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Netflix Announces Q3 2008 Financial Results
Subscribers - 8.7 million
Revenue - $341.3 million
GAAP Net Income - $20.4 million
GAAP EPS - $0.33 per diluted share

LOS GATOS, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

"In the third quarter we delivered strong earnings growth despite a challenging economic environment that contributed to slower-than-expected subscriber growth," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. "Additionally, we made important progress in our expansion into Internet delivery with significant new content and hardware partnerships announced this past quarter."

Third-Quarter 2008 Financial Highlights

Subscribers. Netflix ended the third quarter of 2008 with approximately 8,672,000 total subscribers, representing 23 percent year-over-year growth from 7,028,000 total subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2007 and 3 percent sequential growth from 8,411,000 subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2008.

Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 261,000, compared to an increase of 286,000 for the same period of 2007 and an increase of 168,000 for the second quarter of 2008.

Gross subscriber additions for the quarter totaled 1,528,000, representing 18 percent year-over-year growth from 1,297,000 gross subscriber additions in the third quarter of 2007 and 10 percent quarter-over-quarter growth from 1,384,000 gross subscriber additions in the second quarter of 2008.

Of the 8,672,000 total subscribers at quarter end, 98 percent, or 8,490,000 were paid subscribers. The other 2 percent, or 182,000, were free subscribers. Paid subscribers represented 97 percent of total subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2007 and 98 percent of total subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2008.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2008 was $341.3 million, representing 16 percent year-over-year growth from $294.0 million for the third quarter of 2007, and 1 percent sequential increase from $337.6 million for the second quarter of 2008.

Gross margin(1) for the third quarter of 2008 was 34.2 percent, compared to 33.9 percent for the third quarter of 2007 and 31.8 percent for the second quarter of 2008.

GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $20.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $15.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007 and GAAP net income of $26.6 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008. GAAP net income grew 30 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 43 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Non-GAAP net income was $22.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008, compared to non-GAAP net income of $17.5 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007 and non-GAAP net income of $28.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income grew 27 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 38 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 for the third quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, compared to $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2007 and $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2008. 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 2008 was $32.21 per gross subscriber addition, compared to $37.89 for the same period of 2007 and $28.89 for the second quarter of 2008.

Churn(3) for the third quarter of 2008 was 4.2 percent, compared to 4.2 percent for the third quarter of 2007 and for the second quarter of 2008. 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 2008 was $26.2 million, compared to $36.2 million in the third quarter of 2007 and $12.7 million for the second quarter of 2008.

Cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter of 2008 was $73.2 million, compared to $77.7 million for the third quarter of 2007 and $78.1 million for the second quarter of 2008.

Business Outlook

The Company's performance expectations for the fourth quarter of 2008 and full-year 2008 are as follows:

  Fourth-Quarter 2008
  -- Ending subscribers of 8.85 million to 9.15 million, down from 8.95
     million to 9.25 million
  -- Revenue of $351 million to $357 million, down slightly from $353
     million to $359 million
  -- GAAP net income of $18 million to $23 million, unchanged from prior
     guidance
  -- GAAP EPS of $0.30 to $0.38 per diluted share, unchanged from prior
     guidance


  Updated Full-Year 2008
  -- Ending subscribers of 8.85 million to 9.15 million
  -- Revenue of $1.356 billion to $1.362 billion
  -- GAAP net income of $78.3 million to $83.3 million
  -- GAAP EPS of $1.24 to $1.32 per diluted share


  Float and Trading Plans

The Company estimates the public float at approximately 50,148,071 shares as of September 30, 2008, up slightly from 49,996,277 shares as of June 30, 2008, based on registered shares held in street name with the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation. From time to time executive officers of Netflix may elect to buy or sell stock in Netflix. All open market sales by executive officers 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/. 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. The company will read the questions aloud on the call and respond to as many questions as possible.

Following completion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be available at http://ir.netflix.com/. The telephone replay of the call will be available from approximately 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 20, 2008 through midnight on October 24, 2008. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 4207224.

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. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is the world's largest online movie rental service, with more than eight million subscribers. For one low monthly price, Netflix members can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and PCs, all in unlimited amounts. Members can choose from over 100,000 DVD titles and a growing library of more than 12,000 choices that can be watched instantly. There are never any due dates or late fees. DVDs are delivered free to members by first class mail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from 55 distribution centers. More than 95 percent of Netflix members live in areas that generally receive shipments in one business day. Netflix is also partnering with leading consumer electronics companies to offer a range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes to members' TVs from Netflix. 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, revenue, GAAP net income and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the full-year 2008. 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 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; changes in the costs of acquiring DVDs or electronic content; customer spending on DVDs and related products; disruption in service on our website or with our computer systems; 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 28, 2008. 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
                        September    June   September   September  September
                            30,       30,      30,         30,        30,
                           2008      2008     2007**      2008       2007**

  Revenues               $341,269  $337,614  $293,972  $1,005,066  $902,985
  Cost of revenues:
    Subscription          186,573   193,769   163,707     567,498   495,734
    Fulfillment
     expenses *            37,923    36,318    30,746     109,890    90,384
      Total cost of
       revenues           224,496   230,087   194,453     677,388   586,118
  Gross profit            116,773   107,527    99,519     327,678   316,867
  Operating expenses:
    Technology and
     development *         23,368    22,186    18,112      65,821    52,526
    Marketing *            49,217    39,984    49,149     144,096   166,508
    General and
     administrative *      11,742    13,419    12,863      38,900    38,834
    Gain on disposal of
     DVDs                  (1,628)   (2,263)   (2,310)     (4,724)   (5,500)
    Gain on legal
     settlement               -         -         -           -      (7,000)
      Total operating
       expenses            82,699    73,326    77,814     244,093   245,368
  Operating income         34,074    34,201    21,705      83,585    71,499
  Other income
   (expense):
    Interest expense on
     lease financing
     obligations             (677)     (681)     (296)     (1,781)     (893)
    Interest and other
     income (expense)       1,536     2,404     5,089      11,600    15,411
  Income before income
   taxes                   34,933    35,924    26,498      93,404    86,017
  Provision for income
   taxes                   14,562     9,345    10,851      33,110    35,100
  Net income              $20,371   $26,579   $15,647     $60,294   $50,917
  Net income per share:
    Basic                   $0.34     $0.43     $0.24       $0.98     $0.75
    Diluted                 $0.33     $0.42     $0.23       $0.95     $0.73
  Weighted average
   common shares
   outstanding:
    Basic                  60,408    61,782    66,469      61,651    67,723
    Diluted                62,272    63,857    68,090      63,658    69,560

  * Stock-based
   compensation included
   in expense line items:
    Fulfillment expenses     $126      $108       $99        $340      $327
    Technology and
     development              950       849     1,002       2,795     2,590
    Marketing                 460       455       547       1,424     1,599
    General and
     administrative         1,499     1,493     1,465       4,511     4,218

  Reconciliation of
   Non-GAAP Financial
   Measures
  (unaudited)
  Non-GAAP net income
   reconciliation:
  GAAP net income         $20,371   $26,579   $15,647     $60,294   $50,917
    Stock-based
     compensation           3,035     2,905     3,113       9,070     8,734
    Income tax effect of
     stock-based
     compensation          (1,266)     (755)   (1,276)     (3,298)   (3,560)
  Non-GAAP net income     $22,140   $28,729   $17,484     $66,066   $56,091
  Non-GAAP net income
   per share:
    Basic                   $0.37     $0.47     $0.26       $1.07     $0.83
    Diluted                 $0.36     $0.45     $0.26       $1.04     $0.81
  Weighted average
   common shares
   outstanding:
    Basic                  60,408    61,782    66,469      61,651    67,723
    Diluted                62,272    63,857    68,090      63,658    69,560

  ** Certain amounts have been corrected for the change in the accounting
     for two of our building leases.



  Netflix, Inc.
  Consolidated Balance Sheets
  (unaudited)
  (in thousands, except share and par value data)
                                                          As of
                                             September 30,      December 31,
                                                 2008               2007
  Assets
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                  $111,524           $177,439
    Short-term investments                      139,304            207,703
    Prepaid expenses                              9,982              6,116
    Prepaid revenue sharing expenses             15,274              6,983
    Deferred tax assets                           7,023              2,254
    Other current assets                         18,268             16,037
       Total current assets                     301,375            416,532
  Content library, net                          122,558            132,455
  Property and equipment, net                   128,541            113,175
  Deferred tax assets                            19,831             16,865
  Other assets                                   10,694              4,465
       Total assets                            $582,999           $683,492

  Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                           $109,277           $104,445
    Accrued expenses                             31,625             36,466
    Current portion lease financing obligations   1,090                823
    Deferred revenue                             65,897             71,665
       Total current liabilities                207,889            213,399
  Lease financing obligations,
   excluding current portion                     38,287             35,652
  Other liabilities                              11,990              4,629
       Total liabilities                        258,166            253,680
  Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $0.001 par value; 160,000,000
    shares authorized at September 30, 2008 and
    December 31, 2007; 59,119,998 and 64,912,915
    issued and outstanding at September 30, 2008
    and December 31, 2007, respectively              62                 65
   Additional paid-in capital                   331,489            402,710
   Treasury stock at cost (2,991,684 shares)    (90,028)               -
   Accumulated other comprehensive
    (loss) income                                (2,410)             1,611
   Retained earnings                             85,720             25,426
       Total stockholders' equity               324,833            429,812
       Total liabilities and
        stockholders' equity                   $582,999           $683,492



  Netflix, Inc.
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
  (unaudited)
  (in thousands)
                                Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                           September   June   September  September September
                              30,       30,      30,        30,       30,
                             2008      2008     2007*      2008      2007*
  Cash flows from
   operating activities:
   Net income               $20,371   $26,579   $15,647   $60,294   $50,917
   Adjustments to reconcile
    net income to net cash
    provided by operating
    activities:
     Depreciation and
      amortization of
      property, equipment
      and intangibles         8,643     8,188     5,945    23,313    16,057
     Amortization of
      content library        47,596    57,012    48,237   162,178   148,664
     Amortization of
      discounts and
      premiums on
      investments               122       177        23       436       (48)
     Stock-based
      compensation expense    3,035     2,905     3,113     9,070     8,734
     Excess tax benefits
      from stock-based
      compensation           (1,093)   (2,554)   (5,170)   (4,467)  (21,264)
     Gain (loss) on
      disposal of property
      and equipment              (1)      -         128       101       128
     Gain (loss) on sale
      of short-term
      investments               494        78      (170)   (3,746)     (364)
     Gain on disposal of
      DVDs                   (3,205)   (4,059)   (3,937)   (9,856)  (11,731)
     Deferred taxes          (3,894)   (2,502)     (358)   (7,255)   (1,235)
     Changes in operating
      assets and
      liabilities:
      Prepaid expenses and
       other current
       assets                  (209)  (10,659)      111    (8,306)   (4,495)
      Accounts payable       (1,056)    9,124     6,048     6,869      (387)
      Accrued expenses        4,730   (14,551)   11,433    (1,994)   33,376
      Deferred revenue       (1,989)     (489)   (4,201)   (5,768)  (13,357)
      Other assets and
       liabilities             (313)    8,896       814     8,376     1,026
        Net cash provided
         by operating
         activities          73,231    78,145    77,663   229,245   206,021
  Cash flows from
   investing activities:
   Purchases of short-term
    investments             (22,950)  (65,937)  (51,972) (180,841) (370,112)
   Proceeds from sale of
    short-term investments   50,609    21,682    41,264   247,610   165,379
   Purchases of property
    and equipment            (9,226)  (14,662)   (7,412)  (36,319)  (34,393)
   Acquisition of
    intangible asset            (62)   (1,000)      -      (1,062)      -
   Acquisitions of content
    library                 (41,564)  (55,175)  (39,452) (161,862) (165,346)
   Proceeds from sale of
    DVDs                      3,787     5,379     4,760    13,673    17,756
   Investment in business       -         -         -      (6,000)      -
   Other assets                   3        20       615        31       779
        Net cash used in
         investing
         activities         (19,403) (109,693)  (52,197) (124,770) (385,937)
  Cash flows from
   financing activities:
   Principal payments of
    lease financing
    obligations                (234)     (230)      (98)     (586)     (290)
   Proceeds from issuance
    of common stock           2,576     4,524       417    15,642     3,864
   Excess tax benefits
    from stock-based
    compensation              1,093     2,554     5,170     4,467    21,264
   Repurchases of common
    stock                   (90,028)      -     (35,333) (189,913)  (65,548)
        Net cash (used in)
         provided by
         financing
         activities         (86,593)    6,848   (29,844) (170,390)  (40,710)
  Net decrease in cash
   and cash equivalents     (32,765)  (24,700)   (4,378)  (65,915) (220,626)
  Cash and cash
   equivalents, beginning
   of period                144,289   168,989   184,182   177,439   400,430
  Cash and cash
   equivalents, end of
   period                  $111,524  $144,289  $179,804  $111,524  $179,804

  Non-GAAP free cash flow
   reconciliation:
   Net cash provided by
    operating activities    $73,231   $78,145   $77,663  $229,245  $206,021
   Purchases of property
    and equipment            (9,226)  (14,662)   (7,412)  (36,319)  (34,393)
   Acquisition of
    intangible asset            (62)   (1,000)      -      (1,062)      -
   Acquisitions of content
    library                 (41,564)  (55,175)  (39,452) (161,862) (165,346)
   Proceeds from sale of
    DVDs                      3,787     5,379     4,760    13,673    17,756
   Other assets                   3        20       615        31       779
   Non-GAAP free cash flow  $26,169   $12,707   $36,174   $43,706   $24,817

  * Certain amounts have been corrected for the change in the accounting for
    two of our building leases.



  Netflix, Inc.
  Consolidated Other Data
  (unaudited)
  (in thousands, except percentages, average monthly revenue per paying
  subscriber and subscriber acquisition cost)

                                           As of / Three Months Ended
                                     September 30,   June 30,  September 30,
                                          2008         2008         2007*
  Subscriber information:
   Subscribers: beginning of period         8,411        8,243        6,742
   Gross subscriber additions: during
    period                                  1,528        1,384        1,297
    Gross subscriber additions year-
     to-year change                         17.8%        34.6%        (1.0%)
    Gross subscriber additions
     quarter-to-quarter sequential
     change                                 10.4%       (25.7%)       26.2%
   Less subscriber cancellations:
    during period                          (1,267)      (1,216)      (1,011)
   Subscribers: end of period               8,672        8,411        7,028
   Subscribers year-to-year change          23.4%        24.8%        24.1%
   Subscribers quarter-to-quarter
    sequential change                        3.1%         2.0%         4.2%
  Free subscribers: end of period             182          176          183
   Free subscribers as percentage of
    ending subscribers                       2.1%         2.1%         2.6%
  Paid subscribers: end of period           8,490        8,235        6,845
   Paid subscribers year-to-year
    change                                  24.0%        24.6%        24.7%
   Paid subscribers quarter-to-
    quarter sequential change                3.1%         1.6%         3.6%
  Average monthly revenue per paying
   subscriber                              $13.60       $13.78       $14.57
  Churn                                      4.2%         4.2%         4.2%
  Subscriber acquisition cost              $32.21       $28.89       $37.89
  Margins:
   Gross margin                             34.2%        31.8%        33.9%
   Operating margin                         10.0%        10.1%         7.4%
   Net margin                                6.0%         7.9%         5.3%
  Expenses as percentage of revenues:
   Technology and development                6.8%         6.6%         6.2%
   Marketing                                14.4%        11.8%        16.7%
   General and administrative                3.4%         4.0%         4.4%
   Gain on disposal of DVDs                 (0.4%)       (0.7%)       (0.8%)
    Total operating expenses                24.2%        21.7%        26.5%
  Year-to-year change:
   Total revenues                           16.1%        11.2%        14.9%
   Fulfillment expenses                     23.3%        21.6%        30.4%
   Technology and development               29.0%        18.0%        53.1%
   Marketing                                 0.1%       (11.6%)      (17.2%)
   General and administrative               (8.7%)       (2.9%)       29.7%
   Gain on disposal of DVDs                (29.5%)       (0.8%)      102.3%
    Total operating expenses                 6.3%         6.9%        (2.7%)

  * Certain amounts have been corrected for the change in the accounting for
    two of our building leases.

SOURCE: Netflix, Inc.

CONTACT: IR, Deborah Crawford, VP, Investor Relations, +1-408-540-3712,
or PR, Steve Swasey, VP, Corporate Communications, +1-408-540-3947, both of
Netflix, Inc.

Web site: http://www.netflix.com/


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