HONG KONG, Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Waton Financial Limited $(WTF)$ ("Waton" or the "Company"), a provider of securities brokerage and financial technology services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first six months ended September 30, 2025, representing the first half of fiscal year 2026.
Management Commentary
"We are pleased with our revenue growth in the first half of fiscal 2026, particularly in our core brokerage operations, which benefited from investor interest in the Hong Kong market," said ZHOU Kai, Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer of the Company. "While we continue to invest in talent, technology, and compliance to support our and long-term expansion, including potential enhancements in virtual assets and AI-driven services as outlined in our recent Form 20-F filing, we remain focused on driving sustainable profitability and shareholder value amid evolving market dynamics."
First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Highlights
-- Total Revenues: Increased by 106.3% to $6.10 million for the six months
ended September 30, 2025, from $2.96 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2024, driven primarily by growth in brokerage and
commission income.
-- Brokerage and Commission Income (including related parties' portion):
Increased by 223.1% to $4.17 million for the six months ended September
30, 2025, from $1.29 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024,
reflecting increased trading volumes and customer engagement.
-- Interest Income (including related parties' portion): Increased by 83.8%
to $0.96 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from $0.52
million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, supported by
expanded margin financing to customers.
-- Operating Loss: Increased to $8.45 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2025, from $0.92 million for the six months ended September
30, 2024, primarily due to an increase in staff compensation and benefits
in share-based compensation as a result of our business expansion, our
research and development initiatives and professional fees for our
initial public offering we closed on April 1, 2025 (the "IPO"), all of
which were recognized during the six months ended September 30, 2025
(2024: nil).
-- Net Loss: Increased to $8.37 million for the six months ended September
30, 2025, or $0.17 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $1.15
million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share for the six months ended
September 30, 2024.
-- Adjusted Net Loss: Being net loss excluding share-based compensation
expenses of $6.10 million and its corresponding tax effects.
Approximately $2.26 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025,
as compared to $1.15 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024.
-- Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents plus cash segregated under
regulatory requirements increased by 115.0% to $29.88 million as of
September 30, 2025, from $13.90 million as of March 31, 2025, primarily
attributable to the closing of the IPO.
-- Total Assets: Increased to $68.98 million as of September 30, 2025, from
$30.72 million as of March 31, 2025, reflecting our business expansion
during the period.
First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Results
Revenue
Revenue increased by 106.3% to $6.10 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from $2.96 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024. The increase in revenue was mainly driven by the increase in brokerage and commission income:
-- Revenue from brokerage and commission income, including the related
parties' portion, increased to $4.17 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2025, from $1.29 million for the six months ended September
30, 2024, primarily attributable to the increase in security brokerage
income resulting from the increased trading activity amid enthusiasm in
the Hong Kong stock market during the period.
-- Interest income, including the related parties' portion, increased by
83.8% to $0.96 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from
$0.52 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024. The increase
was primarily due to an increase in margin loan extended to margin
customers during the six months ended September 30, 2025 in comparison
with the six months ended September 30, 2024.
-- Revenue from software licensing (including subscription-based licenses)
and related support services income, including the related parties'
portion, decreased by 42.3% to $0.66 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2025, from $1.15 million for the six months ended September
30, 2024. The decrease was mainly due to the decrease in the number of
software licensing and related support services customers for the six
months ended September 30, 2025 in comparison with the six months ended
September 30, 2024.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Total operating costs and expenses increased to $13.81 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from $3.88 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024. The increase was mainly due to an increase in staff compensation and benefits (including share-based compensation) as a result of our business expansion.
-- Compensation and benefits increased to $8.23 million for the six months
ended September 30, 2025, from $1.47 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2024. Primarily as a result of i) an increase in number of
employees as well as average salary level, as a result of our business
expansion; and ii) increase in share-based compensation expenses of $6.10
million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from nil for the six
months ended September 30, 2024, resulting from the granting of
restricted share units following its 2024 Global Equity Incentive Plan
adopted in November 2024.
-- Professional service fee increased to $1.01 million for the six months
ended September 30, 2025, from $0.77 million for the six months ended
September 30, 2024, primarily resulting from the effort for listing of
the Company's share on Nasdaq and ongoing compliance costs as a listed
company during the period.
-- Commissions and brokerage fees increased to $1.64 million for the six
months ended September 30, 2025, from $0.17 million for the six months
ended September 30, 2024, and interest expenses increased to $0.35
million from $0.09 million during the period were primarily in line with
our business expansion.
Loss from Operations
Loss from operations increased to $7.71 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from $0.92 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, primarily attributable to the increase in operating costs and expenses described above.
Other Expense
The total other expense, net increased to $0.66 million during the six months ended September 30, 2025, from total other expense, net of $0.30 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, which was primarily attributable to the decrease in loss from the equity method investment to $0.03 million and an increase from changes in net asset value, or NAV, of investment securities to $0.74 million during the period.
Net Income (Loss)
Net loss increased to $8.37 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from the net loss of $1.15 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024, due to the above-referenced reasons.
Adjusted Net Loss
Our adjusted net loss, which excludes share-based compensation expenses of $6.10 million and its related income tax effects for the six months ended September 30, 2025 (2024: nil), was approximately $2.26 million for the six months ended September 30, 2025, as compared to the adjusted net loss of approximately $1.15 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024.
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share
Basic and diluted loss per share increased to $0.17 for the six months ended September 30, 2025, from loss per share of $0.03 for the six months ended September 30, 2024 due to the above-referenced reasons.
Financial Condition
As of September 30, 2025, cash and cash equivalents, plus cash segregated under regulatory requirements, increased by 115.0% to $29.88 million as of September 30, 2025, from $13.90 million as of March 31, 2025.
-- Net cash used in operating activities was $1.44 million for the six
months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $2.55 million for the six
months ended September 30, 2024, primarily attributable to a slight
increase in outstanding payments to suppliers during such period.
-- Net cash used in investing activities was $2.38 million for the six
months ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash used in investing
activities of $0.01 million for the six months ended September 30, 2024,
attributable to the subscriptions in certain investment funds during such
period.
-- Net cash provided by financing activities increased to $19.79 million for
the six months ended September 30, 2025, compared to net cash used in
financing activities of $1.90 million for the six months ended September
30, 2024, primarily attributable to the proceeds of our IPO share
issuances during such period.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted Net Loss, that are used by management to evaluate our operating performance and to provide investors with additional insight into the Company's underlying results. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. They may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.
We believe the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful supplemental information for investors by facilitating period-to-period comparisons of our operating performance. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included in the accompanying financial tables. To the extent that forward-looking non-GAAP measures are provided, such measures are presented without reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures because such reconciliations are not available without unreasonable efforts.
This press release also contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including, but not limited to statements regarding plans, objectives, strategies, future events, performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events, which may affect the Company's financial condition, operating results, business strategy, and capital needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "believe," "plan," "expect," "intend," "should," "seek," "estimate," "will," "target," "anticipate," or similar expressions. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances or changes in its expectations. While the Company believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee these expectations will prove correct and cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from anticipated results, and encourages investors to review the Company's registration statements and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional factors that could affect its future performance.
CONTACTS
Media Inquiries
pr@waton.com
Investor Relations
ir@waton.com
Waton Financial Limited
WATON FINANCIAL LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amount in U.S. dollars, except for number of shares)
As of
--------------------------------------
September 30, 2025 March 31, 2025
-------------------- ----------------
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,347,536 $ 7,717,087
Cash segregated under
regulatory requirements 15,535,468 6,183,232
Receivables from:
Clients 20,238,873 1,729,408
Clients - related parties 3,188 4,826,387
Broker-dealers and clearing
organization 9,220,122 1,739,276
Software licensing
(including subscription
based) and related support
services - related party 1,800,000 600,000
Contract assets 230,845 --
Contract assets - related
party 400,000 1,200,000
Due from ST MA Ltd 447,570 449,877
Investment securities, at net
asset value ("NAV") 358,536 --
Investment securities, at NAV
- related party 1,000,000 --
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 1,319,774 893,051
Total current assets 64,901,912 25,338,318
Property and equipment, net 330,162 123,297
Operating lease right-of-use
assets 199,252 467,016
Investments, cost 2,878,575 2,878,575
Equity method investment -- 189,932
Other assets 666,186 1,726,837
--------------- -----------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 68,976,087 $ 30,723,975
=============== ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders'
Equity
Current liabilities:
Payables to:
Clients $ 23,783,079 $ 6,163,171
Clients - related party 40,745 1,417,153
Broker-dealers and clearing
organization 12,327,285 7,335,535
Bank overdrafts 1,580,583 --
Accrued expenses and other
current liabilities 801,265 748,918
Amounts due to related parties 2,540,810 1,797,774
Operating lease liabilities,
current 211,186 463,120
--------------- -----------
Total current liabilities 41,284,953 17,925,671
Operating lease liabilities,
non-current -- 30,561
--------------- -----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 41,284,953 17,956,232
--------------- -----------
Commitments and contingencies -- --
Shareholders' equity:
Ordinary shares, unlimited
shares authorized; no par
value; 48,237,472 shares and
43,206,222 shares issued and
outstanding as of September
30, 2025 and March 31, 2025,
respectively -- --
Additional paid-in capital 45,097,848 21,817,729
Accumulated deficit (17,473,787) (9,107,145)
Accumulated other
comprehensive income 67,073 57,159
--------------- -----------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 27,691,134 12,767,743
--------------- -----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 68,976,087 $ 30,723,975
=============== ===========
WATON FINANCIAL LIMITED
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Amount in U.S. dollars, except for number of shares)
For the six months ended September 30,
----------------------------------------------
2025 2024
------------------------ --------------------
Revenues
Brokerage and commission
income $ 2,774,888 $ 396,547
Brokerage and commission
income - related
parties 1,390,497 892,837
Principal transactions
and proprietary trading 315,337 --
Interest income 507,872 2,562
Interest income -
related parties 452,808 520,183
Software licensing
(including subscription
based) and related
support services
income 261,498 546,134
Software licensing
(including subscription
based) and related
support services income
- related party 400,000 600,000
Total revenues 6,102,900 2,958,263
---------------- ---------------
Operating costs and
expenses
Commissions and
brokerage fees 1,639,072 172,712
Software licensing
(including subscription
based) and related
support outsourcing
cost - related party 487,860 507,822
Interest expenses 353,587 85,657
Compensation and
benefits 2,123,489 1,471,937
Share-based compensation
expenses 6,104,672 --
Research and development
expenses 387,425 --
Professional service
fees 1,011,754 771,165
Market information 412,158 332,094
Lease costs 325,960 315,013
Other general and
administrative
expenses 967,079 224,117
---------------- ---------------
Total operating costs
and expenses 13,813,056 3,880,517
---------------- ---------------
Operating loss (7,710,156) (922,254)
Other income (expense):
Income from foreign
currency spread 180,236 28,340
Loss from equity method
investment (31,603) (341,428)
Changes in NAV of
investment securities (741,482) --
Others (63,637) 9,949
---------------- ---------------
Total other expense, net (656,486) (303,139)
Loss before income tax
expenses (8,366,642) (1,225,393)
Income tax benefit -- 77,138
---------------- ---------------
Net loss $ (8,366,642) $ (1,148,255)
================ ===============
Net loss per ordinary
share
Basic and diluted $ (0.17) $ (0.03)
================ ===============
Weighted average
ordinary shares
outstanding
Basic and diluted 48,209,979 40,980,000
================ ===============
Net loss: $ (8,366,642) $ (1,148,255)
Other comprehensive
income, net of tax:
Foreign currency
translation adjustment 9,914 68,477
---------------- ---------------
Total comprehensive loss $ (8,356,728) $ (1,079,778)
================ ===============
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 28, 2026 19:55 ET (00:55 GMT)
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