Alibaba Group announces March Quarter and Full Fiscal Year 2022 results

    Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988, “Alibaba” or “Alibaba Group”) today announced its financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended 31 March 2022.

    “Alibaba delivered on the goal of serving one billion annual active consumers in China this past quarter and achieved a record RMB8,317 billion in global GMV for the fiscal year. Despite macro challenges that impacted supply chains and consumer sentiment, we continued to focus on customer value proposition and building the capabilities to deliver value. We saw tangible progress across our businesses, especially in operational improvements in key strategic areas,” said Daniel Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group.

    Photo by Alibaba Group/NHA File Photo
    Photo by Alibaba Group/NHA File Photo

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    “Looking ahead, we will continue to execute on our multi-engine growth strategy by strengthening our digital infrastructure and focusing on quality growth to create long-term value for our customers, shareholders and other stakeholders across our ecosystem.”

    “We delivered healthy results this quarter with revenue growth of nine per cent year-over-year. Total revenue for the fiscal year grew 19 per cent year-over-year, despite a challenging macro environment. Our continued investments in strategic initiatives have generated promising growth momentum and improved operating efficiency,” said Toby Xu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group.

    “Looking ahead to fiscal year 2023, we will firmly focus on generating sustainable, high-quality revenue growth and optimising our operating cost structure to enhance overall return amidst these uncertain times.”

    BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS
    In the quarter ended 31 March 2022:
    • Revenue was RMB204,052 million (USD32,188 million), an increase of nine per cent year-over-year that was primarily driven by the revenue growth of the China commerce segment by eight per cent year-over-year to RMB140,330 million (USD22,137 million), Local consumer services segment by 29 per cent year-over-year to RMB10,445 million (USD1,647 million) and Cloud segment by 12 per cent year-over-year to RMB18,971 million (USD2,993 million).

    • Annual active consumers of Alibaba Group across the world reached approximately 1.31 billion for the twelve months ended 31 March 2022, an increase of 28.3 million from the twelve months ended 31 December 2021. This included over one billion consumers in China, a historic milestone, and 305 million consumers overseas, representing quarterly net increases of approximately 24.6 million and 3.7 million, respectively, and annual net increases of 113 million and 64 million, respectively.

    • Income from operations was RMB16,717 million (USD2,637 million), compared to a loss from operations of RMB7,663 million in the same quarter of 2021. Excluding one-off and certain other items as identified in “March Quarter Operational and Financial Results” below, income from operations would have decreased by RMB6,894 million year-over-year primarily due to our increased investments in Taocaicai and Taobao Deals, the continued impact of COVID-19 as well as asset impairment and special provisions made by Sun Art. Adjusted EBITA, a non-GAAP measurement, decreased 30 per cent or RMB6,801 million year-over-year to RMB15,811 million (USD2,494 million).

    • Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB16,241 million (USD2,562 million)
    and net loss was RMB18,357 million (USD2,896 million), primarily due to decreases in the
    market prices of our equity investments in publicly-traded companies, which we excluded from our non-GAAP measures, partly offset by income from operations. Non-GAAP net income was RMB19,799 million (USD3,123 million), a decrease of 24 per cent year-over-year.

    • Diluted loss per ADS was RMB6.07 (USD0.96) and diluted loss per share was RMB0.76
    (USD0.12 or HKD0.94). Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS was RMB7.95 (USD1.25), a
    decrease of 23 per cent year-over-year and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was RMB0.99 (USD0.16 or HKD1.22), a decrease of 23 per cent year-over-year.

    • Net cash used in operating activities was RMB7,040 million (USD1,111 million). Free cash
    flow, a non-GAAP measurement of liquidity, was an outflow of RMB15,070 million (USD2,377million), compared to an outflow of RMB658 million in the same quarter of 2021, mainly due to the payment of the final installment of RMB9,114 million (USD1,438 million) of the RMB18,228 million fine levied by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation pursuant to China’s Anti-monopoly Law (the “Anti-monopoly Fine”), and a decrease in profit.

    In the fiscal year ended 31 March 2022:
    • Revenue was RMB853,062 million (USD134,567 million), an increase of 19 per cent year-over-year that was primarily driven by the revenue growth of the China commerce segment by 18 per cent year-over-year to RMB592,705 million (USD93,497 million), Cloud segment by 23 per cent year-over-year to RMB74,568 million (USD11,763 million) and International commerce segment by 25 per cent year-over-year to RMB61,078 million (USD9,635 million). Excluding the consolidation of Sun Art, our revenue would have grown 14 per cent year-over-year to RMB770,734 million (USD121,580million).

    • Income from operations was RMB69,638 million (USD10,985 million), a decrease of 22 per cent year-over-year. Excluding one-off and certain other items as identified in “Full Fiscal Year Operational and Financial Results” below, income from operations would have decreased by RMB41,683 million year-over-year, primarily due to our increased investments in Taobao Deals and Taocaicai, our increased spending for user growth, as well as our support to merchants. Adjusted EBITA, a non-GAAP measurement, decreased 23 per cent or RMB40,056 million year-over-year to RMB130,397 million (USD20,570 million).

    • Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB61,959 million (USD9,774
    million) and net income was RMB47,079 million (USD7,427 million), showing year-over-year decreases of 59 per cent and 67 per cent, respectively, primarily due to the net losses arising from decreases in the market prices of our equity investments in publicly-traded companies, compared to net gains from these investments in last year, which we excluded from our non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP net income was RMB136,388 million (USD21,515 million), a decrease of 21per cent year-over-year.

    • Diluted earnings per ADS was RMB22.74 (USD3.59) and diluted earnings per share was
    RMB2.84 (USD0.45 or HKD3.50). Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS was RMB52.69
    (USD8.31), a decrease of 19 per cent year-over-year and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was RMB6.59 (USD1.04 or HKD8.13), a decrease of 19 per cent year-over-year.

    • Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB142,759 million (USD22,520 million), a
    decrease of 38 per cent compared to RMB231,786 million in fiscal year 2021. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measurement, was RMB98,874 million (USD15,597 million), a decrease of 43 per cent year-over-year from RMB172,662 million in fiscal year 2021, mainly due to a decrease in profit and the full payment in the amount of RMB18,228 million of the Anti-monopoly Fine.

    Source: Alibaba Group