Yelp Reports Third Quarter Results and Announces Strategic Acquisition

Net Revenue increased by 4% to $360 million

Net Income of $38 million, reflecting an 11% margin

Adjusted EBITDA of $101 million, reflecting a 28% margin

Full-year outlook adjusted to $1.397 billion to $1.402 billion of Net Revenue and $341 million to $346 million of Adjusted EBITDA1

Yelp has entered into an agreement to acquire RepairPal for $80 million in cash

SAN FRANCISCO--()--Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP), the trusted platform that connects people with great local businesses, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2024 in the Q3 2024 Shareholder Letter available on its Investor Relations website at yelp-ir.com. Yelp also announced its agreement to acquire RepairPal, an auto services platform, for approximately $80 million in cash. This acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions.

“Yelp delivered record net revenue in the third quarter, driven by continued momentum in our Services categories,” said Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “Advertising revenue from Services businesses increased by 11% year over year to a record $228 million, with revenue growth of approximately 15% year over year in our Home Services category. As we continue to build on our progress in Home Services, we believe RepairPal will accelerate our broader Services efforts by expanding our offerings in the multi-billion dollar U.S. auto services advertising vertical.”

“Our results highlight Yelp's strong performance in its Services categories, which achieved double-digit year-over-year revenue growth for the 14th consecutive quarter, even as Restaurants, Retail and Other categories faced ongoing headwinds,” said David Schwarzbach, Yelp’s chief financial officer. “We continued to demonstrate disciplined expense management, with a net income margin of 11% and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 28% in the third quarter. Our planned acquisition aligns with our capital allocation strategy and demonstrates our ability to deploy balance sheet capital to support our business strategy.”

Quarterly Conference Call

Yelp will host a live Q&A session today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the third quarter financial results and outlook for the fourth quarter and full year 2024. The webcast of the Q&A can be accessed on the Yelp Investor Relations website at yelp-ir.com. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same website.

About Yelp

Yelp Inc. (yelp.com) is a community-driven platform that connects people with great local businesses. Millions of people rely on Yelp for useful and trusted local business information, reviews and photos to help inform their spending decisions. As a one-stop local platform, Yelp helps consumers easily discover, connect and transact with businesses across a broad range of categories by making it easy to request a quote for a service, book a table at a restaurant, and more. Yelp was founded in San Francisco in 2004.

Yelp intends to make future announcements of material financial and other information through its Investor Relations website. Yelp will also, from time to time, disclose this information through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls, or webcasts, as required by applicable law.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, Yelp’s future performance, including its expected financial results for 2024 and its capital allocation strategy, as well as its agreement to acquire RepairPal, the anticipated timing of the closing of the acquisition and the expected benefits thereof, that are based on its current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties.

Yelp’s actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied by such forward-looking statements and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:

  • macroeconomic uncertainty — including related to inflation, interest rates and supply chain issues, as well as severe weather events — and its effect on consumer behavior, user activity and advertiser spending;
  • the prevalence of seasonal respiratory illnesses, impact of fears or actual outbreaks of disease and any resulting changes in consumer behavior, economic conditions or governmental actions;
  • Yelp’s ability to maintain and expand its base of advertisers, particularly if advertiser turnover substantially worsens and/or consumer demand significantly degrades;
  • Yelp’s ability to drive continued growth through its strategic initiatives;
  • Yelp’s ability to successfully complete and manage the acquisition and integration of RepairPal;
  • Yelp’s ability to continue to operate effectively with a primarily remote work force and attract and retain key talent;
  • Yelp’s limited operating history in an evolving industry; and
  • Yelp’s ability to generate and maintain sufficient high-quality content from its users.

Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences also include, but are not limited to, those factors that could affect Yelp’s business, operating results and stock price included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Yelp’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q at yelp-ir.com or the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

_______________________________

1 Yelp has not reconciled its Adjusted EBITDA outlook to GAAP Net income (loss) under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) because it does not provide an outlook for GAAP Net income (loss) due to the uncertainty and potential variability of Other income, net and Provision for (benefit from) income taxes, which are reconciling items between Adjusted EBITDA and GAAP Net income (loss). Because Yelp cannot reasonably predict such items, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure outlook to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort. We caution, however, that such items could have a significant impact on the calculation of GAAP Net income (loss). For more information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

September 30,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

261,588

 

 

$

313,911

 

Short-term marketable securities

 

135,426

 

 

 

127,485

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

155,131

 

 

 

146,147

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

38,083

 

 

 

36,673

 

Total current assets

 

590,228

 

 

 

624,216

 

Property, equipment and software, net

 

73,991

 

 

 

68,684

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

28,380

 

 

 

48,573

 

Goodwill

 

104,433

 

 

 

103,886

 

Intangibles, net

 

6,638

 

 

 

7,638

 

Other non-current assets

 

176,538

 

 

 

161,726

 

Total assets

$

980,208

 

 

$

1,014,723

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

$

134,746

 

 

$

132,809

 

Operating lease liabilities — current

 

28,022

 

 

 

39,234

 

Deferred revenue

 

7,601

 

 

 

3,821

 

Total current liabilities

 

170,369

 

 

 

175,864

 

Operating lease liabilities — long-term

 

25,905

 

 

 

48,065

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

44,394

 

 

 

41,260

 

Total liabilities

 

240,668

 

 

 

265,189

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,873,678

 

 

 

1,786,667

 

Treasury stock

 

(2,907

)

 

 

(282

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(10,535

)

 

 

(12,202

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,120,696

)

 

 

(1,024,649

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

739,540

 

 

 

749,534

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

980,208

 

 

$

1,014,723

 

 

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Net revenue

$

360,344

 

$

345,122

 

 

$

1,050,112

 

$

994,686

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenue(1)

 

32,382

 

 

28,370

 

 

 

90,414

 

 

84,613

 

Sales and marketing(1)

 

144,631

 

 

137,703

 

 

 

442,715

 

 

424,308

 

Product development(1)

 

77,748

 

 

81,020

 

 

 

251,055

 

 

254,247

 

General and administrative(1)

 

49,605

 

 

45,695

 

 

 

139,471

 

 

145,609

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

9,326

 

 

10,461

 

 

 

28,841

 

 

31,881

 

Total costs and expenses

 

313,692

 

 

303,249

 

 

 

952,496

 

 

940,658

 

Income from operations

 

46,652

 

 

41,873

 

 

 

97,616

 

 

54,028

 

Other income, net

 

7,231

 

 

6,154

 

 

 

25,277

 

 

17,264

 

Income before income taxes

 

53,883

 

 

48,027

 

 

 

122,893

 

 

71,292

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

15,443

 

 

(10,189

)

 

 

32,263

 

 

(475

)

Net income attributable to common stockholders

$

38,440

 

$

58,216

 

 

$

90,630

 

$

71,767

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share attributable to common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.57

 

$

0.84

 

 

$

1.34

 

$

1.03

 

Diluted

$

0.56

 

$

0.79

 

 

$

1.27

 

$

0.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used to compute net income per share attributable to common stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

67,219

 

 

69,030

 

 

 

67,862

 

 

69,366

 

Diluted

 

69,163

 

 

73,566

 

 

 

71,109

 

 

72,920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Cost of revenue

$

1,301

 

$

1,298

 

 

$

4,099

 

$

4,026

 

Sales and marketing

 

8,588

 

 

9,200

 

 

 

25,905

 

 

26,921

 

Product development

 

20,887

 

 

24,047

 

 

 

67,074

 

 

74,888

 

General and administrative

 

8,696

 

 

8,922

 

 

 

26,318

 

 

27,469

 

Total stock-based compensation

$

39,472

 

$

43,467

 

 

$

123,396

 

$

133,304

 

 

YELP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net income

$

90,630

 

 

$

71,767

 

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

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

28,841

 

 

 

31,881

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

35,111

 

 

 

26,664

 

Stock-based compensation

 

123,396

 

 

 

133,304

 

Amortization of right-of-use assets

 

11,363

 

 

 

22,848

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(17,408

)

 

 

(8,845

)

Amortization of deferred contract cost

 

18,604

 

 

 

17,818

 

Asset impairment

 

5,914

 

 

 

3,555

 

Other adjustments, net

 

(2,717

)

 

 

(229

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(44,095

)

 

 

(54,395

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(14,302

)

 

 

3,101

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

(29,333

)

 

 

(30,255

)

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities

 

8,838

 

 

 

9,896

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

214,842

 

 

 

227,110

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

Purchases of marketable securities — available-for-sale

 

(89,251

)

 

 

(115,388

)

Sales and maturities of marketable securities — available-for-sale

 

83,380

 

 

 

89,613

 

Purchases of other investments

 

(2,500

)

 

 

 

Purchases of property, equipment and software

 

(26,337

)

 

 

(20,850

)

Other investing activities

 

268

 

 

 

160

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(34,440

)

 

 

(46,465

)

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock for employee stock-based plans

 

13,436

 

 

 

28,958

 

Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards

 

(58,044

)

 

 

(61,142

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

(188,399

)

 

 

(149,999

)

Payment of issuance costs for credit facility

 

 

 

 

(1,049

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(233,007

)

 

 

(183,232

)

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

580

 

 

 

903

 

 

 

 

 

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(52,025

)

 

 

(1,684

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — Beginning of period

 

314,002

 

 

 

307,138

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — End of period

$

261,977

 

 

$

305,454

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and statements made during the above referenced webcast may include information relating to Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free cash flow, each of which the Securities and Exchange Commission has defined as a “non-GAAP financial measure.”

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude: provision for (benefit from) income taxes; other income, net; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation expense; and, in certain periods, certain other income and expense items, such as material litigation settlements, impairment charges and fees related to shareholder activism, and other items that we deem not to be indicative of our ongoing operating performance. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenue. We define Free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, less cash used for purchases of property, equipment and software.

Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow, which are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, have limitations as analytical tools and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of Yelp’s financial results as reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). In particular, Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow should not be viewed as substitutes for, or superior to, net income (loss) or net cash provided by (used in) operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP as measures of profitability or liquidity. Some of these limitations are:

  • although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect all cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, Yelp’s working capital needs;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of the recording or release of valuation allowances or tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to Yelp;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not consider the potentially dilutive impact of equity-based compensation;
  • Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain income and expense items, such as material litigation settlements, impairment charges and fees related to shareholder activism, or other costs that management determines are not indicative of ongoing operating performance;
  • Free cash flow does not represent the total residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes because it does not reflect our contractual commitments or obligations; and
  • other companies, including those in Yelp’s industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.

Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free cash flow alongside other financial performance measures, including net income (loss), net cash provided by (used in) operating activities and Yelp’s other GAAP results.

The following is a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the calculation of net income margin and Adjusted EBITDA margin, for each of the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages; unaudited):

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

38,440

 

 

$

58,216

 

 

$

90,630

 

 

$

71,767

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

15,443

 

 

 

(10,189

)

 

 

32,263

 

 

 

(475

)

Other income, net(1)

 

(7,231

)

 

 

(6,154

)

 

 

(25,277

)

 

 

(17,264

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

9,326

 

 

 

10,461

 

 

 

28,841

 

 

 

31,881

 

Stock-based compensation

 

39,472

 

 

 

43,467

 

 

 

123,396

 

 

 

133,304

 

Litigation settlement(2)(3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,000

 

Asset impairment(2)

 

5,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,914

 

 

 

3,555

 

Fees related to shareholder activism(2)

 

 

 

 

671

 

 

 

1,168

 

 

 

671

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

101,364

 

 

$

96,472

 

 

$

256,935

 

 

$

234,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

$

360,344

 

 

$

345,122

 

 

$

1,050,112

 

 

$

994,686

 

Net income margin

 

11

%

 

 

17

%

 

 

9

%

 

 

7

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

28

%

 

 

28

%

 

 

24

%

 

 

24

%

(1)

 

Includes the release of a $3.1 million reserve related to a one-time payroll tax credit in the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

(2)

 

Recorded within general and administrative expenses on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(3)

 

Represents the loss contingency recorded in connection with the agreement to settle a putative class action lawsuit asserting claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act. For additional information, see our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The following is a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Free cash flow for each of the periods indicated (in thousands; unaudited):

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

102,298

 

 

$

104,859

 

 

$

214,842

 

 

$

227,110

 

Purchases of property, equipment and software

 

(9,763

)

 

 

(5,697

)

 

 

(26,337

)

 

 

(20,850

)

Free cash flow

$

92,535

 

 

$

99,162

 

 

$

188,505

 

 

$

206,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(11,394

)

 

$

420

 

 

$

(34,440

)

 

$

(46,465

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

$

(82,596

)

 

$

(70,327

)

 

$

(233,007

)

 

$

(183,232

)

 

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Kate Krieger
ir@yelp.com

Press Contact:
Amber Albrecht
press@yelp.com

Contacts

Investor Relations Contact:
Kate Krieger
ir@yelp.com

Press Contact:
Amber Albrecht
press@yelp.com