1. TME's 2024 revenues rose 2.3% to RMB28.40 billion. 2. Annual dividend of approximately US$273 million announced for 2024. 3. Share repurchase program extended by up to US$1 billion. 4. TME's net profit increased by 43.8% year-on-year in 2024. 5. User engagement improved with growth in paying online music subscribers.
TME's strong financial performance and initiatives indicate sustained growth. Previous examples show that positive earnings often correlate with rising stock prices.
Financial growth, dividends, and share buybacks are significant indicators of company health, making this news highly relevant for investors.
The new share repurchase program and initiatives are crucial for sustained shareholder value over time, similar to prior successful strategic expansions.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group ("TME," or the "Company") (NYSE: TME and HKEX: 1698), the leading online music and audio entertainment platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.
Mr. Cussion Pang, Executive Chairman of TME, commented, "2024 was a year of solid progress for TME, marked by strong performance in our online music business driving overall revenue growth and expanding profit margins. Our pioneering initiatives across the music value chain have reshaped the industry landscape and enriched our ecosystem, boosting subscriber penetration rate and lifetime value. We closed fourth quarter with advancements across key areas of online music business, laying a stronger foundation for future growth and innovation. With confidence into 2025, we are pleased to announce an annual dividend of approximately US$273 million and an expanded share repurchase program of up to US$1 billion. We are committed to delivering shareholder value while strategically positioning the company for long-term success."
Mr. Ross Liang, CEO of TME, continued, "Our unwavering focus on user experience and effective operations have been crucial for stellar performance in 2024 and will continue to underpin future development. Enriching content ecosystem, fueled by technology integration, empowered us to further innovate and lead the way of music content consumption. Our SVIP initiative also recorded solid performance during the fourth quarter, resulting in user engagement improvement and ARPPU expansion. Looking ahead to 2025, we aim to harness the power of AI to personalize our services and bring more new experiences to users."
| Metric | 4Q24 | 4Q23 | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAUs – online music (million) | 556 | 576 | (3.5 %) |
| Mobile MAUs – social entertainment (million) | 82 | 104 | (21.2 %) |
| Paying users – online music (million) | 121.0 | 106.7 | 13.4 % |
| Paying users – social entertainment (million) | 7.7 | 8.0 | (3.8 %) |
| Monthly ARPPU – online music (RMB) | 11.1 | 10.7 | 3.7 % |
| Monthly ARPPU – social entertainment (RMB) | 70.4 | 78.0 | (9.7 %) |
Broadening content and expansive ecosystem offer users a wider range of music services with enhanced benefits.
Reinforced core value proposition further drove subscriber and ARPPU growth, SVIP gathered more traction.
Committed to innovation, we launched new features to bring novel experience to users.
Total revenues increased by RMB565 million, or 8.2%, to RMB7.46 billion (US$1.02 billion) from RMB6.89 billion in the same period of 2023.
Cost of revenues decreased by 1.1% year-over-year to RMB4.21 billion (US$576 million), mainly due to decreased revenues from social entertainment services that led to less revenue sharing fees. Meanwhile, advertising agency fees, costs related to offline performances and payment channel fees increased year-over-year.
Gross margin increased to 43.6% from 38.3% in the same period of 2023, primarily due to strong growth in revenues from music subscriptions, including subscriptions to SVIP membership, and in revenues from advertising services, and the ramp-up of our own content.
Total operating expenses decreased by 7.3% year-over-year to RMB1.17 billion (US$161 million). Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 15.7% from 18.4% in the same period of 2023.
Total operating profit was RMB2.41 billion (US$330 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing a 40.5% year-over-year increase.
The finance cost for the fourth quarter of 2024 mainly reflected an unrealized foreign exchange gain, arising from treasury management activities, which was largely affected by the fluctuation of exchange rate between RMB and USD as of September 30 and December 31, 2024.
The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 16.9%, compared with 17.3% in the same period of 2023. We accrued withholding income tax of RMB110 million (US$15 million) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the fourth quarter of 2024, net profit was RMB2.08 billion (US$284 million) and net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB1.96 billion (US$268 million). Non-IFRS net profit was RMB2.40 billion (US$329 million) and non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB2.28 billion (US$312 million). Please refer to the section in this press release titled "Non-IFRS Financial Measure" for details.
Basic and diluted earnings per American Depositary Shares ("ADS") for the fourth quarter of 2024 were RMB1.27 (US$0.17) and RMB1.26 (US$0.17), respectively; non-IFRS basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB1.48 (US$0.20) and RMB1.47 (US$0.20), respectively. For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company had weighted averages of 1.54 billion basic and 1.56 billion diluted ADSs outstanding, respectively. Each ADS represents two of the Company's Class A ordinary shares.
As of December 31, 2024, the combined balance of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, term deposits and short-term investments amounted to RMB37.58 billion (US$5.15 billion), compared with RMB36.04 billion as of September 30, 2024.
Total revenues increased by RMB649 million, or 2.3%, to RMB28.40 billion (US$3.89 billion) from RMB27.75 billion in 2023.
Cost of revenues decreased by 8.8% year-over-year to RMB16.38 billion (US$2.24 billion), mainly due to decreased revenues from social entertainment services that led to less revenue sharing fees. Meanwhile, content costs of royalties, costs related to offline performances, advertising agency fees and payment channel fees increased year-over-year.
Gross margin increased to 42.3% from 35.3% in 2023, primarily due to strong growth in revenues from music subscriptions, including subscriptions to SVIP membership, and in revenues from advertising services, and the ramp-up of our own content.
Total operating expenses decreased by 6.8% year-over-year to RMB4.68 billion (US$641 million). Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 16.5% from 18.1% in 2023.
Total operating profit was RMB8.71 billion (US$1.19 billion) for the full year of 2024, representing an increase of 43.8% year-over-year.
For the full year of 2024, net profit was RMB7.11 billion (US$974 million) and net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB6.64 billion (US$910 million). Non-IFRS net profit was RMB8.14 billion (US$1.12 billion) and non-IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB7.67 billion (US$1.05 billion). Please refer to the section in this press release titled "Non-IFRS Financial Measure" for details.
Basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the full year of 2024 were RMB4.31 (US$0.59) and RMB4.24 (US$0.58), respectively; non-IFRS basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB4.97 (US$0.68) and RMB4.90 (US$0.67), respectively. For the full year of 2024, the Company had weighted averages of 1.54 billion basic and 1.57 billion diluted ADSs outstanding, respectively.
With confidence in TME's growth prospects, our board of directors has recently authorized a new Share Repurchase Program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$1 billion of its Class A ordinary shares during a 24-month period commencing from March 2025. This program follows the completion of the US$500 million share repurchase program previously announced in March 2023.
For the fiscal year of 2024, the Company's board of directors declared a cash dividend of US$0.09 per ordinary share, or US$0.18 per ADS, to holders of record of ordinary shares and ADSs as of the close of business on April 3, 2025. The aggregate amount of cash dividends to be paid will be approximately US$273 million and is expected to be paid on or around April 17, 2025 and on or around April 24, 2025 for holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively. Holders of the Company's ADSs will receive the cash dividends through the depositary, The Bank of New York Mellon, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement.
We made significant strides to empower female musicians' development, fostering a more diverse and inclusive music community, with the number of female artists supported reaching 192,000. We will continue our commitment to ESG excellence and provide these artists with more opportunities for creative expression and performance. In the fourth quarter, we also partnered with the Ministry of Education and multiple NGOs to launch the "Writing Songs for Pandas" initiative, designed to enhance public awareness of biodiversity through the influence of music.
This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("USD") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to USD were made at the rate of RMB7.2993 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2024, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or USD amounts referred could be converted into USD or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. For analytical presentation, all percentages are calculated using the numbers presented in the financial statements contained in this earnings release.
The Company uses non-IFRS net profit for the period, which is a non-IFRS financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. TME believes that non-IFRS net profit helps identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that the Company includes in its profit for the period. TME believes that non-IFRS net profit for the period provides useful information about its results of operations, enhances the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making.
Non-IFRS net profit for the period should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to operating profit, net profit for the period or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review non-IFRS net profit for the period and the reconciliation to its most directly comparable IFRS measure. Non-IFRS net profit for the period presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company's data. TME encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.
Non-IFRS net profit for the period represents profit for the period excluding amortization of intangible and other assets arising from business acquisitions or combinations, share-based compensation expenses, net losses/gains from investments and related income tax effects.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE: TME and HKEX: 1698) is the leading online music and audio entertainment platform in China, operating the country's highly popular and innovative music apps: QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and WeSing. TME's mission is to create endless possibilities with music and technology. TME's platform comprises online music, online audio, online karaoke, music-centric live streaming and online concert services, enabling music fans to discover, listen, sing, watch, perform and socialize around music. For more information, please visit ir.tencentmusic.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group
[email protected]
+86 (755) 8601-3388 ext. 818415
Three Months Ended December 31
Year Ended December 31
| (in millions, except per share data) | 2023 | 2024 | US$ | 2023 | 2024 | US$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 6,893 | 7,458 | 1,022 | 27,752 | 28,401 | 3,891 | |
| Cost of revenues | (4,252) | (4,205) | (576) | (17,957) | (16,376) | (2,244) | |
| Gross profit | 2,641 | 3,253 | 446 | 9,795 | 12,025 | 1,647 | |
| Selling and marketing expenses | (255) | (248) | (34) | (897) | (865) | (119) | |
| General and administrative expenses | (1,011) | (926) | (127) | (4,121) | (3,811) | (522) | |
| Total operating expenses | (1,266) | (1,174) | (161) | (5,018) | (4,676) | (641) | |
| Operating profit | 1,714 | 2,409 | 330 | 6,059 | 8,710 | 1,193 | |
| Profit for the period/year | 1,409 | 2,076 | 284 | 5,220 | 7,109 | 974 | |
| Attributable to: | Equity holders of the Company | 1,306 | 1,957 | 268 | 4,920 | 6,644 | 910 |
Three Months Ended December 31
Year Ended December 31
| (in millions, except per share data) | 2023 | 2024 | US$ | 2023 | 2024 | US$ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profit for the period/year | 1,409 | 2,076 | 284 | 5,220 | 7,109 | 974 | |
| Adjustments: | Amortization of intangible and other assets arising from business acquisitions or combinations* | 111 | 110 | 15 | 445 | 440 | 60 |
* Represents the amortization of identifiable assets, including intangible assets such as domain name, trademark, copyrights, supplier resources, corporate customer relationships and non-compete agreement etc., and fair value adjustment on music content (i.e., signed contracts obtained for the rights to access to the music contents for which the amount was amortized over the contract period), resulting from business acquisitions or combination.