KE Holdings Inc. Announces First Quarter 2022 Unaudited Financial Results

KE Holdings Inc. (“Beike” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BEKE and HKEX: 2423), a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Business and Financial Highlights for the First Quarter of 2022

• Gross transaction value (GTV)¹ was RMB586.0 billion (US$92.4 billion), a decrease of 45.2% year-over-year. GTV of existing home transactions was RMB374.1 billion (US$59.0 billion), a decrease of 44.5% year-over-year. GTV of new home transactions was RMB192.7 billion (US$30.4 billion), a decrease of 43.9% year-over-year. GTV of emerging and other services was RMB19.2 billion (US$3.0 billion), a decrease of 63.6% year-over-year.
• Net revenues were RMB12.5 billion (US$2.0 billion), a decrease of 39.4% year-over-year.
• Net loss was RMB620 million (US$98 million). Adjusted net income² was RMB28 million (US$4 million).
• Number of stores was 45,777 as of March 31, 2022, a 6.0% decrease from one year ago. Number of active stores³ was 42,994 as of March 31, 2022, a 4.3% decrease from one year ago.
• Number of agents was 427,379 as of March 31, 2022, a 19.1% decrease from one year ago. Number of active agents⁴ was 381,799 as of March 31, 2022, a 20.3% decrease from one year ago.
• Mobile monthly active users (MAU)⁵ averaged 39.7 million, compared to 48.5 million in the same period of 2021.

Mr. Stanley Yongdong Peng, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Beike, commented, “In the first quarter, facing significant uncertainties arising from the outbreaks of COVID-19 variants in some cities and a soft macroeconomic outlook, we continued to strive forward with a determined focus on serving our customers, caring for our service providers and an optimistic mindset to further grow our presence in the broader housing related services.”

"Our total GTV in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 45% year-over-year to RMB586.0 billion, reflecting the challenges experienced by the industry but partially mitigated by our market-leading commitment to quality services. In this environment, we continued to take a disciplined approach by holding efficiency as our highest operating priority for existing home sales. We further refined store and agent management and leveraged technologies to optimize operations. For new home sales, we aimed for balanced scale expansion and risk management. Specifically, we target to strengthen our collaborations with high quality real estate developers and created data-based products to effectively enhance their assessments on new home projects and sales conversion. Meanwhile, undeterred by the short-term adverse market conditions, our home renovation and furnishing services achieved robust growth, with the integration of Shengdu progressing smoothly and synergies realized at multiple levels.”

“There is no doubt that we are being tested this year on multiple fronts, but we are resolute in our belief that the value we bring to our customers gives us an enduring competitive advantage in both good times and tough times. We are prepared to manage through this difficult phase, stay tenacious and optimistic as always, build new capabilities and emerge stronger,” concluded Mr. Peng.

Mr. Tao Xu, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Beike, added, “During the first quarter, net revenues were RMB12.5 billion, down 39.4% year-over-year, as market recovery remained fragmented amid temporary disruptions by the COVID-19 resurgence. Against the headwinds, we seized the opportunity to further optimize our execution, and position ourselves for market recovery scenarios. To lay this groundwork, we devoted more resources to developing and investing in our long-term capabilities, as demonstrated by the closing of our Shengdu acquisition, which significantly bolstered our home renovation and furnishing services. In addition, to protect the best interest of our stakeholders, we successfully completed our home coming dual-primary listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited by way of introduction on May 11. Looking ahead, we have faith in it as we ignite our ‘One body, Two wings’ strategy, will weather the short-term turbulence, and, more importantly, explore, transform and upgrade the thriving ‘better living’ sector to create indispensable value for our industry and our customers.”

First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues decreased by 39.4% to RMB12.5 billion (US$2.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB20.7 billion in the same period of 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decline in total GTV. Total GTV was RMB586.0 billion (US$92.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, representing a 45.2% decrease compared to RMB1,069.6 billion in the same period of 2021 due to the continuing downtrend of the GTV of the market for existing home transactions and new home transactions since the second half of 2021, the emergence of COVID-19 in certain regions and the corresponding restrictive measures in the first quarter of 2022, and a relatively high base of the first quarter of 2021.

• Net revenues from existing home transaction services were RMB6.2 billion (US$1.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB10.2 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily due to a 44.5% decrease in GTV of existing home transactions to RMB374.1 billion (US$59.0 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB673.4 billion in the same period of 2021.
  
  
  
  Among that, (i) the revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services, which are mostly charged to connected stores and agents on the Company’s platform, decreased by 28.6% to RMB0.7 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, from RMB1.0 billion in the same period of 2021, mainly due to a 47.5% decrease of GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents on the Company’s platform to RMB172.4 billion (US$27.2 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB328.4 billion in the same period of 2021. The lower decline rate of revenues derived from platform service, franchise service and other value-added services compared to that of the GTV of existing home transactions served by connected agents was partially attributable to the increased penetration level of value-added services including transaction contracting services and a moderate increase in the commission rate of existing home transaction charged by connected stores; and
  
  
  
  (ii) commission revenue decreased by 40.8% to RMB5.5 billion (US$0.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB9.2 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily due to a decrease in GTV of existing home transactions served by Lianjia stores of 41.5% to RMB201.7 billion (US$31.8 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB345.0 billion in the same period of 2021.
  
  

• Net revenues from new home transaction services decreased by 40.5% to RMB5.9 billion (US$0.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB9.9 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily due to the decrease of GTV of new home transactions of 43.9% to RMB192.7 billion (US$30.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB343.4 billion in the same period of 2021. Among that, the GTV of new home transaction services completed on Beike platform through connected agents, dedicated sales team with the expertise on new home transaction services and other sales channels was RMB158.8 billion (US$25.0 billion), compared to RMB286.1 billion in the same period of 2021, while the GTV of new home transactions served by Lianjia brand was RMB33.9 billion (US$5.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB57.3 billion in the same period of 2021. The decline was partially offset by a moderate increase of the commission rate of new home transactions.
  
  

• Net revenues from emerging and other services decreased by 15.0% to RMB0.5 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB0.6 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily attributable to the decrease of net revenues from financial services which was partially offset by the increase of net revenues of home renovation services.

Cost of Revenues

Total cost of revenues decreased by 35.0% to RMB10.3 billion (US$1.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB15.9 billion in the same period of 2021.

• Commission - split. The Company’s cost of revenues for commissions to connected agents and other sales channels was RMB4.2 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB6.9 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily due to the decrease in the GTV of new home transactions completed through connected agents and other sales channels in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the same period of 2021.

• Commission and compensation - internal. The Company’s cost of revenues for internal commission and compensation was RMB4.7 billion (US$0.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB7.3 billion in the same period of 2021, primarily due to the decrease in the GTV of exiting home and new home transactions completed through Lianjia agents.

• Cost related to stores. The Company’s cost related to stores increased by 4.5% to RMB0.9 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to RMB0.8 billion in the same period of 2021, mainly due to the incremental increase in rental fees of contract service centers and the increased amortization costs for renovation and decoration of Lianjia stores in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

• Other costs. The Company’s other costs decreased by 35.9% to RMB0.5 billion (US$0.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB0.8 billion in the same period of 2021, mainly due to a decrease of business taxes and surcharges along with the decrease of net revenues and the decreased funding costs and provisions related to financial services and the decreased offline activities costs due to some regional instances of COVID-19 infections and the corresponding restrictive measures in the first quarter of 2022.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was RMB2.2 billion (US$0.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB4.8 billion in the same period of 2021. Gross margin was 17.7% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 23.3% in the same period of 2021. The decrease in gross margin was mainly due to: a) a lower contribution margin of existing home transactions resulted from a relatively higher percentage of fixed compensation costs for Lianjia agents; and b) a relatively higher percentage of costs related to store of net revenues as a result of the decrease of net revenues in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

Income (Loss) from Operations

Total operating expenses decreased by 17.5% to RMB3.1 billion (US$0.5 billion) in the first quarter of 2022 from RMB3.8 billion in the same period of 2021.

• General and administrative expenses were RMB1,528 million (US$241 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB2,108 million in the same period of 2021, mainly due to the decrease of provision for credit losses and personnel costs.

• Sales and marketing expenses were RMB861 million (US$136 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB1,057 million in the same period of 2021, mainly due to the decrease of the brand advertising and promotional marketing activities.

• Research and development expenses were RMB749 million (US$118 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB638 million in the same period of 2021, mainly due to increased personnel costs in the first quarter of 2022.

Loss from operations was RMB918 million (US$145 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to income from operations of RMB1,013 million in the same period of 2021. Operating margin was negative 7.3% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 4.9% in the same period of 2021, primarily due to a) a relatively lower gross profit margin, and b) an increase of the percentage of total operating expenses of net revenues as a result of the decrease of net revenues in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

Adjusted loss from operations⁶ was RMB450 million (US$71 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to adjusted income from operations of RMB1,564 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted operating margin⁷ was negative 3.6% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 7.6% in the same period of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA⁸ was RMB341 million (US$54 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB2,015 million in the same period of 2021.

Net Income (Loss)

Net loss was RMB620 million (US$98 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to net income of RMB1,059 million in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted net income was RMB28 million (US$4 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB1,502 million in the same period of 2021.

Net Income (Loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders

Net loss attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders was RMB618 million (US$97 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders of RMB1,059 million in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted net income attributable to KE Holdings Inc.⁹ was RMB29 million (US$5 million) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB1,502 million in the same period of 2021.

Net Income (Loss) per ADS

Diluted net loss per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders¹⁰ was RMB0.52 (US$0.08) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders of RMB0.88 in the same period of 2021.

Adjusted diluted net income per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders¹¹ was RMB0.02 (US$0.00) in the first quarter of 2022, compared to RMB1.25 in the same period of 2021.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-Term Investments

As of March 31, 2022, the combined balance of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments amounted to RMB50.2 billion (US$7.9 billion).

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2022, the Company expects total net revenues to be between RMB10.0 billion (US$1.6 billion) and RMB10.5 billion (US$1.7 billion), representing a decrease of approximately 56.6% to 58.6% from the same quarter of 2021. This forecast considers the potential impact of the recent real estate related policies and measures, the emergence of COVID-19 in certain regions and the corresponding restrictive measures which remains uncertain and may continue to adversely affect the Company’s operations, and the Company’s current and preliminary view on the business situation and market condition, all of which are subject to change.

Proposed Share Repurchase Program

The Company also announces today that it proposes to establish a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$1 billion of its ADSs over a 12-month period, subject to the obtaining of a general mandate from the Company’s shareholders at a general meeting to be convened by the Company. The repurchases are expected to be carried out as soon as legally permissible after the Company obtains the general mandate of shareholders.

The Company’s proposed share repurchases, if approved, may be effected from time to time in the open market at prevailing market prices and/or through other legally permissible means, depending on market conditions and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The Company plans to fund any such repurchases from its existing cash balance.

Conference Call Information

The Company will hold an earnings conference call on 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on Tuesday, May 31, 2022) to discuss the financial results. Details for the conference call are as follows:

Event Title: KE Holdings Inc. First Quarter 2022 Earnings Conference Call

Conference ID:6687562

All participants must use the link provided below to complete the online registration process in advance of the conference call. Upon registering, each participant will receive a set of participant dial-in numbers, the Direct Event pass code, and a unique registrant ID by email.

PRE-REGISTER LINK:

http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/6687562

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company’s investor relations website at http://investors.ke.com/.

The replay will be accessible through June 8, 2022, by dialing the following numbers:

Exchange Rate

This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars (“US$”) at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.3393 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2022, in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc., adjusted operating margin, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating its operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. Beike believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help 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 net income (loss). Beike also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP financial measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in the Company’s business.

The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to gross profit, net income (loss) or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of its operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review these non-GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The non-GAAP financial measures 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. Beike encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Adjusted income (loss) from operations is defined as income (loss) from operations, excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, and (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement. Adjusted operating margin is defined as adjusted income (loss) from operations as a percentage of net revenues. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, and (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments. Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc. is defined as net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc., excluding (i) share-based compensation expenses, (ii) amortization of intangible assets resulting from acquisitions and business cooperation agreement, (iii) changes in fair value from long term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, (iv) impairment of investments, (v) tax effects of the above non-GAAP adjustments, and (vi) effects of non-GAAP adjustments on net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), excluding (i) income tax expense (benefit), (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) amortization of intangible assets, (iv) depreciation of property and equipment, (v) interest income, net, (vi) changes in fair value from long term investments, loan receivables measured at fair value and contingent consideration, and (vii) impairment of investments. Adjusted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders is defined as adjusted net income (loss) attributable to KE Holdings Inc.’s ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of ADS outstanding during the periods used in calculating adjusted net income (loss) per ADS, basic and diluted.

Please see the “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results” included in this press release for a full reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to its respective comparable GAAP measure.

About KE Holdings Inc.

KE Holdings Inc. is a leading integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services. The Company is a pioneer in building infrastructure and standards to reinvent how service providers and housing customers efficiently navigate and complete housing transactions in China, ranging from existing and new home sales, home rentals, to home renovation and furnishing, and other services. The Company owns and operates Lianjia, China’s leading real estate brokerage brand and an integral part of its Beike platform. With more than 20 years of operating experience through Lianjia since its inception in 2001, the Company believes the success and proven track record of Lianjia pave the way for it to build its infrastructure and standards and drive the rapid and sustainable growth of Beike.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release, as well as Beike’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Beike may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about KE Holdings Inc.’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Beike’s goals and strategies; Beike’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; Beike’s ability to empower services and facilitate transactions on Beike’s platform; competition in our industry; relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry; Beike’s ability to protect the Company’s systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; Beike’s dependence on the integrity of brokerage brands, stores and agents on the Company’s platform; general economic and business conditions in China and globally; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in KE Holdings Inc.’s filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and KE Holdings Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

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