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87982025 Q1PrimeJGAAP

Advance Create Co.,Ltd. FY2025 Q1 Earnings Report

Advance Create Co.,Ltd. FY2025 Q1 earnings report and financial analysis

Financials (ex Banks)/Insurance


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MetricCurrent PeriodSame Period of Previous YearYoY
Revenue¥14.8B¥22.4B−34.0%
Operating Income−¥3.7B¥0.2B−1800.0%
Ordinary Income−¥4.4B--
Net Income−¥7.2B−¥1.9B−277.2%
ROE11.8%3.5%-

Executive Summary

The key point for the quarter was the company’s shift into an operating loss as declining revenue coincided with persistently high fixed costs. Revenue was ¥14.8B (¥22.4B in the same period of the previous year, YoY -34.0%), Operating Income was ¥-3.7B (¥0.2B in the previous year), Ordinary Income was ¥-4.4B (¥0.0B in the previous year), and Net Income was ¥-7.2B (¥-1.9B in the previous year, YoY -277.2%). The primary cause of the decline in revenue was the downturn in the core InsuranceAgent segment. Although the gross margin was maintained at 75.5%, profitability deteriorated significantly as SG&A expenses remained at a level exceeding revenue (SG&A ratio: 100.8%).

Factors Affecting Financial Performance

【Revenue】Revenue was ¥14.8B, representing a YoY decline of -34.0%. InsuranceAgent, which accounted for 58.0% of the revenue mix, experienced a substantial decline of -39.4%, weighing on overall performance. While Mediarepp also declined by -47.3%, ASPSegments secured a modest increase of +7.8%.

【Profit and Loss】Operating Income fell into the red at ¥-3.7B (¥0.2B in the previous year), and the Operating Margin deteriorated substantially to -25.3% (approximately 1.0% in the previous year). The primary cause was that SG&A cost reductions failed to keep pace with the decline in revenue, causing fixed-cost leverage to work in reverse. Below operating income, foreign exchange losses of ¥0.4B and interest expenses weighed on ordinary income, which came to ¥-4.4B. In addition, the company recorded extraordinary losses of ¥2.5B, including an impairment loss of ¥0.9B, causing Net Income to decline further to ¥-7.2B. This represents a decline in both revenue and profit.

Segment Analysis

The core InsuranceAgent segment (revenue of ¥10.3B, revenue mix of 58.0%) was the largest factor weighing on performance, reporting an operating loss of ¥-4.7B (YoY -345.8%). AdvertisingAgency turned profitable, reporting revenue of ¥2.9B (YoY -26.0%) and Operating Income of ¥0.6B (YoY +1,065.9%), supporting the company overall with a 20.4% margin. Reinsurance remained relatively solid, with revenue of ¥2.5B (YoY -12.9%), Operating Income of ¥0.3B (YoY -42.0%), and a 12.3% margin. Mediarepp remained in a difficult situation, with revenue of ¥1.4B (YoY -47.3%) and an operating loss of ¥-0.3B. ASPSegments maintained high profitability, with revenue of ¥0.7B (YoY +7.8%) and a 36.7% margin, indicating a significant disparity in profitability among segments.

Key Financial Indicators

【Profitability】The Operating Margin declined to -25.3% (approximately 1.0% in the previous year), while the Net Profit Margin fell to approximately -48.8%, indicating a significant deterioration in the earnings structure.【Cash Quality】Accounts receivable and notes receivable totaled ¥20.3B, approximately 1.4 times revenue of ¥14.8B, indicating a significant timing gap between revenue recognition and cash conversion.【Investment Efficiency】With total assets of ¥61.7B against revenue of ¥14.8B, asset efficiency remained low, with total asset turnover limited to 0.24x.【Financial Soundness】The Equity Ratio was -98.9%, while net assets were ¥-61.0B (¥-54.4B in the previous year), indicating an expansion of effective insolvency and the continued weakness of the financial foundation.

Cash Flow Analysis

Although the company has not disclosed a cash flow statement, an analysis of funding trends based on changes in the balance sheet indicates that cash and deposits declined to ¥4.8B, a substantial decrease from the previous year. Current assets of ¥50.8B compared with current liabilities of ¥59.0B resulted in negative working capital. Short-term borrowings stood out at ¥30.4B, while cash remained limited, indicating increased short-term funding pressure. Accounts receivable and notes receivable remained high at ¥20.3B, suggesting that the company’s cash-generation capacity through operating activities may be limited.

Quality of Earnings

Recurring earnings power has been significantly impaired by the ¥3.7B operating loss. Below operating income, foreign exchange losses of ¥0.4B, interest expenses of ¥0.1B, and commission expenses of ¥0.3B weighed on ordinary income, resulting in an ordinary loss of ¥-4.4B. The primary cause of the gap between the ordinary loss and the net loss was the recognition of extraordinary losses of ¥2.5B, including an impairment loss of ¥0.9B, with temporary factors significantly worsening final earnings. Non-operating income was limited to ¥0.1B, or less than 1% of revenue, providing little support to earnings at the ordinary income level. The expansion of accounts receivable and the tendency toward longer collection periods should be noted as factors delaying the conversion of reported earnings into cash.

Earnings Forecast and Guidance

Against the full-year revenue plan of ¥74.0B, Q1 actual revenue was ¥14.8B, representing progress of 20.0%, below the 25% benchmark for evenly distributed quarterly progress. Against the full-year Operating Income forecast of ¥0.5B, Q1 recorded a loss of ¥-3.7B, making substantial earnings improvement over the remaining three quarters a prerequisite. Against the full-year Net Income forecast of ¥-8.4B, the company recorded ¥-7.2B in Q1, representing progress of approximately 86%. The earnings forecast was revised during the quarter, and progress in reviewing the cost structure toward the second half of the fiscal year will be the focus of performance assessment.

Risk Factors

  1. Deterioration in the profitability of the core business: The InsuranceAgent segment recorded an operating loss of ¥-4.7B (YoY -345.8%), weakening company-wide earnings.

  2. Liquidity and financial soundness risk: Net assets remained negative at ¥-61.0B, indicating continued effective insolvency, while cash stood at only ¥4.8B against short-term borrowings of ¥30.4B. Current liabilities of ¥59.0B exceeded current assets of ¥50.8B, resulting in high short-term funding pressure.

  3. Risk of expansion in trade receivables: Accounts receivable and notes receivable of ¥20.3B reached approximately 1.4 times revenue, and longer collection cycles could potentially constrain cash-generation capacity.

Industry Benchmark (For Reference; Compiled by the Company)

Profitability and Return

MetricCompanyMedian (IQR)Delta
Operating Margin2.3%
Net Profit Margin−2.2%

The company’s profitability was in negative territory for both the Operating Margin and Net Profit Margin, representing an underperforming level even compared with the reference values.

Growth and Capital Efficiency

MetricCompanyMedian (IQR)Delta
Revenue Growth Rate (YoY)47.1%

There was a significant gap between the reference Revenue Growth Rate and the company’s actual performance (current-period YoY -34.0%), with the company experiencing a decline in revenue during the period, contrary to industry trends.

※Source: Compiled by the Company

Key Points from the Financial Results

  1. The deterioration in profitability at the core InsuranceAgent segment weighed on company-wide earnings, making the correction of the segment’s cost structure the focus for restoring profitability.

  2. Progress toward the full-year Net Income forecast had reached approximately 86% as of Q1, confirming from the financial results data that the gap from the initial plan has widened.

  3. Accounts receivable had expanded to approximately 1.4 times revenue, clearly demonstrating in the financial data the timing gap between revenue recognition and cash conversion.


This report is an earnings analysis document automatically generated by AI based on XBRL earnings release data. It does not constitute a recommendation to invest in any specific security. The industry benchmarks are reference information compiled by the Company based on publicly disclosed earnings data. Investment decisions should be made at your own discretion and responsibility, after consulting with professionals as necessary.

---End of Report---


AI Financial Analysis

Executive Summary

FY2025 Q1 results were severely weak, with a sharp revenue contraction, a return to a substantial operating loss, and further deterioration of already negative equity. Revenue declined 34.0% year on year to ¥1.479bn. Operating loss was ¥0.374bn, compared with operating income of ¥0.022bn in the prior-year quarter. The operating margin deteriorated by approximately 2,630bp, from 1.0% to -25.3%. Gross profit fell 35.9% to ¥1.116bn. Gross margin declined by approximately 220bp to 75.5%, indicating that the earnings decline was not solely a fixed-cost absorption issue. SG&A expense fell 13.2% to ¥1.491bn, but this reduction was far smaller than the revenue decline and left SG&A at 100.8% of revenue. Net loss widened to ¥0.721bn from a ¥0.191bn loss a year earlier. Net margin was -48.8%, versus -8.5% in the prior-year quarter. Ordinary loss reached ¥0.441bn, reflecting the operating loss and ¥0.079bn of non-operating expenses. Foreign-exchange losses of ¥0.036bn and interest expense of ¥0.013bn added to the burden below operating income. Extraordinary losses of ¥0.251bn, including a ¥0.089bn impairment loss, widened the pre-tax loss to ¥0.692bn. Total equity fell to negative ¥6.105bn from negative ¥5.439bn a year earlier, leaving the group in a capital-deficient position. Liquidity is strained, with current assets of ¥5.083bn below current liabilities of ¥5.896bn. Cash and deposits halved year on year to ¥0.485bn, while short-term loans increased to ¥3.037bn. The full-year forecast still assumes revenue of ¥7.400bn and operating income of ¥0.050bn, so recovery in the remaining quarters, particularly in the insurance agency business, is essential to achieve the plan.

Profitability Analysis

The reported annualized DuPont ROE of 47.2% is not economically meaningful as a measure of shareholder return because both net income and average equity are negative. The three-factor decomposition is net profit margin of -48.8%, annualized asset turnover of 0.959x, and financial leverage of -1.01x. The negative leverage factor mechanically converts the loss-making margin into a positive reported ROE; it should not be interpreted as strong profitability. The fundamental earnings issue is the collapse in net margin to -48.8%, from approximately -8.5% a year earlier. Gross margin compressed from 77.7% to 75.5%, or about 220bp, as gross profit fell faster than revenue. Operating margin deteriorated much more sharply, by roughly 2,630bp to -25.3%, because SG&A declined only 13.2% against a 34.0% revenue decline. This demonstrates substantial negative operating leverage and an insufficiently flexible cost base. The insurance agency business was the main drag, reporting a segment loss of ¥0.470bn versus a ¥0.105bn loss in the prior-year quarter. Its external revenue fell 37.9% to ¥0.818bn, with life-insurance revenue down to ¥0.816bn and non-life revenue declining to ¥0.002bn. The ASP business remained profitable, with segment profit rising 13.9% to ¥0.026bn on 7.8% revenue growth to ¥0.071bn. Media business profitability improved materially, posting segment profit of ¥0.059bn against a ¥0.006bn loss a year earlier, despite a 26.0% revenue decline to ¥0.289bn. Reinsurance also remained profitable, although segment profit declined 42.0% to ¥0.031bn as revenue fell 12.9% to ¥0.253bn. Media-rep revenue declined 72.0% to ¥0.049bn and shifted to a ¥0.032bn segment loss from a ¥0.057bn profit. The core business by operating-income contribution is the media business in this quarter, but group profitability remains overwhelmingly dependent on correcting the much larger insurance agency loss.

Growth Assessment

Revenue contraction was broad-based, although its severity differed materially across segments. Insurance agency revenue, which represented 55.3% of consolidated external revenue, declined 37.9% year on year and was the principal cause of the group-wide 34.0% decline. Media-rep revenue fell 72.0%, indicating a substantial reduction in activity or client spending in that business. Media revenue declined 26.0%, while reinsurance revenue declined 12.9%. ASP was the only reported segment to grow revenue, increasing 7.8%, and its profit growth suggests comparatively resilient unit economics. The recovery case depends on stabilizing insurance agency sales and restoring contribution margins sufficiently to cover the fixed SG&A base. The full-year revenue forecast of ¥7.400bn implies Q1 progress of 20.0%, 5 percentage points below the standard 25% first-quarter run rate. The forecast calls for a 5.8% full-year revenue decline, materially less severe than the Q1 decline, implying a significant sequential improvement through the rest of the year. The full-year operating-income forecast of ¥0.050bn contrasts with the Q1 operating loss of ¥0.374bn, requiring a substantial profit reversal in subsequent quarters. The Q1 net loss of ¥0.721bn already equals 85.8% of the full-year forecast net loss of ¥0.840bn. The revised forecast therefore embeds a highly back-end-loaded earnings recovery and leaves little tolerance for additional revenue weakness, cost overruns, or impairment charges.

Financial Health

Financial health is critically constrained by negative equity, a working-capital deficit, and heavy reliance on short-term borrowings. Total equity was negative ¥6.105bn, worsening by ¥0.666bn year on year. Liabilities of ¥12.276bn were 199.0% of total assets, confirming that the balance sheet is capital deficient. The current ratio was 0.86x and the quick ratio was also 0.86x, both below 1.0x; this is an explicit liquidity warning because current liabilities exceed readily realizable current assets. Working capital was negative ¥0.813bn. Short-term loans of ¥3.037bn accounted for a large portion of current liabilities and increased from ¥2.718bn a year earlier. Cash and deposits covered only 0.16x of short-term loans, indicating limited internal liquidity available for refinancing needs. The reported 94.9% short-term debt ratio highlights a substantial maturity mismatch: debt servicing and refinancing requirements are concentrated in the near term while cash is limited. Interest-bearing debt was ¥3.201bn, and lease obligations plus bonds add further fixed financing commitments. The reported debt-to-equity ratio of -2.01x is not interpretable in the conventional sense because the denominator is negative; the relevant conclusion is that the company has no positive equity cushion. Interest coverage was -28.59x because EBIT was negative, meaning operating earnings do not cover interest expense. Receivables were ¥2.034bn, equal to 33.0% of total assets, while reported DSO of 126 days indicates slow collection relative to the revenue base. Income taxes receivable of ¥1.281bn are also a significant current-asset component and heighten the importance of timely realization of current assets. Asset retirement obligations of ¥0.467bn and net defined-benefit liabilities of ¥0.380bn represent additional longer-term obligations. The immediate financial priorities are maintaining refinancing access, improving cash collection, reducing operating losses, and restoring positive net assets.

Notable B/S Changes

Cash & deposits: -¥0.510bn (-51.3%) to ¥0.485bn - liquidity buffer weakened materially despite increased short-term borrowings. Total equity: -¥0.666bn year on year to negative ¥6.105bn - the capital-deficiency position deepened, primarily reflecting continuing losses. Short-term loans: +¥0.319bn (+11.7%) to ¥3.037bn - greater reliance on near-term debt increases refinancing and maturity-mismatch risk. Total assets: -¥0.604bn (-8.9%) to ¥6.170bn - asset contraction alongside rising liabilities further weakens balance-sheet resilience.

Cash Flow Quality

Cash-flow quality cannot be quantified from operating or free-cash-flow data in the reported period. However, balance-sheet movements point to heightened liquidity pressure. Cash and deposits declined by ¥0.510bn year on year, or 51.3%, to ¥0.485bn. This reduction occurred while short-term loans increased by ¥0.319bn to ¥3.037bn, suggesting that borrowing has not translated into a stronger cash buffer. Trade receivables increased modestly to ¥2.034bn despite the 34.0% fall in revenue. The reported annualized DSO of 126 days is well above the 60-day alert threshold and indicates slower conversion of booked revenue into cash. This working-capital profile is particularly concerning because the company has negative working capital and cash covers only 16% of short-term loans. The ¥0.251bn extraordinary loss, including ¥0.089bn of impairment, is non-recurring in accounting classification but nonetheless reduces capital and liquidity capacity. The operating loss also means internally generated cash before working-capital movements is likely under pressure. Sustainable funding of debt service, operating commitments, and any investment requirements depends on a substantial improvement in operating performance and receivable monetization.

Dividend Sustainability

Dividend sustainability is severely constrained by the ¥0.721bn Q1 net loss, negative retained earnings of ¥9.547bn, and total equity of negative ¥6.105bn. The Q1 basic EPS loss was ¥32.20 per share. The balance sheet does not provide a positive equity buffer to absorb further losses or distributions. Current liquidity is also weak, with a 0.86x current ratio and only ¥0.485bn of cash and deposits against ¥3.037bn of short-term loans. Accordingly, preservation of liquidity and capital restoration are more important financial considerations than shareholder distributions. Any future dividend capacity would depend on a sustained return to profitability, positive operating cash generation, and resolution of the capital-deficiency position.

Risk Assessment

Business risks include Insurance agency business risk: the segment recorded a ¥0.470bn loss after revenue fell 37.9% to ¥0.818bn; as the largest revenue segment, further sales weakness would materially delay group recovery., Media-rep volatility: revenue declined 72.0% to ¥0.049bn and the segment moved from a ¥0.057bn profit to a ¥0.032bn loss, demonstrating high sensitivity to customer demand and transaction volumes., Cost-base rigidity: SG&A fell only 13.2% while revenue declined 34.0%, producing negative operating leverage and a -25.3% operating margin., Insurance-distribution industry risk: changes in insurer commissions, product availability, customer acquisition costs, compliance requirements, and consumer demand can directly affect agency revenue and profitability., Impairment risk: ¥0.089bn of impairment was recognized in Q1, and further underperformance in loss-making businesses could create additional impairment charges..

Financial risks include Capital deficiency: total equity was negative ¥6.105bn, leaving creditors and counterparties with no positive book-equity buffer., Liquidity stress: current ratio and quick ratio were both 0.86x, with negative working capital of ¥0.813bn., Refinancing risk: short-term loans were ¥3.037bn and the reported short-term debt ratio was 94.9%, concentrating funding needs in the near term., Low cash coverage: cash and deposits of ¥0.485bn covered only 0.16x of short-term loans., Debt-service risk: negative EBIT resulted in interest coverage of -28.59x, so current operating performance does not support interest expense., Receivable-collection risk: DSO of 126 days and trade receivables of ¥2.034bn create material dependence on collections for liquidity..

Key concerns include The FY operating-income forecast of ¥0.050bn requires reversal of a ¥0.374bn Q1 operating loss, making execution in the remaining quarters critical., The full-year forecast net loss of ¥0.840bn has already been 85.8% consumed by the ¥0.721bn Q1 loss., Cash and deposits declined 51.3% year on year while short-term loans increased, weakening the liquidity buffer., The reported positive ROE is a mathematical artifact of negative income and negative equity and should not be used as evidence of profitability..

Investment Implications

Key takeaways include Q1 showed severe earnings deterioration: revenue fell 34.0%, operating margin reached -25.3%, and net loss widened to ¥0.721bn., The insurance agency segment is the central turnaround variable, given its ¥0.470bn segment loss and its majority share of consolidated revenue., ASP and media generated positive segment profits, but their combined contribution was insufficient to offset the insurance agency and media-rep losses., Balance-sheet risk dominates the financial profile because of negative equity, sub-1.0x liquidity ratios, high short-term borrowing, and low cash coverage., Achievement of the revised full-year plan requires a pronounced recovery after Q1 and stabilization of funding and collections..

Metrics to watch include Insurance agency revenue and segment profit, including life-insurance sales trends, Consolidated SG&A as a percentage of revenue and progress toward positive operating income, Cash and deposits, short-term loans, and refinancing developments, Current ratio, working capital, and cash-to-short-term-debt coverage, Trade receivables and annualized DSO, Further extraordinary losses or impairment charges, Quarterly progress against the ¥7.400bn revenue and ¥0.050bn operating-income full-year forecast.

Regarding relative positioning, The company is positioned as a multi-business insurance-distribution, technology, media, and reinsurance group, but its current financial profile is materially weaker than that of a financially stable insurance intermediary because the core insurance agency business is loss-making, capital is negative, and liquidity is dependent on short-term financing rather than internally generated earnings.