LOS GATOS, Calif., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX [1]) today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.
"Our business momentum is strong and our third quarter performance keeps us solidly on course for a record 2009," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. "Our differentiated service, which combines DVDs delivered quickly by mail and movies streamed instantly over the Internet, is a key element driving our growth."
Third-Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights
Subscribers. Netflix ended the third quarter of 2009 with approximately 11,109,000 total subscribers, representing 28 percent year-over-year growth from 8,672,000 total subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2008 and 5 percent sequential growth from 10,599,000 subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2009.
Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 510,000 compared to an increase of 261,000 for the same period of 2008 and an increase of 289,000 for the second quarter of 2009.
Gross subscriber additions for the quarter totaled 2,180,000, representing 43 percent year-over-year growth from 1,528,000 gross subscriber additions in the third quarter of 2008 and 13 percent quarter-over-quarter growth from 1,936,000 gross subscriber additions in the second quarter of 2009.
Of the 11,109,000 total subscribers at quarter end, 98 percent, or 10,835,000, were paid subscribers. The other 2 percent, or 274,000, were free subscribers. Paid subscribers represented 98 percent of total subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2008 and at the end of the second quarter of 2009.
Revenue for the third quarter of 2009 was $423.1 million, representing 24 percent year-over-year growth from $341.3 million for the third quarter of 2008, and a 4 percent sequential increase from $408.5 million for the second quarter of 2009.
Gross margin(1) for the third quarter of 2009 was 34.9 percent compared to 34.2 percent for the third quarter of 2008 and 34.1 percent for the second quarter of 2009.
GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2009 was $30.1 million, or $0.52 per diluted share compared to GAAP net income of $20.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008 and GAAP net income of $32.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009. GAAP net income grew 48 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 58 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Non-GAAP net income was $32.1 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared to non-GAAP net income of $22.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008 and non-GAAP net income of $34.4 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net income grew 45 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 53 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Non-GAAP net income equals net income on a GAAP basis before stock-based compensation expense, net of taxes.
Stock-based compensation was $3.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared to $3.0 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2009. Stock-based compensation is presented in the same lines of the Consolidated Statements of Operations as cash compensation paid to the same individuals.
Subscriber acquisition cost(2) for the third quarter of 2009 was $26.86 per gross subscriber addition compared to $32.21 for the same period of 2008 and $23.88 for the second quarter of 2009.
Churn(3) for the third quarter of 2009 was 4.4 percent compared to 4.2 percent for the third quarter of 2008 and 4.5 percent for the second quarter of 2009. Churn includes free subscribers as well as paying subscribers who elect not to renew their monthly subscription service during the quarter.
Free cash flow(4) for the third quarter of 2009 was $25.5 million compared to $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2008 and $26.3 million for the second quarter of 2009.
Cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter of 2009 was $78.3 million compared to $60.5 million for the third quarter of 2008 and $75.3 million for the second quarter of 2009.
Business Outlook
The Company's performance expectations for the fourth quarter of 2009 and full-year 2009 are as follows:
Fourth-Quarter 2009
Full-Year 2009
Earnings Call
The Netflix earnings call will be webcast today at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and may be accessed at http://ir.netflix.com [2]. The call will consist of prepared remarks, followed by a Q&A with questions submitted via email. Please email your questions to dcrawford@netflix.com [3]. The company will read the questions aloud on the call and respond to as many questions as possible. All media inquiries should be directed to Steve Swasey at (408) 540-3947or sswasey@netflix.com [4].
Following completion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be available at http://ir.netflix.com [2]. The telephone replay of the call will be available from approximately 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 22, 2009 through midnight on October 26, 2009. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 6312456.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Management believes that non-GAAP net income is a useful measure of operating performance because it excludes the non-cash impact of stock option accounting. In addition, management believes that free cash flow is a useful measure of liquidity because it excludes the non-operational cash flows from purchases and sales of short-term investments, cash flows from investment in business and cash flows from financing activities. However, these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, net income and net cash provided by operating activities, or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation to the GAAP equivalents of these non-GAAP measures is contained in tabular form on the attached unaudited financial statements.
About Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is the world's largest online movie rental service, with more than 11 million subscribers. For only $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. There are never any due dates or late fees. Netflix members can exchange DVDs as often as they want using a postage-paid return envelope. Members can choose from a vast selection of DVD titles and a growing library of movies and TV episodes that can be watched instantly. Netflix is partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring to market a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to members' TVs. These devices currently include Blu-ray disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon, Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com/ [5].
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our subscriber growth, revenue, GAAP net income and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the full-year 2009. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ, including, without limitation: our ability to attract new subscribers and retain existing subscribers, especially in the current uncertain economic environment; our ability to manage our subscriber acquisition cost as well as the cost of content delivered to our subscribers; fluctuations in consumer usage of our service; the continued availability of content on terms and conditions acceptable to us; maintenance and expansion of device platforms for instant streaming; the deterioration of the U.S. economy and its affect on online commerce or the filmed entertainment industry; conditions that effect our delivery through the U.S. Postal Service, including regulatory changes and postal rate increases; changes in the costs of acquiring DVDs or electronic content; consumer spending on DVDs and related products; disruption in service on our website or with our computer systems; competition and widespread consumer adoption of different modes of viewing in-home filmed entertainment. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2009. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
1 Gross margin is defined as revenues less cost of subscription and
fulfillment expenses divided by revenues.
2 Subscriber acquisition cost is defined as the total marketing expense,
which includes stock-based compensation for marketing personnel, on the
Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations divided by total gross
subscriber additions during the quarter.
3 Churn is defined as customer cancellations in the quarter divided by the
sum of beginning subscribers and gross subscriber additions, divided by
three months.
4 Free cash flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities and
investing activities excluding the non-operational cash flows from
purchases and sales of short-term investments and cash flows from
investment in business.
Netflix, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------ -----------------
Sept. 30, June 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
2009 2009** 2008 2009** 2008
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Revenues $423,120 $408,509 $341,269 $1,225,727 $1,005,066
Cost of
revenues:
Subscription 233,091 227,316 186,573 677,863 567,498
Fulfillment
expenses * 42,183 41,927 37,923 125,922 109,890
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Total cost
of revenues 275,274 269,243 224,496 803,785 677,388
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Gross profit 147,846 139,266 116,773 421,942 327,678
Operating
expenses:
Technology and
development * 30,014 27,119 23,368 81,333 65,821
Marketing * 58,556 46,231 49,217 167,029 144,096
General and
administrative * 11,543 13,252 11,742 37,809 38,900
Gain on disposal
of DVDs (1,604) (118) (1,628) (2,819) (4,724)
------ ---- ------ ------ ------
Total
operating
expenses 98,509 86,484 82,699 283,352 244,093
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Operating income 49,337 52,782 34,074 138,590 83,585
Other income
(expense):
Interest expense
on lease
financing
obligations (674) (674) (677) (2,018) (1,781)
Interest and other
income
(expense) 1,808 866 1,536 4,284 11,600
----- --- ----- ----- ------
Income before
income taxes 50,471 52,974 34,933 140,856 93,404
Provision for
income taxes 20,330 20,531 14,562 55,909 33,110
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Net income $30,141 $32,443 $20,371 $84,947 $60,294
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net income per
share:
Basic $0.54 $0.56 $0.34 $1.48 $0.98
Diluted $0.52 $0.54 $0.33 $1.43 $0.95
Weighted average
common shares
outstanding:
Basic 56,146 57,872 60,408 57,576 61,651
Diluted 57,938 59,660 62,272 59,427 63,658
*Stock-based
compensation
included in
expense line items:
Fulfillment
expenses $99 $102 $126 $321 $340
Technology and
development 1,169 1,190 950 3,430 2,795
Marketing 452 458 460 1,353 1,424
General and
administrative 1,512 1,528 1,499 4,538 4,511
Reconciliation of
Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
(unaudited)
Non-GAAP net income
reconciliation:
GAAP net income $30,141 $32,443 $20,371 $84,947 $60,294
Stock-based
compensation 3,232 3,278 3,035 9,642 9,070
Income tax effect
of stock-
based
compensation (1,302) (1,272) (1,266) (3,833) (3,298)
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Non-GAAP net
income $32,071 $34,449 $22,140 $90,756 $66,066
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Non-GAAP net income
per share:
Basic $0.57 $0.60 $0.37 $1.58 $1.07
Diluted $0.55 $0.58 $0.36 $1.53 $1.04
Weighted average
common shares
outstanding:
Basic 56,146 57,872 60,408 57,576 61,651
Diluted 57,938 59,660 62,272 59,427 63,658
**Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to
current period presentation.
Netflix, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and par value data)
As of
------
September 30, December 31,
2009 2008
---- ----
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $55,717 $139,881
Short-term investments 99,745 157,390
Prepaid expenses 11,947 8,122
Prepaid revenue sharing expenses 10,671 18,417
Current content library, net 32,937 18,691
Deferred tax assets 5,706 5,617
Other current assets 18,239 13,329
------ ------
Total current assets 234,962 361,447
Content library, net 104,539 98,547
Property and equipment, net 122,119 124,948
Deferred tax assets 17,244 22,409
Other assets 13,267 10,595
------ ------
Total assets $492,131 $617,946
======== ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $93,451 $100,344
Accrued expenses 29,606 31,394
Current portion of lease financing
obligations 1,342 1,152
Deferred revenue 79,123 83,127
------ ------
Total current liabilities 203,522 216,017
Lease financing obligations, excluding current
portion 36,940 37,988
Other liabilities 19,467 16,786
------ ------
Total liabilities 259,929 270,791
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000,000
shares authorized at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008; 54,642,694 and 58,862,478
issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009
and December 31, 2008, respectively 64 62
Additional paid-in capital 378,549 338,577
Treasury stock at cost (9,144,939 and
3,491,084 shares at September 30, 2009 and
December 31, 2008, respectively) (340,362) (100,020)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net 552 84
Retained earnings 193,399 108,452
------- -------
Total stockholders' equity 232,202 347,155
------- -------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $492,131 $617,946
======== ========
Netflix, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------ -----------------
Sept. 30, June 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30, Sept. 30,
2009 2009 2008 2009 2008
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Cash flows from
Operating
activities:
Net income $30,141 $32,443 $20,371 $84,947 $60,294
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
to net cash
provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and
amortization
of property,
equipment and
intangibles 9,618 9,013 8,643 27,806 23,313
Amortization of
content
library 56,690 53,235 47,596 159,229 162,178
Amortization of
discounts and
premiums on
investments 126 119 122 439 438
Stock-based
compensation
expense 3,232 3,278 3,035 9,642 9,070
Excess tax
benefits from
stock-based
compensation (1,600) (3,815) (1,093) (9,099) (4,467)
Loss (gain) on
disposal of
property and
equipment - 110 (1) 254 101
(Gain) loss on
sale of
short-term
investments (984) 101 494 (1,455) (3,748)
Gain on disposal
of DVDs (2,491) (506) (3,205) (5,030) (9,856)
Deferred taxes (71) 5,404 (3,894) 4,710 (7,255)
Changes in
operating
assets and
liabilities:
Prepaid expenses
and other
current
assets 7,625 (8,845) (7,022) (1,611) (15,219)
Content
library (9,998) (9,343) (5,773) (41,432) (37,167)
Accounts
payable (13,173) (6,549) (744) (11,150) 15,028
Accrued
expenses 2,175 (234) 4,730 6,272 (1,994)
Deferred
revenue (1,372) (128) (1,989) (4,004) (5,768)
Other
assets and
liabilities (1,607) 1,019 (775) (272) 6,989
------ ----- ---- ---- -----
Net cash
provided by
operating
activities 78,311 75,302 60,495 219,246 191,937
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Cash flows from
investing activities:
Purchases
of short-term
investments (21,006) (28,769) (22,950) (102,159) (180,841)
Proceeds from sale
of short-term
investments 85,904 7,832 50,004 130,669 245,440
Proceeds from
maturities of
short-term
investments 3,480 26,175 605 30,985 2,170
Purchases of
property and
equipment (9,994) (6,933) (9,226) (23,499) (36,319)
Acquisitions
of intangible
asset - - (62) (200) (1,062)
Acquisitions of
content library (46,273) (43,224) (28,828) (135,996) (124,554)
Proceeds from sale
of DVDs 3,345 1,159 3,787 7,230 13,673
Investment in
business - - - - (6,000)
Other assets 134 11 3 143 31
--- -- - --- --
Net cash
provided by
(used in)
investing
activities 15,590 (43,749) (6,667) (92,827) (87,462)
------ ------- ------ ------- -------
Cash flows from
financing activities:
Principal payments
of lease
financing
obligations (294) (295) (234) (858) (586)
Proceeds from
issuance of
common stock 2,725 9,778 2,576 26,092 15,642
Excess tax benefits
from stock-based
compensation 1,600 3,815 1,093 9,099 4,467
Repurchases of
common stock (129,686) (72,511) (90,028) (244,916) (189,913)
-------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Net cash
used in
financing
activities (125,655) (59,213) (86,593) (210,583) (170,390)
-------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Net decrease
in cash
and cash
equivalents (31,754) (27,660) (32,765) (84,164) (65,915)
Cash and cash
equivalents,
beginning of
period 87,471 115,131 144,289 139,881 177,439
------ ------- ------- ------- -------
Cash and cash
equivalents,
end of
period $55,717 $87,471 $111,524 $55,717 $111,524
======= ======= ======== ======= ========
Non-GAAP free cash
flow reconciliation:
Net cash provided
by operating
activities $78,311 $75,302 $60,495 $219,246 $191,937
Purchases of
property and
equipment (9,994) (6,933) (9,226) (23,499) (36,319)
Acquisitions of
intangible asset - - (62) (200) (1,062)
Acquisitions of
content library (46,273) (43,224) (28,828) (135,996) (124,554)
Proceeds from sale
of DVDs 3,345 1,159 3,787 7,230 13,673
Other assets 134 11 3 143 31
--- -- - --- --
Non-GAAP free
cash flow $25,523 $26,315 $26,169 $66,924 $43,706
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Netflix, Inc.
Consolidated Other Data
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except percentages, average monthly revenue per paying
subscriber, average monthly gross profit per paying subscriber and
subscriber acquisition cost)
As of / Three Months Ended
--------------------------
September 30, June 30, September 30,
2009 2009 2008
---- ---- ----
Subscriber information:
Subscribers: beginning of
period 10,599 10,310 8,411
Gross subscriber
additions: during period 2,180 1,936 1,528
Gross subscriber
additions year-to-year
change 42.7% 39.9% 17.8%
Gross subscriber
additions quarter-to-
quarter sequential
change 12.6% (19.8%) 10.4%
Less subscriber
cancellations: during
period (1,670) (1,647) (1,267)
Subscribers: end of period 11,109 10,599 8,672
Subscribers year-to-year
change 28.1% 26.0% 23.4%
Subscribers quarter-to-
quarter sequential change 4.8% 2.8% 3.1%
Free subscribers: end of
period 274 224 182
Free subscribers as
percentage of ending
subscribers 2.5% 2.1% 2.1%
Paid subscribers: end of
period 10,835 10,375 8,490
Paid subscribers year-to-
year change 27.6% 26.0% 24.0%
Paid subscribers quarter-
to-quarter sequential
change 4.4% 2.6% 3.1%
Average monthly revenue per
paying subscriber $13.30 $13.29 $13.60
Average monthly gross profit
per paying subscriber $4.65 $4.53 $4.65
Churn 4.4% 4.5% 4.2%
Subscriber acquisition cost $26.86 $23.88 $32.21
Margins:
Gross margin 34.9% 34.1% 34.2%
Operating margin 11.6% 13.0% 10.0%
Net margin 7.1% 7.9% 6.0%
Expenses as percentage of revenues:
Technology and development 7.1% 6.6% 6.8%
Marketing 13.8% 11.3% 14.4%
General and administrative 2.7% 3.2% 3.4%
Gain on disposal of DVDs (0.3%) 0.0% (0.4%)
---- --- ----
Total operating expenses 23.3% 21.1% 24.2%
Year-to-year change:
Total revenues 24.0% 21.0% 16.1%
Subscription 24.9% 17.3% 14.0%
Fulfillment expenses 11.2% 15.4% 23.3%
Technology and development 28.4% 22.2% 29.0%
Marketing 19.0% 15.6% 0.1%
General and administrative (1.7%) (1.2%) (8.7%)
Gain on disposal of DVDs (1.5%) (94.8%) (29.5%)
Total operating expenses 19.1% 17.9% 6.3%
Links:
[1] http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/prnews?Page=Quote&Ticker=NFLX
[2] http://ir.netflix.com/
[3] mailto:dcrawford@netflix.com
[4] mailto:sswasey@netflix.com
[5] http://www.netflix.com/