Chinese Internet portal Sohu.com's (SOHU) unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007 show the company had record high total revenues and highs for many of its revenue categories.
Total revenues for third quarter ended September 30, 2007 were US$51.5 million, compared to revenues of US$39.0 million for second quarter ended June 30, 2007, and US$35.4 million for third quarter ended September 30, 2006. Gross margin of 67% in third quarter of 2007 increased from 61% in the previous quarter and 64% in the same period of 2006. Non-GAAP gross margin was 67% in the third quarter of 2007, up from 62% in the previous quarter and 65% in the same period of 2006.
Net income for third quarter of 2007 was US$9.7 million or US$0.25 per fully diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for third quarter of 2007 was US$11.7 million or US$0.30 per fully diluted share. This compares to non-GAAP net income of US$8.1 million or US$0.21 per fully diluted share for second quarter of 2007 and US$8.5 million or US$0.22 per fully diluted share for third quarter of 2006.
Advertising revenues for third quarter of 2007 totaled US$31.5 million, an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase and a 32% year-on-year increase. Advertising revenues, consisting of US$29.8 million in brand advertising and US$1.7 million in sponsored search, accounted for 61% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2007. Brand advertising revenues for third quarter of 2007 increased 12% quarter-on-quarter and 42% year-on-year. Sponsored search revenues for third quarter of 2007 were flat quarter-on-quarter and decreased 39% year-on-year. Advertising gross margin for third quarter of 2007 was 63%, up from 62% for the previous quarter and down from 69% in the third quarter of 2006. Non-GAAP advertising gross margin for third quarter of 2007 was 64%, flat with the previous quarter and down from 71% in the third quarter of 2006. The year-on-year decrease was mainly due to increased content costs, bandwidth and server depreciation expenses.
For the third quarter of 2007, Sohu's non-advertising revenues, which are derived mainly from online games and wireless value-added services, were US$20.0 million, representing 39% of total revenues. Online games revenues for third quarter of 2007 increased 232% quarter-on-quarter and 473% year-on-year. Wireless revenue increased 4% quarter-on-quarter and decreased 23% year-on- year. Non-advertising gross margin was 72%, compared to 56% in the previous quarter and 54% in third quarter of 2006. Non-GAAP non-advertising gross margin was 72%, compared to 56% in the previous quarter and 54% in third quarter of 2006. Those increases were due to the contribution from TLBB.
For third quarter of 2007, Sohu's operating expenses totaled US$25.6 million. Non-GAAP operating expenses totaled US$23.9 million, an increase of 43% from the previous quarter and up 58% year-on-year. The increase was primarily due to continued investment in product development and Sohu branding, marketing expenses for TLBB and Sohu 3.0, as well as an increase in bonuses to reward employees for their contribution to good results.
In third quarter 2007, Sohu disposed its equity interest in an associated company, resulted in a gain of $0.6 million.
As of September 30, 2007, subsequent to the redemption of its zero coupon convertible senior notes of $58.5 million in July 2007, Sohu's balance of cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable debt securities remained at a comfortable level of US$76.9 million, compared to US$113.1 million and US$129.7 million as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
Sohu estimates total revenues for the fourth quarter 2007 to be between US$53.5million to US$55.5 million, with advertising revenues of US$31 million to US$32 million and non-advertising revenues of US$22.5 million to US$23.5 million. Sohu estimates brand advertising revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 to be between US$29.5 million to US$30.5 million.
