China Finance Online Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Unaudited Financial Results (Amended)

BEIJING, April 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- China Finance Online Co. Limited ("China Finance Online", or the "Company", "we", "us" or "our") (NASDAQ GS: JRJC), a leading web-based financial services company that provides Chinese retail investors with online access to securities and commodities trading services, wealth management products, investment advisory services, as well as financial database and analytics services to institutional customers, today announced its amended unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016. The amendments are to reflect additional income taxes payable in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and additional income tax expenses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The impact on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016 is set forth in the tables attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Highlights

• Net revenues were $19.2 million, down 42.8% year-over-year, but up 12.7% quarter-over-quarter
• Equity brokerage business grew 508.8% year-over-year and 57.9% quarter-over-quarter
• Commodities brokerage business declined by 54.7% year-over-year but increased by 2.1% quarter-over-quarter
• Yinglibao's users purchased wealth management products with a total value of RMB 4.0 billion in the fourth quarter, up 57.5% quarter-over-quarter
• Gross margin was 62.5%
• Total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were $85.1 million as of December 31, 2016

Full Year 2016 Highlights

• Net revenues were $83.1 million, down 22.7% year-over-year
• Equity brokerage business grew 184.7% year-over-year
• Commodities brokerage business declined by 25.0% year-over-year
• Yinglibao's users purchased wealth management products with a total value of RMB 8.1 billion
• Net loss attributable to China Finance Online was $1.7 million

Mr. Zhiwei Zhao, Chairman and CEO of China Finance Online, commented, "In response to the global geo-political uncertainties and fluctuations, we continue to provide diversified investment and wealth management products and services to achieve more balanced revenue mix.  In addition, we are adding gold trading into our offerings to attract more investors with an appetite for less volatile investments. All these efforts bode with our pursuit of becoming one-stop investment gateway for Chinese retail investors."

"Yinglibao's operations ended the year on a high note as the purchase of various wealth management products rose to RMB4.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2016, representing a significant growth from RMB2.5 billion in the third quarter, RMB 1.2 billion in the second quarter and RMB 352 million in the first quarter, respectively. iTougu continued to engage millions of active users during the fourth quarter of 2016 as, in a market of many uncertainties, investors were proactively seeking advice from thousands of financial advisors registered on our platform. We also introduced more tools on our proprietary Robo-Advisory program to assist financial advisors to better research market data, analyze corporate financials, identify undervalued opportunities and test-drive their investment strategies. While the synergy of human advisors and machine advisory is still in its infancy, we can see its great potential in the Chinese market. With the large user base and diversified product and service offerings, we are well positioned to become a one-stop investment gateway in a large addressable market," Mr. Zhao concluded.   

Mr. Jeff Wang, Chief Financial Officer of China Finance Online, added, "Our balance sheet remains strong with cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaling $85.1 million, significantly higher than our market cap. While we successfully implemented and executed various cost control measures, we continued to invest in R&D. In the era of FinTech, we are committed to developing technologies to help investors to make better investments in one of the world's largest equity capital markets."

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Net revenues were $19.2 million, a decrease of 42.8% from $33.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2015, but an increase of 12.7% from $17.1 million during the third quarter of 2016. During the fourth quarter of 2016, revenues from financial services, the financial information and advisory business, and advertising services contributed 83%, 12% and 4% of the net revenues, respectively, compared with 77%, 18% and 5%, respectively, for the corresponding period in 2015.

Revenues from financial services were $16.0 million, a decrease of 38.4% from $25.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2015, but an increase of 13.7% from $14.0 million during the third quarter of 2016. Revenues from financial services represent equity and commodities brokerage services. The equity brokerage business grew 508.8% year-over-year and 57.9% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease of revenues from financial services was mainly due to a decline in revenues from the Company's commodities brokerage services. Revenue from commodities brokerage declined by 54.7% year-over-year, but increased by 2.1% quarter-over-quarter. Due to a variety of global geo-political uncertainties, the crude oil market experienced unusually unfavorable volatility during the fourth quarter, which adversely affected investors' confidence.

Revenues from the financial information and advisory business were $2.4 million, a decrease of 60.4% from $6.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2015, but an increase of 9.4% from $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2016. Revenues from the financial information and advisory business were comprised of subscription services from individual and institutional customers. The revenue decline from the financial information and advisory business was mainly due to the sale of a less profitable division in the financial information segment. 

Revenues from advertising were $0.74 million, a decrease of 57.9% from $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 but an increase of 3.1% from $0.71 million in the third quarter of 2016. The decline in advertising revenue was mainly due to an increased campaign of the Company's own service offerings during the fourth quarter.

Gross profit was $12.0 million, compared with $27.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and $12.6 million in the third quarter of 2016. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 62.5%, compared with 81.8% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 73.9% in the third quarter of 2016. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter decreases in gross margin were mainly due to a decrease in revenues from the Company's commodities brokerage services, which typically carry higher gross margins.

General and administrative expenses ("G&A") were $4.5 million, a decrease of 21.1% from $5.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, and a decrease of 5.5% from $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2016. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter decreases were mainly attributable to more stringent expense control measures.

Sales and marketing expenses were $14.4 million, a decrease of 11.8% from $16.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, but an increase of 11.6% from $12.9 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Research and development expenses were $5.0 million, an increase of 84.4% from $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 37.2% from $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2016. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter increases were mainly attributable to an increase in recruitment of senior software engineers and capital market professionals to support further development in all lines of business.

Total operating expenses were $24.0 million, a decrease of 4.3% from $25.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, but an increase of 12.2% from $21.3 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Loss from operations was $11.9 million, compared with an income from operations of $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and a loss from operations of $8.1 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Net loss attributable to China Finance Online was $12.8 million, compared with a net income of $10.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 and a net loss of $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2016.

Fully diluted loss per American Depository Shares ("ADS") attributable to China Finance Online was $0.57 for the fourth quarter of 2016, compared with fully diluted earnings per ADS of $0.40 for the fourth quarter of 2015 and fully diluted loss per ADS of $0.16 for the third quarter of 2016. Basic and diluted weighted average numbers of ADSs for the fourth quarter of 2016 were 22.7 million, compared with basic and diluted weighted average number of ADSs of 22.2 million and 25.2 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2015. Each ADS represents five ordinary shares of the Company.

As of December 31, 2016, total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were $85.1 million.

Total shareholders' equity of China Finance Online was $86.2 million as of December 31, 2016.

Full Year 2016 Financial Results

Net revenues for full year 2016 were $83.1 million, a decrease of 22.7% compared with $107.4 million for 2015.

Revenues from financial services for the full year 2016 were $69.0 million, a decrease of 16.9% compared with $83.0 million for 2015.

Revenues from financial information and advisory business for the full year 2016 were $10.7 million, a decrease of 37.8% compared with $17.2 million for 2015.

Revenues from advertising for the full year 2016 were $2.9 million, a decrease of 58.8% compared with $7.0 million for 2015.

Gross profit for the full year 2016 was $62.7 million, a decrease of 28.5% compared with $87.7 million in the full year 2015. Gross margin was 75.5% compared with 81.6% in 2015.

Net loss attributable to China Finance Online for the full year 2016 was $1.7 million, compared with net income attributable to China Finance Online of $22.5 million in 2015.

Fully diluted loss per ADS attributable to China Finance Online was $0.07 for the full year 2016, compared with fully diluted earnings per ADS $0.90 in 2015.

Recent Developments

• Robo-advisory Service

In early November 2016, the Company launched a trial of its proprietary robo-advisory service. The robo-advisory service not only provides China's vast retail investors in different financial standings and risk profiles with access to high-quality financial products, more personalized services, superior customer service and good user experience, but also enables customers to better focus on risk control through more diversified asset allocations， as well as solidifies the long-term stability of the company's business lines.

• 2016 Leading China Fintech Companies Award

Recently Yinglibao won the "2016 Annual Leading FinTech Companies" award. China Times recently hosted its 2016 annual award ceremony to recognize the leading financial institutions and companies in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, asset management, trust, financial leasing, private equity, and FinTech. The winners were mostly Fortune Global 500 companies, financial conglomerates, technology juggernauts or household names in China. Yinglibao joined 13 other leading names as the winners of the "2016 Leading FinTech Companies" award. The other winners in the FinTech category included Lufax and JD Finance.

About China Finance Online

China Finance Online Co. Limited is a leading web-based financial services company that provides Chinese retail investors with online access to securities and commodities trading services, wealth management products, securities investment advisory services, as well as financial database and analytics services to institutional customers. The Company's prominent flagship portal site, www.jrj.com, is ranked among the top financial websites in China. In addition to the web-based securities trading platform, the Company offers basic financial software, information services and securities investment advisory services to retail investors in China. Through its subsidiary, Shenzhen Genius Information Technology Co. Ltd., the Company provides financial database and analytics to institutional customers including domestic financial, research, academic and regulatory institutions. China Finance Online also provides brokerage services in Hong Kong.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which 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. The statements contained herein reflect management's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. 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 prospect and our ability to attract new users;
• our prospect on building a comprehensive wealth management ecosystem through providing a fully-integrated online communication and securities-trading platform;
• our prospect on stabilization in cash attrition and improvement of our financial position;
• our initiatives to address customers' demand for intuitive online investment platforms and alternative investment opportunities; and
• the market prospect of the business of securities-trading, securities investment advisory and wealth management.

Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, which risk factors and uncertainties include, amongst others, changing customer needs, regulatory environment and market conditions that we are subject to; the uneven condition of the world and Chinese economies that could lead to volatility in the equity markets and affect our operating results in the coming quarters; the impact of the changing conditions of the mainland Chinese stock market, Hong Kong stock market and global financial markets on our future performance; the unpredictability of our strategic transformation and growth of new businesses including our commodities brokerage services; the prospect of our margin-related business and the degree to which our implementation of margin account screening and ongoing monitoring will yield successful outcomes; the degree to which our strategic collaborations with partners will yield successful outcomes; the prospects for China's high-net-worth and middle-class households; the prospects of equipping our customer specialists with new technology, tools and financial knowledge; wavering investor confidence that could impact our business; and possible non-cash goodwill, intangible assets and investment impairments 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.

For more information, please contact:

China Finance Online
+86-10-8336-3100
[email protected]

-- Tables Follow --

 

 

Exhibit A

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*Income taxes payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to China Finance Online Co. Limited as previously furnished is $321. With an adjustment of $3,498, the current restated figure is $3,819.

 

 

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SOURCE China Finance Online Co., Ltd.