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ZTO Reports First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

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Parcels Volume Increased 19.1% to 8.5 Billion
Adjusted Net Income Grew 1.6% to RMB2.3 Billion
Annual Volume Guidance Reiterated to Grow 20%-24%

SHANGHAI, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China (“ZTO” or the “Company”), today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025[1]. The Company grew parcel volume by 19.1% year over year while maintaining high quality of service and customer satisfaction. Adjusted net income[2] increased 1.6% to reach RMB2.3 billion. Net cash generated from operating activities was RMB2.4 billion.

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights

Revenues were RMB10,891.5 million (US$1,500.9 million), an increase of 9.4% from RMB9,960.0 million in the same period of 2024.Gross profit was RMB2,689.2 million (US$370.6 million), a decrease of 10.4% from RMB3,002.1 million in the same period of 2024.Net income was RMB2,039.2 million (US$281.0 million), an increase of 40.9% from RMB1,447.7 million in the same period of 2024.Adjusted EBITDA[3] was RMB3,686.7 million (US$508.0 million), an increase of 0.7% from RMB3,660.4 million in the same period of 2024.Adjusted net income was RMB2,259.3 million (US$311.3 million), an increase of 1.6% from RMB2,224.0 million in the same period of 2024.Basic and diluted net earnings per American depositary share (“ADS”[4]) were RMB2.50 (US$0.34) and RMB2.44 (US$0.34), an increase of 41.2% and 39.4% from RMB1.77 and RMB1.75 in the same period of 2024, respectively.Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders[5] were RMB2.77 (US$0.38) and RMB2.71 (US$0.37), an increase of 1.1% and 1.1% from RMB2.74 and RMB2.68 in the same period of 2024, respectively.Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB2,363.0 million (US$325.6 million), compared with RMB2,031.0 million in the same period of 2024.

Operational Highlights for First Quarter 2025

Parcel volume was 8,539 million, an increase of 19.1% from 7,171 million in the same period of 2024.Number of pickup/delivery outlets was over 31,000 as of March 31, 2025.Number of direct network partners was approximately 6,000 as of March 31, 2025.Number of self-owned line-haul vehicles was over 10,000 as of March 31, 2025, out of which, over 9,400 were high capacity 15 to 17-meter-long models compared to over 9,100 as of March 31, 2024.Number of line-haul routes between sorting hubs was over 3,900 as of March 31, 2025.Number of sorting hubs was 95 as of March 31, 2025, among which 91 were operated by the Company and 4 by the Company’s network partners.

(1)   An investor relations presentation accompanies this earnings release and can be found at http://zto.investorroom.com. 

(2)   Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income before share-based compensation expense and non-recurring items such as impairment of investments in equity investees, gain/(loss) on disposal of equity investment and subsidiary and corresponding tax impact which management aims to better represent the underlying business operations.

(3)   Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income before depreciation, amortization, interest expenses and income tax expenses, and further adjusted to exclude the shared-based compensation expense and non-recurring items such as impairment of investments in equity investees, gain/(loss) on disposal of equity investment and subsidiary which management aims to better represent the underlying business operations.

(4)   One ADS represents one Class A ordinary share.

(5)   Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure. It is defined as adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by weighted average number of basic and diluted American depositary shares, respectively.

Mr. Meisong Lai, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZTO, commented, “During the first quarter, ZTO maintained leading service quality and achieved 8.5 billion of parcel volume and 2.3 billion of adjusted net income. Retail volume increased by 46% year over year for the quarter as we penetrated deeper into reverse logistics, and we continued to work closely with various e-commerce platform and enterprise customers to develop differentiated products and services which include time-definite delivery and customized KA consumer services.”

Mr. Lai added, “We believe competition in China’s express delivery industry has reached the “white-hot” stage, and it is further exacerbated by a greater portion of volume being either low value or loss-making for the logistic service providers. Our approach to network policies has been on maintaining consistency and cultivating long-term stability. At times of fierce competition, we are learning to better leverage our existing competitive advantage and at the same time, stay focused on initiatives that can bring about long-term prospects of profitable growth.”

Ms. Huiping Yan, Chief Financial Officer of ZTO, commented, “ZTO’s core express ASP decreased by 11 cents largely driven by 16 cents in higher volume incentives and 6 cents lower weight average per parcel partially offset by 12 cents increase in KA unit price. Combined unit sorting and transportation costs decreased 9 cents thanks to cost productivity gain initiatives. SG&A as a percentage of revenue was 4.7%. Cash flow from operating activities was 2.4 billion, and capital spending was 2 billion.”

Ms. Yan added, “Volume, backed by high quality of services, remains our top priority. Healthier profitability by the ZTO brand and its network partners relative to our peers are built upon decades of interdependent and cooperative relationship founded on our “shared success” philosophy. Achieving a reasonable level of corporate earnings, and at the same time, laying the groundwork and support our franchise partners to maintain confidence in long-term prospects, to reengineer last mile delivery processes and hereby reduce costs, and to increase their couriers’ share into retail profit, our concerted effort will forge new competitive advantage to expand ZTO’s volume leadership.”

First Quarter 2025 Unaudited Financial Results

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

%

RMB

US$

%

(in thousands, except percentages)

Express delivery services

9,240,172

92.8

10,122,290

1,394,889

92.9

Freight forwarding services

202,747

2.0

179,219

24,697

1.7

Sale of accessories

485,062

4.9

560,297

77,211

5.1

Others

32,025

0.3

29,659

4,087

0.3

Total revenues

9,960,006

100.0

10,891,465

1,500,884

100.0

Total Revenues were RMB10,891.5 million (US$1,500.9 million), an increase of 9.4% from RMB9,960.0 million in the same period of 2024. Revenue from the core express delivery business increased by 9.8% compared to the same period of 2024, as a net result of a 19.1% growth in parcel volume and a 7.8% decrease in parcel unit price. KA revenue, generated by direct sales organizations, increased by 129.3% driven by increase in e-commerce return parcels. Revenue from freight forwarding services decreased by 11.6% compared to the same period of 2024 mainly due to declining cross-border e-commerce pricing. Revenue from sales of accessories, largely consisted of sales of thermal paper used for digital waybills’ printing, increased by 15.5%. Other revenues were derived mainly from financing services.

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

% of

% of

RMB

revenues

RMB

US$

revenues

(in thousands, except percentages)

Line-haul transportation cost

3,371,493

33.9

3,483,065

479,979

32.0

Sorting hub operating cost

2,168,201

21.8

2,314,595

318,960

21.3

Freight forwarding cost

188,382

1.9

172,792

23,811

1.6

Cost of accessories sold

133,047

1.3

133,259

18,364

1.2

Other costs

1,096,798

11.0

2,098,534

289,186

19.2

Total cost of revenues

6,957,921

69.9

8,202,245

1,130,300

75.3

Total cost of revenues was RMB8,202.2 million (US$1,130.3 million), an increase of 17.9% from RMB6,957.9 million in the same period last year.

Line haul transportation cost was RMB3,483.1 million (US$480.0 million), an increase of 3.3% from RMB3,371.5 million in the same period last year. The unit transportation cost decreased 12.8% or 6 cents mainly attributable to better economies of scale, improved load rate and more effective route planning.

Sorting hub operating cost was RMB2,314.6 million (US$319.0 million), an increase of 6.8% from RMB2,168.2 million in the same period of last year. The increase primarily consisted of (i) RMB109.9 million (US$15.2 million) increase in labor-associated costs partially offset by automation-driven efficiency and (ii) RMB69.2 million (US$9.5 million) increase in depreciation and amortization costs associated with equipment and facilities. Sorting hub operating cost per unit decreased 10.0% or 3 cents as automation and standardization in operating procedures plus effective performance evaluation continued to dig deep for productivity gain. As of March 31, 2025, there were 631 sets of automated sorting equipment in service, compared to 461 sets as of March 31, 2024.

Cost of accessories sold was RMB133.3 million (US$18.4 million), increased by 0.2% compared with RMB133.0 million in the same period last year.

Other costs of RMB2,098.5 million (US$289.2 million), increased 91.3% from RMB1,096.8 million in the same period last year, which included an increase of RMB957.4 million (US$131.9 million) for serving higher-valued enterprise customers.

Gross Profit was RMB2,689.2 million (US$370.6 million), decreased by 10.4% from RMB3,002.1 million in the same period last year. Gross margin rate was 24.7% compared to 30.1% in the same period last year.

Total Operating Expenses were RMB283.8 million (US$39.1 million), compared to RMB735.4 million in the same period last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB737.5 million (US$101.6 million), decreased by 17.7% from RMB896.6 million in the same period last year. The decrease consisted of a RMB109.1 million (US$15.0 million) decrease in compensation and benefit expenses. Excluding a RMB37.3 million one-time charge in the same period last year for loss on collection with a supplier, the decrease was 14.2% year over year.

Other operating income, net was RMB453.7 million (US$62.5 million), compared to RMB161.3 million in the same period last year. Other operating income mainly consisted of (i) RMB407.6 million (US$56.2 million) of government subsidies and tax rebates, and (ii) RMB35.9 million (US$4.9 million) of rental and other income.

Income from operations was RMB2,405.4 million (US$331.5 million), an increase of 6.1% from RMB2,266.7 million for the same period last year. The operating margin rate was 22.1% compared to 22.8% in the same period last year.

Interest income was RMB198.4 million (US$27.3 million), compared with RMB245.0 million in the same period last year.

Interest expenses was RMB68.9 million (US$9.5 million), compared with RMB83.9 million in the same period last year.

Gain from fair value changes of financial instruments was RMB36.6 million (US$5.0 million), compared with a gain of RMB42.7 million in the same period last year. Such gain or loss from fair value changes of the financial instruments is quoted by commercial banks according to market-based estimation of future redemption prices.

Income tax expenses were RMB531.6 million (US$73.3 million) compared to RMB566.3 million in the same period last year. Taxable income for the same period last year reflected a RMB478.4 million non-tax-deductible impairment losses on investment in Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited upon a tender offer repurchase. 

Net income was RMB2,039.2 million (US$281.0 million), which increased by 40.9% from RMB1,447.7 million in the same period last year.

Basic and diluted earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders were RMB2.50 (US$0.34) and RMB2.44 (US$0.34), compared to basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB1.77 and RMB1.75 in the same period last year, respectively.

Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders were RMB2.77 (US$0.38) and RMB2.71 (US$0.37), compared with RMB2.74 and RMB2.68 in the same period last year, respectively.

Adjusted net income was RMB2,259.3 million (US$311.3 million), compared with RMB2,224.0 million during the same period last year.

EBITDA[1] was RMB3,466.6 million (US$477.7 million), compared with RMB2,884.1 million in the same period last year.

Adjusted EBITDA was RMB3,686.7 million (US$508.0 million), compared to RMB3,660.4 million in the same period last year.

Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB2,363.0 million (US$325.6 million), compared with RMB2,031.0 million in the same period last year.

(1)   EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income before depreciation, amortization, interest expenses and income tax expenses which management aims to better represent the underlying business operations.

Recent Developments

Change of Board Composition

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has announced the following changes, effective April 25, 2025: Ms. Di Xu has been appointed as a director, and Mr. Xudong Chen has resigned from his position as a director. The Company confirms that Mr. Chen’s resignation was not related to any disagreement with the Company.

Company Share Repurchase Program

The Board has approved its share repurchase program in November 2018 and made subsequent modifications, whereby the latest modification increased the aggregate value of shares that may be repurchased to US$2.0 billion and extended the effective period through June 30, 2025. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had purchased an aggregate of 50,899,498 ADSs for US$1,228.3 million on the open market, including repurchase commissions. The remaining funds available under the share repurchase program are US$771.7 million.

On May 20, 2025, the Company announced to extend the current share repurchase program to June 30, 2026. The Company believes that the share repurchase program represents ZTO’s confidence in the overall market opportunities as well as ZTO’s solid operating fundamentals and financial strength for sustained profitable growth and value creation for its shareholders.

Business Outlook

Based on current market and operating conditions, the Company reiterates its 2025 parcel volume guidance of 40.8 billion to 42.2 billion, reflecting a 20% to 24% year over year growth. Such estimates represent management’s current and preliminary view, which are subject to change.

Exchange Rate

This announcement contains translation of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of readers. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at the exchange rate of RMB7.2567 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate on March 31, 2025 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating ZTO’s operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

Reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to its U.S. GAAP financial measures are shown in tables at the end of this earnings release, which provide more details about the non-GAAP financial measures.

The Company believes that such Non-GAAP measures help identify underlying trends in ZTO’s business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the related expenses and gains that the Company includes in income from operations and net income. The Company believes that EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by ZTO’s management in its financial and operational decision-making.

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance. Investors are encouraged to compare the historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per American depositary share attributable to ordinary shareholders 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 ZTO’s data. ZTO encourages investors and others to review the Company’s financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Conference Call Information

ZTO’s management team will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 PM U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 (8:30 AM Beijing Time on May 21, 2025).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States:

1-888-317-6003

Hong Kong:

800-963-976

Mainland China:

4001-206-115

Singapore:

800-120-5863

International:

1-412-317-6061

Passcode:

7604109

Please dial in 15 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until May 27, 2025:

United States:

1-877-344-7529

International:

1-412-317-0088

Passcode:

5288285

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://zto.investorroom.com. 

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK:2057) (“ZTO” or the “Company”) is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com. 

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement 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 other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. ZTO 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 “HKEX”), in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of the HKEX, 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 but not limited to statements about ZTO’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: risks relating to the development of the e-commerce and express delivery industries in China; its significant reliance on certain third-party e-commerce platforms; risks associated with its network partners and their employees and personnel; intense competition which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and market share; any service disruption of the Company’s sorting hubs or the outlets operated by its network partners or its technology system; ZTO’s ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in ZTO’s filings with the SEC and the HKEX. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and ZTO does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

Summary of Unaudited Consolidated Comprehensive Income Data:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

Revenues

9,960,006

10,891,465

1,500,884

Cost of revenues

(6,957,921)

(8,202,245)

(1,130,300)

Gross profit

3,002,085

2,689,220

370,584

Operating (expenses)/income:

Selling, general and administrative

(896,641)

(737,511)

(101,632)

Other operating income, net

161,257

453,669

62,517

Total operating expenses

(735,384)

(283,842)

(39,115)

Income from operations

2,266,701

2,405,378

331,469

Other income/(expenses):

Interest income

245,021

198,392

27,339

Interest expense

(83,916)

(68,876)

(9,491)

Gain from fair value changes of financial instruments

42,720

36,613

5,045

Gain on disposal of equity investees, subsidiaries and others

451

147

20

Impairment of investment in equity investees

(478,364)

–

–

Foreign currency exchange gain/(loss)before tax

5,384

(4,044)

(557)

Income before income tax, and share of income in equity method investments

1,997,997

2,567,610

353,825

Income tax expense

(566,305)

(531,574)

(73,253)

Share of income in equity method investments

16,055

3,145

433

Net income

1,447,747

2,039,181

281,005

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

(21,701)

(45,934)

(6,330)

Net income attributable to ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

1,426,046

1,993,247

274,675

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

1,426,046

1,993,247

274,675

Net earnings per share attributed to ordinary shareholders

Basic

1.77

2.50

0.34

Diluted

1.75

2.44

0.34

Weighted average shares used in calculating net earnings per ordinary

share/ADS

Basic

804,935,791

798,486,427

798,486,427

Diluted

836,144,858

832,052,527

832,052,527

Net income

1,447,747

2,039,181

281,005

Other comprehensive income/(expenses), net of tax of nil:

Foreign currency translation adjustment

(82,330)

8,701

1,199

Comprehensive income

1,365,417

2,047,882

282,204

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests

(21,701)

(45,934)

(6,330)

Comprehensive income attributable to ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

1,343,716

2,001,948

275,874

 

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets Data:

As of

December 31,

March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands, except for share data)

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

13,465,442

12,417,946

1,711,239

Restricted cash

37,517

29,263

4,033

Accounts receivable, net

1,503,706

1,011,360

139,369

Financing receivables

1,178,617

1,001,378

137,994

Short-term investment

8,848,447

10,604,175

1,461,294

Inventories

38,569

35,521

4,895

Advances to suppliers

783,599

857,199

118,125

Prepayments and other current assets

4,329,664

4,533,838

624,780

Amounts due from related parties

168,160

80,108

11,039

Total current assets

30,353,721

30,570,788

4,212,768

Investments in equity investees

1,871,337

1,870,351

257,741

Property and equipment, net

33,915,366

34,527,479

4,758,014

Land use rights, net

6,170,233

6,299,962

868,158

Intangible assets, net

17,043

15,493

2,135

Operating lease right-of-use assets

566,316

552,064

76,076

Goodwill

4,241,541

4,241,541

584,500

Deferred tax assets

984,567

1,102,658

151,950

Long-term investment

12,017,755

11,538,510

1,590,049

Long-term financing receivables

861,453

949,391

130,830

Other non-current assets

919,331

938,888

129,382

Amounts due from related parties-non current

421,667

542,387

74,742

TOTAL ASSETS

92,340,330

93,149,512

12,836,345

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities

Short-term bank borrowing

9,513,958

9,288,291

1,279,961

Accounts payable

2,463,395

2,541,205

350,187

Advances from customers

1,565,147

1,542,284

212,532

Income tax payable

488,889

479,582

66,088

Amounts due to related parties

202,766

137,613

18,964

Operating lease liabilities

183,373

176,356

24,303

Dividends payable

14,134

2,049,875

282,480

Convertible senior notes

7,270,081

7,238,497

997,492

Other current liabilities

6,571,492

5,602,727

772,073

Total current liabilities

28,273,235

29,056,430

4,004,080

Long-term bank borrowing

–

17,000

2,343

Non-current operating lease liabilities

377,717

363,217

50,053

Deferred tax liabilities

1,014,545

847,067

116,729

TOTAL LIABILITIES

29,665,497

30,283,714

4,173,205

Shareholders’ equity

Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; 10,000,000,000 shares authorized;

810,339,182 shares issued and 798,622,719 shares outstanding as of December 31,
2024; 804,468,490 shares issued and 799,752,637 shares outstanding as of March
31, 2025)

523

519

72

Additional paid-in capital

24,389,905

24,355,076

3,356,219

Treasury shares, at cost

(1,131,895)

(271,027)

(37,349)

Retained earnings

39,098,553

38,415,878

5,293,850

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(294,694)

(285,993)

(39,410)

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. shareholders’ equity

62,062,392

62,214,453

8,573,382

Noncontrolling interests

612,441

651,345

89,758

Total Equity

62,674,833

62,865,798

8,663,140

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

92,340,330

93,149,512

12,836,345

 

Summary of Unaudited Consolidated Cash Flow Data:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands)

Net cash provided by operating activities

2,031,020

2,362,976

325,627

Net cash used in investing activities

(2,378,652)

(3,158,465)

(435,248)

Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities

130,130

(261,091)

(35,979)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   

38,603

(12,560)

(1,730)

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(178,899)

(1,069,140)

(147,330)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

13,051,310

13,530,947

1,864,614

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

12,872,411

12,461,807

1,717,284

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

As of

December 31,

March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

13,465,442

12,417,946

1,711,239

Restricted cash, current

37,517

29,263

4,033

Restricted cash, non-current

27,988

14,598

2,012

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   

13,530,947

12,461,807

1,717,284

 

Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

Net income

1,447,747

2,039,181

281,005

Add:

Share-based compensation expense [1]

298,387

220,269

30,354

Impairment of investment in equity investees [1]

478,364

–

–

Gain on disposal of equity investees, subsidiaries and others, net of income
   taxes

(451)

(121)

(17)

Adjusted net income

2,224,047

2,259,329

311,342

Net income

1,447,747

2,039,181

281,005

Add:

Depreciation

752,119

789,108

108,742

Amortization

33,980

37,819

5,212

Interest expenses

83,916

68,876

9,491

Income tax expenses

566,305

531,574

73,253

EBITDA

2,884,067

3,466,558

477,703

Add:

Share-based compensation expense

298,387

220,269

30,354

Impairment of investment in equity investees

478,364

–

–

Gain on disposal of equity investees, subsidiaries and others, before income
   taxes

(451)

(147)

(20)

Adjusted EBITDA

3,660,367

3,686,680

508,037

 

(1)   Net of income taxes of nil

 

Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2025

RMB

RMB

US$

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

1,426,046

1,993,247

274,675

Add:

Share-based compensation expense [1]

298,387

220,269

30,354

Impairment of investment in equity investees [1]

478,364

–

–

Gain on disposal of equity investees, subsidiaries and others, net of income

   taxes

(451)

(121)

(17)

Adjusted Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

2,202,346

2,213,395

305,012

Weighted average shares used in calculating net earnings per ordinary share/ADS   

Basic

804,935,791

798,486,427

798,486,427

Diluted

836,144,858

832,052,527

832,052,527

Net earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

Basic

1.77

2.50

0.34

Diluted

1.75

2.44

0.34

Adjusted net earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

Basic

2.74

2.77

0.38

Diluted

2.68

2.71

0.37

 

(1)   Net of income taxes of nil

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.
Investor Relations
E-mail: ir@zto.com
Phone: +86 21 5980 4508

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zto-reports-first-quarter-2025-unaudited-financial-results-302460880.html

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Backdoor References: 37% Say Potential Employers Contacted People They Never Listed

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New report examines the realities of professional references, as nearly 1 in 3 workers say they’ve struggled to find enough when applying for a job.

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A job reference may seem like a straightforward endorsement, but what happens behind the scenes can be more complicated.

New research from Zety®, a leading resume builder, shows some references are recommending people despite their own reservations (40%), some candidates are coaching or even faking references (19%), and employers aren’t always sticking to the names they’re given (37%).

Surveying over 1,000 U.S. workers, the Professional References Report found that 42% believe references should have little to no influence on an employer’s final hiring decision, with the results raising broader questions about the role references play in hiring.

Key Findings

Rise of ‘backdoor’ references: 37% say a potential employer reached out to a former manager or coworker who was not listed as a reference.Candidates struggle to meet reference requirements: Nearly one-third have had difficulty finding enough professional references when applying for a job.Some job seekers turn to fake references: 1 in 10 have asked a friend or family member to pose as a former coworker or manager.References can come with reservations: More than half (52%) have been asked to recommend someone they weren’t comfortable endorsing, yet 22% gave a positive reference anyway.

How Far Job Seekers Go to Manage References

Rather than leaving references to chance, many candidates take steps to steer the process in their favor.

Workers report using several tactics:

39% chose people they know will speak positively about them.11% asked their references ahead of time what they plan to say about them.11% avoided listing a former manager because they expected a negative reference.10% asked a friend or family member to pose as a former coworker or manager.9% coached their reference on what to say.7% intentionally provided outdated contact information.

High Risk for ‘Backdoor’ References

Candidates may carefully curate their references, but 37% of workers say a potential employer reached out to a former manager or coworker they never listed.

Meanwhile, the references they do provide aren’t necessarily contacted: just 15% say their references were contacted every time they were hired, while 47% say sometimes and 38% say rarely or never.

Opinions are divided on whether employers should go beyond the reference list:

48% say it’s acceptable, but only with the candidate’s permission.25% say it’s acceptable even without the candidate’s permission.27% say it’s unacceptable to contact people who were not provided as references.

Not Every Reference Is an Endorsement

Being selected as a reference does not necessarily mean someone is comfortable recommending the candidate. More than half of workers (52%) have been asked to provide a reference for someone they had reservations about, including:

22% who gave a positive reference anyway.18% who gave an honest but mixed or negative reference.12% who declined.

Questioning the True Value of References

Despite their longstanding role in hiring, professional references do not carry the same value for every worker. Some question their accuracy and influence, while others struggle to meet reference requirements in the first place:

22% feel that professional references do not accurately reflect a candidate’s work performance.Nearly 1 in 3 (31%) have struggled to find enough professional references when applying for a job.42% believe references should have little to no influence on an employer’s final hiring decision.

“Rogue reference checks introduce a wild card into the hiring process because candidates have no control over who is contacted or what version of their work history that person may share,” said Dr. Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety. “Someone outside a candidate’s reference list may have an incomplete view of their performance or a perspective colored by office politics, past conflicts, or personal history. Even more concerning, the candidate may never know the conversation took place, much less have an opportunity to provide context.”

For detailed insights on the Professional References Report, access the full study at https://zety.com/blog/professional-references-report or contact Skyler Acevedo, at skyler.acevedo@bold.com.

Methodology

The findings presented are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Zety using Pollfish on August 24, 2026. The survey collected responses from 1,007 U.S. employees and examined their experiences, perceptions, and attitudes regarding professional references, including how references are selected, provided, and contacted, as well as their perceived accuracy and influence on hiring decisions.

Respondents answered different types of questions, including yes/no; scale-based questions, where they indicated their level of agreement with statements; and multiple-choice questions, where they could select from a list of provided options.

The sample consisted of 56% female, 43% male, and 1% nonbinary respondents, with 21% Gen Z, 27% millennials, 26% Gen X, and 26% baby boomers.

About Zety

Zety’s Resume Builder is a premier platform that leverages advanced AI tools to help job seekers stand out and land interviews effortlessly. Offering step-by-step guidance, curated content suggestions, and 100s of professional, ATS-friendly resume templates, it allows users to feel confident crafting tailored applications. Millions of professionals rely on Zety’s interactive suite—which also features an easy-to-use Cover Letter Generator—to produce high-quality documents that are free to create and ready to download. Since 2016, Zety’s career blog has provided free data-driven insights from career experts and Certified Professional Resume Writers aimed at empowering professionals at every stage of their journey. The Zety Workforce Hub presents current trends and hiring patterns, with the best career advice and evidence-based findings featured in outlets like Business Insider, CNBC, and Forbes, among others. Select Zety as a preferred source on Google to receive more workforce trends, career insights, and labor market research in your personalized search experience.  

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/backdoor-references-37-say-potential-employers-contacted-people-they-never-listed-302939312.html

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Kase Celebrates Terra Kaffe’s Selection for Oprah’s Favorite Things 2026

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Longstanding partnership helps premium coffee brand scale fulfillment operations and prepare for increased holiday demand

FONTANA, Calif., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kase, a national third-party logistics (3PL) provider, is celebrating a major milestone for customer Terra Kaffe, whose Demi espresso machine has been selected for Oprah‘s Favorite Things 2026. As Oprah says on oprahdaily.com, “I added this to my kitchen—mine’s the Dune color. It grinds whole beans to make an Americano, drip coffee, and more, so everyone in the house gets what they like best.”

The selection marks a significant achievement for Terra Kaffe and reflects the brand’s growth in the home espresso market. “We knew we needed to partner with an organization that valued customer experience as much as we do. We’ve absolutely found that in the Kase team,” said Cate Marques, Chief Experience Officer at Terra Kaffe. “Kase has helped our organization grow in a way that’s truly scalable, which has been essential as our customer base has grown exponentially over the years.”

Today, Kase supports Terra Kaffe’s omnichannel fulfillment operations from its Sunnyvale, Texas facility, handling deluxe coffee equipment, accessories, and retail orders. The partnership also includes specialized services such as protective return packaging.

“For Terra Kaffe, ensuring we can trust our warehouse partner is paramount, as our customers are trusting us to deliver their high-value orders efficiently and safely,” said Marques. “We know the Kase team has it covered on the fulfillment and shipping side, and cares just as much about our customers getting an unparalleled experience as we do.”

From January through September 2026, Kase exceeded target service-level agreements (SLAs) for order accuracy and damage-free shipments for Terra Kaffe. “We’re thrilled that even icons like Oprah are recognizing Terra Kaffe’s quality and craftsmanship,” said Peter Davis, President of Kase. “We’re proud to play a role in delivering the experience their customers expect.”

As Terra Kaffe enters the holiday shopping season, its fulfillment partnership with Kase will continue to support the brand. “We’re ready for this milestone, and all it entails, thanks in no small part to having the Kase team in our corner, ready to support us through this massive growth moment,” said Marques.

About Terra Kaffe

Terra Kaffe is a premium coffee equipment brand dedicated to bringing the café experience home. Through thoughtfully designed espresso machines and innovative coffee technology, Terra Kaffe makes it easier for consumers to enjoy high-quality, personalized coffee at home. Learn more at https://www.terrakaffe.com/.

About Kase

Kase is a national 3PL with over 60 years of logistics experience and a combined supply chain network spanning more than 14 million square feet. The company provides direct-to-consumer, retail, and omnichannel fulfillment, supported by proprietary technology for real-time order tracking, routing, inventory control, and parcel rate selection. Kase goes Beyond Fulfillment to help brands deliver on their promises. Learn more at https://kase.com/.

Media Contact
Mary Berko
Marketing Director
Kase
berkma@wsinc.com

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Weekly Gains Hold Up Despite a Friday Slide as Chips Lead and Yields Climb

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VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Stock Preachers News Commentary – Wall Street closed out a volatile week with every major index still higher versus last Friday, even after a broad Friday retreat. The Nasdaq Composite led decliners with a 1.24% drop on the session, while the S&P 500 fell 0.75% and the Dow slipped 0.14%. For the week, the S&P 500 gained 2.15%, the Nasdaq rose 1.92% and the Dow added 1.83%, as chip-driven strength carried the market even as Friday gave back some ground heading into the weekend. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), vVardis (NYSE: VVVV), NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), and Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC).

The S&P 500 closed at 7535.72, down 56.68 points on the day but up 158.86 points, or 2.15%, from last Friday’s 7376.86 close. The index touched a week high of 7652.76 and a week low of 7422.24, and sits up 10.08% year to date. Its RSI14 reading of 45.6 points to a market that cooled off from overbought conditions during the week.

The Nasdaq Composite fell 315.80 points, or 1.24%, on Friday to 25050.29, trimming its weekly gain to 1.92% from the November 6 close of 24579.43. The index ranged between 24762.57 and 25649.85 during the week and carries an RSI14 of 41.6, the weakest among major indices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 75.29 points to 52221.80, still up 1.83% on the week and 8.65% year to date, while the Russell 2000 eased 17.98 points to 2781.08, up 0.98% for the week.

The VIX rose 1.14 points to 19.84 on Friday, essentially flat on the week, while the VXN volatility gauge climbed 1.33 points to 29.88 but ended the week down 4.14 points. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 3 basis points on the day and 27 basis points on the week to 5.13%. Gold fell 5.56% for the week to $3,885.70 an ounce, silver dropped 6.66% to $49.06, and WTI crude added 1.92% to $88.52 a barrel.

The full report includes the complete levels ladder for each index, sector and company movers, and a look ahead to next week’s market drivers.

CONTINUED… Read this and more news for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), vVardis (NYSE: VVVV), NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), and Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) at: https://stockpreachers.com/articles/a-choppy-week-closes-out-with-the-gains-still-standing/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) Eli Lilly broke ground on a $3.5 billion manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, part of its $50 billion push to expand U.S. medicine production. The site will manufacture injectable obesity medicines, including the investigational triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide, and is expected to be operational by 2031.

The facility is projected to create 850 high-wage jobs and about 2,000 construction jobs, and is one of 10 new U.S. manufacturing sites Lilly has announced since 2020. David A. Ricks, Lilly Chair and CEO, said, “This $3.5 billion investment means we’ll be able to make these medicines in Pennsylvania for people here at home and around the world.”

Lilly said the site will use machine learning, AI and digital automation and is targeting LEED Gold certification. Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, said each production run goes through “more than 5,000 documented steps” with units inspected more than 70 times for defects. Read the release.

vVardis (NYSE: VVVV) vVardis priced 9.72 million shares at $18 apiece ahead of its listing on the NYSE under the ticker VVVV, part of the exchange’s daily pre-market update. The dental health firm says it provides the first commercially available peptide-containing formulation to treat early cavities without drilling.

Co-founders, Co-Chairs and Co-CEOs Dr. Haley Abivardi and Dr. Goly Abivardi were set to join NYSE Live to discuss the company’s decision to go public. The listing was featured alongside the NYSE’s opening bell coverage of the IPO. Read the release.

NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman announced a securities class action against NVIDIA covering investors who purchased shares between October 9, 2025 and November 8, 2026. The lead plaintiff deadline is January 8, 2027.

The complaint alleges Nvidia made false or misleading statements related to its relationship with Megaspeed, a company suspected of helping China evade export controls, and that these circumstances raised national security concerns with potential reputational and business risk.

Peretz Bronstein, Founding Partner of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, said, “Our practice centers on restoring investor capital and ensuring corporate accountability, which serves to uphold the essential integrity of the marketplace.” Read the release.

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into Caterpillar following its October 29, 2026 third-quarter results, which disclosed inventories of $22.2 billion, a 22% year-over-year increase, and $460 million in added manufacturing costs from freight, materials and tariffs.

The firm noted that operating profits included $128 million of tariff recoveries, which it said may not be sustained going forward. On the news, Caterpillar shares fell $65.99, or 9.25%, to close at $647.39 on October 29, 2026. Read the release.

Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC) Rosen Law Firm reminded purchasers of Bank of America common stock between August 1, 2025 and October 13, 2026 of the December 15, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline in a securities fraud class action.

The lawsuit alleges systemic weaknesses in subsidiary Bank of America, N.A.’s BSA/AML program caused it to fail to properly monitor trillions of dollars in transactions and to miss or file inaccurate suspicious activity reports, and that deficiencies persisted after a 2024 Consent Order.

The complaint further claims BANA had deficiencies in its sanctions compliance program and processed transactions later identified as apparent violations of multiple sanctions programs, exposing the company to compliance costs and penalties. Read the release.

——————————-
Track the trend with Eagle Eye Investor intelligence – a free tool used to track investor chatter in all the most prominent chat groups, and investor chats. Try it free today: https://Eagle-Eye.dev
——————————-

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DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this article should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a market commentary and is not a paid advertisement. This article is being distributed by Stock Preachers, which is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited (“MEL”), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. This is an independent market commentary published on a non-paid basis. MEL has not been paid any fee by any company mentioned in this article for its production or distribution, and MEL has no advertising or digital media agreement with any company mentioned in this article. The companies mentioned have not reviewed or approved this article. Market Equities and its owners, operators, directors, and affiliates may, from time to time, hold positions in securities mentioned in this article or in the broad-market index funds that track them, and reserve the right to buy, sell, or hold such securities at any time without further notice. Information in this article was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, including company news releases and public market data, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market data is as of the time stated and may be delayed. Portions of this commentary were produced with the assistance of automated tools from that data and reviewed against it. Investing in securities involves risk, including the possible loss of some or all of your investment. Technical analysis describes past price and volume behavior and does not predict future results; support and resistance levels can fail at any time. References to the companies named in this article are provided solely as market and sector context and as summaries of each company’s own public news releases. No partnership, affiliation, or endorsement is implied, and nothing in this article is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Quotations attributed to company executives are reproduced from those companies’ own news releases. Forward-Looking Statements: This article may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements made by the companies mentioned in their own news releases. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Readers should review each company’s filings with the SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Eagle Eye is an investor signal-intelligence platform affiliated with the publisher of this article. Eagle Eye is not a broker-dealer, and nothing it provides is investment advice. Data may be delayed. Always do your own research.

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