Latest news with #WEBTOONEntertainment
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
WEBTOON Entertainment announces Anime Expo 2025 Programming and Featured Attendees, Including 'Tower of God' creator SIU
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anime, manga, and webcomic fandoms are bigger than ever, and WEBTOON Entertainment Inc., a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms, is headed to Anime Expo in Los Angeles (July 3 - July 6). WEBTOON will host an exciting slate of panels throughout the four-day event, and make its debut on the Anime Expo show floor with a WEBTOON booth where fans will be able to pick up exclusive merchandise, and meet some of the world's biggest webcomic creators — including Tower of God creator SIU in his first-ever United States appearance. WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. is headed to Anime Expo in Los Angeles (July 3 - July 6). Share Featuring insights from creators uru-chan (unOrdinary) and Brandon Chen (Just a Goblin and Overtime Elite), as well as industry executives and experts, WEBTOON panel programming will explore the intersecting worlds of webcomics and anime. Panels will dive into anime's complex power systems and stylized action, the growing webcomics-to-anime pipeline, and the crossover between sports, anime, and webcomics. At the WEBTOON booth located in the Entertainment Hall (E-90), fans will have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive Tower of God poster and meet WEBTOON superstar, Tower of God creator SIU, in his first-ever U.S. signing event. WEBTOON's booth will also feature interactive games, photo ops, and free collectible WEBTOON signing cards. Attendees can also purchase premium merch at the WEBTOON booth, with one exclusive item dropping each day of the convention. Creator signings at the WEBTOON booth (E-90) include: Thursday, July 3 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm PT: uru-chan (unOrdinary) and Brandon Chen (Just a Goblin and Overtime Elite) Thursday, July 3 from 2:30pm - 3:30 pm PT: Junepurrr (SubZero) and Red (School Bus Graveyard) Friday, July 4 from 1:00pm - 2:30pm PT: SIU (Tower of God) Saturday, July 5 from 1:00pm - 2:30pm PT: SIU (Tower of God) WEBTOON Entertainment's full panel programming details are as follows: The Art of Battle: Creating High-Impact Fights in Manga and Webcomics (Thursday, July 3 at 1:30pm PT in Room 402AB) The Art of Leveling Up: Designing Power Systems in Anime, Manga, and Webcomics (Friday, July 4 at 5:15pm PT in Room 411) The Fans Go Wild: Sports, Anime, and Webcomics in Pop Culture (Saturday, July 5 at 6:15pm PT in Room 411) Anime, Animation, and Webcomics: What's Next? (Sunday, July 6 at 2:45pm PT in Room 411) Dates, times, and locations for all Anime Expo panels and signings will also be available on the Anime Expo website. Stay up to date on WEBTOON's Anime Expo schedule by following WEBTOON on Twitter and Instagram. WEBTOON Entertainment is a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms. As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON Entertainment has transformed comics and visual storytelling for fans and creators. With its CANVAS UGC platform empowering anyone to become a creator, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators and series, WEBTOON Entertainment's passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other screens around the world, and the company's content partners include Discord, HYBE, and DC Comics, among many others. With approximately 150 million monthly active users, WEBTOON Entertainment's IP & Creator Ecosystem of aligned brands and platforms include WEBTOON, Wattpad--the world's leading webnovel platform--Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Studio N, Studio LICO, WEBTOON Unscrolled, LINE MANGA, and eBookJapan, among others.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
We're Interested To See How WEBTOON Entertainment (NASDAQ:WBTN) Uses Its Cash Hoard To Grow
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although software-as-a-service business lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse. So should WEBTOON Entertainment (NASDAQ:WBTN) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When WEBTOON Entertainment last reported its March 2025 balance sheet in May 2025, it had zero debt and cash worth US$550m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through US$38m. So it had a very long cash runway of many years from March 2025. Even though this is but one measure of the company's cash burn, the thought of such a long cash runway warms our bellies in a comforting way. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. View our latest analysis for WEBTOON Entertainment Given that WEBTOON Entertainment actually had positive free cash flow last year, before burning cash this year, we'll focus on its operating revenue to get a measure of the business trajectory. While it's not that amazing, we still think that the 3.7% increase in revenue from operations was a positive. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. Notwithstanding WEBTOON Entertainment's revenue growth, it is still important to consider how it could raise more money, if it needs to. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). WEBTOON Entertainment's cash burn of US$38m is about 2.9% of its US$1.3b market capitalisation. So it could almost certainly just borrow a little to fund another year's growth, or else easily raise the cash by issuing a few shares. As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about WEBTOON Entertainment's cash burn. For example, we think its cash runway suggests that the company is on a good path. Its weak point is its revenue growth, but even that wasn't too bad! Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. An in-depth examination of risks revealed 1 warning sign for WEBTOON Entertainment that readers should think about before committing capital to this stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies with significant insider holdings, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WEBTOON (NASDAQ:WBTN) Reports Sales Below Analyst Estimates In Q1 Earnings, Stock Drops
Digital storytelling platform WEBTOON (NASDAQ:WBTN) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales flat year on year at $325.7 million. On the other hand, the company expects next quarter's revenue to be around $340 million, close to analysts' estimates. Its GAAP loss of $0.17 per share was 7% below analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy WEBTOON? Find out in our full research report. Revenue: $325.7 million vs analyst estimates of $328.8 million (flat year on year, 1% miss) EPS (GAAP): -$0.17 vs analyst expectations of -$0.16 (7% miss) Adjusted EBITDA: $4.08 million vs analyst estimates of $3.23 million (1.3% margin, relatively in line) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $340 million at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting EBITDA guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $3 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $11.89 million Operating Margin: -8.2%, down from 4.3% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow was -$19.19 million, down from $20.79 million in the same quarter last year Monthly Active Users: 150 million Market Capitalization: $1.24 billion Junkoo Kim, Founder and CEO, said, 'We are pleased to report both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA above the midpoint of our guidance. Total revenue was up 5.3% on a constant currency basis, with all three revenue streams – Paid Content, Advertising, and IP Adaptations – contributing to growth.' Pioneering a vertical-scrolling format optimized for mobile devices, WEBTOON Entertainment (NASDAQ:WBTN) operates a global platform where creators publish serialized web-comics and web-novels that users can read in bite-sized episodes. Examining a company's long-term performance can provide clues about its quality. Any business can put up a good quarter or two, but many enduring ones grow for years. With $1.35 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, WEBTOON is a small player in the business services space, which sometimes brings disadvantages compared to larger competitors benefiting from economies of scale and numerous distribution channels. On the bright side, it can grow faster because it has more room to expand. As you can see below, WEBTOON's 7.9% annualized revenue growth over the last two years was solid. This is an encouraging starting point for our analysis because it shows WEBTOON's demand was higher than many business services companies. This quarter, WEBTOON missed Wall Street's estimates and reported a rather uninspiring 0.3% year-on-year revenue decline, generating $325.7 million of revenue. Company management is currently guiding for a 5.9% year-on-year increase in sales next quarter. Looking further ahead, sell-side analysts expect revenue to grow 13% over the next 12 months, an improvement versus the last two years. This projection is admirable and indicates its newer products and services will spur better top-line performance. Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report one of our favorites growth stories. WEBTOON's operating margin has been trending down over the last 12 months and averaged negative 6.9% over the last three years. Unprofitable, high-growth companies warrant extra scrutiny, especially if their margins fall because they're spending loads of money to stay relevant, an unsustainable practice. This quarter, WEBTOON generated a negative 8.2% operating margin. Free cash flow isn't a prominently featured metric in company financials and earnings releases, but we think it's telling because it accounts for all operating and capital expenses, making it tough to manipulate. Cash is king. WEBTOON broke even from a free cash flow perspective over the last two years, giving the company limited opportunities to return capital to shareholders. WEBTOON burned through $19.19 million of cash in Q1, equivalent to a negative 5.9% margin. The company's cash flow turned negative after being positive in the same quarter last year, prompting us to pay closer attention. Short-term fluctuations typically aren't a big deal because investment needs can be seasonal, but we'll be watching to see if the trend extrapolates into future quarters. We struggled to find many positives in these results as its revenue and EPS missed. Next quarter's EBITDA guidance also fell short of Wall Street's estimates. Overall, this was a weaker quarter. The stock traded down 6.6% to $9.22 immediately after reporting. WEBTOON underperformed this quarter, but does that create an opportunity to invest right now? When making that decision, it's important to consider its valuation, business qualities, as well as what has happened in the latest quarter. We cover that in our actionable full research report which you can read here, it's free.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WEBTOON Entertainment Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim and COO & CFO David Lee Named to Gold House's 2025 A100 List
The recognition highlights WEBTOON Entertainment's growing impact on the global entertainment industry and Creator Economy LOS ANGELES, May 01, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: WBTN), a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms, today announced that Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim and CFO & COO David Lee have been named to Gold House's 2025 A100 List. The annual list honors the most influential Asian Pacific leaders shaping culture and industry. Kim and Lee are recognized alongside directors Bong Joon Ho and Jon M. Chu, BLACKPINK superstars Lisa and Rosé, musician Charli XCX, Tubi CEO Anjali Sud, and many other luminaries for their contributions to entertainment, technology, and storytelling. Junkoo Kim founded WEBTOON in 2005 in Korea, pioneering the mobile vertical scroll format that revolutionized digital comics and inspired a new generation of creators. His vision has transformed WEBTOON Entertainment into a global storytelling powerhouse, reaching millions of readers and empowering anyone to build a global audience for their stories. "Being named to the A100 List is an incredible honor, and I'm grateful to be recognized alongside so many influential leaders shaping culture and innovation around the world," said WEBTOON Entertainment Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim. "At WEBTOON, we've always believed that great stories can come from anywhere, and this recognition is a testament to the power of storytelling and the creativity of our global creator community." David Lee has played a pivotal role in WEBTOON Entertainment's evolution as a global entertainment company. As CFO and COO, Lee helped lead WEBTOON through its historic IPO, guiding the company through a significant period of evolution. With a sharp strategic lens and strong track record transforming global businesses, Lee has helped position WEBTOON as a leading player at the nexus of tech, IP and entertainment. "It's a privilege to be named to the A100 List alongside our Founder and CEO Junkoo Kim, and such an inspiring group of leaders making an impact across industries," said WEBTOON Entertainment CFO & COO David Lee. "This recognition reflects the incredible work our team has done to revolutionize digital storytelling. WEBTOON has transformed storytelling and entertainment for a new generation, and I'm proud to help drive our mission of empowering creators and bringing diverse stories to audiences everywhere." WEBTOON Entertainment is a powerhouse in digital storytelling, fueling hit webcomics and webnovel adaptations worldwide. WEBTOON Entertainment content has been brought to life on screens everywhere, with projects like Sweet Home and Through My Window (Netflix), Vigilante (Disney+), Sidelined: The QB and Me (Tubi), and Tower of God (Crunchyroll), among many others. Leading brands, including Duolingo, CAPCOM, DC Comics, HYBE, Ubisoft, Dropout (formerly College Humor), and Discord, have partnered with WEBTOON Entertainment to reach new audiences and tap into its massive Gen Z fanbase. For more information or to see the complete list, please visit About WEBTOON Entertainment WEBTOON Entertainment is a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms. As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON Entertainment has transformed comics and visual storytelling for fans and creators. With its CANVAS UGC platform empowering anyone to become a creator, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators and series, WEBTOON Entertainment's passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other screens around the world, and the company's content partners include Discord, HYBE and DC Comics, among many others. With approximately 160 million monthly active users, WEBTOON Entertainment's IP & Creator Ecosystem of aligned brands and platforms include WEBTOON, Wattpad--the world's leading webnovel platform--Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Studio N, Studio LICO, WEBTOON Unscrolled, LINE MANGA, and eBookJapan, among others. View source version on Contacts Jacquelyn Brazzale, Senior PR Manager, WEBTOON: Palmer Haasch, Communications Specialist, WEBTOON: Sign in to access your portfolio
National Post
01-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
WEBTOON Entertainment Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim and COO & CFO David Lee Named to Gold House's 2025 A100 List
Article content LOS ANGELES — WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: WBTN), a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms, today announced that Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim and CFO & COO David Lee have been named to Gold House's 2025 A100 List. The annual list honors the most influential Asian Pacific leaders shaping culture and industry. Kim and Lee are recognized alongside directors Bong Joon Ho and Jon M. Chu, BLACKPINK superstars Lisa and Rosé, musician Charli XCX, Tubi CEO Anjali Sud, and many other luminaries for their contributions to entertainment, technology, and storytelling. Article content Junkoo Kim founded WEBTOON in 2005 in Korea, pioneering the mobile vertical scroll format that revolutionized digital comics and inspired a new generation of creators. His vision has transformed WEBTOON Entertainment into a global storytelling powerhouse, reaching millions of readers and empowering anyone to build a global audience for their stories. Article content 'Being named to the A100 List is an incredible honor, and I'm grateful to be recognized alongside so many influential leaders shaping culture and innovation around the world,' said WEBTOON Entertainment Founder & CEO Junkoo Kim. 'At WEBTOON, we've always believed that great stories can come from anywhere, and this recognition is a testament to the power of storytelling and the creativity of our global creator community.' Article content David Lee has played a pivotal role in WEBTOON Entertainment's evolution as a global entertainment company. As CFO and COO, Lee helped lead WEBTOON through its historic IPO, guiding the company through a significant period of evolution. With a sharp strategic lens and strong track record transforming global businesses, Lee has helped position WEBTOON as a leading player at the nexus of tech, IP and entertainment. Article content 'It's a privilege to be named to the A100 List alongside our Founder and CEO Junkoo Kim, and such an inspiring group of leaders making an impact across industries,' said WEBTOON Entertainment CFO & COO David Lee. 'This recognition reflects the incredible work our team has done to revolutionize digital storytelling. WEBTOON has transformed storytelling and entertainment for a new generation, and I'm proud to help drive our mission of empowering creators and bringing diverse stories to audiences everywhere.' Article content WEBTOON Entertainment is a powerhouse in digital storytelling, fueling hit webcomics and webnovel adaptations worldwide. WEBTOON Entertainment content has been brought to life on screens everywhere, with projects like Sweet Home and Through My Window (Netflix), Vigilante (Disney+), Sidelined: The QB and Me (Tubi), and Tower of God (Crunchyroll), among many others. Leading brands, including Duolingo, CAPCOM, DC Comics, HYBE, Ubisoft, Dropout (formerly College Humor), and Discord, have partnered with WEBTOON Entertainment to reach new audiences and tap into its massive Gen Z fanbase. Article content WEBTOON Entertainment is a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world's largest storytelling platforms. As the global leader and pioneer of the mobile webcomic format, WEBTOON Entertainment has transformed comics and visual storytelling for fans and creators. Article content With its CANVAS UGC platform empowering anyone to become a creator, and a growing roster of superstar WEBTOON Originals creators and series, WEBTOON Entertainment's passionate fandoms are the new face of pop culture. WEBTOON Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and other screens around the world, and the company's content partners include Discord, HYBE and DC Comics, among many others. Article content With approximately 160 million monthly active users, WEBTOON Entertainment's IP & Creator Ecosystem of aligned brands and platforms include WEBTOON, Wattpad–the world's leading webnovel platform–Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Studio N, Studio LICO, WEBTOON Unscrolled, LINE MANGA, and eBookJapan, among others. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
