Yunji Q3 2024 Earnings Report

Yunji EPS Results

• Actual EPS: -$0.86
• Consensus EPS: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

Yunji Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: N/A
• Expected Revenue: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

Yunji Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q3 2024
• Date: 11/21/2024
• Time: Before Market Opens
• Conference Call Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
• Conference Call Time: 6:30AM ET

Yunji (NASDAQ:YJ) Inc. is a China-based social e-commerce company that operates an online platform connecting consumers with branded and private-label merchandise. Its offerings have included food and beverages, household goods, personal care products, apparel, consumer electronics and other everyday products.

The company’s business model combines mobile commerce with social networking and membership-based shopping. Yunji has used member communities, product recommendations and social sharing to support customer engagement and product distribution, while also offering opportunities for individual members to promote products through the platform.

Founded in 2015, Yunji is headquartered in Hangzhou, China. The company was founded by Xiao Shanglue, who has served as its chairman and chief executive officer. Its operations have primarily focused on serving consumers in China through its digital platform.

Yunji Q3 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• On November 8, Yunji broke ground on its new Yunji Innovation Center, a 15-acre integrated hub for marketing, R&D, training and operations to strengthen strategic asset diversification.
• The company is making health and wellness a core pillar by leveraging procurement expertise and its proprietary Yunzhi Health Certification System to democratize access to high-quality organic foods at more affordable prices.
• Yunji has expanded with its first two offline wellness stores featuring traditional Chinese medicine practices, targeting the 41–55 age group and planning to integrate online sales and services for greater synergy.
• Its private-label beauty brand celebrated 14 years in the market with over RMB100 million in cumulative sales this year and is advancing into high-end anti-aging and specialized eye care segments.
• For Q3 2024, Yunji reported total revenue of RMB86.6 million with a 64.1% gross margin, narrowed net loss to RMB30 million, and held RMB268.4 million in cash and equivalents with no long-term debt.

Presentation

[Translator]

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by and welcome to Yunji's third quarter 2024 earnings conference call. With us today are Mr. Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director, and Ms. Kaye Liu, Investor Relations Director of the company. As a reminder, this call is being recorded. Now, I would like to hand the conference over to our first speaker today, Ms. Kaye Liu, IRD of Yunji. Please go ahead, ma'am.

[Kaye Liu, Investor Relations Director at Yunji]

Hello, everyone. Welcome to our third quarter 2024 earnings call. Before we start, please note that the following contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on our current expectations and current market operating conditions and related events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors of Yunji and its industry. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or other similar expressions. For a detailed discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please refer to our latest documents filed with the SEC.

[Kaye Liu, Investor Relations Director at Yunji]

Any forward-looking statements that we make on this call are based on assumptions as of today and are expressly qualified in their entirety by cautionary statements, risk factors, and details of the company's filings with the SEC. Yunji does not undertake any obligation to update these statements except as required under applicable law.

[Kaye Liu, Investor Relations Director at Yunji]

With that, I will now turn over to Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO of Yunji.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

Hello, everyone, and welcome to Yunji's third quarter 2024 earnings call.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

So let me start with a significant milestone in our company's growth. On November 8th, we broke ground on our new headquarters, the Yunji Innovation Center. This 15-room campus, strategically located in the heart of the Economic and Technology Development Zone, represents more than just a new office space. It is designed to be an integrated facility that brings together our marketing, training, R&D, and operational teams under one roof. The center will serve as an incubator for expanding health and beauty brands while embodying our corporate culture and vision for the future. We secured this property at an attractive valuation in the second quarter this year, which aligns with our strategy of strategic asset diversification to strengthen our market position and optimize returns in today's dynamic environment.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

In line with the global wellness trend, we are reinforcing our decision to health and wellness as a key pillar of our 10-year strategy. Our mission is to democratize access to healthy living, particularly in the organic food space. While organic products traditionally come with premium price tags, we've leveraged our procurement expertise to make these products more affordable without compromising quality. Our team has traveled nationwide to discover and connect with top-notch health product supply chains, acting as eyes for our consumers by ensuring true traceability, authentic experiences, and genuine sharing. Additionally, we've established a robust quality control process through our proprietary Yunji Health Certification System, which includes random inspections of certified products even after they receive certification. These initiatives have garnered positive feedback from our users.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

For example, our Autumn Moon Pears have become an annual favorite for many parents who eagerly return each October to make their family purchases.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

We've also made significant progress in our offline expansion. In July, we launched our first wellness store featuring traditional Chinese medicine practices. This initiative has helped us tap into the growing demographic for customers aged 41-55 through word-of-mouth referrals in our standardized offline system. We've successfully replicated this business model with our second location opening in October.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

Our private label brand, Shuye, has celebrated the 14th successful year in the beauty arena. In November, our cumulative sales on the platform have exceeded RMB 100 million for the year. We're particularly excited about our expansion in the premium anti-aging segment, where we align ourselves with top global brands and consistently launch outstanding products within our Age Recovery Series. The upcoming release of specialized eye care products marks another significant advancement in our high-end eye care lineup.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

On the technology front, digitalization is vital for advancing the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Building a modern marketing infrastructure requires effective big data strategies. We are pushing forward with the development of an innovative digital platform powered by AI tools that support the integration and sharing of public resources on trading platforms. Our AI applications focus on improving customer service, generating content, sharing materials, and delivering educational training, which helps lower costs while enhancing operational efficiency and service reliability.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

So looking ahead, we will continue to drive innovation, enhance our core competence, and strive to create greater social value for Chinese families. With that, I will hand it over to Mr. Cui, our Senior Financial Director, to go through the financial results.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

Thank you, Shanglue. Hello, everyone. Before I go through our financial results, please note that all numbers stated in the following remarks are in RMB terms, and all comparisons and percentage changes on a year-over-year basis unless otherwise noted. During the third quarter of 2024, we faced a market dynamic that impacted our operations. Nevertheless, our financial position enables us to support our strategic initiatives. We continuously evaluate the profitability of both new and exciting business lines, making informed adjustments in response to evolving market conditions. This strategy enables us to uphold a solid financial foundation amidst a changing business environment.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

During the quarter, we observed notable improvements in our accountability, underscoring our dedication to effective cash management. Additionally, we successfully narrowed our operating and net losses, reflecting our commitment to fast and sustainable growth.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

At the same time, we refined our product offering and optimized our supply network to better meet customer demand. Looking ahead, we will continue to carefully seek growth opportunities while prioritizing our financial stability. Now, let's take a close look at our financials. Total revenue was RMB 86.6 million compared to RMB 145.1 million a year ago. Revenue from sales of merchandise was RMB 17 million, and the revenues from our marketplace business were RMB 14.8 million. Changes were mainly due to softer consumer confidence and ongoing refinements to our product range across all catalogs. Furthermore, the optimization of our supplier and merchants network also had a short-term effect on sales.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

Despite these changes, our gross margin remained relatively strong at 54.1%, mainly due to continued customer loyalty towards our private labels and our effective product creation strategy. Now, let's take a look at our operating expense.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

Procurement expenses were RMB 17.2 million compared to RMB 25.6 million a year ago. The decrease was mainly due to lower warehousing and logistics costs resulting from decreased merchandise sales, as well as reduced personnel costs from staffing optimization. Sales and marketing expenses decreased to RMB 19.3 million from RMB 29.6 million a year ago. This was primarily a result of a decline in membership fees. Technology and content expenses were RMB 11.6 million compared to RMB 13.9 million a year ago. This was largely due to lower personnel costs from staffing optimizations. General and administrative expenses were RMB 25.8 million compared to RMB 28.1 million a year ago. This was mainly due to a reduction in professional services expenses.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

Total operating expenses in the third quarter decreased to RMB 73.9 million from RMB 97.2 million in the same period of 2023. Loss from operations was RMB 26.2 million compared to RMB 30.3 million a year ago.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

Net loss was RMB 30 million compared to RMB 34.8 million a year ago, while adjusted net loss was RMB 29.5 million compared to RMB 34 million a year ago. Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders was both $0.02 compared to $0.02 in the same period of 2023. Turning to liquidity, as of September 30, 2024, we had a total of RMB 268.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments on our balance sheet. Our liquid assets are sufficient to cover our payable obligations, and we did not hold any long-term bank loans or debts on our balance sheet.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

In addition, we are dedicated to making the most of our working capital and smartly managing our assets to better support our operations. Looking forward, we are dedicated to improving our operational efficiencies and adjusting our strategies to effectively navigate the changing market landscape.

[Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director at Yunji]

We are confident that our condition enhancement, inventory management, and cost optimizations leave us well positioned for further growth. By continuously innovating and refining our product offering, we believe that we can boost our momentum and create long-term shareholder value. This concludes our prepared remarks for today. Operator, we are now ready to take questions.

[Operator]

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star, then one on your telephone keypad. If you are using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed and you would like to withdraw your question, please press star, then two. When asking a question, please state your question in Chinese first, then repeat your question in English for the convenience of everyone on the call. At this time, we will pause for a moment to assemble our roster. And our first question today will come from Ethan Yu of First Shanghai. Please go ahead.

[Ethan Yu, Analyst at First Trust]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

Thank you for your question. Firstly, regarding market demand and target customers, offline wellness stores are an extension of Yunji's existing customer base. Over the past nine years and next year is 10 years since Yunji's establishment, some of our earliest customers, such as young mothers, have now transitioned into the key demographic for offline wellness services, which is the 40 to 55 age group. By continuously addressing youth needs, we aim to align with the development of the aging economy, broaden Yunji's customer base, and truly provide services for the entire family.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

The offline wellness business differs significantly from online marketing. We focus on offline communities within the 500-meter radius, combining ground promotion with online campaigns. This approach allows us to receive user feedback more directly and promptly during the service process.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

In the future, after establishing loyalty and trust among offline wellness users, we plan to integrate online sales and services. This is especially true for the promotion of our own brand and organic food products. The synergy between our people network and land network will deliver exciting opportunities for our curated and health-focused business lines.

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

[Foreign language]

[Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO at Yunji]

Thank you for your question.

[Operator]

If there are no further questions at this time, this will conclude the question and answer session, and I'd like to turn the conference back over to management for any closing remarks.

[Operator]

Thank you for joining us today. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions, and we're looking forward to talking with you next quarter. Bye.

[Operator]

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation.

Participants

Executives

• Kaye Liu, Investor Relations Director
• Yeqing Cui, Senior Financial Director
• Shanglue Xiao, Chairman and CEO

Analysts

• Ethan Yu, Analyst at First Trust
• Translator