How does WBTN's earnings trend compare year-over-year?
4/13/2025 04:19pm
WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (WBTN) has demonstrated robust growth in revenue and profitability over the past year, despite facing foreign exchange rate headwinds in the fourth quarter. Here's a detailed analysis of the company's earnings trend year-over-year:
1. **Revenue Growth**: WBTN achieved a significant increase in revenue, with approximately $1.347 billion for the fiscal year 2024, compared to an estimated $1.2 billion in the previous year. This represents a growth rate of over 12% on a constant currency basis.
2. **EBITDA and Profitability**: The company reported an Adjusted EBITDA range of approximately $67 to $68 million for the full year 2024, a substantial increase from the previous year's $8.7 million. This indicates a significant improvement in profitability. Despite a net income range of approximately $(158) to $(152) million, the company maintained a positive cash flow and a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of approximately $572 million.
3. **Quarterly Performance**: In the fourth quarter alone, WBTN achieved a revenue of approximately $351 million, with a 10.4% increase on a constant currency basis. However, the company experienced a decline in net income, with a range of approximately $(107) to $(101) million for the quarter.
4. **User Engagement and Strategic Initiatives**: WBTN saw a notable increase in user engagement, particularly in Japan, where Monthly Active Users (MAU) and Monthly Paid Users (MPU) reached record highs. The company's focus on expanding its original titles and AI-based personalized content recommendation capabilities also contributed to its growth.
Overall, WBTN's earnings trend shows a strong year-over-year improvement in revenue and profitability, despite facing some challenges in the fourth quarter. The company's strategic initiatives and strong user engagement indicate a positive outlook for future growth.