Conferencia de resultados del T3 de 2026 de Natural Health Trends (NHTC): los ingresos caen un 20%, las pérdidas se reducen

Natural Health Trends Corp. (NHTC) informó de unos ingresos en el tercer trimestre de 2026 de 7,6 millones de dólares, sin cambios en comparación con el trimestre anterior, pero con una caída del 20% interanual. Las reducciones de costes y una menor tasa de comisión redujeron la pérdida operativa a pesar de la continuada debilidad en China.

Puntos clave

• Los ingresos del 3T 2026 se situaron en 7,6 millones de dólares, estables respecto al 2T 2026 y un 20% por debajo de los 9,5 millones de dólares del 3T 2025.
• La pérdida operativa se redujo a 277.000 dólares frente a los 643.000 dólares del 2T 2026 y los 495.000 dólares de un año antes.
• La pérdida neta mejoró hasta los 232.000 dólares, o 0,03 dólares por acción diluida, en comparación con los 451.000 dólares, o 0,05 dólares por acción, del 2T 2026.
• El margen bruto alcanzó el 74,2%, por debajo del 75,2% del trimestre anterior debido a la combinación promocional, pero por encima del 73,7% del 3T 2025, lo que refleja principalmente el trasvase de la fabricación al Este de Asia.
• La directiva atribuyó el descenso interanual de los ingresos en gran medida a incentivos adicionales y a paquetes de menor precio introducidos en un contexto de cautela de los consumidores, incertidumbre regulatoria en China y malas prácticas de miembros comunicadas anteriormente.
• El efectivo, los equivalentes de efectivo y los valores negociables sumaron 17,6 millones de dólares al 30 de septiembre de 2026, frente a los 28,9 millones de dólares registrados a finales de 2025.

Datos financieros clave

Rendimiento empresarial y operativo

China siguió siendo el mayor desafío operativo para la empresa. La directiva citó el pesimismo de los consumidores, un comportamiento prudente en los gastos y las inversiones, la incertidumbre regulatoria y los efectos residuales de las malas prácticas de miembros notificadas con anterioridad. Los incentivos adicionales y los paquetes de menor precio ayudaron a aumentar el número de miembros y a estabilizar los ingresos respecto al 2T, pero representaron la mayor parte del descenso interanual de las ventas.

Las iniciativas de reestructuración puestas en marcha a finales de 2025 redujeron los gastos operativos trimestrales en casi 500.000 dólares y generaron 1,1 millones de dólares en ahorros en lo que va de año. Como consecuencia, la pérdida operativa mejoró un 57% con respecto al 2T 2026.

Fuera de Hong Kong y China, la mitad de los mercados de la empresa aumentaron las ventas en comparación con el trimestre anterior. Natural Health Trends también celebró el evento de su 25.º aniversario en Hong Kong, al que asistieron aproximadamente 1.000 miembros e invitados.

La empresa presentó una aplicación de comunicación y marketing impulsada por IA para sus miembros chinos. La directiva señaló que entre las incorporaciones previstas figuran la búsqueda asistida por IA y la formación sobre productos. Natural Health Trends también prevé lanzar en las próximas semanas Move Prime, una mezcla para bebida en polvo para la salud articular con sabor a cítricos, y está preparando un producto de medicina tradicional china para el mercado chino en los próximos meses.

La empresa recompró 85.291 acciones ordinarias por un importe total de 84.000 dólares durante el 3T y hasta principios de octubre. Posteriormente, su consejo de administración autorizó la continuidad de las recompras en virtud del programa existente, con 15,8 millones de dólares aún disponibles.

Riesgos y aspectos a vigilar

• La directiva identificó el pesimismo de los consumidores y la cautela en las compras en China como principales desafíos.
• La incertidumbre regulatoria en China y el impacto continuado de las malas prácticas de miembros siguen siendo vientos en contra para la operativa.
• Las promociones y los paquetes de menor precio respaldaron el número de miembros y la estabilidad intertrimestral de los ingresos, pero lastraron las ventas interanuales y el margen bruto frente al trimestre anterior.
• La liquidez disminuyó durante los primeros nueve meses de 2026 debido a la recompra de acciones, los dividendos y el efectivo utilizado en las operaciones.

Transcripción completa de la conferencia de resultados

Transcripción completa de la conferencia de resultados

Comentarios de la dirección

Operator

Good day, and welcome to the Natural Health Trends Corp. Third Quarter 2026 Conference Call. At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Michelle Glidewell with Natural Health Trends Corp. Please go ahead.

Michelle Glidewell

Thank you, and welcome to Natural Health Trends Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. During today's call, there may be statements made relating to the future results of the company that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements due to the result of certain factors, including those set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It should also be noted that a replay of today's call can be found on the Investors section of the company's corporate website at naturalhealthtrendscorp.com.

At this time, I'd like to turn the call over to Chris Sharng, President of Natural Health Trends.

Chris Sharng

Thank you, Michelle. Good morning, and thanks to everyone joining us to discuss our third quarter 2026 financial results. Scott Davidson, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is also here today. Third quarter net sales were $7.6 million or flat compared to the second quarter this year and were down 20% from $9.5 million when compared to the same quarter last year. Consumer pessimism in our largest and most important market remains one of our biggest challenges. The uncertainty is making people cautious about both spending and investing, and we saw that caution show up in purchasing decisions.

We also continue to see lingering effects from the regulatory uncertainty in China and member misconduct we previously reported. To address this difficult economic environment, we introduced additional incentives and lower-priced packages, which accounted for most of the revenue decline compared to a year ago, but managed to lift the member count and steady the top line compared to the preceding second quarter. Partially offsetting these headwinds, our restructuring initiatives from late last year improved gross margin and cut operating expenses by almost $500,000 this quarter, bringing year-to-date savings to $1.1 million. As such, we were able to reduce our operating loss by 57% compared to the preceding quarter.

During the quarter, we celebrated our 25th anniversary with a landmark event in Hong Kong, bringing together approximately 1,000 members and guests from our international teams. Celebrating this milestone together was a highlight of the quarter, and the event reinforced the strength of our community at a time when engagement matters most. We rolled out an AI-powered marketing and communication app for our Chinese members. This mobile-friendly tool helps facilitate direct communication with additional features to come, including AI-enabled search and product training.

In the coming weeks, we're excited to launch a new joint health supplement called Move Prime, a citrus-flavored powder drink mix designed to support joint comfort and mobility. We're also readying a new traditional Chinese medicine product for our China market and to be introduced in the coming months.

Turning to the rest of our global footprint. They remain an important part of our long-term growth story. Half of our markets outside of Hong Kong and China managed to increase their sales over the second quarter. Going forward, our priorities are straightforward: maintain financial discipline, invest where we can strengthen our competitive position and equip our field with innovative products, better digital tools and meaningful engagement. We believe this positions us to benefit as market conditions improve.

We also continue to return capital to shareholders as the Board has authorized continued repurchases under our existing program with $15.8 million currently remaining available. It reflects our confidence in the business and our commitment to shareholder returns.

With that, I'd like to turn the call over to our CFO, Scott Davidson, to discuss our financial results in greater detail. Scott?

Timothy Davidson

Thank you, Chris. Total revenue for the second quarter (sic) [ third quarter ] of $7.6 million was steady compared to $7.6 million in the second quarter of 2026 and declined 20% compared to $9.5 million in the third quarter of 2025. As Chris mentioned, the operating environment remains challenging in China.

Turning to our cost and operating expenses. We continue to see the impact of strong execution on our previously announced restructuring program reflected in improved margins and reduced operating expenses. Gross profit margin was 74.2%, down from 75.2% in the second quarter of 2026 due to the mix of promotions offered during the third quarter to support our teams and members. However, gross profit margin improved from 73.7% in the third quarter of 2025, largely as a result of our shift to manufacturing in East Asia.

Commissions expense as a percent of total revenue for the second quarter (sic) [ third quarter ] was 35.9%, down from 40.9% reported in each of the second quarter of 2026 and the third quarter last year, primarily due to lower weekly commissions earned following disciplinary action taken against certain members as a result of the previously reported code of conduct matter. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were $3.2 million, a decrease of $80,000 compared to the second quarter of 2026 and down $433,000 compared to the third quarter a year ago.

Operating loss for the third quarter was $277,000, an improvement compared to $643,000 in the second quarter of 2026 and $495,000 in the third quarter of 2025. Net loss for the third quarter was $232,000 or $0.03 per diluted share, also an improvement compared to $451,000 or $0.05 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2026 and $431,000 or $0.04 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2025.

Now I'll turn to our balance sheet and cash flow. Net cash used in operating activities was $3.3 million during the first 9 months of 2026 compared to $5 million in the first 9 months of 2025. Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $17.6 million at September 30, down from $28.9 million at December 31, 2025, primarily due to repurchase of shares of common stock, dividends paid and cash used in operations during the first 9 months of 2026.

We repurchased 85,291 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of $84,000 during the third quarter through early October. Our Board of Directors has since authorized additional share repurchases under our existing stock repurchase program with $15.8 million remaining available.

Our 25th anniversary celebration in Hong Kong was a great success, and I was inspired by the loyalty and enthusiasm of our members and customers. We remain focused on executing our strategy of launching innovative new products, digital tools that drive engagement and support member training and returning value to our shareholders.

That concludes our prepared remarks. I will now turn the call back over to the operator.

Operator

This does conclude today's call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.