The Trade Desk Reports Third Quarter Financial Results
The Trade Desk, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTD), a global technology company that empowers buyers of advertising, today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2020.
"So far in 2020 we've seen several years of advertising disruption and innovation compressed into a few months. As a result, advertisers have become more deliberate and data-driven with every advertising dollar. That helped us deliver record quarterly revenue of $216 million and adjusted EBITDA of $77 million." said Co-Founder and CEO of The Trade Desk, Jeff Green. "This is the result of our long-term strategic investments to build a compelling Open Internet alternative for advertisers. As advertisers come under pressure to prove the ROI of their campaigns, to take advantage of the mass consumer shift to streaming TV, and to consider alternatives to user-generated content, our investments in these areas are paying off. Whether it's our focus on measurement capabilities, CTV inventory or the future of identity, advertisers can count on us as the industry's most innovative and complete demand side platform."
Third Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights:
The following table summarizes our consolidated financial results for the quarters ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 ($ in millions, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019 2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
GAAP Results
Revenue $ 216.1 $ 164.2 $ 516.1 $ 445.1
Increase (decrease) in revenue year over year 32 % 38 % 16 % 40 %
Net Income $ 41.2 $ 19.4 $ 90.4 $ 57.4
Diluted EPS $ 0.84 $ 0.40 $ 1.86 $ 1.20
Non-GAAP Results
Adjusted EBITDA $ 77.2 $ 47.8 $ 130.7 $ 130.4
Adjusted EBITDA Margin 36 % 29 % 25 % 29 %
Non-GAAP Net Income $ 62.7 $ 36.1 $ 150.8 $ 104.8
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS $ 1.27 $ 0.75 $ 3.10 $ 2.19
Third Quarter and Recent Business Highlights Include:
Continued Omnichannel Spend Growth: Omnichannel solutions remain a strategic focus for The Trade Desk as the industry continues shifting toward transparency and programmatic buying. Channel highlights from Q3 include: Connected TV grew over 100% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020 Mobile Video spend grew about 70% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020 Audio spend grew about 70% from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020 Strong Customer Retention: Customer retention remained over 95% during the quarter, as it has for the previous 5 years. Building Industry-Wide Collaboration and Support for Unified ID 2.0: The Trade Desk is building support for Unified ID 2.0, a new industry-wide approach to identity that preserves the value of relevant advertising, while putting user control and privacy at the forefront. The ID is an upgrade and alternative to third-party cookies. Recent partnerships include: Nielsen Holdings, a global measurement and data analytics company Criteo S.A., a global technology company that powers world marketers LiveRamp Holdings, the leading data connectivity platform
Industry Awards: The Trade Desk was named a 2020 Best Medium Workplace(TM) in the U.K. and a 2020 Best Workplace in Hong Kong(TM) by Great Places to Work(R). The Trade Desk recently won for the Best Overall Technology for Programmatic Trading at The Drum Digital Advertising Awards (US) and was a Gartner Peer Insights 2020 Customers' Choice for Ad Tech. The Trade Desk was also named a Best Workplace in New York(TM) by Great Place to Work(TM) and Fortune for the third year in a row.
Impact of COVID-19 on our Outlook:
Our business has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic that has significantly impacted advertiser demand. Like many companies that are ad-funded, we are facing a period of higher uncertainty in our business outlook. We expect our business performance could be impacted by issues beyond our control, such as changing economic conditions or shelter-in-place orders that may or may not occur. Assuming that the economy continues to recover and we do not have any major COVID-19 related setbacks that may cause economic conditions to deteriorate, we estimate Q4 revenue to range between $287 million and $291 million. Under this assumption, we estimate adjusted EBITDA to be at least $115 million in Q4.
Fourth Quarter 2020 outlook summary:
Revenue range between $287 million and $291 million Adjusted EBITDA of at least $115 million
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Included within this press release are the non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP diluted EPS that supplement the Consolidated Statements of Income of The Trade Desk, Inc. (the Company) prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, interest expense (income), net and provision for (benefit from) income taxes. Non-GAAP net income excludes charges and the related income tax effects for stock-based compensation. Tax rates on the tax-deductible portions of the stock-based compensation expense approximating 30% have been used in the computation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS. Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP amounts for the periods presented herein are provided in schedules accompanying this release and should be considered together with the Consolidated Statements of Income. These non-GAAP measures are not meant as a substitute for GAAP, but are included solely for informational and comparative purposes. The Company's management believes that this information can assist investors in evaluating the Company's operational trends, financial performance, and cash generating capacity. Management believes these non-GAAP measures allow investors to evaluate the Company's financial performance using some of the same measures as management. However, the non-GAAP financial measures should not be regarded as a replacement for or superior to corresponding, similarly captioned, GAAP measures and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
Third Quarter Financial Results Webcast and Conference Call Details
When: November 5, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time (5:00 P.M. Eastern Time). Webcast: A live webcast of the call can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of The Trade Desk's website at http://investors.thetradedesk.com/. Following the call, a replay will be available on the company's website. Dial-in with passcode: To access the call via telephone in the United States, please dial 800-459-5346. For callers outside the United States, please dial 1-203-518-9544. Participants should reference "The Trade Desk Call" after dialing in. Audio replay: An audio replay of the call will be available beginning about two hours after the call. To listen to the replay in the United States, please dial 877-481-4010 (replay code: 38371). Outside the United States, please dial 1-919-882-2331 (replay code: 38371). The audio replay will be available via telephone until November 12, 2020.
The Trade Desk, Inc. uses its Investor Relations website (http://investors.thetradedesk.com/investor-overview), its Twitter feed (@TheTradeDesk), LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-trade-desk/), and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheTradeDesk/), and Jeff Green's Twitter feed (@jefftgreen) and LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefftgreen/) as a means of disclosing information about the company and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. The information that is posted through these channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels in addition to The Trade Desk's press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts.
About The Trade Desk
The Trade Desk is a technology company that empowers buyers of advertising. Through its self-service, cloud-based platform, ad buyers can create, manage, and optimize digital advertising campaigns across ad formats and devices. Integrations with major data, inventory, and publisher partners ensure maximum reach and decisioning capabilities, and enterprise APIs enable custom development on top of the platform. Headquartered in Ventura, CA, The Trade Desk has offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more, visit thetradedesk.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to expectations concerning matters that (a) are not historical facts, (b) predict or forecast future events or results, or (c) embody assumptions that may prove to have been inaccurate, including statements relating to the industry and market trends, and the Company's financial targets, such as revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. When words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "outlook" or similar expressions are used, the Company is making forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot give readers any assurance that such expectations will prove correct. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those related to the Company's relatively limited operating history and the impact of COVID-19 on the Company and its customers and partners, which makes it difficult to evaluate the Company's business and prospects, the market for programmatic advertising developing slower or differently than the Company's expectations, the demands and expectations of clients and the ability to attract and retain clients. The actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These are disclosed in the Company's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Form 10-K and any subsequent filings on Forms 10-Q or 8-K, available at www.sec.gov. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
THE TRADE DESK, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019 2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Revenue $ 216,113 $ 164,203 $ 516,128 $ 445,114
Operating expenses (1):
44,826 39,932 127,167 108,913
Platform operations
44,637 36,142 116,002 89,951
Sales and marketing
41,079 29,185 117,931 83,949
Technology and development
42,789 37,017 117,252 102,755
General and administrative
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total operating expenses 173,331 142,276 478,352 385,568
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Income from operations 42,782 21,927 37,776 59,546
Total other expense (income), net 223 (1,892 ) 834 (2,979 )
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Income before income taxes 42,559 23,819 36,942 62,525
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 1,312 4,397 (53,473 ) 5,152
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Net income $ 41,247 $ 19,422 $ 90,415 $ 57,373
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Earnings per share:
$ 0.89 $ 0.43 $ 1.96 $ 1.29
Basic
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
$ 0.84 $ 0.40 $ 1.86 $ 1.20
Diluted
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Weighted average shares outstanding:
46,582 44,771 46,075 44,363
Basic
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
49,220 48,037 48,731 47,728
Diluted
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
_______________________
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019 2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Platform operations $ 1,639 $ 1,507 $ 5,459 $ 3,894
Sales and marketing 6,916 5,036 18,549 13,094
Technology and development 7,911 7,146 24,345 18,579
General and administrative 10,386 5,753 25,398 20,801
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total $ 26,852 $ 19,442 $ 73,751 $ 56,368
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
THE TRADE DESK, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
As of As of
September 30, December 31,
2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
$ 434,371 $ 130,876
Cash and cash equivalents
122,909 124,112
Short-term investments, net
1,139,860 1,166,376
Accounts receivable, net
58,847 27,857
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
1,755,987 1,449,221
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net 111,862 64,012
Operating lease assets 202,172 173,449
Deferred income taxes 39,928 18,950
Other assets, non-current 28,479 23,129
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total assets $ 2,138,428 $ 1,728,761
==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
$ 919,694 $ 868,618
Accounts payable
57,724 47,178
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
34,735 14,577
Operating lease liabilities
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
1,012,153 930,373
Total current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities, non-current 205,408 174,873
Debt, net 72,000 --
Other liabilities, non-current 16,240 10,998
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total liabilities 1,305,801 1,116,244
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock -- --
Common stock -- --
Additional paid-in capital 510,017 380,079
Accumulated other comprehensive income 145 --
Retained earnings 322,465 232,438
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total stockholders' equity 832,627 612,517
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,138,428 $ 1,728,761
==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
THE TRADE DESK, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
$ 90,415 $ 57,373
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
20,777 15,246
Depreciation and amortization
73,751 56,368
Stock-based compensation
2,722 1,647
Allowance for credit losses on accounts receivable
24,052 15,394
Noncash lease expense
(20,978 ) --
Deferred income taxes
1,242 (2,945 )
Other
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
21,063 (2,739 )
Accounts receivable
(23,919 ) (19,024 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
47,728 (21,401 )
Accounts payable
11,006 (3,178 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
(10,388 ) (8,468 )
Operating lease liabilities
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
237,471 88,273
Net cash provided by operating activities
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
(127,117 ) (178,179 )
Purchases of investments
128,315 55,819
Maturities of investments
(57,721 ) (21,659 )
Purchases of property and equipment
(4,246 ) (3,849 )
Capitalized software development costs
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
(60,769 ) (147,868 )
Net cash used in investing activities
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
143,000 --
Proceeds from line of credit
(71,000 ) --
Repayment on line of credit
-- (6 )
Payment of debt financing costs
53,942 21,911
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
15,035 8,648
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
(14,184 ) (4,744 )
Taxes paid related to net settlement of restricted stock awards
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
126,793 25,809
Net cash provided by financing activities
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 303,495 (33,786 )
Cash and cash equivalents--Beginning of period 130,876 207,232
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Cash and cash equivalents--End of period $ 434,371 $ 173,446
==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Non-GAAP Financial Metrics (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
The following tables show the Company's non-GAAP financial metrics reconciled to the comparable GAAP financial metrics included in this release.
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019 2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Net income $ 41,247 $ 19,422 $ 90,415 $ 57,373
Add back:
7,517 5,969 20,777 15,246
Depreciation and amortization
26,852 19,442 73,751 56,368
Stock-based compensation
235 (1,480 ) (740 ) (3,763 )
Interest expense (income), net
1,312 4,397 (53,473 ) 5,152
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 77,163 $ 47,750 $ 130,730 $ 130,376
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 2019 2020 2019
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
GAAP net income $ 41,247 $ 19,422 $ 90,415 $ 57,373
Add back (deduct):
26,852 19,442 73,751 56,368
Stock-based compensation expense
(5,440 ) (2,777 ) (13,341 ) (8,985 )
Adjustment for income taxes
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
Non-GAAP net income $ 62,659 $ 36,087 $ 150,825 $ 104,756
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.84 $ 0.40 $ 1.86 $ 1.20
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 1.27 $ 0.75 $ 3.10 $ 2.19
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
Weighted average shares outstanding--diluted 49,220 48,037 48,731 47,728
==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ==================== ====================
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201105006090/en/
SOURCE: The Trade Desk, Inc.
Investors Chris Toth Vice President Investor Relations, The Trade Desk ir@thetradedesk.com 310-334-9183 Media Ian Colley Vice President Public Relations, The Trade Desk ian.colley@thetradedesk.com 914-434-3043