
Top Banker Vows Loyalty to DEI at Tokyo Pride Parade as Trump's Pushback Rages
Few Japanese corporate executives have taken a clear position on US efforts to roll back the diversity, equity and inclusion policies that had become common at global corporations, though many firms appear to have quietly maintained their initiatives.
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27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
BingEx Ltd (FLX) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges and Expanding Horizons
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Total Revenue: RMB1.02 billion for Q2 2025. Gross Margin: Increased by 1.2 percentage points year over year to 12%. Adjusted Net Profit: RMB45.59 million for Q2 2025. Cost of Revenues: Decreased by 14.1% to RMB901.9 million. Gross Profit: RMB122.7 million for Q2 2025. Operating Expenses: Total of RMB103.4 million, with selling and marketing expenses at RMB48.2 million, general and administrative expenses at RMB36 million, and R&D expenses at RMB19.2 million. Non-GAAP Income from Operations: RMB31.9 million for Q2 2025. Other Income: RMB1.3 million, primarily due to a lower amount of government grants. Cash Position: RMB827.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with FLX. Release Date: August 19, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points BingEx Ltd (NASDAQ:FLX) recorded total revenue of RMB1.02 billion in Q2 2025, with a gross margin increase of 1.2 percentage points year over year to 25%. The company maintained a strong position in the niche market of flowers and cakes, effectively meeting demand and securing stable market share. BingEx Ltd (NASDAQ:FLX) has actively expanded partnerships with merchants, enhancing collaboration and mutual growth. The company implemented targeted improvements for 3C digital products, optimizing packaging and delivery processes, which strengthened client trust. BingEx Ltd (NASDAQ:FLX) is expanding its service offerings, exploring new scenarios such as luggage delivery and hotel storage, which have received positive user feedback. Negative Points Revenues for Q2 2025 decreased to RMB1,024.6 million from RMB1,176.7 million in the same period of 2024, primarily due to lower order volumes. Operating expenses for the second quarter were RMB103.4 million, with a decrease in non-GAAP income from operations compared to the same period in 2024. Other income decreased significantly to RMB1.3 million from RMB9.5 million in the same period of 2024, mainly due to lower government grants. Despite improvements, the contribution of newly expanded services to order volume and revenue remains limited in the short term. The company faces intense competition in the food delivery market, creating pressure on rider supply and impacting operational dynamics. Q & A Highlights Q: Could you please share the company's order volume and ASP for this quarter, broken down by 2B and 2C business? How do you project the trend for order volume and ASP in the second half of the year? A: In the first half of this year, we fulfilled 123 million orders. Our ASP held steady compared with last year, with a slight increase in fee and orders. We expect a recovery in overall order volume in the second half of 2025 as competition stabilizes and we expand our service offerings and team. Q: Due to platform competition this year, there have been pressures on rider supply across the industry. How would you assess rider stickiness and retention metrics? What trajectory should we anticipate for the rider incentive budget this year? A: Our registered and new rider numbers remain strong, with no notable impact from competition. We have optimized our dispatch system and delivery rules, boosting rider productivity. Our incentive system includes subsidies, training, and rewards, ensuring stable earnings. We are leveraging technology to reduce reliance on traditional subsidies, and we expect competition to ease in the second half of 2025. Q: How has FlashEx managed to maintain its gross profit margin despite the competitive market environment? A: Our gross profit margin rose to 12% from 10.8% last year due to our refined operation strategy and focus on service quality. We have optimized efficiency and resource allocation, which is reflected in our improved operational efficiency and cost management. Q: What are FlashEx's plans for expanding its service offerings in the future? A: We are expanding our service offerings by analyzing user behavior and demand patterns to identify key needs such as luggage delivery, hotel storage, and package pickup. We are conducting small-scale tests and collecting feedback to refine these services, aiming to deliver a smoother user experience and broaden our service portfolio. Q: How is FlashEx addressing the challenges of delivering 3C digital products? A: We conducted research at client stores to review the delivery process and implemented improvements such as optimizing packaging materials and strengthening delivery personnel training. These efforts have enhanced client trust and confidence in our brand. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Agora Inc (API) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth and Strategic AI ...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Total Revenue: $34.3 million in Q2, up 11% year over year. GAAP Net Profit: $1.5 million with a GAAP net margin of 4.3%. Agora Revenue: $18.2 million, 16.7% year-over-year growth. Shengwang Revenue: RMB115.5 million, 6.7% year-over-year growth. Gross Margin: 66.8% for the second quarter. R&D Expenses: $14 million, decreased 23% year over year. Sales and Marketing Expenses: $6.5 million, increased 4% year over year. G&A Expenses: $6 million, decreased 26.6% year over year. Operating Cash Flow: Negative $0.4 million in Q2. Cash and Equivalents: $277 million at the end of Q1. Share Repurchase: $10.9 million in Q2, 13.1 million ordinary shares repurchased. Q3 Revenue Guidance: Expected between $34 million and $36 million, 7.6% to 13.9% year-over-year growth. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with API. Release Date: August 19, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points Agora Inc (NASDAQ:API) achieved its third consecutive quarter of GAAP profitability, with a net profit of $1.5 million and a net margin of 4.3%. Total revenue for Q2 2025 reached $34.3 million, marking an 11% year-over-year increase. The company reported a significant increase in active customers, with Agora seeing a 12% increase and Shengwang a 1% increase compared to the previous year. Agora Inc (NASDAQ:API) introduced major upgrades to its Conversational AI engine, including advanced attention locking, real-time vision-based intelligence, and natural interactive avatars. The company has seen positive reception and adoption of its Conversational AI solutions, with successful deployments in industries such as food delivery and AI companion toys. Negative Points Gross margin slightly decreased by 1.2% year over year and sequentially, indicating some pressure on profitability. Operating cash flow was negative $0.4 million in Q2, although it improved from a negative $7.6 million last year. The resignation of Sheng Zhong, the Director, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Scientist, could pose challenges in maintaining technological leadership. There was a marginal sequential decrease in Agora's revenues, attributed to usage fluctuations among customers. Initial gross margins for the new Conversational AI products may be lower due to ramp-up and testing costs. Q & A Highlights Q: Regarding the AI-related business, which application area do you expect to see faster adoption and potential revenue contribution? A: For AI use cases, three applications have progressed to a more advanced stage: call centers, education, and companionship toys. We expect these verticals to drive broader adoption as customers move from proof-of-concept to real-world production. (Bin Zhao, CEO) Q: Can you explain the reasons behind the gross profit margin fluctuations in Q2 and the future trend for gross and net profit margins? A: The gross margin has been stable, fluctuating between 66% and 68%. The recent decline is due to normal fluctuations. For new conversational AI products, initial margins might be lower due to ramp-up costs, but we expect them to be at least as high as RTC margins in the future. Net margins are expected to improve as revenues increase, with a long-term operating margin target of 15% to 20%. (Jingbo Wang, CFO) Q: What is the market reception of the newly launched advanced attention locking and avatar features? A: These features were designed with real-world applications in mind. Advanced attention locking is crucial in noisy environments, ensuring seamless user experiences. Interactive avatars are essential for education and customer service, providing lifelike interactions. These innovations address specific customer needs and enhance user experiences. (Bin Zhao, CEO) Q: How do you see the future revenue growth for Agora and Shengwang? A: Agora revenues grew 16.7% year-over-year, driven by market penetration in high-growth verticals like live shopping and entertainment. Shengwang revenues grew 6.7% year-over-year, supported by digital transformation and IoT adoption. We expect continued growth in these areas. (Jingbo Wang, CFO) Q: Can you provide insights into the company's share repurchase program and its impact on financial flexibility? A: We repurchased $127.2 million worth of shares since February 2025, representing 3.5% of outstanding shares. This program demonstrates our commitment to creating shareholder value while maintaining financial flexibility to invest in growth opportunities like conversational AI. (Jingbo Wang, CFO) For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'South Park' Turns Up The Heat On Trump With 'Perfect' Return Of Beloved Character
'South Park' released a new clip teasing Wednesday night's episode that features the return of a fan-favorite character as the show appears set to continue trolling President Donald Trump. The clip shows Towelie ― a sentient towel who loves to get high ― arriving by bus in Washington, D.C. to find the city under military control. 'This seems like the perfect place for a towel,' Towelie says as he watches a tank roll past the White House ― mimicking the real-life situation in which Trump has sent the National Guard into the city. Trump has claimed the military is needed to bring order to a city besieged by crime. However, the violent crime rate there dropped in both 2024 and 2025, leading critics to blast the move as a 'stunt.' 'South Park' has pulled a few stunts of its own since the show returned last month, mocking corporate parent Paramount for caving to Trump by agreeing to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit over '60 Minutes' that most legal observers considered frivolous. Related: Trump has claimed the settlement includes PSAs, and 'South Park' mockingly gave him one at the end of the episode, which showed a very realistic Trump stripping in the desert until he was naked, complete with a talking 'teeny tiny' penis. The show continued to go after Trump and his administration in the second episode, which focused mostly on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The next episode airs Wednesday night on Comedy Central, and will stream on Paramount+. 'South Park' Goes Scorched-Earth On Trump In Shockingly NSFW Season Premiere Aubrey Plaza Details 'Awfulness' After Her Husband's Shocking Death Elon Musk Was Not Pleased With 'Silicon Valley' Show's Portrayal Of Tech Parties