Gaotu (GOTU) Narrows Its Losses While A New Growth Question Emerges

Gaotu Techedu reported a narrowed net loss and increased revenue for the second quarter. The company's revenue climbed 20.2% year over year to RMB 1,670.1 million, while the net loss decreased to RMB 135.8 million from RMB 216.0 million a year earlier. Cash flow saw a significant increase, with operating cash inflow rising 46.3% to RMB 861.2 million.

Growth in Gaotu's non-academic tutoring segment has become more prominent, making up over 40% of total revenue, up from a previous figure not specified. This growth is contributing to over 45% of billings, with traditional learning services also experiencing a 17% increase in billings. The combined college and civil service preparation business grew by more than 40%.

The online one-on-one tutoring segment saw a more than 55% increase in billings from new enrollments, indicating that investments in talent pipeline since 2025 are starting to pay off. The improvement in margins is evident, with the gross margin increasing to 66.5% from 66.0%, the operating expense ratio falling by 7.9 percentage points, and R&D and G&A combined dropping 3.5 points as a share of revenue.

Nonetheless, the company still faces challenges, including rising selling expenses and higher costs of revenue due to increased headcount and server rental costs. The outlook for the third quarter remains cautious, with revenue growth expected to slow to 16.4% to 17.7%. Despite these challenges, Gaotu's turnaround appears genuine, with losses narrowing, cash flow increasing, and growth now diversifying across multiple business lines.