EX-99.1 3 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

 

FOR RELEASE AT 1:02 PM PST   IR CONTACT:   Deborah Crawford
Wednesday, October 15, 2003      

Director of Investor Relations

408 317-3712

    PR CONTACT:  

Lynn Brinton

Director of Corporate

Communications

408 317-3726

 

 

NETFLIX REPORTS THIRD QUARTER GAAP NET INCOME OF $3.3 MILLION

AND NON-GAAP NET INCOME OF $6.1 MILLION

 

    Revenue of $72.2 million, up 77 percent year-over-year and up 14 percent sequentially.

 

    GAAP net income of $3.3 million or $0.10 per diluted share.

 

    Non-GAAP net income of $6.1 million or $0.19 per diluted share.

 

    Non-GAAP free cash flow of $7.9 million. GAAP net cash provided by operating activities of $22.0 million.

 

LOS GATOS, CA — October 15, 2003 — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) announced record financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. “This record quarter and the consistent, steady progress we’ve made as a public company shows the power of our business model and its ability to scale as our subscriber base grows,” said Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix. “Service improvements continue to fuel our evangelical grassroots marketing efforts and to push retention to an all-time high.”

 

1


Revenue, Subscribers, and Churn

 

Total revenue for the third quarter was a record $72.2 million, up 77 percent compared to $40.7 million for the third quarter 2002, and up 14 percent compared to $63.2 million for the second quarter 2003.

 

Netflix ended the third quarter of 2003 with approximately 1,291,000 total subscribers, up 144,000 or 13% sequentially. During the quarter Netflix acquired 383,000 new trial subscribers, a 38 percent year-over-year increase from the 277,000 new trial subscribers acquired in the third quarter of 2002 and a sequential increase of 17 percent from the 327,000 new trial subscribers acquired in the second quarter of 2003. For a graphical presentation of the Company’s household penetration growth for its metro shipping markets, please link to: http://ir.netflix.com/news/hubgrowth2.pdf.

 

Average monthly subscriber churn1 for the third quarter of 2003 was 5.2 percent as compared to 7.2 percent in the third quarter of 2002 and 5.6 percent in the second quarter of 2003. Churn improved across the subscriber base during the quarter in response to steady improvements in the quality of the Netflix service. Churn includes free trial subscribers as well as paying subscribers who elect not to renew their monthly subscription service during the quarter.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margin for the third quarter was 46.5 percent, up from 44.2 percent in the second quarter of 2003. Gross margin increased in the third quarter due to lower than expected content costs. Disc usage per average paid subscriber increased slightly during the quarter.

 

Subscriber Acquisition Cost

 

Subscriber acquisition cost2 for the third quarter was $31.81 per new-trial subscriber compared to a cost of $33.57 for the third quarter of 2002 and a cost of $30.45 for the second quarter of 2003. The Company continues to benefit from rapid growth in word of mouth as an acquisition source.

 

 

 


1 Monthly churn is defined as customer cancellations in the quarter divided by the sum of beginning subscribers and gross subscriber additions, divided by three months. This is the same churn definition as previously given but restated in plain-English for clarity.

 

2


GAAP Net Income (Loss), Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss), and Free Cash Flow

 

Netflix reported GAAP net income of $3.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2003 compared to a GAAP net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2002 and GAAP net income of $3.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2003.

 

Non-GAAP net income was $6.1 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2003 compared to a Non-GAAP net loss of $228 thousand, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2002 and Non-GAAP net income of $5.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2003. Non-GAAP net income (loss) equals net income (loss) on a GAAP basis before stock-based compensation expense.

 

Free cash flow for the third quarter 2003 was $7.9 million or 11 percent of revenue, up 36 percent from $5.8 million in the third quarter of 2002 and up 82 percent compared to $4.3 million for the second quarter of 2003. This is the Company’s eighth consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2003, the Company generated $22.3 million of free cash flow and finished the third quarter with $124.4 million of cash and short-term investments. Less outstanding debt of $0.6 million, this equates to net cash of $123.8 million or $3.94 per diluted share. Non-GAAP free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less cash flows used in investing activities excluding purchases and sales of short-term investments. Cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter 2003 was $22.0 million, up 99 percent from $11.1 million in the third quarter 2002 and down 7 percent compared to $23.6 million for the second quarter of 2003.

 

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

 

Management believes that Non-GAAP net income (loss) 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

 

 

 


2 “Subscriber acquisition cost” (“SAC”) is defined as the total marketing expense on the Company’s Statement of Operations divided by total new trial subscribers in the quarter.

 

3


because it excludes the non-operational cash flows from purchases and sales of short-term investments 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 (loss) 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.

 

Revised Guidance

 

The Company revised guidance for the fourth quarter as follows:

 

    Ending subscribers of 1,425 to 1,475 thousand, from 1,400 to 1,475 thousand

 

    Revenue of $77 to $81 million, from $74 to $80 million

 

    GAAP net loss of $0.2 million to net income of $2.3 million, from a net loss of $2.5 million to net income of $1.5 million

 

    Non-GAAP net income before stock-based compensation expense of $3.0 to $6.0 million, from $0.5 to $3.5 million

 

    Gross margin of 42.5 to 44.5 percent, from 42 to 44 percent

 

    SAC of $30 to $33, from $32 to $35

 

    Churn of 4.9 to 5.4 percent, from 5.2 to 5.8 percent

 

Float, Lock Up Expiration, and Diluted Shares

 

The Company estimates the public float at approximately 17,212,257 shares as of September 30, 2003 based on registered shares held in street name with the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation. The IPO lock up has expired, and no outstanding shares are subject to a lock-up agreement of any kind. From time to time executive officers of Netflix may elect to sell stock in Netflix. All such sales are made pursuant to the terms of 10b5-1 Trading Plans approved by the Company and generally adopted no less than three months prior to the first date of sale under such plan.

 

Earnings Call

 

The Netflix earnings call will be webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and may be accessed at http://ir.netflix.com or at

 

4


http://www.prnewswire.com. Following the conclusion of the webcast, a replay of the call will be available via Netflix’s website at http://ir.netflix.com. For those without access to the Internet, a replay of the call will be available from 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 15, 2003 through October 22, 2003. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 711903. The Company plans to include discussion of its business outlook in the conference call.

 

About Netflix

 

Launched in 1998, Netflix is the world’s largest online movie rental service, providing more than one million subscribers with access to a comprehensive library of more than 15,000 DVD titles. For $19.95 a month, Netflix subscribers can rent as many DVDs as they want, with three movies out at a time, and keep them for as long as they like. There are no due dates and no late fees. DVDs are delivered directly to the subscriber’s address by first-class mail from shipping centers throughout the United States. Netflix can reach more than 70 percent of its subscribers with generally overnight delivery. The Company also provides background information on DVD releases, including critic reviews, member reviews and ratings and personalized movie recommendations. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.

 

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, revenues, GAAP net income (loss), Non-GAAP net income (loss), gross margin, subscriber acquisition cost and churn for the fourth quarter of 2003. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ, including, without limitation: our ability to manage our growth, in particular managing our subscriber acquisition cost as well as the mix between revenue sharing titles and titles not subject to revenue sharing that are delivered to our subscribers; our ability to attract new subscribers and retain existing subscribers; fluctuations in consumer usage of our service, customer spending on DVD players, DVDs and related products; competition; disruption in service on our website or with our computer systems; deterioration of the U.S. economy or conditions specific to online commerce or the filmed entertainment industry; conditions that effect our delivery through the U.S. Postal Service, including increases in first class postage; increases in the costs of acquiring DVDs; 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 SEC on March 31, 2003. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

 

5


Netflix, Inc.

Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended  
 
   
    

September 30,

2002

   

June 30,

2003

   

September 30,

2003

        

September 30,

2002

   

September 30,

2003

 
 
   

Revenues:

                                             

Subscription

   $ 40,163     $ 63,071     $ 71,278          $ 105,840     $ 189,630  

Sales

     568       116       924            1,778       1,428  

   

Total revenues

     40,731       63,187       72,202            107,618       191,058  

Cost of revenues:

                                             

Subscription

     21,147       35,148       38,326            53,798       103,402  

Sales

     349       93       322            948       494  

   

Total cost of revenues

     21,496       35,241       38,648            54,746       103,896  

   

Gross profit

     19,235       27,946       33,554            52,872       87,162  

Operating expenses:

                                             

Fulfillment

     4,908       7,221       8,322            13,917       21,926  

Technology and development

     3,966       4,123       4,738            10,665       13,044  

Marketing

     9,299       9,957       12,183            25,291       35,347  

General and administrative

     1,870       2,093       2,678            4,817       7,019  

Stock-based compensation

     2,622       1,704       2,777            6,115       6,887  

   

Total operating expenses

     22,665       25,098       30,698            60,805       84,223  

   

Operating income (loss)

     (3,430 )     2,848       2,856            (7,933 )     2,939  

Other income (expense):

                                             

Interest and other income

     711       560       534            1,060       1,675  

Interest and other expense

     (131 )     (95 )     (87 )          (11,821 )     (373 )

   

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,850 )   $ 3,313     $ 3,303          $ (18,694 )   $ 4,241  

   

Net income (loss) per share:

                                             

Basic

   $ (.13 )   $ .14     $ .14          $ (1.64 )   $ .18  

   

Diluted

   $ (.13 )   $ .11     $ .10          $ (1.64 )   $ .14  

   

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

                                             

Basic

     21,922       23,648       24,086            11,395       23,495  

   

Diluted

     21,922       30,812       31,460            11,395       30,684  

   
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures                                              

(Unaudited)

                                             
Non-GAAP net income (loss) reconciliation:                                              

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,850 )   $ 3,313     $ 3,303          $ (18,694 )   $ 4,241  

Add back:

                                             

Stock-based compensation

     2,622       1,704       2,777            6,115       6,887  

Non-cash interest on early repayment of debt

     —         —         —              10,695       —    

   

Non-GAAP net income (loss)

   $ (228 )   $ 5,017     $ 6,080          $ (1,884 )   $ 11,128  

   

Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share:

                                             

Basic

   $ (.01 )   $ .21     $ .25          $ (.17 )   $ .47  

   

Diluted

   $ (.01 )   $ .16     $ .19          $ (.17 )   $ .36  

   

 

6


Netflix, Inc.

Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     As of  
 
    

December 31,

2002

   

September 30,

2003

 
 
Assets                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 59,814     $ 79,170  

Short-term investments

     43,796       45,237  

Prepaid expenses

     2,753       1,943  

Prepaid revenue sharing expenses

     303       957  

Other current assets

     409       295  

Total current assets

     107,075       127,602  

DVD library, net

     9,972       18,441  

Intangible assets, net

     6,094       3,704  

Property and equipment, net

     5,620       6,586  

Deposits

     1,690       1,684  

Other assets

     79       847  

Total assets

   $ 130,530     $ 158,864  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                 

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 20,350     $ 28,459  

Accrued expenses

     9,102       10,954  

Deferred revenue

     9,743       13,771  

Current portion of capital lease obligations

     1,231       371  

Total current liabilities

     40,426       53,555  

Deferred rent

     288       263  

Capital lease obligations, less current portion

     460       185  

Total liabilities

     41,174       54,003  

Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 and 80,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003, respectively; 22,445,795 and 24,227,548 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003, respectively

     22       24  

Additional paid-in capital

     260,067       265,791  

Deferred stock-based compensation

     (11,702 )     (6,508 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     774       1,118  

Accumulated deficit

     (159,805 )     (155,564 )

Total stockholders’ equity

     89,356       104,861  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 130,530     $ 158,864  

 

7


Netflix, Inc.

Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended  
 
   
    

September 30,

2002

   

June 30,

2003

   

September 30,

2003

        

September 30,

2002

   

September 30,

2003

 
 
   
Cash flows from operating activities:                                              

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,850 )   $ 3,313     $ 3,303          $ (18,694 )   $ 4,241  

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

                                             

Depreciation of property and equipment

     1,576       1,140       1,118            4,481       3,591  

Amortization of DVD library

     4,663       9,392       12,323            11,568       28,335  

Amortization of intangible assets

     808       808       773            2,333       2,390  

Noncash charges for equity instruments granted to non-employees

     40       —         —              40       —    

Stock-based compensation expense

     2,622       1,704       2,777            6,115       6,887  

Gain on disposal of DVDs

     (512 )     (94 )     (868 )          (1,469 )     (1,329 )

Noncash interest expense

     37       36       16            11,353       84  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                                             

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (505 )     (398 )     65            (316 )     270  

Accounts payable

     4,777       5,791       450            4,433       8,109  

Accrued expenses

     289       769       660            3,564       1,852  

Deferred revenue

     113       1,167       1,377            2,242       4,028  

Deferred rent

     16       (8 )     (8 )          45       (25 )

   

Net cash provided by operating activities

     11,074       23,620       21,986            25,695       58,433  

   
Cash flows from investing activities:                                              

Purchases of short-term investments

     (467 )     (363 )     (354 )          (42,614 )     (1,097 )

Purchases of property and equipment

     (719 )     (2,400 )     (1,596 )          (1,563 )     (4,557 )

Acquisitions of DVD library

     (5,673 )     (17,027 )     (13,467 )          (15,314 )     (36,903 )

Proceeds from sale of DVDs

     568       116       924            1,778       1,428  

Deposits and other assets

     524       20       11            533       (762 )

   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (5,767 )     (19,654 )     (14,482 )          (57,180 )     (41,891 )

   
Cash flows from financing activities:                                              

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     91       1,496       988            86,606       4,033  

Repurchases of common stock

     —         —         —              (3 )     —    

Principal payments on notes payable and capital lease obligations

     (836 )     (261 )     (551 )          (16,928 )     (1,219 )

   

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (745 )     1,235       437            69,675       2,814  

   

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     4,562       5,201       7,941            38,190       19,356  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     49,759       66,028       71,229            16,131       59,814  

   

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 54,321     $ 71,229     $ 79,170          $ 54,321     $ 79,170  

   
Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow reconciliation:                                              

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 11,074     $ 23,620     $ 21,986          $ 25,695     $ 58,433  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (719 )     (2,400 )     (1,596 )          (1,563 )     (4,557 )

Acquisitions of DVD library

     (5,673 )     (17,027 )     (13,467 )          (15,314 )     (36,903 )

Proceeds from sale of DVDs

     568       116       924            1,778       1,428  

Deposits and other assets

     524       20       11            533       (762 )

   

Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow

   $ 5,774     $ 4,329     $ 7,858          $ 11,129     $ 17,639  

   

 

8


Netflix, Inc.

Other Data

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except subscriber acquisition cost)

 

     Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended  
 
   
    

September 30,

2002

   

June 30,

2003

   

September 30,

2003

        

September 30,

2002

   

September 30,

2003

 
 
   

Subscribers:

                                             

New trial subscribers: during period

     277       327       383            825       1,127  

New trial subscribers year-to-year change

     158.9 %     38.6 %     38.3 %          143.4 %     36.6 %

New trial subscribers quarter-to-quarter sequential change

     17.4 %     (21.6 %)     17.1 %                     

Subscribers: end of period

     742       1,147       1,291            742       1,291  

Subscribers year-to-year change

     122.2 %     71.2 %     74.0 %          122.2 %     74.0 %

Subscribers quarter-to-quarter sequential change

     10.7 %     9.0 %     12.6 %                     

Free subscribers: end of period

     34       46       49            34       49  

Free subscribers as percentage of ending subscribers

     4.6 %     4.0 %     3.8 %          4.6 %     3.8 %

Paid subscribers: end of period

     708       1,101       1,242            708       1,242  

Year-to-year change

     124.8 %     73.9 %     75.4 %          124.8 %     75.4 %

Quarter-to-quarter sequential change

     11.8 %     9.1 %     12.8 %                     

Subscriber churn (monthly)

     7.2 %     5.6 %     5.2 %          7.0 %     5.5 %

Subscriber acquisition cost

   $ 33.5 7   $ 30.4 5   $ 31.8 1        $ 30.6 6   $ 31.3 6

   

Margins:

                                             

Gross margin

     47.2 %     44.2 %     46.5 %          49.1 %     45.6 %

Operating margin

     (8.4 %)     4.5 %     4.0 %          (7.4 %)     1.5 %

Net margin

     (7.0 %)     5.2 %     4.6 %          (17.4 %)     2.2 %

Non-GAAP net margin

     (0.6 %)     7.9 %     8.4 %          (1.8 %)     5.8 %

Expenses as percentage of revenues:

                                             

Fulfillment

     12.0 %     11.4 %     11.5 %          12.9 %     11.5 %

Technology and development

     9.7 %     6.5 %     6.6 %          9.9 %     6.8 %

Marketing

     22.8 %     15.8 %     16.9 %          23.5 %     18.5 %

General and administrative

     4.6 %     3.3 %     3.7 %          4.5 %     3.7 %

   

Operating expenses before stock-based compensation

     49.2 %     37.0 %     38.7 %          50.8 %     40.5 %

Stock-based compensation

     6.4 %     2.7 %     3.8 %          5.7 %     3.6 %

   

Total operating expenses

     55.6 %     39.7 %     42.5 %          56.5 %     44.1 %

   

Year-to-year change:

                                             

Total revenues

     115.8 %     73.8 %     77.3 %          98.2 %     77.5 %

Fulfillment

     49.5 %     48.8 %     69.6 %          32.7 %     57.5 %

Technology and development

     (11.1 %)     17.2 %     19.5 %          (28.1 %)     22.3 %

Marketing

     170.0 %     23.6 %     31.0 %          78.3 %     39.8 %

General and administrative

     86.4 %     27.8 %     43.2 %          35.8 %     45.7 %

   

Operating expenses before stock-based compensation and restructuring charges

     64.4 %     29.5 %     39.3 %          27.0 %     41.4 %

Restructuring charges

     (100 %)                      (100 %)      

Stock-based compensation

     64.0 %     (29.9 %)     5.9 %          12.3 %     12.6 %

   

Total operating expenses

     56.7 %     22.5 %     35.4 %          23.7 %     38.5 %

   

 

9


Netflix, Inc.

Non-GAAP Guidance Reconciliation Schedule

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

    

Fourth Quarter, 2003

Guidance Range

 
Non-GAAP net income (loss) reconciliation:               

Net income (loss)

   $ (200 )   $ 2,300

Add back:

              

Stock-based compensation

     3,200       3,700

Non-GAAP net income

   $ 3,000     $ 6,000

 

10


Netflix Market Penetration

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

Time from Commencement of 1 Day Service

5.4%

7 Hubs  Opened in '03

12 Hubs  Opened in '02

SF Bay Area