Twilio Announces First Quarter 2018 Results

Q1 Total Revenue of $129.1 million, up 48% year-over-year

Q1 Base Revenue of $117.5 million, up 46% year-over-year

Q1 Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate of 132%

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), the leading cloud communications platform, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

We are honored that a growing list of companies around the world are placing their trust in Twilio. Our first quarter results exhibited broad-based strength across multiple areas of our business, especially with continued expansion with existing customers,” said Jeff Lawson, Twilio’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Our continued devotion to innovation was highlighted by the launch of Twilio Flex - the first fully programmable cloud contact center application platform.”

First Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue of $129.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, up 48% from the first quarter of 2017 and 12% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Base revenue of $117.5 million for the first quarter of 2018, up 46% from the first quarter of 2017 and 12% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • GAAP loss from operations of $24.3 million for the first quarter of 2018, compared with GAAP loss from operations of $14.8 million for the first quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP loss from operations of $4.7 million for the first quarter of 2018, compared with non-GAAP loss from operations of $3.7 million for the first quarter of 2017.
  • GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders of $0.25 based on 94.7 million weighted average shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2018, compared with GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders of $0.16 based on 88.6 million weighted average shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2017.
  • Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders of $0.04 based on 94.7 million weighted average shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2018, compared with non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders of $0.04 based on 88.6 million weighted average shares outstanding in the first quarter of 2017.

Key Metrics and Recent Business Highlights

  • 53,985 Active Customer Accounts as of March 31, 2018, compared to 40,696 Active Customer Accounts as of March 31, 2017.
  • Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate was 132% for the first quarter of 2018, compared to 141% for the first quarter of 2017.
  • Unveiled Twilio Flex, the first cloud contact center application platform that’s programmable at every layer of the stack, giving businesses complete control of their contact center experience.
  • Announced support for RCS Business Messaging and LINE to further our efforts to provide developers with one API to deliver the richest messaging experiences for any device, while reaching every user.
  • Introduced the general availability of Twilio Notify, providing our customers one API to make it easy to send bulk notifications to their end customers over push, SMS, and Facebook Messenger.
  • Announced the general availability for Twilio Programmable Wireless, a cellular communications platform with simple APIs that developers can use to power a wide range of internet-connected solutions (IoT).

Outlook

Twilio is providing guidance for the second quarter ending June 30, 2018 and full year ending December 31, 2018 as follows:

           
Quarter ending June 30, 2018:                
Total Revenue (millions) $ 129.0 to $ 131.0
Base Revenue (millions) $ 122.0 to $ 123.0
Non-GAAP loss from operations (millions) $ 6.0 to $ 5.0
Non-GAAP net loss per share $ 0.06 to $ 0.05
Weighted average shares outstanding 96.0
 
 
Full year ending December 31, 2018:                
Total Revenue (millions) $ 538.0 to $ 544.0
Base Revenue (millions) $ 507.0 to $ 510.0
Non-GAAP loss from operations (millions) $ 12.0 to $ 9.0
Non-GAAP net loss per share $ 0.10 to $ 0.07
Weighted average shares outstanding 98.0

Conference Call Information

Twilio will host a conference call today, May 8, 2018, to discuss first quarter 2018 financial results, as well as the second quarter and full year 2018 outlook, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time, 5 p.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the conference call, as well as a replay of the call, will be available at https://investors.twilio.com. The conference call can also be accessed by dialing (844) 453-4207, or +1 (647) 253-8638 (outside the U.S. and Canada). The conference ID is 7672639. Following the completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 15, 2018, a replay will be available by dialing (800) 585-8367 or +1 (416) 621-4642 (outside the U.S. and Canada) and entering passcode 7672639. Twilio has used, and intends to continue to use, its investor relations website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

About Twilio Inc.

More than 2 million developers around the world have used Twilio to unlock the magic of communications to improve any human experience. Twilio has democratized communications channels like voice, text, chat, and video by virtualizing the world’s telecommunications infrastructure through APIs that are simple enough for any developer to use, yet robust enough to power the world’s most demanding applications. By making communications a part of every software developer's toolkit, Twilio is enabling innovators across every industry — from emerging leaders to the world’s largest organizations — to reinvent how companies engage with their customers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and the accompanying conference call contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about: Twilio’s outlook for the quarter ending June 30, 2018 and full year ending December 31, 2018 and Twilio’s expectations regarding its products and solutions. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.

The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Twilio’s actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things: adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; changes in the market for communications; Twilio’s ability to adapt its products to meet evolving market and customer demands and rapid technological change; Twilio’s ability to generate sufficient revenues to achieve or sustain profitability; Twilio’s ability to retain customers and attract new customers; Twilio’s limited operating history, which makes it difficult to evaluate its prospects and future operating results; Twilio’s ability to effectively manage its growth; and Twilio’s ability to compete effectively in an intensely competitive market.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to additional risks, uncertainties, and factors, including those more fully described in Twilio’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed on March 1, 2018. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in the subsequent periodic and current reports and other filings that Twilio makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Moreover, Twilio operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks and uncertainties may emerge that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Forward-looking statements represent Twilio’s management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date such statements are made. Twilio undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors and others with additional information regarding Twilio’s results, the following non-GAAP financial measures are disclosed: non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP loss from operations and operating margin, non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders, and non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted.

Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Gross Margin. For the periods presented, Twilio defines non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin as GAAP gross profit and GAAP gross margin, respectively, adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangibles.

Non-GAAP Operating Expenses. For the periods presented, Twilio defines non-GAAP operating expenses (including categories of operating expenses) as GAAP operating expenses (and categories of operating expenses) adjusted to exclude, as applicable, stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition-related expenses, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.

Non-GAAP Loss from Operations and Non-GAAP Operating Margin. For the periods presented, Twilio defines non-GAAP loss from operations and non-GAAP operating margin as GAAP loss from operations and GAAP operating margin, respectively, adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition-related expenses, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.

Non-GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders and Non-GAAP Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders, Basic and Diluted. For the periods presented, Twilio defines non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders and non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, as GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders and GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, respectively, adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition-related expenses, and payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation.

Twilio’s management uses the foregoing non-GAAP financial information, collectively, to evaluate its ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Twilio’s management believes that non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance, facilitates period-to-period comparisons of results of operations, and assists in comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar non-GAAP financial information to supplement their GAAP results. Non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly-titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Whenever Twilio uses a non-GAAP financial measure, a reconciliation is provided to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

With respect to Twilio’s guidance as provided under “Outlook” above, Twilio has not reconciled its expectations as to non-GAAP loss from operations to GAAP loss from operations or non-GAAP net loss per share to GAAP net loss per share because stock-based compensation expense cannot be reasonably calculated or predicted at this time. Accordingly, a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.

Operating Metrics

Twilio reviews a number of operating metrics to evaluate its business, measure performance, identify trends, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions. These include the number of Active Customer Accounts, Base Revenue, and Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate.

Number of Active Customer Accounts. Twilio believes that the number of Active Customer Accounts is an important indicator of the growth of its business, the market acceptance of its platform and future revenue trends. Twilio defines an Active Customer Account at the end of any period as an individual account, as identified by a unique account identifier, for which Twilio has recognized at least $5 of revenue in the last month of the period. Twilio believes that use of its platform by customers at or above the $5 per month threshold is a stronger indicator of potential future engagement than trial usage of its platform or usage at levels below $5 per month. A single organization may constitute multiple unique Active Customer Accounts if it has multiple account identifiers, each of which is treated as a separate Active Customer Account.

Base Revenue. Twilio monitors Base Revenue as one of the more reliable indicators of future revenue trends. Base Revenue consists of all revenue other than revenue from large Active Customer Accounts that have never entered into 12-month minimum revenue commitment contracts with Twilio, which the Company refers to as Variable Customer Accounts. While almost all of Twilio’s customers exhibit some level of variability in the usage of its products, based on the experience of Twilio’s management, Twilio believes that Variable Customer Accounts are more likely to have significant fluctuations in usage of its products from period to period, and therefore that revenue from Variable Customer Accounts may also fluctuate significantly from period to period. This behavior is best evidenced by the decision of such customers not to enter into contracts with Twilio that contain minimum revenue commitments, even though they may spend significant amounts on the use of the Company’s products and they may be foregoing more favorable terms often available to customers that enter into committed contracts with Twilio. This variability adversely affects Twilio’s ability to rely upon revenue from Variable Customer Accounts when analyzing expected trends in future revenue.

For historical periods through March 31, 2016, Twilio defined a Variable Customer Account as an Active Customer Account that (i) had never signed a minimum revenue commitment contract with the Company for a term of at least 12 months and (ii) has met or exceeded 1% of the Company’s revenue in any quarter in the periods presented through March 31, 2016. To allow for consistent period-to-period comparisons, in the event a customer qualified as a Variable Customer Account as of March 31, 2016, or a previously Variable Customer Account ceased to be an Active Customer Account as of such date, Twilio included such customer as a Variable Customer Account in all periods presented. For reporting periods starting with the three months ended June 30, 2016, Twilio defines a Variable Customer Account as a customer account that (a) has been categorized as a Variable Customer Account in any prior quarter, as well as (b) any new customer account that (i) has never signed a minimum revenue commitment contract with Twilio for a term of at least 12 months and (ii) meets or exceeds 1% of the Company’s revenue in a quarter. Once a customer account is deemed to be a Variable Customer Account in any period, they remain a Variable Customer Account in subsequent periods unless they enter into a minimum revenue commitment contract with Twilio for a term of at least 12 months.

Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate. Twilio’s ability to drive growth and generate incremental revenue depends, in part, on the Company’s ability to maintain and grow its relationships with existing Active Customer Accounts and to increase their use of the platform. An important way in which Twilio tracks its performance in this area is by measuring the Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate for Active Customer Accounts, other than Variable Customer Accounts. Twilio’s Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate increases when such Active Customer Accounts increase their usage of a product, extend their usage of a product to new applications or adopt a new product. Twilio’s Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate decreases when such Active Customer Accounts cease or reduce their usage of a product or when the Company lowers usage prices on a product. As our customers grow their businesses and extend the use of our platform, they sometimes create multiple customer accounts with us for operational or other reasons. As such, for reporting periods starting with the three months ended December 31, 2016, when we identify a significant customer organization (defined as a single customer organization generating more than 1% of revenue in a quarterly reporting period) that has created a new Active Customer Account, this new Active Customer Account is tied to, and revenue from this new Active Customer Account is included with, the original Active Customer Account for the purposes of calculating this metric. Twilio believes that measuring Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate on revenue generated from Active Customer Accounts, other than Variable Customer Accounts, provides a more meaningful indication of the performance of the Company’s efforts to increase revenue from existing customer accounts.

Twilio’s Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate compares the revenue from Active Customer Accounts, other than Variable Customer Accounts, in a quarter to the same quarter in the prior year. To calculate the Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate, the Company first identifies the cohort of Active Customer Accounts, other than Variable Customer Accounts, that were Active Customer Accounts in the same quarter of the prior year. The Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate is the quotient obtained by dividing the revenue generated from that cohort in a quarter, by the revenue generated from that same cohort in the corresponding quarter in the prior year. When Twilio calculates Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate for periods longer than one quarter, it uses the average of the applicable quarterly Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rates for each of the quarters in such period.

Source: Twilio Inc.

           
TWILIO INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
      Three Months Ended
March 31,
2018 2017
Revenue $ 129,116 $ 87,372
Cost of revenue 59,582   37,286  
Gross profit 69,534   50,086  
Operating expenses:
Research and development 37,576 26,522
Sales and marketing 32,822 21,116
General and administrative 23,393   17,203  
Total operating expenses 93,791   64,841  
Loss from operations (24,257 ) (14,755 )
Other income, net 665   498  
Loss before (provision) benefit for income taxes (23,592 ) (14,257 )
(Provision) benefit for income taxes (137 ) 30  
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (23,729 ) $ (14,227 )
 
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted $ (0.25 ) $ (0.16 )
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted 94,673,557   88,612,804  

   
TWILIO INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
  As of As of
March 31, December 31,
Assets 2018 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 117,737 $ 115,286
Short-term marketable securities 190,271 175,587
Accounts receivable, net 57,310 43,113
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 16,791   19,279  
Total current assets 382,109 353,265
Restricted cash 5,502 5,502
Property and equipment, net 53,694 50,541
Intangible assets, net 18,981 20,064
Goodwill 18,269 17,851
Other long-term assets 4,240   2,559  
Total assets $ 482,795   $ 449,782  
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 17,924 $ 11,116
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 76,595 53,614
Customer deposits 7,442 -
Deferred revenue 7,343   13,797  
Total current liabilities 109,304 78,527
Long-term liabilities 10,951   11,409  
Total liabilities 120,255   89,936  
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock - -
Common stock 95 94
Additional paid-in capital 633,460 608,165
Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,439 2,025
Accumulated deficit (273,454 ) (250,438 )
Total stockholders’ equity 362,540   359,846  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 482,795   $ 449,782  

  TWILIO INC.      
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
2018   2017  
Operating Activities: As Adjusted
Net loss $ (23,729 ) $ (14,227 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 5,631 3,955
Amortization of bond premium 28 63
Stock-based compensation 17,540 9,385
Provision for doubtful accounts 375 72
Gain on lease termination - (295 )
Write-off of internally developed software 182 26
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (14,612 ) (1,950 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,512 (972 )
Other long-term assets (1,169 ) (178 )
Accounts payable 6,703 149
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 22,789 5,221
Deferred revenue (6,256 ) 885
Customer deposits 7,441 -
Long-term liabilities (499 ) 306  
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 16,936   $ 2,440  
 
Investing Activities:
Purchases of marketable securities (42,693 ) (170,769 )
Maturities of marketable securities 27,600 -
Capitalized software development costs (4,795 ) (3,649 )
Purchases of property and equipment (940 ) (4,971 )
Purchases of intangible assets (112 ) (8 )
Acquisition, net of cash acquired -   (22,621 )
Net cash used in investing activities $ (20,940 ) $ (202,018 )
 
Financing Activities:
Payments of costs related to public offerings - (238 )
Proceeds from exercises of stock options 6,678 12,735
Value of equity awards withheld for tax liabilities (371 ) (155 )
Net cash provided by financing activities $ 6,307   $ 12,342  
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 148 11
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 2,451 (187,225 )
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 120,788   314,280  
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 123,239   $ 127,055  

     
TWILIO INC.
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2018 2017
Gross profit $ 69,534 $ 50,086
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 222 138
Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,198   997  
Non-GAAP gross profit $ 70,954   $ 51,221  
 
Non-GAAP gross margin 55 % 59 %
 
Research and development $ 37,576 $ 26,522
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation (7,872 ) (4,484 )
Amortization of acquired intangibles (22 ) (38 )
Gain on lease termination - 150
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (314 ) (806 )
Non-GAAP research and development $ 29,368   $ 21,344  
 
Non-GAAP research and development as % of revenue 23 % 24 %
 
Sales and marketing $ 32,822 $ 21,116
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation (3,859 ) (1,995 )
Amortization of acquired intangibles (220 ) (117 )
Gain on lease termination - 100
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (74 ) (338 )
Non-GAAP sales and marketing $ 28,669   $ 18,766  
 
Non-GAAP sales and marketing as % of revenue 22 % 21 %
 
General and administrative $ 23,393 $ 17,203
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation (5,587 ) (2,768 )
Amortization of acquired intangibles (20 ) (24 )
Acquisition related expenses - (217 )
Release of tax liability upon obligation settlement and estimate revisions - 920
Gain on lease termination - 45
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation (176 ) (306 )
Non-GAAP general and administrative $ 17,610   $ 14,853  
 
Non-GAAP general and administrative as % of revenue 14 % 17 %
 
Loss from operations and margin $ (24,257 ) $ (14,755 )
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 17,540 9,385
Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,460 1,176
Acquisition related expenses - 217
Release of tax liability upon obligation settlement and estimate revisions - (920 )
Gain on lease termination - (295 )
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation 564   1,450  
Non-GAAP loss from operations $ (4,693 ) $ (3,742 )
 
Non-GAAP operating margin (4 %) (4 %)

       
TWILIO INC.
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2018 2017
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (23,729 ) $ (14,227 )
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 17,540 9,385
Amortization of acquired intangibles 1,460 1,176
Acquisition related expenses - 217
Release of tax liability upon obligation settlement and estimate revisions - (920 )
Gain on lease termination - (295 )
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation 564   1,450  
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (4,165 ) $ (3,214 )
 
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders as % of revenue (3 %) (4 %)
 
 
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted* $ (0.25 ) $ (0.16 )
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Stock-based compensation 0.19 0.11
Amortization of acquired intangibles 0.02 0.01
Acquisition related expenses - 0.00
Release of tax liability upon obligation settlement and estimate revisions - (0.01 )
Gain on lease termination - (0.00 )
Payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation 0.01   0.02  
Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted $ (0.04 ) $ (0.04 )
 
 
94,673,557 88,612,804
GAAP weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted
 
* Some columns may not add due to rounding

TWILIO INC.            
Key Metrics
(Unaudited)
 
March 31, June 30, Sept. 30, Dec. 31, March 31,
  2017       2017       2017       2017       2018  
 
Number of Active Customers (as of period end date) 40,696 43,431 46,489 48,979 53,985
Base Revenue (in thousands) $ 80,643 $ 87,583 $ 91,965 $ 105,299 $ 117,507
Base Revenue Growth Rate 62 % 55 % 43 % 40 % 46 %
Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate 141 % 131 % 122 % 118 % 132 %

Contacts

Twilio Inc.
Investor Contact:
Greg Kleiner
ir@Twilio.com
or
Media Contact:
Caitlin Epstein
press@Twilio.com

Contacts

Twilio Inc.
Investor Contact:
Greg Kleiner
ir@Twilio.com
or
Media Contact:
Caitlin Epstein
press@Twilio.com