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Netflix Announces Q1 2009 Financial Results

Subscribers - 10.3 million

Revenue - $394.1 million

GAAP Net Income - $22.4 million

GAAP EPS - $0.37 per diluted share

LOS GATOS, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix, Inc. today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.

"First quarter results showed strong momentum driven by consumer attraction to our unlimited rental proposition," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer. "We added more net subscribers than in any previous quarter in our history and grew year-over-year GAAP EPS by 76 percent."

First-Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights

Subscribers. Netflix ended the first quarter of 2009 with approximately 10,310,000 total subscribers, representing 25 percent year-over-year growth from 8,243,000 total subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2008 and 10 percent sequential growth from 9,390,000 subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 920,000 compared to an increase of 764,000 for the same period of 2008 and an increase of 718,000 for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Gross subscriber additions for the quarter totaled 2,413,000, representing 30 percent year-over-year growth from 1,862,000 gross subscriber additions in the first quarter of 2008 and 16 percent quarter-over-quarter growth from 2,085,000 gross subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Of the 10,310,000 total subscribers at quarter end, 98 percent, or 10,116,000, were paid subscribers. The other 2 percent, or 194,000, were free subscribers. Paid subscribers represented 98 percent of total subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2008 and at the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.

Revenue for the first quarter of 2009 was $394.1 million, representing 21 percent year-over-year growth from $326.2 million for the first quarter of 2008, and a 10 percent sequential increase from $359.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Gross margin(1) for the first quarter of 2009 was 34.2 percent compared to 31.7 percent for the first quarter of 2008 and 35.2 percent for the fourth quarter of 2008.

GAAP net income for the first quarter of 2009 was $22.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share compared to GAAP net income of $13.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 and GAAP net income of $22.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. GAAP net income grew 68 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 76 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Non-GAAP net income was $24.2 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2009 compared to non-GAAP net income of $15.2 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008 and non-GAAP net income of $24.6 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income grew 59 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 74 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 $3.1 million for the first quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2008 and $3.2 million for the fourth 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 first quarter of 2009 was $25.79 per gross subscriber addition compared to $29.48 for the same period of 2008 and $26.67 for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Churn(3) for the first quarter of 2009 was 4.2 percent compared to 3.9 percent for the first quarter of 2008 and 4.2 percent for the fourth 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 first quarter of 2009 was $15.1 million compared to $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $51.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2009 was $65.6 million compared to $64.1 million for the first quarter of 2008 and $92.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Business Outlook

The Company's performance expectations for the second quarter of 2009 and full-year 2009 are as follows:

Second-Quarter 2009

  • Ending subscribers of 10.4 million to 10.6 million
  • Revenue of $403 million to $409 million
  • GAAP net income of $27 million to $32 million
  • GAAP EPS of $0.44 to $0.53 per diluted share

Full-Year 2009

  • Ending subscribers of 11.2 million to 11.8 million, up from 10.6 million to 11.3 million
  • Revenue of $1.63 billion to $1.67 billion, up from $1.58 billion to $1.635 billion
  • GAAP net income of $96 million to $106 million, up from $88 million to $98 million
  • GAAP EPS of $1.56 to $1.72 per diluted share, up from $1.43 to $1.59 per diluted share

Float and Trading Plans

The Company estimates the public float at approximately 49,881,757 shares as of March 31, 2009, down slightly from 50,150,991 shares as of December 31, 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 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and may be accessed at http://ir.netflix.comhttp://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.comhttp://ir.netflix.com. The telephone replay of the call will be available from approximately 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 23, 2009 through midnight on April 27, 2009. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 1494991.

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 ten 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 58 distribution centers. More than 97 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/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 second 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; 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
                                             ------------------
                                      March 31, December 31, March 31,
                                         2009       2008       2008
                                         ----       ----       ----

    Revenues                           $394,098   $359,595   $326,183
    Cost of revenues:
      Subscription                      215,299    193,635    187,156
      Fulfillment expenses *             43,969     39,211     35,649
                                         ------     ------     ------
        Total cost of revenues          259,268    232,846    222,805
                                        -------    -------    -------
    Gross profit                        134,830    126,749    103,378
    Operating expenses:
      Technology and development *       24,200     24,052     20,267
      Marketing *                        62,242     55,617     54,895
      General and administrative *       13,014     10,762     13,739
      Gain on disposal of DVDs           (1,097)    (1,603)      (833)
                                         ------     ------       ----
        Total operating expenses         98,359     88,828     88,068
                                         ------     ------     ------
    Operating income                     36,471     37,921     15,310
    Other income (expense):
      Interest expense on lease
       financing obligations               (670)      (677)      (423)
      Interest and other income
       (expense)                          1,610        852      7,660
                                          -----        ---      -----
    Income before income taxes           37,411     38,096     22,547
    Provision for income taxes           15,048     15,364      9,203
                                         ------     ------      -----
    Net income                          $22,363    $22,732    $13,344
                                        =======    =======    =======
    Net income per share:
      Basic                               $0.38      $0.39      $0.21
      Diluted                             $0.37      $0.38      $0.21
    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:
      Basic                              58,734     58,906     62,776
      Diluted                            60,709     60,311     64,840

    *Stock-based compensation included
     in expense line items:
      Fulfillment expenses                 $120       $126       $106
      Technology and development          1,071      1,095        996
      Marketing                             443        462        509
      General and administrative          1,498      1,511      1,519

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial
     Measures
    (unaudited)
    Non-GAAP net income reconciliation:
    GAAP net income                     $22,363    $22,732    $13,344
      Stock-based compensation            3,132      3,194      3,130
      Income tax effect of stock-based
       compensation                      (1,259)    (1,287)    (1,277)
                                         ------     ------     ------
    Non-GAAP net income                 $24,236    $24,639    $15,197
                                        =======    =======    =======
    Non-GAAP net income per share:
      Basic                               $0.41      $0.42      $0.24
      Diluted                             $0.40      $0.41      $0.23
    Weighted average common shares
     outstanding:
      Basic                              58,734     58,906     62,776
      Diluted                            60,709     60,311     64,840



    Netflix, Inc.
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (unaudited)
    (in thousands, except share and par value data)

                                                       As of
                                                       ------
                                              March 31,   December 31,
                                                 2009          2008
                                                 ----          ----
    Assets
    Current assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents              $115,131      $139,881
        Short-term investments                  171,358       157,390
        Prepaid expenses                          8,210         8,122
        Prepaid revenue sharing expenses         13,957        18,417
        Current content library, net             33,299        18,691
        Deferred tax assets                       5,542         5,617
        Other current assets                     17,383        13,329
                                                 ------        ------
              Total current assets              364,880       361,447
    Content library, net                        105,361        98,547
    Property and equipment, net                 123,817       124,948
    Deferred tax assets                          23,107        22,409
    Other assets                                 11,513        10,595
                                                 ------        ------
              Total assets                     $628,678      $617,946
                                               ========      ========
    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
        Accounts payable                       $112,767      $100,344
        Accrued expenses                         32,108        31,394
        Current portion of lease financing
         obligations                              1,215         1,152
        Deferred revenue                         80,623        83,127
                                                 ------        ------
              Total current liabilities         226,713       216,017
    Lease financing obligations, excluding
     current portion                             37,656        37,988
    Other liabilities                            17,997        16,786
                                                 ------        ------
              Total liabilities                 282,366       270,791
    Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock, $0.001 par value;
       160,000,000 shares authorized at
       March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008;
       58,495,014 and 58,862,478 issued and
       outstanding at March 31, 2009 and
       December 31, 2008, respectively               63            62
      Additional paid-in capital                358,620       338,577
      Treasury stock at cost (4,667,627
       shares)                                 (142,739)     (100,020)
      Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
       income                                      (447)           84
      Retained earnings                         130,815       108,452
                                                -------       -------
              Total stockholders' equity        346,312       347,155
                                                -------       -------
              Total liabilities and
               stockholders' equity            $628,678      $617,946
                                               ========      ========



    Netflix, Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (unaudited)
    (in thousands)
                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                     ------------------
                                              March 31, December 31, March 31,
                                                  2009       2008       2008
                                                  ----       ----       ----
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                $22,363    $22,732    $13,344
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating
       activities:
          Depreciation and amortization of
           property, equipment and intangibles    9,175      9,141      6,584
          Amortization of content library        49,304     47,579     57,570
          Amortization of discounts and
           premiums on investments                  194        184        139
          Stock-based compensation expense        3,132      3,194      3,130
          Excess tax benefits from stock-
           based compensation                    (3,684)      (753)      (820)
          Loss on disposal of property and
           equipment                                144          -          -
          (Gain) loss on sale of short-term
           investments                             (572)       618     (4,320)
          Gain on disposal of DVDs               (2,033)    (3,494)    (2,592)
          Deferred taxes                           (623)    (1,172)      (859)
          Changes in operating assets and
           liabilities:
            Prepaid expenses and other current
             assets                                (391)    11,038      2,750
            Content library                     (22,091)   (11,123)   (23,412)
            Accounts payable                      8,572     (7,917)     8,680
            Accrued expenses                      4,331        171      7,827
            Deferred revenue                     (2,504)    17,232     (3,290)
            Other assets and liabilities            316      4,670       (669)
                                                    ---      -----       ----
                Net cash provided by
                 operating activities            65,633     92,100     64,062
                                                 ------     ------     ------
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Purchases of short-term investments       (52,384)   (76,118)   (91,954)
      Proceeds from sale of short-term
       investments                               36,933     59,723    175,319
      Proceeds from maturities of short-
       term investments                           1,330          -          -
      Purchases of property and equipment        (6,572)    (7,471)   (12,431)
      Acquisition of intangible asset              (200)         -          -
      Acquisitions of content library           (46,499)   (38,295)   (51,316)
      Proceeds from sale of DVDs                  2,726      4,695      4,507
      Investment in business                          -          -     (6,000)
      Other assets                                   (2)       (32)         8
                                                    ---        ---        ---
                Net cash (used in) provided by
                 investing activities           (64,668)   (57,498)    18,133
                                                -------    -------     ------
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Principal payments of lease
       financing obligations                       (269)      (237)      (122)
      Proceeds from issuance of common stock     13,589      3,231      8,542
      Excess tax benefits from stock-based
       compensation                               3,684        753        820
      Repurchases of common stock               (42,719)    (9,992)   (99,885)
                                                -------     ------    -------
                Net cash used in financing
                 activities                     (25,715)    (6,245)   (90,645)
                                                -------     ------    -------
     Net (decrease) increase in cash and
      cash equivalents                          (24,750)    28,357     (8,450)
     Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
      of period                                 139,881    111,524    177,439
                                                -------    -------    -------
     Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $115,131   $139,881   $168,989
                                               ========   ========   ========

    Non-GAAP free cash flow reconciliation:
      Net cash provided by operating
       activities                               $65,633    $92,100    $64,062
      Purchases of property and equipment        (6,572)    (7,471)   (12,431)
      Acquisition of intangible asset              (200)         -          -
      Acquisitions of content library           (46,499)   (38,295)   (51,316)
      Proceeds from sale of DVDs                  2,726      4,695      4,507
      Other assets                                   (2)       (32)         8
                                                    ---        ---        ---
      Non-GAAP free cash flow                   $15,086    $50,997     $4,830
                                                =======    =======     ======



    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
                                       --------------------------
                                    March 31,  December 31,  March 31,
                                       2009        2008        2008
                                       ----        ----        ----
    Subscriber information:
      Subscribers: beginning of
       period                          9,390       8,672       7,479
      Gross subscriber additions:
       during period                   2,413       2,085       1,862
        Gross subscriber additions
         year-to-year change            29.6%       39.5%       22.5%
        Gross subscriber additions
         quarter-to-quarter
         sequential change              15.7%       36.5%       24.5%
      Less subscriber cancellations:
       during period                  (1,493)     (1,367)     (1,098)
      Subscribers: end of period      10,310       9,390       8,243
      Subscribers year-to-year
       change                           25.1%       25.6%       21.3%
      Subscribers quarter-to-quarter
       sequential change                 9.8%        8.3%       10.2%
    Free subscribers: end of period      194         226         141
      Free subscribers as percentage
       of ending subscribers             1.9%        2.4%        1.7%
    Paid subscribers: end of period   10,116       9,164       8,102
      Paid subscribers year-to-year
       change                           24.9%       25.1%       21.4%
      Paid subscribers quarter-to-
       quarter sequential change        10.4%        7.9%       10.6%
    Average monthly revenue per
     paying subscriber                $13.63      $13.58      $14.09
    Churn                                4.2%        4.2%        3.9%
    Subscriber acquisition cost       $25.79      $26.67      $29.48
    Margins:
      Gross margin                      34.2%       35.2%       31.7%
      Operating margin                   9.3%       10.5%        4.7%
      Net margin                         5.7%        6.3%        4.1%
    Expenses as percentage of revenues:
      Technology and development         6.1%        6.7%        6.2%
      Marketing                         15.8%       15.5%       16.8%
      General and administrative         3.3%        3.0%        4.2%
      Gain on disposal of DVDs          (0.2%)      (0.5%)      (0.2%)
                                        ----        ----        ----
        Total operating expenses        25.0%       24.7%       27.0%
    Year-to-year change:
      Total revenues                    20.8%       18.9%        6.8%
      Subscription                      15.0%       14.8%       13.3%
      Fulfillment expenses              23.3%       25.0%       19.7%
      Technology and development        19.4%       30.3%       29.8%
      Marketing                         13.4%        7.6%      (23.9%)
      General and administrative        (5.3%)     (20.7%)      13.0%
      Gain on disposal of DVDs          31.7%       (5.5%)      (8.3%)
        Total operating expenses        11.7%        8.3%      (11.0%)

SOURCE: Netflix, Inc.

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


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