Overview
Sea Limited, formerly known as Garena, is a Singapore-based tech conglomerate founded in 2009, now operating across three core digital businesses: e‑commerce (Shopee), digital entertainment (Garena), and financial services (Monee) . It’s the largest consumer internet company by revenue in Southeast Asia, delivering $16.8 billion in revenue in 2024 . Listed on the NYSE since 2017, Sea is helmed by founder & CEO Forrest Li . Its diversified ecosystem and aggressive expansion have made it a dominant regional player. In recent years, the company achieved profitability, marking a turnaround from previous years of net losses
Most Recent Earnings
Sea reported strong Q4 2024 results with $4.95 billion in sales (+37% YoY) and $0.39 EPS, far exceeding analyst expectations of $0.30 EPS on $4.65 billion revenue . E-commerce, led by Shopee, was a key driver—Shopee revenue jumped 41.3% YoY, and adjusted EBITDA for the e‑commerce segment improved to a profit of $152 million (from a $225 million loss last year) . Guidance for 2025 anticipates ~20% GMV growth for Shopee . In early 2025, analysts forecast 20% revenue growth (to ~$4.55 b) and a 264% jump in EPS to $0.51 for Q2 2025, while Q1 adjusted EBITDA soared 136% to $946.5 million .
Company History, Founders, Funding, Products & Competitors
Sea began as Garena in 2009 under Singaporean entrepreneur Forrest Li . After raising US$550 million in 2017, the company rebranded as Sea Limited while retaining the Garena brand for its gaming operations . Sea’s three main verticals are:
- Garena (Gaming/Digital Entertainment) – Developer and publisher behind Free Fire and distributor of titles like League of Legends; Free Fire reached over 100 million daily users by early 2024 .
- Shopee (E‑commerce) – Launched in 2015, now the largest e‑commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and expanding into Latin America .
- Monee (formerly SeaMoney) – Digital financial services including payments, lending, wallets, and banking; rebranded in 2025, with a loan book exceeding $5 billion .
Key competitors include Alibaba’s Lazada, Tokopedia, Bukalapak in e‑commerce; Tencent and NetEase in gaming; and GrabPay and GoPay in fintech .
Market & Growth Expectations
Sea operates within the rapidly expanding Southeast Asian digital economy, spanning e‑commerce, gaming, and fintech. Projections predict continued high growth in these sectors, particularly with e‑commerce adoption and digital payments accelerating. Analysts liken its growth trajectory to long-term winners like Amazon, MercadoLibre, and Coupang . While exact 2030 CAGR estimates aren’t cited, optimistic projections suggest sustained double-digit expansion across its verticals driven by regional digital adoption.
Competitor Landscape
In e‑commerce, Shopee vies with Lazada (backed by Alibaba), along with Tokopedia and Bukalapak in Indonesia . Garena faces stiff competition from Tencent and NetEase in gaming . In fintech, Monee contends with regional super-apps like GrabPay and GoPay .
Unique Differentiation
Sea’s strength lies in its integrated ecosystem—users across gaming, e‑commerce, and financial services reinforce each other, driving cross-platform engagement and monetization . Its mobile-first approach tailored to Southeast Asia’s digitally savvy and mobile-heavy population also superbly positions it regionally.
Management Overview (Max 3)
- Forrest Li (Founder & CEO) – Founded Garena in 2009 and remains CEO; pivotal in transforming Sea into a multi‑vertical digital powerhouse .
- (Only one key executive is cited in sources; additional named executives aren’t readily available.)
Financial Performance (Last 5 Years)
Sea’s revenue surged to $16.8 billion in 2024, marking rapid growth from prior years . After years of losses, the company achieved its first profitable year since IPO in 2023 with net income turning positive, and net income tripled to US$444 million in 2024 . The Q4 2024 quarter alone saw EPS rise to $0.39 vs a $0.19 loss a year prior . The balance sheet has benefitted from improved cash flow and profitability across its segments, though quantitative CAGR figures for revenue and earnings aren’t specified. Overall, the trajectory reflects robust growth and improving financial health.
Bull Case
- Integrated, diversified ecosystem across three high-growth digital verticals
- Strong regional dominance in e‑commerce (Shopee), gaming (Garena), and expanding fintech footprint (Monee)
- Return to profitability, with improving margins and positive EBITDA trends
Bear Case
- Intensifying competition from global and regional digital giants
- Regulatory and geopolitical risks across diverse Southeast Asian markets
- Execution risk in balancing growth and sustained profitability
Analyst Reactions to Earnings
Following Q4 2024, Sea stock was rated neutral by Deutsche Bank, while JPMorgan held a positive/overweight stance . As of mid‑2025, 27 of 34 analysts rate the stock a “buy” .
Valuation Table vs Top 3 Competitors
- Shopee (Sea Limited): Revenue $16.8B (2024), net income improving, strong market cap growth
- Lazada (Alibaba): Large-scale, established e-commerce player with broader global backing
- Tokopedia/Bukalapak: Strong Indonesia focus, regional players with notable reach but behind in cross-vertical integration
The stock has a strong cup and handle pattern on the monthly chart and is on a stage 4 decline on the weekly chart. The daily chart is in stage 3 decline as well looking for a point to reverse, which could be in the $138 – $145 range.
