LAIX Inc shares once soared 40% in pre-market trading

LAIX Inc shares once soared 40% in pre-market trading,after announcing First Quarter 2021 Unaudited Financial Results.

First Quarter 2021 Financial and Operating Highlights

• Net income for the first quarter of 2021 wasRMB12.2 million (US$1.9 million), compared with a net loss ofRMB34.7 million for the previous quarter and a net loss ofRMB197.0 million for the same quarter last year.
• Gross margin for the first quarter of 2021 was 77.6%, compared with 75.4% for the previous quarter and 65.5% for the same quarter last year.
• Gross billings[1] for the first quarter of 2021 wereRMB154.4 million (US$23.6 million), a 9.8% decrease fromRMB171.1 million for the previous quarter and a 56.2% decrease fromRMB352.7 million for the same quarter last year.
• Net revenues for the first quarter of 2021 wereRMB198.5 million (US$30.3 million), a 15.7% decrease fromRMB235.5 million for the previous quarter and a 13.0% decrease fromRMB228.3 million for the same quarter last year.
• Sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2021 wereRMB92.9 million (US$14.2 million), a 38.2% decrease fromRMB150.4 million for the previous quarter and a 64.9% decrease fromRMB264.7 million for the same quarter last year.
• Operating cash outflow for the first quarter of 2021 wasRMB57.3 million (US$8.7 million), compared withRMB83.3 million for the previous quarter andRMB99.8 million for the same quarter last year.
• Approximately 0.3 million paying users purchased the Company's courses and services for the first quarter of 2021, compared with approximately 0.4 million paying users for the previous quarter and approximately 0.9 million paying users for the same quarter last year, primarily attributable to the Company's stringent cost control in user acquisition expenditures.