Live Conference Call to be Held at 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on May 15, 2023

BEIJING, China, May 16, 2023 — Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) (“Phoenix New Media”, “ifeng” or the “Company”), a leading new media company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Mr. Yusheng Sun, CEO of Phoenix New Media, stated, “During the first quarter of 2023, we still faced challenges posed by the ever-changing macroeconomic environment. However, the Company remained committed to evolving into a world-class Chinese online media platform. We will maintain our focus on creating and curating distinctive, premium content, expanding our brand influence, and enhancing the user experience of our app, while being prudent with our expenditures and growing monetization opportunities to achieve our development goals.”

Mr. Edward Lu, CFO of Phoenix New Media, further stated, “We continued to enrich our content offerings and strengthen our media influence during the first quarter of 2023, while exploring new business growth opportunities through innovative channels and sales efforts. By driving operational and monetization efficiency, we aim to achieve our financial objectives and continuously deliver value to our shareholders.”

First Quarter 2023 Financial Results

REVENUES

Total revenues in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 16.5% to RMB146.4 million (US$21.3 million) from RMB175.4 million in the same period of 2022, primarily due to the year-over-year decline in the Company’s net advertising revenues.

Net advertising revenues in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 20.3% to RMB126.2 million (US$18.4 million) from RMB158.4 million in the same period of 2022, mainly due to the reduction in advertising spending of advertisers from certain industries and the intensified industry-wide competition.

Paid services revenues in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 18.8% to RMB20.2 million (US$2.9 million) from RMB17.0 million in the same period of 2022. Paid services revenues comprise (i) revenues from paid contents, mainly including digital reading, audio books, and paid videos, and (ii) revenues from E-commerce and others. Revenues from paid contents in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 95.7% to RMB9.0 million (US$1.3 million) from RMB4.6 million in the same period of 2022, mainly due to the increase in the revenues from certain IP copyright sales. Revenues from E-commerce and others in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 9.7% to RMB11.2 million (US$1.6 million) from RMB12.4 million in the same period of 2022.

COST OF REVENUES AND GROSS PROFIT

Cost of revenues in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 17.0% to RMB118.1 million (US$17.2 million) from RMB142.3 million in the same period of 2022, as a result of the Company’s strict cost control measures.

Gross profit in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 14.5% to RMB28.3 million (US$4.1 million) from RMB33.1 million in the same period of 2022. Gross margin in the first quarter of 2023 was 19.3%, as compared to 18.9% in the same period of 2022.

To supplement the financial measures presented in accordance with the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, which excluded the impact of certain reconciling items as stated in the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below. The related reconciliations to GAAP financial measures are presented in the accompanying “Unaudited Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results of Operation Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures.”

Non-GAAP gross margin in the first quarter of 2023, which excluded share-based compensation, increased slightly to 19.7% from 19.0% in the same period of 2022.

OPERATING EXPENSES AND LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

Total operating expenses in the first quarter of 2023 decreased by 26.6% to RMB102.7 million (US$14.9 million) from RMB139.9 million in the same period of 2022, primarily attributable to the decrease in staff costs and other operating expenses as a result of the Company’s strict cost control measures.

Loss from operations in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB74.4 million (US$10.8 million), compared to loss from operations of RMB106.8 million in the same period of 2022. Operating margin in the first quarter of 2023 was negative 50.8%, compared to negative 60.9% in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP loss from operations in the first quarter of 2023, which excluded share-based compensation, was RMB73.5 million (US$10.7 million), compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of RMB106.1 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP operating margin in the first quarter of 2023, which excluded share-based compensation, was negative 50.2%, compared to negative 60.5% in the same period of 2022.

OTHER INCOME OR LOSS

Other income or loss reflects net interest income, foreign currency exchange gain or loss, income or loss from equity investments, net of impairment, fair value changes in investments, net, and others, net. Total net other income in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB9.8 million (US$1.4 million), compared to total net other income of RMB13.5 million in the same period of 2022, which mainly consisted of the following items:

• Net interest income in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB8.6 million (US$1.3 million), same as RMB8.6 million in the same period of 2022.
• Foreign currency exchange gain in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB1.4 million (US$0.2 million), compared to a foreign currency exchange gain of RMB1.2 million in the same period of 2022.
• Others, net, in the first quarter of 2023 was almost nil, compared to a gain of RMB3.2 million in the same period of 2022. Others, net primarily consists of some non-operating gain or loss.

NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PHOENIX NEW MEDIA LIMITED

Net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB57.8 million (US$8.4 million), compared to net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited of RMB79.7 million in the same period of 2022. Net margin in the first quarter of 2023 was negative 39.5%, compared to negative 45.4% in the same period of 2022. Net loss per diluted ordinary share in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB0.10 (US$0.01), compared to net loss per diluted ordinary share of RMB0.14 in the same period of 2022.

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited, which excluded share-based compensation, income or loss from equity investments, net of impairment, and fair value changes in investments, net, was RMB56.7 million (US$8.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023, compared to non-GAAP net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited of RMB79.6 million in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP net margin in the first quarter of 2023 was negative 38.7%, compared to negative 45.4% in the same period of 2022. Non-GAAP net loss per diluted ADS in the first quarter of 2023 was RMB4.67 (US$0.68), compared to non-GAAP net loss per diluted ADS of RMB6.56 in the same period of 2022. “ADS(s)” refers to the Company's American Depositary Share(s), each representing 48 Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company’s weighted average number of ADSs used in the computation of diluted net loss per ADS was 12,131,757. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a total of 582,324,325 ordinary shares outstanding, or the equivalent of 12,131,757 ADSs.

CERTAIN BALANCE SHEET ITEMS

As of March 31, 2023, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, term deposits and short term investments and restricted cash were RMB1.13 billion (US$164.1 million).

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company expects its total revenues to be between RMB160.9 million and RMB180.9 million; net advertising revenues are expected to be between RMB148.0 million and RMB163.0 million; and paid services revenues are expected to be between RMB12.9 million and RMB17.9 million.

All of the above forecasts reflect the current and preliminary view of the Company’s management, which are subject to changes and substantial uncertainty, particularly in view of the uncertainty of macroeconomic environment.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on May 15, 2023 (May 16, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time) to discuss its first quarter 2023 unaudited financial results and operating performance.

To participate in the call, please register in advance of the conference by clicking here (https://register.vevent.com/register/BI9606be314df14073ab2d9360b399bec8). Upon registering, each participant will receive the participant dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN, which will be used to join the conference call. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.ifeng.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), Phoenix New Media Limited uses non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP income or loss from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited, non-GAAP net margin and non-GAAP net income or loss per diluted ADS, each of which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP gross profit is gross profit excluding share-based compensation. Non-GAAP gross margin is non-GAAP gross profit divided by total revenues. Non-GAAP income or loss from operations is income or loss from operations excluding share-based compensation. Non-GAAP operating margin is non-GAAP income or loss from operations divided by total revenues. Non-GAAP net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited is net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited excluding share-based compensation, income or loss from equity investments, net of impairment and fair value changes in investments, net. Non-GAAP net margin is non-GAAP net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited divided by total revenues. Non-GAAP net income or loss per diluted ADS is non-GAAP net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited divided by weighted average number of diluted ADSs. The Company believes that separate analysis and exclusion of the aforementioned non-GAAP to GAAP reconciling items add clarity to the constituent parts of its performance. The Company reviews these non-GAAP financial measures together with the related GAAP financial measures to obtain a better understanding of its operating performance. It uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning, forecasting and measuring results against the forecast. The Company believes that using these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate its business allows both management and investors to assess the Company’s performance against its competitors and ultimately monitor its capacity to generate returns for investors. The Company also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful supplemental information for investors and analysts to assess its operating performance without the effect of items like share-based compensation, income or loss from equity investments, net of impairment, and fair value changes in investments, net, which have been and will continue to be significant recurring items. However, the use of these non-GAAP financial measures has material limitations as an analytical tool. One of the limitations of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not include all items that impact the Company’s gross profit, income or loss from operations and net income or loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited for the period. In addition, because these non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider these non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as an alternative to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. 

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“USD”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the readers. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to USD were made at the rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2023 in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or USD amounts referred could be converted into USD or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentations, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial statements contained in this earnings release.

About Phoenix New Media Limited

Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) is a leading new media company providing premium content on an integrated Internet platform, including PC and mobile, in China. Having originated from a leading global Chinese language TV network based in Hong Kong, Phoenix TV, the Company enables consumers to access professional news and other quality information and share user-generated content on the Internet through their PCs and mobile devices. Phoenix New Media's platform includes its PC channel, consisting of ifeng.com website, which comprises interest-based verticals and interactive services; its mobile channel, consisting of mobile news applications, mobile video application, digital reading applications and mobile Internet website; and its operations with the telecom operators that provides mobile value-added services.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of 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, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Phoenix New Media’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Phoenix New Media may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Phoenix New Media’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of online and mobile advertising, online video and mobile paid services markets in China; the Company’s reliance on online and mobile advertising for a majority of its total revenues; the Company’s expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its services; the Company’s expectations regarding maintaining and strengthening its relationships with advertisers, partners and customers; the Company’s investment plans and strategies; fluctuations in the Company’s quarterly operating results; the Company’s plans to enhance its user experience, infrastructure and services offerings; competition in its industry in China; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company; and the effects of the COVID-19 on the economy in China in general and on the Company’s business in particular. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its registration statement on Form F−1, as amended, and its annual reports on Form 20−F. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Phoenix New Media does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:
 
Phoenix New Media Limited
Muzi Guo
Email: investorrelations@ifeng.com

 

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