HUYA Inc. returns to profit in Q2 on 11% revenue surge
HUYA Inc. reported Q2 2026 results showing a return to GAAP profitability with net income of RMB1.6 million, up from a loss of RMB5.5 million in Q2 2025. Total revenue rose 11% to RMB1,739.3 million (US$256.3 million), fueled by a 54.1% jump in game-related services, while live streaming revenues declined slightly.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
HUYA Inc., a game-related entertainment provider listed on the NYSE, reported a return to GAAP profitability for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. The company posted net income attributable to the company of RMB1.6 million (US$0.2 million), compared to a net loss of RMB5.5 million in the same period of 2025. Total net revenues rose 11.0% year-over-year to RMB1,739.3 million (US$256.3 million), or US$256.346 million as reported in recent filings, up from US$218.757 million in Q2 2025. This turnaround signals improved operational efficiency, although non-GAAP earnings per share declined to US$0.02 from US$0.03 in the prior year period.
The Board of Directors authorized an increase in the total authorized amount of the 2026 Share Repurchase Program from US$50 million to US$100 million on August 7, 2026. As of June 30, 2026, HUYA had repurchased 3.2 million American depositary shares (ADSs) under the program for an aggregate consideration of US$7.6 million. Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share. The filing notes that non-GAAP financial measures exclude share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets from business acquisitions, and impairment loss of investments.
Financial Performance Highlights
| Metric | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Net Revenues | RMB1,739.3 million | RMB1,567.1 million | +11.0% |
| Game-Related Services & Ads | RMB637.9 million | RMB413.9 million | +54.1% |
| Live Streaming Revenues | RMB1,101.5 million | RMB1,153.2 million | Decline |
| Gross Profit | RMB255.0 million | RMB212.3 million | +20.1% |
| Operating Loss | RMB7.0 million | RMB23.7 million | Narrowed |
| Net Income (GAAP) | RMB1.6 million | RMB(5.5) million | Turned Profitable |
Live streaming revenues declined to RMB1,101.5 million (US$162.3 million) from RMB1,153.2 million in the same period of 2025, reflecting headwinds in the live streaming industry. However, this decline was offset by a 54.1% year-over-year surge in game-related services, advertising, and other revenues to RMB637.9 million (US$94.0 million). The commercialization of Goose Goose Duck mobile, which re-entered the Top 5 on the Apple App Store free games chart in the Chinese mainland at the end of July, contributed significantly to this segment's growth.
Cost of revenues increased by 9.6% to RMB1,484.3 million (US$218.8 million), primarily due to increased revenue sharing fees and costs of in-game virtual items. Revenue sharing fees and content costs rose by 3.2% year-over-year to RMB1,214.7 million (US$179.0 million). Consequently, gross profit expanded by 20.1% to RMB255.0 million (US$37.6 million), with the gross margin improving to 14.7% from 13.5% in the prior year period.
Operating expenses showed mixed trends. Research and development expenses decreased by 1.4% to RMB120.4 million (US$17.8 million). Sales and marketing expenses surged by 57.7% to RMB91.0 million (US$13.4 million), driven by promotional efforts for Goose Goose Duck mobile. General and administrative expenses decreased by 8.4% to RMB58.4 million (US$8.6 million) due to lower professional service fees. The operating loss narrowed significantly to RMB7.0 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB23.7 million in the prior year. Non-GAAP operating income stood at RMB16.2 million (US$2.4 million).
What the Numbers Show
The divergence between live streaming revenues and game-related services highlights Huya's strategic pivot. While traditional live streaming faces headwinds, evidenced by a decline in that specific revenue stream, the company is successfully leveraging its user base for higher-margin game publishing and advertising. The 54.1% growth in game-related services, now accounting for 36.7% of total net revenues, suggests a structural shift in the revenue mix. Furthermore, the return to GAAP profitability despite higher sales and marketing spend indicates that the incremental revenue from game publishing carries better unit economics than the core streaming business, validating management's content-led game publishing model.
How sustainable is the 54.1% growth in game-related services given the heavy reliance on promotional spend for *Goose Goose Duck* mobile?
What specific strategies will Huya employ to reverse the decline in live streaming revenues, which still constitute the majority of its total net revenue?
Will the expanded $100 million share repurchase program signal confidence in long-term valuation, or is it primarily a mechanism to offset dilution from share-based compensation?


























