Press Release: KANZHUN LIMITED Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Dow Jones
May 20

BEIJING, May 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KANZHUN LIMITED ("BOSS Zhipin" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: BZ; HKEX: 2076), a leading online recruitment platform in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

First quarter 2026 Highlights

   -- Total paid enterprise customers1 in the twelve months ended March 31, 
      2026 were 7.1 million, an increase of 10.9% from 6.4 million in the 
      twelve months ended March 31, 2025. 
 
   -- Average monthly active users2 for the first quarter of 2026 were 60.9 
      million, an increase of 5.7% from 57.6 million for the same quarter of 
      2025. 
 
   -- Revenues for the first quarter of 2026 were RMB2,068.8 million (US$299.9 
      million), an increase of 7.6% from RMB1,923.3 million for the same 
      quarter of 2025. 
 
   -- Income from operations for the first quarter of 2026 was RMB623.6 million 
      (US$90.4 million), an increase of 41.8% from RMB439.8 million for the 
      same quarter of 2025. Adjusted3 income from operations for the first 
      quarter of 2026 was RMB814.6 million (US$118.1 million), an increase of 
      17.8% from RMB691.5 million for the same quarter of 2025. 
 
   -- Net income for the first quarter of 2026 was RMB1,125.8 million (US$163.2 
      million), an increase of 119.8% from RMB512.1 million for the same 
      quarter of 2025. Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2026 was 
      RMB856.2 million (US$124.1 million), an increase of 12.1% from RMB763.9 
      million for the same quarter of 2025. 

Mr. Jonathan Peng Zhao, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, remarked, "We are delighted to report solid results for the first quarter of 2026. Benefiting from continued improvement in recruitment demand during the peak spring recruitment season, as well as sustained user growth driven by deeper market penetration, we saw business momentum accelerate following the Chinese New Year holiday. In March, our monthly active users exceeded 72 million, further reinforcing our industry leadership position.

We remain firmly committed to our AI-driven growth strategy and continue to invest decisively in technological innovation. Recently, our open-sourced Nanbeige 4.1-3B model was ranked jointly No. 1 among sub-4B parameter models by a globally recognized AI evaluation organization, Artificial Analysis, maintaining world-leading performance among model of comparable size. At the same time, we are actively accelerating the application of AI across our service capabilities and user experience. On the job seeker side, our AI assistant continues to expand both the depth and breadth of its service offering. On the enterprise user side, we have made meaningful progress in leveraging AI to support closed-loop service, while our performance-based monetization model continues to unlock growing commercial value."

Ms. Wenbei Wang, Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Company, elaborated, "We continued to deliver high-quality sets of financials during the quarter. The structural drivers supporting our revenue growth, including continued user expansion and improving monetization, remained solid and effective. Over the past twelve months, our total paid enterprise customers reached 7.1 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 10.9%. At the same time, supported by strong operating leverage and disciplined execution, our profit margin reached a record high for the same quarter in the Company's history.

In terms of shareholder returns, year-to-date in 2026, we have repurchased more than 28 million ordinary shares for an aggregate consideration of approximately RMB1.4 billion, representing approximately 3% of our total issued and outstanding shares. This reflects our confidence in the long-term value of our business and our continued commitment to enhancing shareholder returns."

(_____________________________)

(1 Paid enterprise customers are defined as enterprise users and company accounts from which the Company recognizes revenues for online recruitment services.) (2 Monthly active users refer to the number of verified user accounts, including both job seekers and enterprise users, that logged on to the Company's mobile application in a given month at least once.) (3 It is a non-GAAP financial measure. For more information about non-GAAP financial measures, please see the sections entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results.")

First quarter 2026 Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were RMB2,068.8 million (US$299.9 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 7.6% from RMB1,923.3 million for the same quarter of 2025.

   -- Revenues from online recruitment services to enterprise customers were 
      RMB2,057.8 million (US$298.3 million) for the first quarter of 2026, 
      representing an increase of 8.2% from RMB1,901.4 million for the same 
      quarter of 2025. This increase was mainly driven by the paid enterprise 
      customer growth. 
 
   -- Revenues from other services, primarily comprising paid value-added 
      services offered to job seekers, were RMB11.0 million (US$1.6 million) 
      for the first quarter of 2026, decreasing from RMB21.9 million for the 
      same quarter of 2025. The decrease was mainly driven by the optimization 
      of certain value-added features for job seekers since the third quarter 
      of 2025. The Company simplified these offerings to enhance the value 
      proposition for job seekers, prioritizing platform engagement and 
      long-term ecosystem growth. 

Operating cost and expenses

Total operating cost and expenses were RMB1,446.3 million (US$209.7 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing a decrease of 3.0% from RMB1,491.1 million for the same quarter of 2025. Total share-based compensation expenses were RMB191.0 million (US$27.7 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing a decrease of 24.1% from RMB251.8 million for the same quarter of 2025.

   -- Cost of revenues was RMB298.2 million (US$43.2 million) for the first 
      quarter of 2026, representing a decrease of 4.1% from RMB310.8 million 
      for the same quarter of 2025, primarily due to a decrease in 
      employee-related expenses attributable to enhanced operating efficiency, 
      partially offset by an increase in server and bandwidth cost. 
 
   -- Sales and marketing expenses were RMB502.2 million (US$72.8 million) for 
      the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 2.2% from RMB491.2 
      million for the same quarter of 2025, primarily due to an increase in 
      advertising and marketing expenses, partially offset by a decrease in 
      sales employee-related expenses, reflecting improved selling efficiency. 
 
   -- Research and development expenses were RMB423.8 million (US$61.4 million) 
      for the first quarter of 2026, remaining relatively flat compared with 
      RMB423.6 million for the same quarter of 2025. The decrease in 
      share-based compensation expenses was offset by increases in cloud 
      service fees and server depreciation expenses. 
 
   -- General and administrative expenses were RMB222.0 million (US$32.2 
      million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing a decrease of 16.4% 
      from RMB265.5 million for the same quarter of 2025, primarily due to a 
      decrease in share-based compensation expenses. 

Income from operations and adjusted income from operations

Income from operations was RMB623.6 million (US$90.4 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 41.8% from RMB439.8 million for the same quarter of 2025.

Adjusted income from operations was RMB814.6 million (US$118.1 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 17.8% from RMB691.5 million for the same quarter of 2025.

Interest and investment income, net

Interest and investment income was RMB780.9 million (US$113.2 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 422.3% from RMB149.5 million for the same quarter of 2025. This increase was primarily attributable to investment income of RMB614.1 million arising from fair value changes of investments in an investee company, which completed its initial public offering in January 2026.

Income tax expenses

Income tax expenses were RMB298.9 million (US$43.3 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 293.3% from RMB76.0 million for the same quarter of 2025. This increase was primarily driven by the tax effect of RMB153.5 million associated with the aforementioned investment income, the provision of a top-up tax of RMB15.6 million under the Pillar Two rules and withholding tax of RMB7.6 million, as well as an increase in income from operations.

Net income and adjusted net income

Net income was RMB1,125.8 million (US$163.2 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 119.8% from RMB512.1 million for the same quarter of 2025.

Adjusted net income was RMB856.2 million (US$124.1 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 12.1% from RMB763.9 million for the same quarter of 2025.

Net income per American depositary share ("ADS") and adjusted net income per ADS

Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2026 were RMB2.49 (US$0.36) and RMB2.44 (US$0.35), respectively, compared to basic and diluted net income per ADS of RMB1.19 and RMB1.16 for the same quarter of 2025.

Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first quarter of 2026 were RMB1.91 (US$0.28) and RMB1.87 (US$0.27), respectively, compared to adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS of RMB1.77 and RMB1.72 for the same quarter of 2025.

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB1,190.1 million (US$172.5 million) for the first quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 18.6% from RMB1,003.1 million for the same quarter of 2025.

Cash position

As of March 31, 2026, the balance of cash and cash equivalents, short-term time deposits and short-term investments (excluding investments in equity securities) was RMB19,826.5 million (US$2,874.2 million).

Shareholder Return

On March 18, 2026, the Company announced that, subject to the final determination of the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and the prevailing market conditions, the Company expects to allocate no less than 50% of the Company's adjusted net income (a non-GAAP financial measure) of the preceding fiscal year for distribution of dividend under the annual dividend policy and share repurchases for each of the next three years starting from 2026.

In addition, on March 18, 2026, the Board approved amendments to the existing share repurchase program, increasing the total authorization under the program to repurchase up to US$400 million of the Company's shares (including ADSs) over the extended term of the program through August 28, 2027.

Outlook

For the second quarter of 2026, the Company currently expects its total revenues to be between RMB2.38 billion and RMB2.42 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.2% to 15.1%. This forecast reflects the Company's current views on the market and operational conditions in China, which are subject to change and cannot be predicted with reasonable accuracy as of the date hereof.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (8:00 PM Beijing Time on Wednesday, May 20, 2026) to discuss the financial results.

Participants are required to pre-register for the conference call at:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI1ba2ae89d02b4310adb78e9432a4834b

Upon registration, participants will receive an email containing participant dial-in numbers and a unique personal PIN. This information will allow you to gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.zhipin.com.

Exchange Rate

This press release contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollar ("US$") amounts at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the exchange rate of RMB6.8980 to US$1.00 on March 31, 2026 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted income from operations, adjusted net income, adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders as supplemental measures to review and assess operating performance. The Company defines these non-GAAP financial measures by excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses and net gains from investments in an investee company from the related GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in the business and facilitate investors' assessment of the Company's operating performance.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP information used by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. The Company encourages investors and others to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures has been provided in the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements which are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook and quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About KANZHUN LIMITED

KANZHUN LIMITED operates the leading online recruitment platform BOSS Zhipin in China. The Company connects job seekers and enterprise users in an efficient and seamless manner through its highly interactive mobile app, a transformative product that promotes two-way communication, focuses on intelligent recommendations, and creates new scenarios in the online recruiting process. Benefiting from its large and diverse user base, BOSS Zhipin has developed powerful network effects to deliver higher recruitment efficiency and drive rapid expansion.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

KANZHUN LIMITED

Investor Relations

Email: ir@kanzhun.com

PIACENTE FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Email: kanzhun@tpg-ir.com

 
KANZHUN LIMITED 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share 
 data) 
 
                                    For the three months ended March 31, 
                                  2025                      2026 
                             ---------------  --------------------------------- 
                                   RMB              RMB              US$ 
Revenues 
      Online recruitment 
       services to 
       enterprise 
       customers                   1,901,382        2,057,787           298,316 
      Others                          21,895           11,005             1,595 
Total revenues                     1,923,277        2,068,792           299,911 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Operating cost and 
expenses 
      Cost of revenues(1)          (310,808)        (298,216)          (43,232) 
      Sales and marketing 
       expenses(1)                 (491,227)        (502,231)          (72,808) 
      Research and 
       development 
       expenses(1)                 (423,568)        (423,795)          (61,437) 
      General and 
       administrative 
       expenses(1)                 (265,511)        (222,013)          (32,185) 
Total operating cost and 
 expenses                        (1,491,114)      (1,446,255)         (209,662) 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
      Other operating 
       income, net                     7,622            1,093               158 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Income from operations               439,785          623,630            90,407 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
      Interest and 
       investment income, 
       net                           149,489          780,936           113,212 
      Foreign exchange 
       (loss)/gain                     (569)              779               113 
      Other 
       (expenses)/income, 
       net                             (617)           19,377             2,809 
Income before income tax 
 expenses                            588,088        1,424,722           206,541 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
      Income tax expenses           (75,994)        (298,946)          (43,338) 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Net income                           512,094        1,125,776           163,203 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
      Net loss 
       attributable to 
       non-controlling 
       interests                       6,040           30,917             4,482 
                             ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Net income attributable to 
 ordinary shareholders of 
 KANZHUN LIMITED                     518,134        1,156,693           167,685 
                             ===============  ===============  ================ 
Weighted average number of 
ordinary shares used in 
computing net income per 
share 
      --Basic                    870,991,355      927,657,967       927,657,967 
      --Diluted                  895,586,531      948,092,577       948,092,577 
Net income per ordinary 
share attributable to 
ordinary shareholders 
      --Basic                           0.59             1.25              0.18 
      --Diluted                         0.58             1.22              0.18 
Net income per ADS(2) 
attributable to ordinary 
shareholders 
      --Basic                           1.19             2.49              0.36 
      --Diluted                         1.16             2.44              0.35 
 
(1)                         Include share-based compensation expenses as 
                             follows: 
 
 
                                  For the three months ended March 31, 
                                ---------------------------------------- 
                                    2025                 2026 
                                ------------- 
                                     RMB            RMB          US$ 
Cost of revenues                        9,611          3,193         463 
Sales and marketing expenses           74,237         54,907       7,960 
Research and development 
 expenses                              88,533         73,140      10,603 
General and administrative 
 expenses                              79,382         59,738       8,660 
                                -------------  -------------  ---------- 
Total                                 251,763        190,978      27,686 
                                =============  =============  ========== 
 
(2)     Each ADS represents 
         two Class A ordinary 
         shares. 
 
 
KANZHUN LIMITED 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 
(All amounts in thousands) 
 
                                             As of 
                        December 31,                March 31, 
                             2025                      2026 
                       --------------- 
                             RMB              RMB              US$ 
 
 ASSETS 
Current assets 
      Cash and cash 
       equivalents           4,104,917        3,351,820           485,912 
      Short-term 
       time 
       deposits              6,390,158        5,953,561           863,085 
      Short-term 
       investments           9,450,244       11,192,402         1,622,558 
      Accounts 
       receivable, 
       net                      33,137           38,644             5,602 
      Inventories                2,395            2,328               337 
      Amounts due 
       from related 
       parties                   9,241            9,190             1,332 
      Prepayments 
       and other 
       current 
       assets                  365,205          439,837            63,763 
Total current assets        20,355,297       20,987,782         3,042,589 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Non-current assets 
      Long-term time 
       deposits                782,460           52,088             7,551 
      Long-term 
       investments           1,898,178        3,195,515           463,252 
      Property, 
       equipment and 
       software, 
       net                   1,245,022        1,143,606           165,788 
      Right-of-use 
       assets, net             161,452          132,830            19,256 
      Intangible 
       assets, net             100,909           96,259            13,955 
      Goodwill                   6,528            6,528               947 
      Deferred tax 
       assets                   18,168           18,708             2,712 
Total non-current 
 assets                      4,212,717        4,645,534           673,461 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Total assets                24,568,014       25,633,316         3,716,050 
                       ===============  ===============  ================ 
LIABILITIES AND 
SHAREHOLDERS' 
EQUITY 
Current liabilities 
      Accounts 
       payable                 119,966          136,192            19,744 
      Deferred 
       revenue(1)            3,235,959        3,560,602           516,179 
      Other payables 
       and accrued 
       liabilities             921,319        1,083,450           157,066 
      Operating 
       lease 
       liabilities, 
       current                  94,016           68,523             9,934 
Total current 
 liabilities                 4,371,260        4,848,767           702,923 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Non-current 
liabilities 
      Operating 
       lease 
       liabilities, 
       non-current              64,027           55,073             7,984 
      Deferred tax 
       liabilities              51,689          188,812            27,372 
Total non-current 
 liabilities                   115,716          243,885            35,356 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Total liabilities            4,486,976        5,092,652           738,279 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Total shareholders' 
 equity                     20,081,038       20,540,664         2,977,771 
                       ---------------  ---------------  ---------------- 
Total liabilities 
 and shareholders' 
 equity                     24,568,014       25,633,316         3,716,050 
                       ===============  ===============  ================ 
 
(1)                  Under the PRC value-added tax law effective January 
                      1, 2026, value-added tax related to deferred 
                      revenue is generally recognized earlier than 
                      previously required. As a result, deferred revenue 
                      as of March 31, 2026 decreased by RMB45.6 million 
                      from the balance under the prior tax regime. 
 
 
                            KANZHUN LIMITED 
          Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash 
                                  Flows 
                       (All amounts in thousands) 
 
                                  For the three months ended March 31, 
                                    2025                 2026 
                                ------------  -------------------------- 
                                    RMB            RMB           US$ 
Net cash provided by operating 
 activities                        1,003,109      1,190,103      172,529 
Net cash used in investing 
 activities                        (678,826)    (1,552,838)    (225,114) 
Net cash used in financing 
 activities                         (85,994)      (359,335)     (52,093) 
Effect of exchange rate 
 changes on cash and cash 
 equivalents                           (959)       (31,027)      (4,498) 
                                ------------  -------------  ----------- 
Net increase/(decrease) in 
 cash and cash equivalents           237,330      (753,097)    (109,176) 
                                ------------  -------------  ----------- 
Cash and cash equivalents at 
 beginning of the period           2,553,090      4,104,917      595,088 
                                ------------  -------------  ----------- 
Cash and cash equivalents at 
 end of the period                 2,790,420      3,351,820      485,912 
                                ============  =============  =========== 
 
 
 
 
 KANZHUN LIMITED 
 
 Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results 
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share 
 data) 
 
                    For the three months ended March 31, 
                         2025                      2026 
                    ---------------  --------------------------------- 
                          RMB              RMB              US$ 
Income from 
 operations                 439,785          623,630            90,407 
Add: Share-based 
 compensation 
 expenses                   251,763          190,978            27,686 
Adjusted income 
 from operations            691,548          814,608           118,093 
                    ===============  ===============  ================ 
 
Net income                  512,094        1,125,776           163,203 
Add: Share-based 
 compensation 
 expenses                   251,763          190,978            27,686 
Less: Net gains 
 from investments 
 in an investee 
 company(1)                       -        (460,567)          (66,768) 
Adjusted net 
 income                     763,857          856,187           124,121 
                    ===============  ===============  ================ 
 
Net income 
 attributable to 
 ordinary 
 shareholders of 
 KANZHUN LIMITED            518,134        1,156,693           167,685 
Add: Share-based 
 compensation 
 expenses                   251,763          190,978            27,686 
Less: Net gains 
 from investments 
 in an investee 
 company                          -        (460,567)          (66,768) 
Adjusted net 
 income 
 attributable to 
 ordinary 
 shareholders of 
 KANZHUN LIMITED            769,897          887,104           128,603 
                    ===============  ===============  ================ 
Weighted average 
number of 
ordinary shares 
used in computing 
adjusted net 
income per share 
(Non-GAAP) 
      --Basic           870,991,355      927,657,967       927,657,967 
      --Diluted         895,586,531      948,092,577       948,092,577 
Adjusted net 
income per 
ordinary share 
attributable to 
ordinary 
shareholders 
      --Basic                  0.88             0.96              0.14 
      --Diluted                0.86             0.94              0.14 
Adjusted net 
income per ADS 
attributable to 
ordinary 
shareholders 
      --Basic                  1.77             1.91              0.28 
      --Diluted                1.72             1.87              0.27 
 
(1)               Represents investment income of RMB614.1 million 
                   arising from fair value changes of investments in 
                   an investee company, less the related income tax 
                   effect of RMB153.5 million, for the three months 
                   ended March 31, 2026. 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 20, 2026 07:20 ET (11:20 GMT)

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