BEIJING, June 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop Inc. ("Waterdrop", the "Company" or "we") (NYSE:WDH), a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Financial and Operational Highlights for the First Quarter of 2024 Consecutive profitability and positive operating cash flow: In the first quarter of 2024, net profit attributable to our ordinary shareholders reached RMB80.6 million, representing a quarter-over-quarter growth of 36.5%. As of March 31, 2024, our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balance amounted to RMB3,484.4 million (US$482.6 million). We continued to generate positive operating cash flow during the first quarter of 2024. Robust business performance: For the first quarter of 2024, the first-year premiums ("FYP") generated through our insurance business amounted to RMB1,754.5 million (US$243.0 million), representing an increase of 3.7% year over year. Net operating revenue was RMB704.7 million (US$97.6 million), representing an increase of 16.3% year over year. Improving FYP share from life insurance products: The contribution of FYP generated from long-term insurance products to overall FYP has further increased. In addition, in the first quarter of 2024, the FYP generated from life insurance products increased 9.9 percentage points to 56.4% of overall long-term insurance products from 46.5% for the same period of 2023. Broadening crowdfunding coverage: As of March 31, 2024, around 456 million people cumulatively had donated an aggregate of approximately RMB63.8 billion to over 3.17 million patients through Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding. Digital clinical trial services in good progress: As of March 31, 2024, the Company had cumulatively enrolled nearly 7,800 patients into over 960 clinical trial programs through E-Find Platform. Mr. Peng Shen, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Waterdrop, commented, "We are thrilled to kick off 2024 with solid first quarter financial results. The quarterly net profit attributable to our ordinary shareholders reached RMB80.6 million, representing a quarter-over-quarter growth of 36.5%. We are also pleased to have maintained profitability for nine consecutive quarters. Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace has continually improved online traffic conversion capabilities and efficiency. We have been leveraging various content distribution platforms and optimizing our product offerings accordingly. Our capability in tailoring various products to meet user needs continues to improve. Targeting a market segment, we have successfully upgraded one of our star products "Jiehaoyun" to version 2.0, which gained top recognition on various platforms. The FYP generated through our insurance business increased by 15.0% sequentially. Meanwhile, we have effectively sustained the policy renewal rate at above 95%. Regarding Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, we ensured stringent oversight over the transparency of fundraising activities on our platform and strengthened our risk management measures. For instance, before manual verification, we integrated algorithm recognition to identify false or fake medical documents and mitigate related risks effectively. In this quarter, our healthcare-related business continued its momentum, bringing the number of collaborating pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (collectively, "CROs") to 179. In addition, we enrolled over 800 patients and started providing services to 88 new programs in the first quarter of 2024. We accelerated the implementation of our digital capabilities in clinical trial solution and multichannel marketing to serve a broader client base. Looking ahead, we are committed to patiently building core technology competitiveness for the Company, supporting the long-term strategic execution to maintain stable profitability. Guided by our mission and values, we will continuously explore more customized, cost-effective products and services, while expanding our business boundaries." Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2024 Operating revenue, net Net operating revenue for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 16.3% year over year to RMB704.7 million (US$97.6 million) from RMB606.2 million for the same period of 2023. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, net operating revenue increased by 6.9%. We started to consolidate the financial results of Shenzhen Cunzhen Qiushi Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively, "Cunzhen Qiushi", also known as "Shenlanbao") in the third quarter of 2023. Net operating revenue generated by Shenlanbao for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB59.7 million (US$8.3 million). Insurance-related income includes insurance brokerage income and technical service income. Insurance brokerage income represents brokerage commissions earned from insurance companies. Technical service income is derived from providing technical services including customer relationship maintenance, customer complaint management, claim review, and user referral services, among other things, to insurance companies, insurance brokers, and agency companies. Our insurance-related income amounted to RMB606.8 million (US$84.0 million) in the first quarter of 2024, representing an increase of 13.1% year over year from RMB536.3 million for the first quarter of 2023, which was mainly due to the increase in insurance brokerage income. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, insurance-related income increased by 3.2%. Crowdfunding service fees represent the service income earned when patients successfully withdraw the proceeds from their crowdfunding campaigns. Our role is to operate the Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding platform to provide crowdfunding related services through the internet, enabling patients with significant medical bills to seek help from caring hearts through technology (the "medical crowdfunding services"). Our medical crowdfunding services generally consist of providing technical and internet support, managing, reviewing and supervising the crowdfunding campaigns, providing comprehensive risk management and anti-fraud measures, and facilitating the collection and transfer of the funds. For the first quarter of 2024, we generated RMB67.4 million (US$9.3 million) in service fees, representing an increase of 60.3% year over year from RMB42.0 million for the first quarter of 2023. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, crowdfunding service fees increased by 68.3%. We are expanding the healthcare-related services, including digital clinical trial solution and digital multichannel marketing solution. Digital clinical trial solution income represents the service income earned from our customers mainly including biopharmaceutical companies and leading biotechnology companies. We match qualified and suitable patients for enrollment in clinical trials for our customers and generate digital clinical trial solution revenue for successful matches and we typically charge our customers a fixed unit price per successful match. Digital multichannel marketing solution income is derived from life science and healthcare companies. Focusing on the needs of our customers, we provide comprehensive digital marketing solutions around the whole life cycle of products through integrated services such as patient screening, medication management, doctor-patient services, innovative payment methods, and channel marketing. For the first quarter of 2024, our healthcare-related income amounted to RMB25.3 million (US$3.5 million), representing an increase of 7.3% from RMB23.6 million in the same period of 2023. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, healthcare-related income decreased by 8.3%. Operating costs and expenses Operating costs and expenses increased by 10.5% year over year to RMB658.3 million (US$91.2 million) for the first quarter of 2024. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, operating costs and expenses increased by 4.0%. Operating costs and expenses from Shenlanbao was RMB63.1 million (US$8.7 million). Operating costs increased by 33.6% year over year to RMB331.2 million (US$45.9 million) for the first quarter of 2024, as compared with RMB248.0 million for the first quarter of 2023, which was primarily driven by (i) an increase of RMB13.8 million in personnel costs mainly due to the consolidation of the financial results of Shenlanbao which incurred personnel costs of RMB17.2 million, and (ii) an increase of RMB66.0 million in costs of referral and service fees. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, operating costs increased by 9.6% from RMB302.1 million, primarily due to an increase of RMB29.7 million in costs of referral and service fees.  Sales and marketing expenses increased by 5.0% year over year to RMB182.1 million (US$25.2 million) for the first quarter of 2024, as compared with RMB173.4 million for the same quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to (i) the consolidation of the financial results of Shenlanbao which incurred sales and marketing expenses of RMB34.2 million, (ii) an increase of RMB6.4 million in outsourced sales and marketing service fees to third parties, (iii) an increase of RMB4.1 million in marketing expenses to third-party traffic channels, partially offset by (iv) a decrease of RMB37.0 million in personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, sales and marketing expenses increased by 4.2% from RMB174.8 million, primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB18.3 million in marketing expenses to third-party traffic channels, (ii) an increase of RMB5.8 million in outsourced sales and marketing service fees to third parties, partially offset by (iii) a decrease of RMB17.3 million in sales and marketing personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by 7.1% year over year to RMB89.0 million (US$12.3 million) for the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB95.8 million for the same quarter of 2023. The year-over-year variance was due to (i) a decrease of RMB12.7 million in personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses, and partially offset by (ii) an increase of RMB8.6 million allowance for doubtful accounts. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, general and administrative expenses decreased by 7.3% from RMB96.0 million, due to (i) a decrease of RMB13.5 million allowance for doubtful accounts, partially offset by (ii) an increase of RMB4.4 million in professional service fees, and (iii) an increase of RMB3.1 million in personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses. Research and development expenses decreased by 28.8% year over year to RMB56.0 million (US$7.8 million) for the first quarter of 2024, compared with RMB78.7 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease of RMB26.3 million in personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses, partially offset by the consolidation of the financial results of Shenlanbao. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, research and development expenses decreased by 6.4% from RMB59.8 million, which was mainly due to a decrease of RMB3.9 million in research and development personnel costs and share-based compensation expenses. Operating profit for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB46.4 million (US$6.4 million), as compared with RMB10.3 million for the first quarter of 2023 and RMB26.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Interest income for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB39.8 million (US$5.5 million), as compared with RMB30.9 million for the first quarter of 2023 and RMB34.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily due to the increase in our short-term and long-term investments and interest rate. Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB8.6 million (US$1.2 million), as compared with an income tax benefit of RMB2.6 million for the first quarter of 2023 and an income tax expense of RMB15.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net profit attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB80.6 million (US$11.2 million), as compared with RMB49.7 million for the same period of 2023, and RMB59.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Adjusted net profit attributable to the Company's ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2024 was RMB98.4 million (US$13.6 million), as compared with RMB96.4 million for the same period of 2023, and RMB74.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.  Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments As of March 31, 2024, the Company had combined cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB3,484.4 million (US$482.6 million), as compared with RMB3,393.4 million as of December 31, 2023. Share Repurchase Programs Pursuant to the share repurchase programs launched in September 2021, September 2022 and September 2023, respectively, we had cumulatively repurchased approximately 45.5 million ADSs from the open market with cash for a total consideration of approximately US$95.9 million as of May 31, 2024. Supplemental Information Starting from the second quarter of 2023, our chief operating decision maker starts to manage the business by three operating segments and assess the performance and allocate resources under the new operating segment structure. Therefore, we organize and report our business in three operating segments: Insurance, which mainly includes Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace, Shenlanbao Insurance Marketplace and technical support service; Crowdfunding, which mainly includes Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding; and Others, which mainly include Digital Clinical Trial Solution and other new initiatives. As a result, we have updated our segments reporting information to reflect the new operating and reporting structure. Comparative figures were retrospectively adjusted to conform to this presentation. For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 December 31, 2023 March 31, 2024 RMB RMB RMB USD (All amounts in thousands) Operating revenue, net Insurance* 536,343 587,866 606,777 84,038 Crowdfunding 42,022 40,013 67,350 9,328 Others 27,800 31,485 30,573 4,234 Total consolidated operating     revenue, net 606,165 659,364 704,700 97,600 Operating profit/(loss) Insurance* 154,955 128,223 129,163 17,889 Crowdfunding (61,134) (51,718) (32,237) (4,465) Others (36,567) (27,078) (31,432) (4,354) Total segment operating     profit 57,254 49,427 65,494 9,070 Unallocated item** (46,926) (22,788) (19,130) (2,649) Total consolidated operating     profit 10,328 26,639 46,364 6,421 Total other income 36,771 44,463 42,781 5,926 Profit before income tax 47,099 71,102 89,145 12,347 Income tax benefit/(expense) 2,626 (15,164) (8,588)