Yahoo Reports Third Quarter 2014 Results

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--()--Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

      Q3 2013       Q3 2014      

Percent
Change

GAAP revenue $1,139 million $1,148 million 1%
Revenue ex-TAC $1,081 million $1,094 million 1%
GAAP income from operations

$93 million

$42 million (55)%
Non-GAAP income from operations $173 million $156 million (10)%
GAAP net earnings per diluted share $0.28 $6.70 N/M
Non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share $0.34 $0.52

52%

N/M – Not meaningful

"We had a good, solid third quarter. We delivered $1.094 billion in revenue ex-TAC and $1.148 billion in GAAP revenue. This represents 1% growth in revenue ex-TAC and 1% growth in GAAP revenue. We achieved this revenue growth through strong growth in our new areas of investment – mobile, social, native and video - despite industry headwinds in some of our large, legacy businesses,” said Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo. “I am also pleased to report today that our revenue in mobile is now material. In Q3, we saw mobile revenues in excess of $200 million on a GAAP basis. Further, we estimate that our gross revenues in mobile will exceed $1.2 billion in revenue this year. We have invested deeply in mobile and we are seeing those investments pay off. Not only are our mobile products attracting praise and engagement from users and industry awards, they are generating meaningful revenue for Yahoo.”

GAAP revenue was $1,148 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 1 percent increase from the third quarter of 2013. Revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs (“revenue ex-TAC”) was $1,094 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 1 percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2013.

GAAP income from operations was $42 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 55 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP income from operations was $156 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 10 percent decrease from the third quarter of 2013.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2014 was $306 million, an 8 percent decrease compared to the third quarter of 2013.

GAAP net earnings for the third quarter of 2014 was $6.8 billion (which included a gain from sale of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (“Alibaba Group”) shares of $6.3 billion, net of tax), compared to $297 million in the third quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net earnings for the third quarter of 2014 was $543 million, compared to $358 million in the third quarter of 2013.

GAAP net earnings per diluted share was $6.70 in the third quarter of 2014 (which included the gain from sale of Alibaba Group shares of $6.27 per diluted share), compared to $0.28 in the third quarter of 2013. Non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share was $0.52 for the third quarter of 2014, compared to $0.34 in the third quarter of 2013.

Business Highlights

  • Yahoo completed the acquisition of Flurry, a mobile data analytics company that optimizes mobile experiences for developers, marketers, and consumers. Yahoo and Flurry’s combined scale is expected to create more personalized and inspiring app experiences for users, and enable more effective mobile advertising solutions for brands seeking to reach audiences and gain unique cross-device insights.
  • Yahoo continued to launch new products and improve on existing ones in the third quarter, innovating for the daily habits of users around the world. The Company launched the new Yahoo Finance app, Yahoo News Digest app and Yahoo Mail app for iPad, support for Digital Magazines for Android and iOS, and new navigation for Yahoo Answers, and also made Aviate available in eight languages on Android devices.
  • As football season kicked off this quarter, Yahoo announced a partnership with Samsung Smart TV to provide viewers with the Yahoo Fantasy Football TV experience, and launched NFL Now on Yahoo across devices including desktop, iPhone and iPad.
  • Top names in music, fashion, entertainment and finance continued to partner with Yahoo in the third quarter of 2014. Taylor Swift and Prince both provided exclusive content to Yahoo in advance of their album releases. Yahoo Digital Magazines launched Yahoo Style with editor-in-chief Joe Zee, previously from ELLE Magazine. The Company also announced four additional new well-known editors-in-chief: Michelle Promaulayko for Yahoo Health, Kerry Diamond for Yahoo Food, Kristen Baldwin for Yahoo TV and Katie Brown for the recently launched Yahoo DIY. Yahoo Finance also launched Yahoo Finance Contributors with a roster of new high-profile industry experts including the Najarian brothers.
  • Yahoo launched new ways for the Company to work with publishing partners. Yahoo announced Yahoo Recommends which brings Yahoo’s content personalization technology and native ads to publishers across the web, launching on high-quality publisher sites CBSi, VOX Media and Hearst.
  • Yahoo added important technical talent to the team with Mike Kail joining as CIO and SVP, Infrastructure to lead IT and data center operations for the Company.

Third Quarter 2014 Financial Highlights

Display:

  • GAAP display revenue was $447 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 5 percent decrease compared to $470 million for the third quarter of 2013.
  • Display revenue ex-TAC was $396 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 6 percent decrease compared to $421 million for the third quarter of 2013.
  • The number of Ads Sold increased approximately 24 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013.
  • Price-per-Ad decreased approximately 24 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Search:

  • GAAP search revenue was $452 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 4 percent increase compared to $435 million for the third quarter of 2013.
  • Search revenue ex-TAC was $450 million for the third quarter of 2014, a 6 percent increase compared to $426 million for the third quarter of 2013.
  • The number of Paid Clicks was flat compared to the third quarter of 2013.
  • Price-per-Click increased approximately 17 percent compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities:

  • Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities (excluding Investment in Alibaba Group equity securities) were $12 billion as of September 30, 2014 compared to $5 billion as of December 31, 2013, an increase of $7 billion. Yahoo estimates that it will pay approximately $3.3 billion in cash taxes in the first quarter of 2015 related to the sale of Alibaba Group shares.
  • During the third quarter of 2014, Yahoo repurchased approximately 8 million shares of its common stock for $282 million.
  • In September 2014, the Company also entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with a financial institution to repurchase shares of its common stock. Under the agreement, the Company prepaid $1.1 billion and approximately 15 million shares were initially delivered to the Company on September 30, 2014 and are included in treasury stock. Final settlement occurred on October 17, 2014 resulting in a total of approximately 23.5 million shares repurchased for $933 million. The Company received a return of cash for the remaining amount not settled in shares of $167 million. The accelerated share repurchase agreement was entered into pursuant to the Company’s existing share repurchase program.
  • As of September 30, 2014, the Company had 979 million shares outstanding.

“We are pleased with our performance this quarter, demonstrating results that met or exceeded guidance on key metrics. We ended the quarter with over $12 billion in cash and marketable securities following the sale of 140 million shares of Alibaba stock in the IPO, which resulted in $9.4 billion in pre-tax proceeds,” said Ken Goldman, CFO of Yahoo. “In Q3 and Q4 to date, we have bought back approximately $1.6 billion of our stock. Of this amount, we have returned $1.4 billion to shareholders as a part of our commitment to return at least half of the after-tax IPO proceeds. We are hopeful that we will finish the year strong, and we believe that the Company is well positioned for improved performance in 2015.”

Live Stream

Yahoo will live stream a video broadcast of the Company's third quarter 2014 financial results at 2 p.m. Pacific Time/5 p.m. Eastern Time today. The live stream will be broadcast from Yahoo’s Sunnyvale studio and will be available exclusively on Yahoo Finance at finance.yahoo.com. The Company will provide its business outlook for the fourth quarter during the presentation. Supplemental financial information can be accessed through the Company’s Investor Relations website at investor.yahoo.net. The video will be archived after the event at investor.yahoo.net and will be available for 90 days following the broadcast.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and its attachments include the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”): revenue ex-TAC; adjusted EBITDA; non-GAAP income from operations; non-GAAP net earnings; non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted; and free cash flow.

Revenue ex-TAC is GAAP revenue less traffic acquisition costs. Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted, exclude from the most comparable GAAP financial measures certain gains, losses, and expenses that we do not believe are indicative of ongoing results, and exclude stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes taxes, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, other income, net (which includes interest), earnings in equity interests, and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Free cash flow is GAAP net cash provided by operating activities (adjusted to include excess tax benefits from stock-based awards), less acquisition of property and equipment, net and dividends received from equity investees.

These measures may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Explanations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of these financial measures to the GAAP financial measures the Company considers most comparable are included in the accompanying “Note to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” “Supplemental Financial Data and GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations,” and “GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations.”

About Yahoo

Yahoo is focused on making the world’s daily habits inspiring and entertaining. By creating highly personalized experiences for our users, we keep people connected to what matters most to them, across devices and around the world. In turn, we create value for advertisers by connecting them with the audiences that build their businesses. Yahoo is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has offices located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. For more information, visit the pressroom (pressroom.yahoo.net) or the Company's blog (yahoo.tumblr.com).

“Affiliates” refers to the third-party entities that have integrated Yahoo’s advertising offerings into their Websites or other offerings (those Websites and other offerings, “Affiliate sites”).

“Net earnings” means net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc., and “net earnings per diluted share” means net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share – diluted.

“Ads Sold” consist of display ad impressions for paying advertisers on Yahoo Properties.

“Paid Clicks” are clicks by end-users on sponsored search listings (excluding native ads) on Yahoo Properties and Affiliate sites.

“Price-per-Ad” is defined as display revenue from Yahoo Properties divided by our total number of Ads Sold.

“Price-per-Click” is defined as Search click-driven revenue divided by our total number of Paid Clicks.

We periodically review, refine and update our methodologies for monitoring, gathering, and counting numbers of Ads Sold and Paid Clicks, and for calculating Price-per-Ad and Price-per-Click.

Additional information about how “Ads Sold,” “Paid Clicks,” “Price-per-Ad,” and “Price-per-Click” are defined and calculated is included under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, which is on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

“Search Agreement” refers to the Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement between Yahoo and Microsoft Corporation, as amended.

“Search click-driven revenue” is gross search revenue (before TAC) excluding the Microsoft RPS guarantee.

“TAC” refers to traffic acquisition costs. TAC consists of payments to Affiliates and payments made to companies that direct consumer and business traffic to Yahoo Properties.

“Yahoo Properties” refers to the online properties and services that Yahoo provides to users.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Yahoo's expected financial performance and Yahoo's strategic and operational plans (including, without limitation, the quotations from management). Risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, acceptance by users of new products and services (including, without limitation, products and services for mobile devices and alternative platforms); Yahoo's ability to compete with new or existing competitors; reduction in spending by, or loss of, advertising customers; risks associated with the Search Agreement with Microsoft Corporation; risks related to acquiring or developing compelling content; risks related to joint ventures and the integration of acquisitions; risks relating to possible impairment of goodwill or other assets; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to Yahoo’s regulatory environment; Yahoo’s ability to protect its intellectual property and the value of its brands; adverse results in litigation; security breaches; interruptions or delays in the provision of Yahoo’s services; risks related to Yahoo's international operations; risks related to the calculation of our key operational metrics; dependence on third parties for technology, services, content, and distribution; and general economic conditions. All information set forth in this press release and its attachments is as of October 21, 2014. Yahoo does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. More information about potential factors that could affect the Company's business and financial results is included under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as amended, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, which are on file with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in those sections in Yahoo’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, which will be filed with the SEC in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Yahoo!, Flurry, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News Digest, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Answers, Aviate, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Fantasy, Yahoo Style, Yahoo Health, Yahoo TV, Yahoo Food, Yahoo DIY, Yahoo Recommends and the Yahoo logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. Tumblr is a registered trademark of Tumblr, Inc. All other marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

     
Yahoo! Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
   
 
December 31, September 30,
2013 2014
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,077,590 $ 10,345,285
Short-term marketable securities 1,330,304 848,558
Accounts receivable, net 979,559 831,393
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 638,404 554,271
Total current assets 5,025,857 12,579,507
 
Long-term marketable securities 1,589,500 1,056,992
Property and equipment, net 1,488,518 1,483,797
Goodwill 4,679,648 4,860,768
Intangible assets, net 417,808 395,662
Other long-term assets 177,281 265,812
Investment in Alibaba Group - 34,079,787
Investments in equity interests 3,426,347 2,575,274
 
Total assets $ 16,804,959 $ 57,297,599
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 138,031 $ 165,890
Taxes payable related to sale of Alibaba Group shares - 3,282,293
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 907,782 514,301
Deferred revenue 294,499 415,477
Total current liabilities 1,340,312 4,377,961
 
Convertible notes 1,110,585 1,155,168
Long-term deferred revenue 258,904 19,196
Capital lease and other long-term liabilities 116,605 146,072
Deferred tax liabilities related to investment in Alibaba Group - 13,796,527
Deferred and other long-term tax liabilities, net 847,956 1,048,290
Total liabilities 3,674,362 20,543,214
 
Total Yahoo! Inc. stockholders' equity 13,074,909 36,713,567
Noncontrolling interests 55,688 40,818
Total equity 13,130,597 36,754,385
 
Total liabilities and equity $ 16,804,959 $ 57,297,599
 

Yahoo! Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,
2013 2014 2013 2014
 
 
Revenue $ 1,138,973 $ 1,148,140 $ 3,414,585 $ 3,365,061
 
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenue - traffic acquisition costs 58,464 54,180 188,848 143,915
Cost of revenue - other 271,763 266,820 821,032 818,812
Sales and marketing 282,562 309,618 819,319 932,281
Product development 267,444 305,624 733,222 890,915
General and administrative 151,304 147,234 419,764 411,746
Amortization of intangibles 15,253 15,322 30,702 48,826
Gains on sales of patents - (1,300 ) (9,950 ) (62,800 )
Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (576 ) 8,470   (4,060 ) 70,578  
Total operating expenses 1,046,214   1,105,968   2,998,877   3,254,273  
 
Income from operations 92,759 42,172 415,708 110,788
 
Other income, net 5,370   10,308,931   46,048   10,281,889  
 
Income before income taxes and earnings in equity interests 98,129 10,351,103 461,756 10,392,677
 
Provision for income taxes (31,891 ) (3,973,402 ) (111,894 ) (3,985,762 )
Earnings in equity interests 232,756   398,692   675,034   955,946  
 
Net income 298,994 6,776,393 1,024,896 7,362,861
 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (2,338 ) (2,291 ) (6,805 ) (7,474 )
 
Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. $ 296,656   $ 6,774,102   $ 1,018,091   $ 7,355,387  
 
Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share - diluted (1) $ 0.28   $ 6.70   $ 0.93   $ 7.18  
 
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted 1,041,698   1,007,693   1,081,495   1,017,935  
 
Stock-based compensation expense by function:
Cost of revenue - other $ 2,608 $ 3,194 $ 9,215 $ 29,090
Sales and marketing 29,175 34,284 68,995 120,302
Product development 28,702 40,783 57,502 94,217
General and administrative 20,241 27,535 57,755 73,813
                         
 

Supplemental Financial Data:

Revenue ex-TAC $ 1,080,509 $ 1,093,960 $ 3,225,737 $ 3,221,146
Adjusted EBITDA $ 331,125 $ 305,582 $ 1,085,912 $ 952,326
Free cash flow $ 239,088 $ 212,230 $ 520,395 $ 512,107
                         
 
(1)   The impact of outstanding stock awards of entities in which the Company holds equity interests that are accounted for using the equity method reduced the Company's diluted earnings per share by $0.02 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $0.01 and $0.04 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
 

Yahoo! Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
             
 

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

September 30,

2013

2014 2013   2014
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $ 298,994 $ 6,776,393 $ 1,024,896 $ 7,362,861

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation 127,356 116,946 412,646 356,577
Amortization of intangible assets

30,888

32,198 68,365 96,961
Accretion of convertible notes discount - 15,057 - 44,583
Stock-based compensation expense 80,726 105,796 193,467 317,422
Non-cash restructuring charges (reversals) - - 547 (7,031 )
Losses from sale of investments, assets, and other, net 6,819 9,183 19,994 27,850
Gain on sale of Alibaba Group shares - (10,319,437 ) - (10,319,437 )
Gains on sales of patents - (1,300 ) (9,950 ) (62,800 )
Earnings in equity interests (232,756 ) (398,692 ) (675,034 ) (955,946 )
Dividend income related to Alibaba Group Preference Shares - - (35,726 ) -
Tax benefits from stock-based awards 24,169 34,234 33,894 111,062
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards (28,680 ) (35,292 ) (47,193 ) (114,392 )
Deferred income taxes (46,984 ) 383,230 (74,981 ) 397,415
Dividends received from equity investees - - 135,058 83,685
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, net 102,949 (11,481 ) 161,459 142,648
Prepaid expenses and other 10,987 7,466 (17,738 ) 21,058
Accounts payable 5,411 9,765 (54,343 ) (310 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (53,051 )

322,160

(183,706 )

120,018

Taxes payable related to sale of Alibaba Group shares

-

3,282,293

-

3,282,293

Deferred revenue (38,767 ) (39,327 ) (114,085 ) (118,850 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 288,061   289,192   837,570   785,667  
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of property and equipment, net (77,653 ) (112,254 ) (229,310 ) (304,267 )
Purchases of marketable securities (3,000 ) (198,752 ) (2,247,302 ) (1,562,588 )
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities 1,183,955 1,300,781 2,642,548 1,681,735
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities 95,159 178,938 557,565 868,956
Proceeds from sale of Alibaba Group shares, net of transaction costs - 9,404,974 - 9,404,974
Proceeds related to the redemption of Alibaba Group Preference Shares - - 800,000 -
Purchases of intangible assets (238 ) (306 ) (2,290 ) (2,480 )
Proceeds from settlement of derivative hedge contracts 548 12,821 6,059 186,079
Payments for settlement of derivative hedge contracts (3,937 ) (602 ) (11,657 ) (5,218 )
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (163,072 ) (292,176 ) (1,187,229 ) (313,837 )
Payments for investments in privately held companies (4,226 ) (50,000 ) (4,226 ) (60,399 )
Proceeds from sales of patents 9,950 61,300 9,950 62,800
Other investing activities, net (292 ) 1,879   (1,221 ) 1,239  
Net cash provided by investing activities 1,037,194   10,306,603   332,887   9,956,994  
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 80,325 83,831 203,417 247,568
Repurchases of common stock (1,685,293 ) (1,382,026 ) (3,113,118 ) (2,550,232 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards 28,680 35,292 47,193 114,392
Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock units (55,040 ) (66,844 ) (106,177 ) (226,425 )
Proceeds from credit facility borrowings 150,000 - 150,000 -
Repayment of credit facility borrowings (150,000 ) - (150,000 ) -
Distributions to noncontrolling interests - - - (22,344 )
Other financing activities, net (3,085 ) (3,110 ) (5,863 ) (9,240 )
Net cash used in financing activities (1,634,413 ) (1,332,857 ) (2,974,548 ) (2,446,281 )
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 9,363 (32,239 ) (21,259 ) (28,685 )
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (299,795 ) 9,230,699 (1,825,350 ) 8,267,695
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,142,223   1,114,586   2,667,778   2,077,590  
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 842,428   $ 10,345,285   $ 842,428   $ 10,345,285  
 


Yahoo! Inc.
Note to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

This press release and its attachments include the non-GAAP financial measures of revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs (“revenue ex-TAC”); adjusted EBITDA; non-GAAP income from operations; non-GAAP net earnings; non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share; and free cash flow, which are reconciled to revenue; net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. (in the case of adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP net earnings); income from operations; net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share – diluted; and net cash provided by operating activities, which we believe are the most comparable GAAP measures. Yahoo! Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) uses these non-GAAP financial measures for internal managerial purposes and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. We describe limitations specific to each non-GAAP financial measure below. Management generally compensates for limitations in the use of non-GAAP financial measures by relying on comparable GAAP financial measures and providing investors with a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure or measures. Further, management uses non-GAAP financial measures only in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect additional ways of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. These non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, revenue, net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc., income from operations, net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share – diluted, and net cash provided by operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Revenue ex-TAC is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as GAAP revenue less TAC. TAC consists of payments made to third-party entities that have integrated our advertising offerings into their Websites or other offerings (those Websites and other offerings, “Affiliate sites”) and payments made to companies that direct consumer and business traffic to Yahoo’s online properties and services (“Yahoo Properties”). Based on the terms of the Search Agreement with Microsoft, Microsoft retains a revenue share of 12 percent of the net (after TAC) search revenue generated on Yahoo Properties and Affiliate sites in transitioned markets. Yahoo reports the net revenue it receives under the Search Agreement as revenue and no longer presents the associated TAC. Accordingly, for the current period Yahoo reports GAAP revenue associated with the Search Agreement on a net (after TAC) basis rather than a gross basis. For the 2013 comparison periods, revenue from markets that had not yet transitioned to Microsoft’s platform was recorded on a gross basis, and the associated TAC was recorded as a part of operating expenses. We present revenue ex-TAC to provide investors a metric used by the Company for evaluation and decision-making purposes and to provide investors with comparable revenue numbers when comparing periods preceding, during and following the transition period. A limitation of revenue ex-TAC is that it is a measure which we have defined for internal and investor purposes that may be unique to the Company, and therefore it may not enhance the comparability of our results to other companies in our industry who have similar business arrangements but address the impact of TAC differently. Management compensates for these limitations by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measures of revenue and total operating expenses, which includes TAC in non-transitioned markets.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. before taxes, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, other income, net (which includes interest), earnings in equity interests, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and other gains, losses, and expenses that we do not believe are indicative of our ongoing results. Yahoo presents adjusted EBITDA because the exclusion of certain gains, losses, and expenses facilitates comparisons of the operating performance of the Company on a period to period basis. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results reported under GAAP. These limitations include: adjusted EBITDA does not reflect tax payments and such payments reflect a reduction in cash available to us; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our businesses; adjusted EBITDA does not include stock-based compensation expense related to the Company’s workforce; adjusted EBITDA also excludes other income, net (which includes interest), earnings in equity interests, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and other gains, losses, and expenses that we do not believe are indicative of our ongoing results, and these items may represent a reduction or increase in cash available to us; and adjusted EBITDA is a measure that may be unique to the Company, and therefore it may not enhance the comparability of our results to other companies in our industry. Management compensates for these limitations by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measure of net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc., which includes taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense, other income, net (which includes interest), earnings in equity interests, net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and the other gains, losses and expenses that are excluded from adjusted EBITDA.

Non-GAAP income from operations is defined as income from operations excluding certain gains, losses, and expenses that we do not believe are indicative of our ongoing operating results and further adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expense. Because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation expense, and the subjective assumptions involved in those determinations, we believe excluding stock-based compensation expense enhances the ability of management and investors to understand the impact of stock-based compensation expense on income from operations. We consider non-GAAP income from operations to be a profitability measure which facilitates the forecasting of our operating results for future periods and allows for the comparison of our results to historical periods. A limitation of non-GAAP income from operations is that it does not include all items that impact our income from operations for the period. Management compensates for this limitation by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measure of income from operations which includes the gains, losses, and expenses that are excluded from non-GAAP income from operations.

Non-GAAP net earnings is defined as net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. excluding certain gains, losses, expenses, and their related tax effects that we do not believe are indicative of our ongoing results and further adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expense and its related tax effects. Because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation expense, and the subjective assumptions involved in those determinations, we believe excluding stock-based compensation expense enhances the ability of management and investors to understand the impact of stock-based compensation expense on net income and net income per share. We consider non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share to be profitability measures which facilitate the forecasting of our results for future periods and allow for the comparison of our results to historical periods. A limitation of non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share is that they do not include all items that impact our net income and net income per diluted share for the period. Management compensates for this limitation by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measures of net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. and net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share - diluted, both of which include the gains, losses, expenses and related tax effects that are excluded from non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share.

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net cash provided by operating activities (adjusted to include excess tax benefits from stock-based awards), less acquisition of property and equipment, net and dividends received from equity investees. We consider free cash flow to be a liquidity measure which provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business after the acquisition of property and equipment, which can then be used for strategic opportunities including, among others, investing in the Company's business, making strategic acquisitions, strengthening the balance sheet, and repurchasing stock. A limitation of free cash flow is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period. Management compensates for this limitation by also relying on the net change in cash and cash equivalents as presented in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows prepared in accordance with GAAP which incorporates all cash movements during the period.

Yahoo! Inc.
Supplemental Financial Data and GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(in thousands)
             
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2013 2014 2013 2014

Revenue for groups of similar services:

Display $ 469,932 $ 446,980 $ 1,396,745 $ 1,336,257
Search 435,192 452,355 1,278,081 1,325,540
Other 233,849   248,805   739,759   703,264  
Total revenue $ 1,138,973   $ 1,148,140   $ 3,414,585   $ 3,365,061  
 

Revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs ("revenue ex-TAC") for groups of similar services:

GAAP display revenue $ 469,932 $ 446,980 $ 1,396,745 $ 1,336,257
TAC associated with display revenue (48,617 ) (50,577 ) (150,274 ) (137,156 )
Display revenue ex-TAC $ 421,315   $ 396,403   $ 1,246,471   $ 1,199,101  
 
GAAP search revenue $ 435,192 $ 452,355 $ 1,278,081 $ 1,325,540
TAC associated with search revenue (9,100 ) (2,713 ) (40,088 ) (4,183 )
Search revenue ex-TAC $ 426,092   $ 449,642   $ 1,237,993   $ 1,321,357  
 
Other GAAP revenue $ 233,849 $ 248,805 $ 739,759 $ 703,264
TAC associated with other GAAP revenue (747 ) (890 ) 1,514   (2,576 )
Other revenue ex-TAC $ 233,102   $ 247,915   $ 741,273   $ 700,688  
 

Revenue ex-TAC:

GAAP revenue $ 1,138,973 $ 1,148,140 $ 3,414,585 $ 3,365,061
TAC (58,464 ) (54,180 ) (188,848 ) (143,915 )
Revenue ex-TAC $ 1,080,509   $ 1,093,960   $ 3,225,737   $ 3,221,146  
 

Revenue ex-TAC by segment:

Americas:
GAAP revenue $ 850,935 $ 873,306 $ 2,521,667 $ 2,545,769
TAC (36,435 ) (42,607 ) (111,077 ) (106,997 )
Revenue ex-TAC $ 814,500   $ 830,699   $ 2,410,590   $ 2,438,772  
 
EMEA:
GAAP revenue $ 89,156 $ 89,058 $ 281,367 $ 278,475
TAC (9,929 ) (7,980 ) (32,837 ) (27,385 )
Revenue ex-TAC $ 79,227   $ 81,078   $ 248,530   $ 251,090  
 
Asia Pacific:
GAAP revenue $ 198,882 $ 185,776 $ 611,551 $ 540,817
TAC (12,100 ) (3,593 ) (44,934 ) (9,533 )
Revenue ex-TAC $ 186,782   $ 182,183   $ 566,617   $ 531,284  
       
Total revenue ex-TAC $ 1,080,509   $ 1,093,960   $ 3,225,737   $ 3,221,146  
 

Direct costs by segment (2):

Americas $ 183,436 $ 192,450 $ 545,848 $ 552,569
EMEA 39,594 36,796 120,052 115,062
Asia Pacific 47,312 50,955 151,698 140,538

Global operating costs (3)

479,042 509,477 1,332,177 1,523,451

Restructuring (reversals) charges, net

(576 ) 8,470 (4,060 ) 70,578

Depreciation and amortization

158,216 149,144 480,797 453,538

Gains on sales of patents

- (1,300 ) (9,950 ) (62,800 )

Stock-based compensation expense

80,726   105,796   193,467   317,422  
Income from operations $ 92,759   $ 42,172   $ 415,708   $ 110,788  
 

Reconciliation of net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. to adjusted EBITDA:

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. $ 296,656 $ 6,774,102 $ 1,018,091 $ 7,355,387
Depreciation and amortization 158,216 149,144 480,797 453,538
Stock-based compensation expense 80,726 105,796 193,467 317,422
Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (576 ) 8,470 (4,060 ) 70,578
Other income, net (5,370 ) (10,308,931 ) (46,048 ) (10,281,889 )
Provision for income taxes 31,891 3,973,402 111,894 3,985,762
Earnings in equity interests (232,756 ) (398,692 ) (675,034 ) (955,946 )
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 2,338   2,291   6,805   7,474  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 331,125   $ 305,582   $ 1,085,912   $ 952,326  
 

Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow:

Net cash provided by operating activities $ 288,061 $ 289,192 $ 837,570 $ 785,667
Acquisition of property and equipment, net (77,653 ) (112,254 ) (229,310 ) (304,267 )
Dividends received from equity investees - - (135,058 ) (83,685 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards 28,680   35,292   47,193   114,392  
Free cash flow $ 239,088   $ 212,230   $ 520,395   $ 512,107  
 
(2)   Direct costs for each segment include cost of revenue-other, as well as other operating expenses that are directly attributable to the segment such as employee compensation expense (excluding stock-based compensation expense), local sales and marketing expenses, and facilities expenses.
(3) Global operating costs include product development, service engineering and operations, general and administrative, and other corporate expenses that are managed on a global basis and that are not directly attributable to any particular segment.
 

Yahoo! Inc.
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
         
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2013 2014
 
GAAP income from operations $ 92,759 $ 42,172
 
(a) Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (576 ) 8,470
 
(b) Stock-based compensation expense 80,726 105,796
   
Non-GAAP income from operations $ 172,909   $ 156,438  
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. $ 296,656 $ 6,774,102
 
(a) Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (576 ) 8,470
 
(b) Stock-based compensation expense 80,726 105,796
 
(c) Gain related to sale of Alibaba Group shares - (10,319,437 )
 
(d) To adjust the provision for income taxes to exclude the tax impact of items (a) through (c) above for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014 (18,354 ) 3,974,481
   
Non-GAAP net earnings $ 358,452   $ 543,412  
 
GAAP net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share - diluted (1) $ 0.28   $ 6.70  
 
Non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted (4) $ 0.34   $ 0.52  
 
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted 1,041,698   1,007,693  
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2013 2014
 
GAAP income from operations $ 415,708 $ 110,788
 
(a) Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (4,060 ) 70,578
 
(b) Stock-based compensation expense 193,467 317,422
   
Non-GAAP income from operations $ 605,115   $ 498,788  
 
 
GAAP net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. $ 1,018,091 $ 7,355,387
 
(a) Restructuring (reversals) charges, net (4,060 ) 70,578
 
(b) Stock-based compensation 193,467 317,422
 
(c) Gain related to sale of Alibaba Group shares - (10,319,437 )
 
(d) To adjust the provision for income taxes to exclude the tax impact of items (a) through (c) above for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014 (42,995 ) 3,902,827
 
   
Non-GAAP net earnings $ 1,164,503   $ 1,326,777  
 
GAAP net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share - diluted (1) $ 0.93   $ 7.18  
 
Non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted (4) $ 1.07   $ 1.26  
 
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted 1,081,495   1,017,935  
 
(1)   The impact of outstanding stock awards of entities in which the Company holds equity interests that are accounted for using the equity method reduced the Company's diluted earnings per share by $0.02 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $0.01 and $0.04 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
(4) The impact of outstanding stock awards of entities in which the Company holds equity interests that are accounted for using the equity method reduced the Company's non-GAAP diluted earnings per share by $0.02 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $0.01 and $0.04 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Contacts

Yahoo! Inc.
Media Relations Contact:
Sarah Meron, 408-349-4040
media@yahoo-inc.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Joon Huh, 408-349-3382
investorrelations@yahoo-inc.com

Contacts

Yahoo! Inc.
Media Relations Contact:
Sarah Meron, 408-349-4040
media@yahoo-inc.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Joon Huh, 408-349-3382
investorrelations@yahoo-inc.com