Zhihu Reports First Full-Year Non-GAAP Profitability in 2025 Financial Results
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
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Should l Buy ZH?
Source: Newsfilter
- Revenue Decline: Total revenue for fiscal year 2025 was RMB 2.749 billion (approximately $393.1 million), a 23.5% decrease from RMB 3.598 billion in 2024, indicating challenges faced by the company amid intensified market competition and service optimization.
- Gross Margin Drop: The gross margin for Q4 was 53.6%, down from 62.9% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to ongoing investments in content expansion, although overall gross profit remains at a healthy level.
- Increased Net Loss: The net loss for fiscal year 2025 was RMB 195.2 million (approximately $27.9 million), an increase from a loss of RMB 169.0 million in 2024, reflecting financial pressures that the company needs to overcome during its transformation.
- Membership Revenue Decrease: Paid membership revenue was RMB 1.539 billion (approximately $220.1 million), down 7.0% from RMB 1.762 billion in 2024, highlighting the impact of slowed user growth and changing market conditions on revenue.
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Analyst Views on ZH
About ZH
Zhihu Inc is a company principally engaged in the operation of the online content community and providing paid membership services, marketing services and vocational training. The Company’s paid membership services mainly provide subscription members’ access right to premium content, such as audio books and radio plays. The Company’s marketing services include advertising services and content-commerce solution services. The Company’s vocational training includes practical training courses focusing on acquisition of specific skills, professional qualification exam preparation courses, vocational language exam preparation courses, and other vocational training courses. The Company mainly conducts its business in the domestic market.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Revenue Decline: Total revenue for fiscal year 2025 was RMB 2.749 billion (approximately $393.1 million), a 23.5% decrease from RMB 3.598 billion in 2024, indicating challenges faced by the company amid intensified market competition and service optimization.
- Gross Margin Drop: The gross margin for Q4 was 53.6%, down from 62.9% in the same period of 2024, primarily due to ongoing investments in content expansion, although overall gross profit remains at a healthy level.
- Increased Net Loss: The net loss for fiscal year 2025 was RMB 195.2 million (approximately $27.9 million), an increase from a loss of RMB 169.0 million in 2024, reflecting financial pressures that the company needs to overcome during its transformation.
- Membership Revenue Decrease: Paid membership revenue was RMB 1.539 billion (approximately $220.1 million), down 7.0% from RMB 1.762 billion in 2024, highlighting the impact of slowed user growth and changing market conditions on revenue.
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- Poor Financial Performance: Zhihu ADR reported a GAAP EPS of -$0.38 for Q4, indicating significant challenges in profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Decline: The company's revenue for Q4 was $92 million, a 25.1% year-over-year decrease, reflecting sluggish user growth and intensified market competition, which may lead to continued revenue pressure in the future.
- Subscriber Metrics: As of Q4 2025, Zhihu had an average of 12.2 million monthly subscribing members, and while the user base remains substantial, the slowdown in growth could impact long-term user retention and revenue growth.
- Cash Flow Position: As of December 31, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents, term deposits, and short-term investments totaling RMB 4.4512 billion (approximately $636.5 million), down from RMB 4.859 billion in 2024, indicating potential liquidity risks ahead.
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- Earnings Report Schedule: Zhihu Inc. will announce its unaudited financial results for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, before the U.S. market opens on March 25, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Timing: Management will host a conference call at 7:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on March 25, 2026 (7:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time), aiming to enhance interaction and information sharing with investors regarding the financial results.
- Participation Requirements: All participants wishing to join the conference call must pre-register online, after which they will receive dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN, ensuring smooth participation and convenience for attendees.
- Webcast Availability: A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the company's investor relations website, further enhancing accessibility to information and transparency, helping investors better understand the company's financial status.
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- Earnings Report Schedule: Zhihu will release its unaudited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, before the U.S. market opens on March 25, 2026, which is expected to provide investors with critical financial data and operational performance insights.
- Conference Call Timing: The company's management will host a conference call at 7:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on March 25, 2026 (7:00 P.M. Beijing/Hong Kong Time), aimed at enhancing communication and transparency with investors regarding the financial results.
- Participant Registration Requirement: All participants wishing to join the conference call must pre-register online, and upon completion, they will receive dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN, ensuring a smooth conference experience.
- Webcast Availability: The conference call will be available via live and archived webcast on the company's investor relations website, allowing investors who cannot attend in real-time to access the information later, thereby improving information accessibility.
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- Revenue Outlook Boost: Day One Biopharmaceuticals Inc reported preliminary 2025 OJEMDA net product revenue of $155.4 million, up 172% year-over-year, indicating robust growth potential in the biopharmaceutical sector that may attract more investor interest.
- Market Dynamics: Amid a broader decline in U.S. stocks, Wheels Up Experience Inc saw its shares jump 30.2% to $0.89, suggesting a market reassessment of its business model, potentially providing support for future financing and expansion.
- Increased Demand for Safe Assets: Growing concerns about Federal Reserve independence have led investors to shift towards safe-haven assets like gold, driving up precious metals stocks, which reflects market sensitivity to economic uncertainties and a preference for secure investments.
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- ETF Underperformance: The ActivePassive International Equity ETF fell approximately 3.2% in Tuesday afternoon trading, indicating signs of overall market weakness that could impact investor confidence.
- Individual Stock Performance: Shares of X Financial dropped about 4.4%, while Zhihu shares fell around 4%, with the poor performance of these stocks directly dragging down the ETF, reflecting market concerns about these companies.
- Market Reaction: The overall decline in the ETF may prompt investors to reassess their portfolios, particularly in the international equity space, potentially leading to capital outflows.
- Industry Impact: This downward trend may trigger a broader examination of related sectors, especially in the current economic climate, where investor confidence in tech and financial stocks may be adversely affected.
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