GAAP operating expenses were US$52 million, a decrease of 25% year-over-year and 5% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a decrease in marketing and promotional spending for online games.
Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$51 million, a decrease of 24% year-over-year and 5% quarter-over-quarter.
GAAP operating profit was US$51 million, compared with an operating profit of US$57 million for the third quarter of 2022 and US$49 million for the second quarter of 2023.
Non-GAAP operating profit was US$52 million, compared with a non-GAAP operating profit of US$58 million for the third quarter of 2022 and US$49 million for the second quarter of 2023.
Recent Development
Sohu today announced that on November 11, 2023, its board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to US$80 million of the outstanding ADSs of Sohu over the next two years. The ADSs may be purchased from time to time at Sohu’s management’s discretion at prevailing market prices in accordance with Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Sohu’s management will determine the timing and amount of any purchases of ADSs based on their evaluation of market conditions, the trading price of ADSs and other factors. The share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Sohu plans to fund repurchases from its existing cash balance.
Business Outlook
For the fourth quarter of 2023, Sohu estimates:
| | • | | Brand advertising revenues to be between US$20 million and US$23 million; this implies an annual decrease of 20% to 31%, and a sequential decrease of 9% to a sequential increase of 4%. |
| | • | | Online game revenues to be between US$106 million and US$116 million; this implies an annual decrease of 4% to 13%, and a sequential decrease of 1% to 9%. |
| | • | | Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited to be between US$10 million and US$20 million; and GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Limited to be between US$13 million and US$23 million. |
For the fourth quarter 2023 guidance, the Company has adopted a presumed exchange rate of RMB7.20=US$1.00, as compared with the actual exchange rate of approximately RMB7.09=US$1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2022, and RMB7.17=US$1.00 for the third quarter of 2023.
This forecast reflects Sohu’s management’s current and preliminary view, which is subject to substantial uncertainty.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), Sohu’s management uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, operating profit, net income, net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited and diluted net income attributable to Sohu.com Limited per ADS, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of 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 the related income tax impact; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge imposed by the U.S. TCJA. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.
Sohu’s management believes excluding 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 the related income tax impact; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge from its non-GAAP financial measure is useful for itself and investors. Further, the impact of 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 the related income tax impact; and interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge cannot be anticipated by management and business line leaders and these expenses were not built into the annual budgets and quarterly forecasts that have been the basis for information Sohu provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance. As share-based compensation expense and changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values, and the related income tax impact, do not involve subsequent cash outflow or are reflected in the cash flows at the equity transaction level, Sohu does not factor in their impact when evaluating and approving expenditures or when determining the allocation of its resources to its business segments. As a result, in general, the monthly financial results for internal reporting and any performance measures for commissions and bonuses are based on non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation expense and changes in fair value recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations with respect to equity investments with readily determinable fair values, and the related income tax impact, and also excluded the interest expense recognized in connection with the Toll Charge.
