     computing
     diluted
     net income
     per share:
    Net income     $10,719              $14,614   $9,093              $10,029
    Amortization
     of
     convertible
     debt
     issuance
     costs             172                    -      172                    -
                   $10,891              $14,614   $9,265              $10,029

    Gross margin -
     advertising        65%       2%         67%      68%      0%          68%



                                                  Three months ended
                                                    June 30, 2006
                                                                    Non-GAAP
                                            Actual   Adjustments     Results

                                                           350 (a)
    Gross profit                            $34,018       $350       $34,368

                                                        (2,673)(a)
                                                          (469)(b)
    Operating expenses                      $26,386    $(3,142)      $23,244

                                                         3,023 (a)
                                                           469 (b)
    Income from operations                   $7,632     $3,492       $11,124


                                                         3,023 (a)
                                                           469 (b)
                                                           171 (c)
                                                        (2,006)(d)
                                                           177 (b)
    Net income                              $10,439     $1,834       $12,273


    Diluted net income per share              $0.18                    $0.21

    Shares used in computing diluted
       net income per share                  58,444                   58,444

    Net income used in computing diluted
      net income per share:
    Net income                              $10,439                  $12,273
    Amortization of convertible debt
      issuance costs                            171                      -
                                            $10,610                  $12,273

    Gross margin - advertising                  65%         1%           66%



                           Nine months ended            Nine months ended
                          September 30, 2006           September 30, 2005
                                         Non-GAAP                     Non-GAAP
                    Actual  Adjustments  Results  Actual  Adjustments  Results

                               1,268(a)
    Gross profit   $98,696    $1,268     $99,964 $96,253      $-      $96,253

                              (5,977)(a)
                              (1,405)(b)
    Operating                                               (2,684)(b)
     expenses      $74,018   $(7,382)    $66,636 $65,644   $(2,684)   $62,960

                               7,245(a)
                               1,405(b)
    Income from                                              2,684 (b)
     operations    $24,678    $8,650     $33,328 $30,609    $2,684    $33,293

                              7,245(a)
                              1,405(b)                       2,684(b)
                                514(c)                         514(c)
                             (1,660)(d)                     (1,487)(d)
                                270(e)                       2,740(e)
                                499(b)                         191(b)
    Net income     $28,194   $8,273      $36,467 $29,356    $4,642    $33,998


    Diluted net
     income per
     share           $0.49                 $0.62   $0.51                $0.58

    Shares used
     in computing
     diluted
     net income
     per share      58,484                58,484  58,680               58,680

    Net income
     used in
     computing
     diluted
     net income
     per share:
    Net income     $28,194               $36,467 $29,356              $33,998
    Amortization
     of
     convertible
     debt
     issuance
     costs             514                     -     514                    -
                   $28,708               $36,467 $29,870              $33,998

    Gross margin -
     advertising        64%        2%         66%     67%        0%        67%

    (a) To adjust stock-based compensation charges
    (b) To adjust  amortization of intangible assets
    (c) To adjust amortization of convertible debt issuance cost
    (d) To adjust (gain) loss on the sale of business and investments, net
    (e) To adjust loss on investments, net



                               SINA CORPORATION
                        UNAUDITED SEGMENT INFORMATION
                          (U.S. Dollar in thousands)

                                   Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                 September 30,   June 30,    September 30,
                                 2006     2005     2006      2006      2005

    Net revenues
        Advertising             $32,697  $22,968  $29,454   $84,332   $59,989
        Mobile related           21,811   24,134   22,448    66,953    73,267
        Others                    1,551    2,522    1,776     5,164     8,346
                                $56,059  $49,624  $53,678  $156,449  $141,602

    Cost of revenues
        Advertising             $11,333   $7,410  $10,317   $29,948   $19,845
        Mobile related            8,313    8,279    8,925    26,638    24,323
        Others                      402      391      418     1,167     1,181
                                $20,048  $16,080  $19,660   $57,753   $45,349



                               SINA CORPORATION
               UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (U.S. Dollar in thousands)

                                              September 30,      December 31,
                                                   2006              2005
    Assets
       Cash, cash equivalents and
         investments in marketable securities     $345,343          $300,689
       Accounts receivable, net                     42,064            33,940
       Property and equipment, net                  23,230            22,207
       Long-term investments                         1,616             3,977
       Goodwill and intangible assets, net          90,949            92,354
       Other assets                                 11,815            15,554
          Total assets                            $515,017          $468,721

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
       Liabilities                                 $49,416           $49,099
       Convertible Debt                            100,000           100,000
       Shareholders' equity                        365,601           319,622

          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity                   $515,017          $468,721
SOURCE  SINA Corporation
    -0-                             11/02/2006
    /CONTACT:  Chen Fu, SINA Corporation, +86-21-62895678 ext. 6089,
fuchen@staff.sina.com; Denise Roche, The Ruth Group, +1-646-536-7008,
droche@theruthgroup.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.sina.com /
    (SINA)

CO:  SINA Corporation
ST:  China
IN:  MLM CPR
SU:  ERN ERP CCA ASI

MC
-- LNTH005 --
5118 11/02/2006 16:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

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