Online game revenues were US$176 million, up 32% year-over-year and down 10% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter changes were mainly attributable to revenues from TLBB Vintage, which was launched during the fourth quarter of 2020.
Gross Margin
Both GAAP and non-GAAP3 gross margin was 79%, compared with 68% in the first quarter of 2020 and 79% in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the brand advertising business was 20%, compared with nil in the first quarter of 2020 and 31% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter margin changes were mainly due to changes in brand advertising revenues.
GAAP gross margin for online games was 89%, compared with 79% in the first quarter of 2020 and 90% in the fourth quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP gross margin for online games was 90%, compared with 79% in the first quarter of 2020 and 90% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The year-over-year increase in gross margin was mainly due to a higher percentage revenue contribution from PC games, which typically require lower revenue-sharing payments.
Operating Expenses
For the first quarter of 2021, GAAP operating expenses totaled US$124 million, up 18% year-over-year and down 7% quarter-over-quarter. Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$122 million, up 20% year-over-year and down 7% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increases in salary and benefits expenses. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to decreases in marketing expenses.
Operating Profit
GAAP operating profit was US$51 million, compared with an operating profit of US$16 million in the first quarter of 2020 and an operating profit of US$67 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Non-GAAP operating profit was US$53 million, compared with an operating profit of US$19 million in the first quarter of 2020 and an operating profit of US$68 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Income Tax Expense
GAAP income tax expense was US$23 million, compared with income tax expense of US$15 million in the first quarter of 2020 and income tax expense of US$21 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP income tax expense was US$23 million, compared with income tax expense of US$12 million in the first quarter of 2020 and income tax expense of US$21 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Net Income/(Loss)
GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$32 million, or net income of US$0.80 per fully-diluted ADS, compared with a net loss of US$10 million in the first quarter of 2020 and net income of US$47 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to Sohu.com Limited was US$37 million, or net income of US$0.93 per fully-diluted ADS, compared with a net loss of US$8 million in the first quarter of 2020 and net income of US$53 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were US$335 million.
Supplementary Information for Changyou Results
First Quarter 2021 Operating Results
| • | | For PC games, total average monthly active user accounts4 (MAU) were 2.3 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year and flat quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to the contribution of TLBB Vintage, partially offset by termination of the operation of Warframe. Total quarterly aggregate active paying accounts5 (APA) were 0.9 million, a decrease of 11% year-over-year and 1% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to termination of the operation of Warframe. |
3 | Non-GAAP results exclude share-based compensation expense; changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values; and interest expense recognized in connection with the one-time transition tax (the “Toll Charge”) imposed by the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017 (the “U.S. TCJA”). Explanation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures and related reconciliations to GAAP financial measures are included in the accompanying “Non-GAAP Disclosure” and “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results of Operation Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures.” |
4 | Monthly active user accounts refers to the number of registered accounts that are logged in to these games at least once during the month. |
5 | Quarterly aggregate active paying accounts refers to the number of accounts from which game points are utilized at least once during the quarter. |