Sea's US-listed shares experienced a notable increase during intraday trading on Tuesday, following the company's impressive fourth-quarter revenue report that exceeded expectations. The digital entertainment and e-commerce firm reported a remarkable 37% year-over-year revenue surge, reaching $4.95 billion, which surpassed the consensus estimate on FactSet of $4.65 billion.
This significant growth is indicative of Sea's robust positioning within the digital economy. For the December quarter, Sea recorded a remarkable turnaround, achieving per-share earnings of $0.39, compared to a loss of $0.19 per share a year prior. This turnaround in profitability is a clear signal of the company's favorable operational momentum.
During Tuesday’s trading session, Sea's shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange rose by 6.9%, reflecting investor optimism and confidence in the company's growth trajectory. A breakdown of Sea's financial performance reveals impressive growth across its segments. The digital financial services division reported a remarkable 55% revenue increase, while Shopee, the company’s e-commerce platform, experienced a 41% advancement.
Moreover, revenue from digital entertainment arm Garena grew modestly by 1.6%, showcasing the diversity and resilience of Sea's business portfolio. Notably, within the digital financial services sector, Sea's loan book exceeded an impressive $5 billion by the end of 2024, attributed to a substantial fourth-quarter surge of over 60% year-over-year.
According to Chief Executive Forrest Li, this places Sea among the largest consumer lending businesses in Southeast Asia, highlighting its strategic expansion into financial services. Full-year sales for the company grew by 29%, further solidifying its market position. Li stated, "We remain confident about our ability to continue delivering profitable growth in 2025 and expect Shopee's full-year 2025 gross merchandise value growth to be around 20%, with improving profitability." He also expressed expectations for Garena to achieve double-digit growth year-over-year in both user base and bookings in 2025, marking a promising outlook for the firm as it navigates the competitive digital landscape. Sea's current stock price stands at $130.50, with a notable change of +7.01, reflecting a percent change of +5.68.
This upward movement in price action underscores the company's positive market sentiment as investors react to the strong financial performance and growth forecasts..