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Netflix Announces Q4 2008 Financial Results-Subscribers - 9.4 million,Revenue - $359.6 million
GAAP Net Income - $22.7 million
GAAP EPS - $0.38 per diluted share
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 26 2009 Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008.
"Consumers embraced the Netflix experience in near record numbers last quarter," said Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive officer, "with growth in our core DVD offering and growing momentum with internet streaming."
Fourth-Quarter and Fiscal-Year 2008 Financial Highlights
Subscribers. Netflix ended the fourth quarter of 2008 with approximately 9,390,000 total subscribers, representing 26 percent year-over-year growth from 7,479,000 total subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007 and 8 percent sequential growth from 8,672,000 subscribers at the end of the third quarter of 2008.
Net subscriber change in the quarter was an increase of 718,000 compared to an increase of 451,000 for the same period of 2007 and an increase of 261,000 for the third quarter of 2008.
Gross subscriber additions for the quarter totaled 2,085,000, representing 39 percent year-over-year growth from 1,495,000 gross subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 36 percent quarter-over-quarter growth from 1,528,000 gross subscriber additions in the third quarter of 2008.
Of the 9,390,000 total subscribers at quarter end, 98 percent, or 9,164,000, were paid subscribers. The other 2 percent, or 226,000, were free subscribers. Paid subscribers represented 98 percent of total subscribers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007 and at the end of the third quarter of 2008.
Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $359.6 million, representing 19 percent year-over-year growth from $302.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, and a 5 percent sequential increase from $341.3 million for the third quarter of 2008. Revenue for fiscal 2008 was $1.365 billion, up 13 percent from $1.205 billion for fiscal 2007.
Gross margin(1) for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 35.2 percent compared to 33.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007 and 34.2 percent for the third quarter of 2008. Gross margin for fiscal 2008 was 33.3 percent compared to 34.8 percent for fiscal 2007.
GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $22.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share compared to GAAP net income of $15.7 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2007 and GAAP net income of $20.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. GAAP net income grew 45 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 65 percent on a year-over-year basis.
GAAP net income for fiscal 2008 was $83.0 million, or $1.32 per diluted share compared to GAAP net income of $66.6 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for fiscal 2007. GAAP net income grew 25 percent on a year-over-year basis and GAAP EPS grew 36 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Non-GAAP net income was $24.6 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to non-GAAP net income of $17.7 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2007 and non-GAAP net income of $22.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. Non-GAAP net income grew 39 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 58 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Non-GAAP net income was $90.7 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for fiscal 2008 compared to non-GAAP net income of $73.8 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for fiscal 2007. Non-GAAP net income grew 23 percent on a year-over-year basis and non-GAAP EPS grew 35 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Non-GAAP net income equals net income on a GAAP basis before stock-based compensation expense, net of taxes.
Stock-based compensation was $3.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the fourth quarter of 2007 and $3.0 million for the third quarter of 2008. Stock-based compensation for fiscal 2008 was $12.3 million compared to $12.0 million for fiscal 2007. 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 fourth quarter of 2008 was $26.67 per gross subscriber addition compared to $34.58 for the same period of 2007 and $32.21 for the third quarter of 2008. SAC for fiscal 2008 was $29.12 per gross subscriber addition compared to $40.86 for fiscal 2007.
Churn(3) for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 4.2 percent compared to 4.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007 and 4.2 percent for the third 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 fourth quarter of 2008 was $51.0 million compared to $21.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 and $26.2 million for the third quarter of 2008. Free cash flow for fiscal 2008 was $94.7 million compared to $45.9 million in fiscal 2007.
- Gross margin is defined as revenues less cost of subscription and fulfillment expenses divided by revenues.
- 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.
- Churn is defined as customer cancellations in the quarter divided by the sum of beginning subscribers and gross subscriber additions, divided by three months.
- 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.
Cash provided by operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $92.1 million compared to $87.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2007 and $60.5 million for the third quarter of 2008. Cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2008 was $284.0 million compared to $277.4 million for fiscal 2007.
Stock Buyback
The Company also is announcing today that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program for 2009. Based on the Board's authorization, the Company anticipates a repurchase program of up to $175 million.
Stock repurchases under this program may be made through open market transactions and, from time to time, privately negotiated transactions with third parties, and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, alternative investment opportunities and other market conditions. Repurchased shares would be returned to the status of authorized but un-issued shares of common stock.
Business Outlook
The Company's performance expectations for the first quarter of 2009 and full-year 2009 are as follows:
First-Quarter 2009
- Ending subscribers of 10.1 million to 10.3 million
- Revenue of $387 million to $393 million
- GAAP net income of $15 million to $20 million
- GAAP EPS of $0.25 to $0.33 per diluted share
Full-Year 2009
- Ending subscribers of 10.6 million to 11.3 million
- Revenue of $1.58 billion to $1.635 billion
- GAAP net income of $88 million to $98 million
- GAAP EPS of $1.43 to $1.59 per diluted share
Float and Trading Plans
The Company estimates the public float at approximately 50,150,991 shares as of December 31, 2008, up slightly from 50,148,071 shares as of September 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 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on January 26, 2009 through midnight on January 29, 2009. To listen to a replay, call (719) 457-0820, access code 8834367.
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 - News) is the world's largest online movie rental service, with more than nine 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 more than 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 first quarter of 2009 and the full-year 2009 as well as the anticipated size of our 2009 stock repurchase program. 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 and postal rate increases; 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; competition and widespread consumer adoption of different modes of viewing in-home filmed entertainment and, with respect to the stock repurchase program, changes in cash flows, cash balances, economic and market conditions, stock price and additional Board action. 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.
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