EX-99.1 2 ex991q418pressrelease.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit


ostklogoa15.jpg

Public Relations:
pr@overstock.com

Investor Relations:
ir@overstock.com


Overstock.com Reports Q4 2018 Results
Consolidated revenue of $453 million (-1% growth) and pre-tax loss of $49.9 million;
CEO commits to a return to profitability for the retail business in 2019, commits Retail will generate a minimum positive $10 million operating cash flow for 2019

SALT LAKE CITY - March 18, 2019 - Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK), a tech-driven online retailer and advancer of blockchain technology, today reported financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2018.


My fellow shareholders,

Our blockchain projects are some of the most significant and cutting edge in the world, and we are just reaching the point where our products are being introduced to the public. In particular, tZERO brought live a security token trading platform. Our retail arm lost money last year because I gunned things in an attempt to create a conventional high-growth/money losing e-commerce business, but the losses were nauseating and we reverted back to the philosophy of profitability on which we built Overstock: as a result, in 2019 Retail will return to profitability, generating a positive operating cash flow ≥ $10M.

I encourage you to tune in to our 2018 earnings call for a more robust discussion on all facets of Overstock.

Your humble servant,

Patrick M. Byrne
CEO and Founder


Key metrics (Q4 2018 vs. Q4 2017):
Revenue: $452.5M vs. $456.3M (1% decrease);
Gross profit: $81.6M vs. $85.8M (5% decrease);
Gross margin: 18.0% vs. 18.8% (78 basis point decrease);
Sales and marketing expense: $47.5M vs. $54.5M (13% decrease);
Technology/G&A expense: $82.5M vs. $54.0M (53% increase);
Pre-tax loss: $49.9M vs. $24.9M ($25.0M increase);
Pre-tax loss - Retail: $27.7M ($10.1M increase)
Pre-tax loss - tZERO: $12.6M ($9.1M increase)
Pre-tax loss - Other: $9.6M ($5.8M increase)

1



Net loss*: $42.3M vs. $95.7M ($53.4M decrease);
Diluted net loss per share: $1.39/share vs. $3.72/share ($2.33/share decrease);
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP financial measure): ($30.4M) vs. ($17.9M) ($12.5M decrease);
Adjusted EBITDA - Retail: ($19.1M) ($8.5M decrease)
Adjusted EBITDA - tZERO: ($7.8M) ($5.7M decrease)
Adjusted EBITDA - Other: ($3.5M) ($1.7M increase).

*Net loss refers to Net loss attributable to stockholders of Overstock.com, Inc.

We will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss our Q4 and full-year 2018 financial results on Monday, March 18, 2019, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Webcast information

To access the live webcast and presentation slides, go to http://investors.overstock.com. To listen to the conference call via telephone, dial (877) 673-5346 and enter conference ID 3244508 when prompted. Participants outside the U.S. or Canada who do not have Internet access should dial +1 (724) 498-4326 then enter the conference ID provided above.

A replay of the conference call will be available at http://investors.overstock.com starting two hours after the live call has ended. An audio replay of the webcast will be available via telephone starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday, March 18, 2019, through 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday, April 1, 2019. To listen to the recorded webcast by phone, dial (855) 859-2056 then enter the conference ID provided above. Outside the U.S. or Canada dial +1 (404) 537-3406 and enter the conference ID provided above.

Please email questions in advance of the call to ir@overstock.com.

Key financial and operating metrics:

Investors should review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

Total net revenue - Total net revenue was $452.5 million and $456.3 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively, a 1% decrease. This decrease was primarily due to a 4% decrease in orders driven by a 13% reduction in sales and marketing expenses. We also had an increase in promotional activities, including coupons and site sales (which we recognize as a reduction of revenue), due to our driving a higher proportion of sales using such promotions. The decrease in orders was partially offset by a 3% increase in average order size (excluding promotional activities) primarily due to a continued sales mix shift into higher-priced products.

Gross profit - Gross profit was $81.6 million and $85.8 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively, a 5% decrease, representing 18.0% and 18.8% gross margin for those respective periods. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to increased promotional activities, partially offset by a continued shift in sales mix into higher margin products.

Sales and marketing expenses - Sales and marketing expenses totaled $47.5 million and $54.5 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively, a 13% decrease, representing 10.5% and 11.9% of total net revenue for those respective periods. This decrease in sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to decreased spending in the sponsored search, display ads on social media, and television marketing channels.

Technology expenses - Technology expenses totaled $34.6 million and $29.9 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively, a 16% increase, representing 7.6% and 6.6% of total revenue for those respective

2



periods. The increase was primarily due to a $2.5 million increase in technology licenses and a $2.0 million increase in staff-related costs.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses - G&A expenses totaled $47.9 million and $24.1 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively, a 99% increase, representing 10.6% and 5.3% of total revenue for those respective periods. The increase was primarily due to a $6.0 million increase in impairments on indefinite-lived intangible assets, a $5.1 million increase in staff-related costs, a $3.6 million increase in losses on the disposal of various businesses and assets, a $3.5 million increase in consulting and outside services expenses, and a $2.0 million increase in legal expenses.

Other expense, net - Other expense, net totaled $2.0 million and $1.6 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase is primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in losses on equity holdings and other assets, and a $0.8 million decrease in Club O and gift card breakage which we began recognizing as a component of revenue in 2018 following the adoption of ASC 606, partially offset by a $2.2 million decrease in debt retirement charges.

Provision (benefit) for income taxes - Provision (benefit) for income taxes totaled ($1.9) million and $71.9 million for Q4 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease is due to changes related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and recording a full valuation on our deferred tax assets in Q4 2017.

Net cash used in operating activities - Net cash used in operating activities was $138.9 million and $35.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The $103.7 million increase is primarily due to increased consolidated net loss.

Free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) - Free cash flow totaled ($167.6) million and ($58.8) million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The $108.8 million decrease was due to a $103.7 million decrease in operating cash flow and a $5.1 million increase in capital expenditures.

Cash - We had cash and cash equivalents of $141.5 million and $203.2 million at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to operating losses, cash used for acquisitions and other investments, and the repayment of our building loan, partially offset by proceeds received from our tZERO security token offering, the exercise of a stock warrant in Q1 2018, and proceeds from an at-the-market offering during Q3 2018.


About Overstock.com
Overstock.com, Inc Common Shares (NASDAQ:OSTK) / Series A Preferred (Medici Ventures’ tZERO platform: OSTKP) / Series B Preferred (OTCQX:OSTBP) is an online retailer and technology company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s leading e-commerce website sells a broad range of new products at low prices, including furniture, décor, rugs, bedding, home improvement, jewelry, and more. The online shopping site, which is visited by nearly 40 million customers a month, also features a marketplace providing customers access to millions of products from third-party sellers. Overstock was the first major retailer to accept cryptocurrency in 2014, and in the same year founded Medici Ventures, its wholly-owned subsidiary developing and accelerating blockchain technologies to democratize capital, eliminate middlemen, and re-humanize commerce. Overstock regularly posts information about the company and other related matters on the Newsroom and Investor Relations pages on its website, Overstock.com.

# # #

O, Overstock.com, O.com, Club O, Main Street Revolution, and Worldstock are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. O.biz and Space Shift are also trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners.


Average order size is measured at the time of order, before promotional discounts and shipping revenue.


3



This press release and the March 18, 2019 conference call and webcast to discuss our financial results may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including forecasts of trends. Additionally, certain statements included herein, including our statements regarding commitments are forward-looking statements that do not offer any guarantees, personal or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are inherently difficult to predict. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, the amount and timing of our capital expenditures, the significant increases in our marketing expenditures in the first half of 2018 and the subsequent reduction of those expenditures, the results of our ongoing review of strategic initiatives including the possible sale of our e-commerce business, initiatives to improve the performance of our retail business and the recent reduction in our workforce, adverse tax, regulatory or legal developments, competition, and any inability to achieve profitability, generate positive cash flow from operations, raise capital, or borrow funds on acceptable terms. Other risks and uncertainties include, among others, the inherent risks associated with the businesses that Medici Ventures, Inc. ("Medici Ventures") and tZERO Group, Inc. ("tZERO") are pursuing, including whether tZERO's joint venture with Box Digital Markets, LLC will be able to achieve its objectives, the regulatory, technical, operational and other obstacles tZERO faces in each of its initiatives, the effects of key business personnel moving from our retail business to our Medici Ventures and tZERO businesses or otherwise leaving, our continually evolving business model, difficulties we may have with our infrastructure, our fulfillment partners or our payment processors, including cyber-attacks or data breaches affecting us or any of them, and difficulties we may have with our search engine optimization results. More information about factors that could potentially affect our financial results is included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2019, and in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form 10-K and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in or contemplated by our projections, estimates and other forward-looking statements.



4




Overstock.com, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, unaudited)
 
December 31,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
Assets
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
141,512

 
$
203,215

Restricted cash
1,302

 
455

Accounts receivable, net
35,930

 
30,080

Inventories, net
14,108

 
13,703

Prepaids and other current assets
22,415

 
17,744

Total current assets
215,267

 
265,197

Fixed assets, net
134,687

 
129,343

Deferred tax assets, net
109

 

Intangible assets, net
13,370

 
7,337

Goodwill
22,895

 
14,698

Equity investments
60,427

 
13,024

Other long-term assets, net
14,464

 
4,216

Total assets
$
461,219

 
$
433,815

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
102,574

 
$
85,406

Accrued liabilities
87,858

 
82,611

Deferred revenue
50,578

 
46,468

Other current liabilities, net
476

 
178

Total current liabilities
241,486

 
214,663

Long-term debt, net
3,069

 

Long-term debt, net - related party

 
39,909

Other long-term liabilities
5,958

 
7,120

Total liabilities
250,513

 
261,692

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized shares - 5,000
 

 
 

Series A, issued and outstanding - 127 and 127

 

Series B, issued and outstanding - 355 and 555

 

Common stock, $0.0001 par value
 

 
 

Authorized shares -100,000
 

 
 

Issued shares - 35,346 and 30,632
 

 
 

Outstanding shares - 32,146 and 27,497
3

 
3

Additional paid-in capital
657,981

 
494,732

Accumulated deficit
(458,897
)
 
(254,692
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(584
)
 
(599
)
Treasury stock:
 

 
 

Shares at cost - 3,200 and 3,135
(66,757
)
 
(63,816
)
Equity attributable to stockholders of Overstock.com, Inc.
131,746

 
175,628

Equity attributable to noncontrolling interests
78,960

 
(3,505
)
Total stockholders' equity
210,706

 
172,123

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
461,219

 
$
433,815


5



Overstock.com, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 
Three months ended  
 December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue, net
 
 
 
Retail
$
446,733

 
$
451,996

Other
5,815

 
4,294

Total net revenue
452,548

 
456,290

Cost of goods sold
 
 
 
Retail
366,712

 
367,561

Other
4,256

 
2,931

Total cost of goods sold
370,968

 
370,492

Gross profit
81,580

 
85,798

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Sales and marketing
47,537

 
54,521

Technology
34,557

 
29,896

General and administrative
47,930

 
24,096

Total operating expenses
130,024

 
108,513

Operating loss
(48,444
)
 
(22,715
)
Interest income
661

 
209

Interest expense
(98
)
 
(798
)
Other loss, net
(1,999
)
 
(1,573
)
Loss before income taxes
(49,880
)
 
(24,877
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,939
)
 
71,915

Consolidated net loss
$
(47,941
)
 
$
(96,792
)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(5,614
)
 
(1,102
)
Net loss attributable to stockholders of Overstock.com, Inc.
$
(42,327
)
 
$
(95,690
)
Net loss per common share—basic:
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to common shares—basic
$
(1.39
)
 
$
(3.72
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
32,112

 
25,103

Net loss per common share—diluted:
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to common shares—diluted
$
(1.39
)
 
$
(3.72
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
32,112

 
25,103



6



Overstock.com, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 
Year ended  
 December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue, net
 

 
 

Retail
$
1,800,187

 
$
1,728,104

Other
21,405

 
16,652

Total net revenue
1,821,592

 
1,744,756

Cost of goods sold
 

 
 

Retail
1,452,195

 
1,392,558

Other
15,489

 
11,647

Total cost of goods sold
1,467,684

 
1,404,205

Gross profit
353,908

 
340,551

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

Sales and marketing
274,479

 
180,589

Technology
132,154

 
115,878

General and administrative
164,481

 
90,718

Total operating expenses
571,114

 
387,185

Operating loss
(217,206
)
 
(46,634
)
Interest income
2,208

 
659

Interest expense
(1,468
)
 
(2,937
)
Other income (loss), net
(3,488
)
 
1,178

Loss before income taxes
(219,954
)
 
(47,734
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(2,384
)
 
64,188

Consolidated net loss
$
(217,570
)
 
$
(111,922
)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
(11,500
)
 
(2,044
)
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders of Overstock.com, Inc.
$
(206,070
)
 
$
(109,878
)
Net loss per common share---basic:
 

 
 

Net loss attributable to common shares---basic
$
(6.83
)
 
$
(4.28
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
29,976

 
25,044

Net loss per common share---diluted:
 

 
 

Net loss attributable to common shares---diluted
$
(6.83
)
 
$
(4.28
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
29,976

 
25,044



7



Overstock.com, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, unaudited)
 
Year ended December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 

 
 

Consolidated net loss
$
(217,570
)
 
$
(111,922
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation of fixed assets
26,411

 
28,848

Amortization of intangible assets
5,286

 
3,999

Stock-based compensation to employees and directors
14,356

 
4,077

Deferred income taxes, net
(2,386
)
 
65,199

Gain on investment in precious metals

 
(1,971
)
Gain on sale of cryptocurrencies
(8,370
)
 
(1,995
)
Loss on equity investments, net
2,828

 
5,995

Loss on disposal of business and other asset abandonments
3,565

 

Impairment on indefinite-lived intangible assets
6,000

 

Impairment of cryptocurrencies
10,463

 

Early extinguishment costs of long-term debts
283

 
2,464

Other
711

 
368

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
 

 
 

Accounts receivable, net
(5,558
)
 
(1,938
)
Inventories, net
628

 
5,234

Prepaids and other current assets
(3,622
)
 
(2,799
)
Other long-term assets, net
(2,870
)
 
(2,307
)
Accounts payable
16,499

 
(20,995
)
Accrued liabilities
5,661

 
(12,311
)
Deferred revenue
9,150

 
4,688

Other long-term liabilities
(399
)
 
145

Net cash used in operating activities
(138,934
)
 
(35,221
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Proceeds from sale of precious metals

 
11,917

Purchase of intangible assets
(9,597
)
 
(423
)
Investment in equity securities
(48,731
)
 
(5,188
)
Disbursement of note receivable
(3,059
)
 
(750
)
Deposit on purchase of a business
(8,000
)
 

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
(12,912
)
 

Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development
(28,680
)
 
(23,586
)
Other
56

 
70

Net cash used in investing activities
(110,923
)
 
(17,960
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Payments on capital lease obligations
(496
)
 
(83
)
Payments on finance obligations

 
(15,316
)
Payments on interest swap

 
(1,535
)
Payments on long-term debt
(40,000
)
 
(45,766
)
Proceeds from long-term debt

 
40,000

Payments of preferred dividends
(77
)
 
(109
)
Proceeds from issuance and exercise of stock warrants
50,588

 
106,462

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 
664

Proceeds from security token offering, net of offering costs and withdrawals
82,354

 
905

Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of offering costs
94,554

 

Paid in capital for noncontrolling interest
6,700

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 
(10,000
)
Payments of taxes withheld upon vesting of restricted stock
(4,622
)
 
(1,229
)
Payment of debt issuance costs

 
(670
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
189,001

 
73,323

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(60,856
)
 
20,142

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
203,670

 
183,528

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
$
142,814

 
$
203,670



8



Segment Financial Information

Segment information has been prepared in accordance with ASC Topic 280 Segment Reporting. We determined our segments based on how we manage our business. We use pre-tax net income (loss) as the measure to determine our reportable segments. In the fourth quarter of 2018, we completed our review of our segment reporting and we no longer consider the split of retail direct and retail partner as a distinct and relevant measure of our business. Accordingly, Direct and Partner are no longer considered separate reportable segments but are included under Retail in our Business Segment disclosures. Our Medici business includes one reportable segment, tZERO. The remainder of our Medici business is not significant as compared to our Retail and tZERO segments. Our Other segment consists of Medici Ventures' remaining operations.

Our Retail segment primarily consists of amounts earned through e-commerce sales through our Website and the associated costs incurred for our Retail business and also includes the costs of our administrative functions such as finance, human resources, and legal, excluding intercompany transactions eliminated in consolidation.

Our tZERO segment primarily consists of amounts earned through securities transactions through our broker-dealers and costs incurred to execute our tZERO business initiatives, excluding intercompany transactions eliminated in consolidation.

Our Other segment consists of Medici Ventures' remaining operations, excluding tZERO and intercompany transactions eliminated in consolidation.

The following table summarizes information about reportable segments and includes a reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss) (in thousands):

 
Three months ended, December 31
 
Retail
 
tZERO
 
Other
 
Total
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Total net revenue
$
446,733

 
$
4,963

 
$
852

 
$
452,548

Cost of goods sold
366,712

 
3,404

 
852

 
370,968

Gross profit
80,021

 
1,559

 

 
81,580

Operating expenses
106,573

 
13,885

 
9,566

 
130,024

Interest and other expense, net
(1,130
)
 
(280
)
 
(26
)
 
(1,436
)
Pre-tax loss
$
(27,682
)
 
$
(12,606
)
 
$
(9,592
)
 
(49,880
)
Benefit for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,939
)
Net loss

 

 

 
$
(47,941
)
 

 
 
 

 

2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net revenue
$
451,996

 
$
4,159

 
$
135

 
$
456,290

Cost of goods sold
367,561

 
2,931

 

 
370,492

Gross profit
84,435

 
1,228

 
135

 
85,798

Operating expenses
101,193

 
4,701

 
2,619

 
108,513

Interest and other expense, net
(810
)
 

 
(1,352
)
 
(2,162
)
Pre-tax loss
$
(17,568
)
 
$
(3,473
)
 
$
(3,836
)
 
(24,877
)
Provision for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
71,915

Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(96,792
)


9



 
Year ended, December 31
 
Retail
 
tZERO
 
Other
 
Total
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Total net revenue
$
1,800,187

 
$
19,043

 
$
2,362

 
$
1,821,592

Cost of goods sold
1,452,195

 
13,127

 
2,362

 
1,467,684

Gross profit
347,992

 
5,916

 

 
353,908

Operating expenses
506,113

 
47,006

 
17,995

 
571,114

Interest and other income (expense), net
(476
)
 
233

 
(2,505
)
 
(2,748
)
Pre-tax loss
$
(158,597
)
 
$
(40,857
)
 
$
(20,500
)
 
(219,954
)
Benefit for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2,384
)
Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(217,570
)
 

 
 
 
 
 

2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net revenue
$
1,728,104

 
$
16,493

 
$
159

 
$
1,744,756

Cost of goods sold
1,392,558

 
11,647

 

 
1,404,205

Gross profit
335,546

 
4,846

 
159

 
340,551

Operating expenses
365,648

 
17,101

 
4,436

 
387,185

Interest and other income (expense), net
4,680

 

 
(5,780
)
 
(1,100
)
Pre-tax loss
$
(25,422
)
 
$
(12,255
)
 
$
(10,057
)
 
(47,734
)
Provision for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
64,188

Net loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(111,922
)

Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow (a non-GAAP financial measure) reflects an additional way of viewing our cash flows and liquidity that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows and liquidity. Free cash flow, which we reconcile below to "Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities," the nearest GAAP financial measure, is net cash provided by (used in) operating activities reduced by "Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development." We believe that net cash provided by (used in) operating activities is an important measure, since it includes both the cash impact of the continuing operations of the business and changes in the balance sheet that impact cash. We believe free cash flow is a useful measure to evaluate our business since purchases of fixed assets are a necessary component of ongoing operations and free cash flow measures the amount of cash we have available for mandatory debt service and financing obligations, changes in our capital structure, and future investments after purchases of fixed assets. Free cash flow measures have limitations as they omit certain components of the overall consolidated statement of cash flows and do not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Free cash flow should not be considered a substitute for net income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a complement to our entire consolidated statements of cash flows as reconciled below (in thousands):

 
Year ended December 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
(138,934
)
 
$
(35,221
)
Expenditures for fixed assets, including internal-use software and website development
(28,680
)
 
(23,586
)
Free cash flow
$
(167,614
)
 
$
(58,807
)

10



Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, interest and other income and (expense), provision (benefit) for income taxes, and special items. We have included Adjusted EBITDA in this earnings release because it reflects an additional way of viewing the operating performance at both the consolidated and segment level that is used internally in analyzing our financial results and we believe it is useful to investors, as a supplement to GAAP measures, in evaluating our ongoing operational performance. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis. Exclusion of items in the non-GAAP presentation should not be construed as an inference that these items are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. We have provided a reconciliation below of our segment and consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Adjusted EBITDA is used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. You should review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations such as: 
    
Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect stock-based compensation and related taxes;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect adjustments related to the carrying values of our equity interests in unconsolidated entities;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest expenses associated with our borrowings;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to us;
Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in our working capital; and
Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduces its usefulness as a comparative measure.

The following table reflects the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):


11



 
 Three months ended December 31,
 
 2018
 
 2017
Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
Retail
$
(19,116
)
 
$
(10,608
)
tZERO
(7,816
)
 
(2,077
)
Other
(3,453
)
 
(5,173
)
Adjusted EBITDA
(30,385
)
 
(17,858
)
Less: Special items (see table below)
9,565

 

Less: Depreciation and amortization
8,664

 
8,113

Less: Stock-based compensation
2,702

 
1,068

Less: Interest and other income (expense), net
(1,436
)
 
(2,162
)
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,939
)
 
71,915

Net loss
$
(47,941
)
 
$
(96,792
)
 


 
 
Special items:
 
 
 
Impairments on intangible assets
$
6,000

 
$

Losses on the disposal of various businesses and assets
3,565

 

 
$
9,565

 
$


 
 Year ended December 31,
 
 2018
 
 2017
Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
Retail
$
(112,489
)
 
$
11,155

tZERO
(24,805
)
 
(7,252
)
Other
(15,953
)
 
(15,813
)
Adjusted EBITDA
(153,247
)
 
(11,910
)
Less: Special items (see table below)
23,402

 

Less: Depreciation and amortization
31,697

 
32,847

Less: Stock-based compensation
14,356

 
4,077

Less: Interest and other income (expense), net
(2,748
)
 
(1,100
)
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(2,384
)
 
64,188

Net loss
$
(217,570
)
 
$
(111,922
)
 


 
 
Special items:
 
 
 
Impairments on intangible assets
$
6,000

 
$

Losses on the disposal of various businesses
3,565

 

Cryptocurrency impairments and gains on sale, net
443

 

Severance
1,600

 

Special legal expenses (1)
11,794

 

 
$
23,402

 
$

 ___________________________________________
(1) Special legal expenses include charges associated with our Delaware gift card escheatment matter and legal fees associated with pursuing our strategic alternatives.


12