Ctrip posts profit in Q4 as demand increases in China

By Staff Writer

Mar 17, 2016 07:45 AM EDT

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 27: (CHINA OUT) A policeman guides passengers in the ticketing hall at Beijing West Railway Station on September 27, 2006 in Beijing, China. China's railway sector has geared up to deal with heavy passenger traffic during the upcoming National Day Holiday period. 41 million of people are expected to be on the move, up 2.56 millions on the same period of last year, according to state media. (Photo : China Photos/Getty Images)

Ctrip, a leading travel agency in China, reported a 50% increase in its net revenues for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015. The company also earned a profit of ¥76 million during the fourth quarter, compared to a loss in the previous year quarter. The increase in quarterly results was driven by more demand for online ticketing.

Ctrip posted net profit attributable to its shareholders of ¥76 million, compared to a loss of ¥224.4 million in the prior year period. Net income for the fourth quarter increased to ¥49.7 million from a loss of ¥297 million in the same period in 2014. On a non-GAAP basis, net profit attributable to shareholders was ¥272.2 million, compared to a loss of ¥97.8 million in the year-ago period.

Quarterly earnings per share amounted to ¥1.54, compared to a loss of ¥6.41 in the year-ago period. Earnings per ADS was ¥0.19, compared to a loss of ¥0.80 in the corresponding period in 2014. Adjusted earnings per share increased to ¥5.52 from a loss of ¥2.79 per share in the prior year period. Earnings per ADS, excluding special items, was ¥0.69, compared to a loss of ¥0.35 in the previous year period.

Income from operations during the fourth quarter increased to ¥95.2 million from a loss of ¥400.9 million in the previous year period. Non-GAAP income from operations amounted to ¥291.7 million, compared to a loss of ¥274.3 million in the year-ago period.

Net revenues for the period totaled ¥2.9 billion, an increase of 50% from ¥1.9 billion in the same period in 2014. Total revenues rose to ¥3.03 billion from ¥2.02 billion in prior year quarter. Moreover, the company expects net revenue growth rate to be roughly 75% to 80% in the first quarter of 2016.

Meanwhile, analysts from twenty-three research companies have granted Ctrip an average rating of "buy". TheStreet increased Ctrip's stock to a "buy" rating from a "hold" rating while Summit Research set a target price of $125.00 on the company's shares. Deutsche Bank increased its objective price to $55.75 from $42.55 and granted a "buy" rating on the stock, as reported by Financial Market News.

For the year 2015, the company reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of ¥2.5 billion, up from ¥242.7 million in 2014. Net income jumped to ¥2.4 billion from ¥91.6 million in the previous year. On a per share basis, annual earnings rose to ¥56.8 from ¥6.35 in the prior year. Earnings per ADS amounted to ¥7.11 in 2015, up from ¥0.79 in the previous year.

According to Smarter Analyst, Ctrip's shares are down roughly 4% during the after-hours trading session. The company's stock has a 1-year high of $57.36 and low of $22.70.

Net revenues rose to ¥10.9 billion from ¥7.3 billion in 2014 while total revenues increased to ¥11.5 billion from ¥7.8 billion in 2014. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share and earnings per ADS amounted to ¥70.41 and ¥8.80 respectively in 2015. The results were propelled by growing demand for ticket booking among Chinese people.

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