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    SE
    Earnings call· Sep 2025(Q3 FY25)

    Sea Ltd SE

    Nov 11, 2025 Source

    Executive summary

    Sea Limited Q3 FY25 — Strong Growth Across All Businesses, Driven by E-commerce, Digital Finance, and Gaming

    Sea Limited continued its strong momentum into Q3 FY25, achieving robust growth and profitability across its e-commerce, digital financial services, and digital entertainment segments. The company's strategic focus on enhancing logistics, user engagement, and AI integration in Shopee, coupled with Monee's expanding loan book and Garena's successful IP collaborations, underpins its sustained performance. Management remains committed to high and profitable growth, leveraging its deep market understanding and asset-light investment approach.

    Highlights

    5
    • Total revenue increased 38% year-on-year to $6 billion.

    • Adjusted EBITDA grew 68% year-on-year to $874 million.

    • Shopee's GMV grew over 28% year-on-year, with 5 consecutive quarters of sequential growth.

    • Monee's loan book expanded 70% year-on-year to $7.9 billion, maintaining a 1.1% 90-day NPL ratio.

    • Garena delivered its best quarter since 2021, with bookings up over 50% year-on-year.

    Concerns

    2
    • Value-added services revenue (logistics) for Shopee was down 6% year-on-year due to increased shipping subsidies.

    • E-commerce adjusted EBITDA margin saw quarter-over-quarter fluctuation, attributed to seasonality and investment cycles.

    Guidance & targets

    3
    CategoryTargetConfidence
    Shopee GMV growth
    more than 25%
    high materiality
    High
    Garena bookings growth
    more than 30%
    high materiality
    High
    E-commerce Adjusted EBITDA Margin
    2% to 3%
    high materiality
    Medium

    Segment performance

    4
    SegmentRevenueYoYQoQMargin
    Overall
    Primarily driven by e-commerce GMV growth and digital financial services growth.
    Adjusted EBITDA: $874 millionAdjusted EBITDA growth YoY: 68%
    $6 billion38%
    E-commerce (Shopee)
    Achieved record-setting quarter in GMV, gross order volume, and revenue. Value-added services revenue declined due to increased shipping subsidies.
    Gross orders: $3.6 billionGross orders growth YoY: 28%GMV: $32.2 billionGMV growth YoY: 28%GAAP marketplace revenue: $3.8 billionGAAP marketplace revenue growth YoY: 37%GAAP product revenue: $0.5 billionCore marketplace revenue: $3.1 billionCore marketplace revenue growth YoY: 53%Value-added services revenue: $0.7 billionValue-added services revenue growth YoY: -6%
    $4.3 billion$186 million (Adjusted EBITDA)
    Digital Financial Services (Monee)
    Strong broad-based growth driven by user growth and product expansion across multiple markets. Maintained stable risk profile.
    Adjusted EBITDA growth YoY: 37%Consumer and SME loans principal outstanding: $7.9 billionConsumer and SME loans principal outstanding growth YoY: 70%On-book loans: $6.9 billionOff-book loans: $0.9 billion90-day NPL ratio: 1.1%
    $990 million61%$258 million (Adjusted EBITDA)
    Digital Entertainment (Garena)
    Best quarter since 2021, anchored by Free Fire's successful campaigns. Growth primarily due to increased active user base and deepened paying user penetration.
    Bookings: $841 millionBookings growth YoY: 51%Adjusted EBITDA growth YoY: 48%
    $653 million31%$466 million (Adjusted EBITDA)

    Operational metrics

    35
    Shopee Ad revenue
    over 70%YoY
    Q3 FY25

    Driven by broader adoption and higher ad spend by sellers.

    Sellers using Shopee ad products
    more than 25%YoY
    Q3 FY25
    Average ad spend per seller
    over 40%YoY
    Q3 FY25
    Cost per order (rural delivery)
    20%vs standard delivery
    Q3 FY25

    Reduced cost per order for economical delivery solutions.

    Orders delivered outside Java
    more than 45%YoY
    Q3 FY25

    Boosted popularity among rural buyers due to economical delivery.

    Automated locker store network
    over 2,500
    Q3 FY25

    Expanded in less than 3 years, accounting for over 70% of deliveries in Taiwan.

    Cost per order (locker network)
    over 30%lower than traditional pickup locations
    Q3 FY25

    Lockers also double as last-mile hubs for home delivery at lower cost.

    Shopee VIP members
    3.5 millionup more than 75% from previous quarter
    end of September
    VIP member spend uplift
    around 40%more after subscribing
    Q3 FY25
    VIP member purchase frequency
    3xmore frequently than non-subscribers
    Q3 FY25
    VIP member GMV contribution
    about 10%
    Q3 FY25
    Shopee orders driven by YouTube content
    more than 30%QoQ
    Q3 FY25

    Partnership extended to Brazil.

    Purchase conversion rate
    10%YoY
    Q3 FY25

    Increased due to AI initiatives.

    Buyer purchase frequency
    12%YoY
    Q3 FY25
    Average monthly active buyers
    15%YoY
    Q3 FY25
    Average delivery time improvement
    about 2 dayscompared to a year ago
    Q3 FY25

    Improved sequentially.

    Parcels delivered next day
    1 in 3
    Q3 FY25
    Parcels delivered within 2 days
    nearly half
    Q3 FY25
    Shopee Mall GMV
    more than doubledYoY
    Q3 FY25

    Reflects expansion into more upmarket product categories.

    Monee loan book expansion
    $1 billionduring the quarter
    Q3 FY25
    Monee loans outstanding (Thailand)
    $2 billion
    end of September

    Reached a major milestone.

    Monee loan book (Brazil)
    more than tripledYoY
    Q3 FY25

    With improving portfolio quality and stronger user performance.

    First-time borrowers added
    more than 5 million
    Q3 FY25

    Enabled by 'all can apply' approach.

    Active users (consumer and SME loans)
    $34 millionup nearly 45% YoY
    end of Q3 FY25
    New user loan disbursements
    less than 10%of total disbursement
    Q3 FY25

    As they continue to assess credit quality.

    SPayLater GMV penetration (mature markets)
    over 30%
    Q3 FY25

    Ranges from single digits in early markets.

    Off-Shopee SPayLater growth
    over 300%YoY
    Q3 FY25
    Off-Shopee SPayLater as % of total loan book
    less than 10%
    end of September

    Large upside remains for future growth.

    ShopeePay monthly transacting users (standalone app)
    More than 20%
    Q3 FY25

    Using the stand-alone app.

    Personal cash loans growth (Brazil)
    close to 50%QoQ
    Q3 FY25

    Driven by combined credit limit for SPayLater users.

    Red Light, Green Light Challenge plays
    more than 300 million
    Q3 FY25
    Naruto Shippuden Chapter 2 social media share rate
    doublethe already high bar set by eighth anniversary event
    Q3 FY25
    Net nonoperating income
    $61 millioncompared to $50 million in Q3 2024
    Q3 FY25
    Net income tax expense
    $161 millioncompared to $93 million in Q3 2024
    Q3 FY25
    Net income
    $375 millioncompared to $153 million in Q3 2024
    Q3 FY25

    Industry KPIs

    6
    MetricValueDetails
    Segment revenue mix
    Ai cloud revenue backlog
    Regional market performanceDouble-digit growth%
    Advertising revenue take rateover 70%%
    Subscription membership program3.5 millionmembers
    Operating income EBIT and adjusted EBITDA$874 millionUSD

    Product announcements

    1
    ProductTypeDetails
    EA SPORTS FC Mobilelaunch

    Deals & partnerships

    3
    YouTubeContent ecosystem enhancement and product promotion

    Partnership to drive Shopee orders through YouTube content, now extended to Brazil.

    MetaSeamless product promotion and checkout

    Collaboration to launch new tools allowing seamless product promotion and checkout between Facebook and Shopee accounts.

    Electronic Arts (EA)Game publishinglong-standing

    Strengthening long-standing partnership with EA through the launch of EA SPORTS FC Mobile.

    Risks & headwinds

    4
    Increased shipping subsidies impacting value-added services revenueQ3 FY25

    Value-added services revenue down 6% year-on-year.

    Mitigation: Ongoing efforts to improve logistics efficiency and lower cost per order through SPX Express and fulfillment capabilities.

    Quarter-to-quarter fluctuation in e-commerce adjusted EBITDA marginQ3 FY25

    Margin came down to 0.6% in Q3 FY25 (implied from analyst question and management response).

    Mitigation: Attributed to seasonality and investment cycles; management expects consistent year-on-year improvement and aims for 2-3% long-term EBITDA margin. Investments are asset-light and ongoing.

    Competitive landscape in Southeast AsiaOngoing

    Discussed, not quantified.

    Mitigation: Management believes the landscape is relatively stable and Shopee is gaining market share. Not concerned about live streaming peers shifting to shelf-based models as a new threat.

    Credit card not a common payment method for VIP programOngoing

    Discussed, not quantified.

    Mitigation: Working on multiple ways to ensure retention, including leveraging digital finance side through SPayLater.

    What to watch in Q4 FY25

    5

    Garena 2026 Outlook

    next quarter
    CurrentVery strong momentum, optimistic for 2026
    TargetSpecific outlook for user base growth, content, and financial impact

    Why it matters

    Garena's strong performance is a key driver of overall profitability; detailed 2026 guidance will inform future growth trajectory.

    At this moment, we are in the process of like for the detailed planning of next year. I think probably we'll have a better sense we're ready to share to the market what will be the specific outlook we see for Garena in 2026 next quarter.

    Q&A highlights

    5

    What are the drivers and competitive landscape assumptions behind the raised Shopee GMV guidance? How should we think about the e-commerce margin trend, especially with Q3's sequential decline despite higher take rates? What are the investment areas, are they fixed or variable, and what's the expected duration of this investment cycle?

    The raised GMV guidance reflects current market momentum. E-commerce margins show consistent year-on-year improvement, with quarter-to-quarter fluctuations due to seasonality and investment cycles. The company aims for a 2-3% EBITDA margin long-term. Investments are primarily in logistics/fulfillment and user engagement (Shopee VIP), which are asset-light and less fixed. These investments are ongoing to strengthen competitive moats and contribute to growth, rather than being large front-loaded cycles like two years ago.

    I think we believe that we are able to deliver the 2% to 3% EBITDA margin as we shared before and also have an improvement year-to-year if you look at the yearly basis.

    asked by Pang Vittayaamnuaykoon · answered by Hou Tianyu

    3 min read6 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Shopee's Differentiated Logistics and Emerging Fulfillment Capabilities

    Shopee continues to leverage its SPX Express network, built over seven years, as a strategic competitive moat. The company customizes logistics solutions to specific market needs, such as same-day/instant delivery in urban Indonesia and economical options for rural areas, reducing cost per order by 20%. In Taiwan, an expanded automated locker network of over 2,500 locations accounts for over 70% of deliveries, operating at 30% lower cost per order. Shopee is now deepening its logistics moat by enhancing fulfillment capabilities, offering warehouse solutions and intelligent demand forecasting to ensure fast, accurate order handling and cost-efficient delivery, particularly for remote regions.

    02

    Deepening User Engagement Through VIP Membership and Content Ecosystem

    Shopee's subscription-based VIP membership program has gained strong traction, surpassing 3.5 million members across Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, a 75% increase quarter-on-quarter. VIP members demonstrate significantly higher engagement, spending 40% more and purchasing three times more frequently than non-subscribers in Indonesia, accounting for about 10% of total GMV there. The content ecosystem is also being enhanced through partnerships with YouTube, driving over 30% QoQ growth in orders from YouTube content in Southeast Asia, and a new collaboration with Meta for seamless product promotion and checkout.

    03

    Leveraging AI for Improved Consumer Retail Experience and Monetization

    Shopee is actively embracing AI to improve the consumer retail experience, contributing meaningfully to monetization gains. AI-powered smarter search, better recommendations, and personalized content have made shopping easier and more enjoyable, leading to a 10% year-on-year increase in purchase conversion rate. AI tools also empower sellers to generate image, video, and text descriptions, enhancing product listings. These efforts have resulted in a 12% YoY increase in buyer purchase frequency and a 15% YoY increase in average monthly active buyers.

    04

    Shopee's Strong Performance and Expansion in Brazil

    Shopee continues to deliver exceptional growth in Brazil, outpacing the market while maintaining positive adjusted EBITDA. This growth is driven by increased monthly active buyers, purchase frequency, and average basket sizes, supported by competitive pricing and structural cost leadership. Improvements in delivery speed, with average delivery time reduced by two days year-on-year, have enabled expansion into higher-value product categories. GMV for Shopee Mall in Brazil more than doubled year-on-year, attracting more merchants and higher-spending buyer cohorts.

    05

    Monee's Robust Growth and Diversification in Digital Financial Services

    Monee achieved strong growth with revenue up 61% and adjusted EBITDA up 35% year-on-year, while maintaining a stable 90-day NPL ratio of 1.1%. The loan book expanded by $1 billion to $7.9 billion, solidifying its position as a leading unsecured consumer lender in Southeast Asia. Monee has expanded its 'all can apply' approach, adding over 5 million first-time borrowers in Q3, with new user cohorts scaling well due to advanced risk underwriting. Off-Shopee SPayLater grew over 300% YoY, representing a significant opportunity for offline spend.

    06

    Garena's Stellar Gaming Performance and IP Strategy

    Garena delivered its best quarter since 2021, with bookings up 51% and adjusted EBITDA up 48% year-on-year, anchored by Free Fire. Successful IP collaborations with 'Squid Game' and 'Naruto Shippuden Chapter 2' drove strong engagement and revenue. The Naruto campaigns, led by superfans within Garena, focused on authenticity and localized experiences, including offline events across Asia and the Americas. Garena also expanded its publishing portfolio with the launch of EA SPORTS FC Mobile in Vietnam, quickly becoming the country's most downloaded mobile game.

    AI-generated summary of the company’s earnings call. Not investment advice.