Sea Ltd., Southeast Asia’s prominent internet firm, faces sluggish growth in its e-commerce division due to economic uncertainties, causing a pre-market stock drop of 13%. In a strategic pivot, the company prioritizes profitability while navigating a challenging market characterized by hesitancy in consumer spending and declining technology valuations.
16 August 2023 – Sea Ltd., Southeast Asia’s largest internet firm, witnessed a disappointing revenue performance as its e-commerce division experienced its slowest growth on record. This downturn in growth, partly attributed to economic turbulence and diminished consumer sentiment, led to a 13% pre-market drop in the company’s stock. While focusing on profitability over aggressive expansion, Sea is navigating through a period of economic uncertainty, where consumers are exhibiting hesitancy in spending.
During the second quarter, Sea’s revenue expanded by a modest 5.2%, reflecting both subdued demand and the consequences of reducing promotional expenditures in the e-commerce sector. However, the company’s net income of $321.6 million, calculated based on first-half figures, exceeded estimates, as reported by Bloomberg.
To counter years of losses, Sea embarked on a comprehensive cost-cutting initiative last year, opting to prioritize the bottom-line over unfettered growth. This strategic shift followed the deceleration of revenue growth from the triple-digit percentage rates experienced merely two years prior. The company initiated measures such as salary freezes and substantial reductions in sales and marketing expenses, resulting in positive cash flows.
As the largest internet company in Southeast Asia, Sea grappled with market volatility, shedding about $160 billion in market value from its peak in October 2021, mirroring the broader market sentiment against loss-generating technology firms.
Second-quarter sales amounted to $3.1 billion, slightly below the $3.2 billion average estimate by analysts. Revenue growth at Shopee, Sea’s e-commerce arm, slowed to a record low of 21%. In contrast, the gaming division Garena faced a 41% decline in sales, while the digital financial services unit, SeaMoney, observed a 53% increase in revenue.
In response to economic challenges and declining valuations of technology companies, Sea, along with regional counterparts Grab Holdings Ltd. and GoTo Group, continues to confront obstacles arising from a climate of diminishing economic growth and rising costs. Longer-term, Sea’s presence in Latin America may contribute to a resurgence in growth, with analysts noting the potential for e-commerce expansion in the region to reignite growth after a deliberate slowdown to achieve breakeven. – reference: Bloomberg
