Zhihu (NYSE:ZH) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Posted by Stanley Muller on Jun 4th, 2026

Zhihu (NYSE:ZH – Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, Zacks reports. The business had revenue of $94.50 million during the quarter. Zhihu had a negative return on equity of 4.82% and a negative net margin of 7.18%.

Here are the key takeaways from Zhihu’s conference call:

Q1 marked a return to profitability on a non-GAAP basis, with adjusted net income of CNY 17.2 million versus an adjusted net loss in Q4 2025. Management said this was supported by gross margin recovery, cost discipline, and better resource allocation.
Revenue improved sequentially and the year-over-year decline narrowed significantly, driven by stronger performance in paid content and IP operations. The company highlighted that this segment is becoming a larger driver of monetization.
Paid content and IP operations are being repositioned as a full IP commercialization business, not just membership subscriptions. Zhihu emphasized strong growth in IP partnerships, adaptations into short dramas and comics, and the long-term value of its Yan Yan Gushi content library.
AI engagement and creator activity remained strong, with average daily time spent per DAU rising to about 42 minutes and high-quality AI-related content growing over 30% year over year. Management said its AI strategy centers on combining trusted community content with open platforms, data products, and AI-powered content formats.
Zhihu continued aggressive share repurchases, buying back 3.7 million Class A shares in Q1 and reaffirming that buybacks remain a key capital allocation priority. Management also said it does not intend to pursue a “burn cash for growth” strategy, preferring profitable AI initiatives and long-term capability building.

Zhihu Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:ZH opened at $3.06 on Thursday. Zhihu has a 1-year low of $2.57 and a 1-year high of $5.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $271.10 million, a PE ratio of -8.49 and a beta of 0.33. The business’s 50 day moving average is $3.19 and its 200-day moving average is $3.38.

Institutional Trading of Zhihu

An institutional investor recently raised its position in Zhihu stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in Zhihu Inc. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:ZH – Free Report) by 44.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 36,088 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 11,082 shares during the quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc.’s holdings in Zhihu were worth $183,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.92% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ZH has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered Zhihu from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. Weiss Ratings lowered Zhihu from a “sell (d)” rating to a “sell (d-)” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Zhihu has a consensus rating of “Sell”.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on ZH

Zhihu Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Zhihu is China’s leading online question-and-answer platform, providing a space where users can ask questions, share knowledge, and engage with content across science, technology, business, culture, and lifestyle. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Beijing, Zhihu has cultivated a community-driven environment that emphasizes credible, in-depth answers from experts, professionals, and enthusiasts.

The company’s core service revolves around its Q&A platform, enabling registered users to post questions and receive comprehensive responses.