Eargo Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Eargo, a medical device company, reported second quarter 2021 net revenues of $22.9 million, a 43.7% increase year-over-year. The company raised its full-year net revenue guidance to between $93 million and $96 million. Key highlights include a 24.1% return accrual rate improvement and a 71.8% GAAP gross margin, up 4.5 percentage points. However, total operating expenses reached $35.5 million, leading to a net loss of ($19.3) million, or ($0.50) per share. Eargo 5 was launched in late Q2 2021, with promising initial traction.

Positive

• Net revenue increased by 43.7% year-over-year.
• Increased full-year net revenue guidance from $89-$93 million to $93-$96 million.
• GAAP gross margin improved to 71.8%, a rise of 4.5 percentage points.
• Eargo 5 launched with strong initial commercial traction.

Negative

• Net loss of ($19.3) million for Q2 2021, compared to a loss of ($6.6) million in Q2 2020.
• Total operating expenses surged to $35.5 million, 155.1% of net revenues.

Increases Full Year Net Revenue Guidance to Between $93 Million and $96 Million

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights:

• Net revenues of $22.9 million, up 43.7% year-over-year
• Gross systems shipped of 12,548, up 38.8% year-over-year
• Return accrual rate of 24.1%, a 3.0 percentage point improvement year-over-year
• GAAP gross margin of 71.8%, up 4.5 percentage points year-over-year; non-GAAP gross margin of 72.3%, up 5 percentage points year-over-year
• GAAP sales and marketing expense as a percent of net revenues of 95.7%, a 27.7 percentage point increase year-over-year; non-GAAP sales and marketing expense as a percent of net revenues of 87.4%, a 20.2 percentage point increase year-over-year
• Initial launch of Eargo 5 in late 2Q21; full commercial launch in early 3Q21
• Acquisition of web-based, self-administered hearing screening technology
  

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eargo, Inc. (Nasdaq: EAR), a medical device company on a mission to improve the quality of life of people with hearing loss, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Christian Gormsen, President and CEO, said “Following a strong start to the year, we saw growth in demand across multiple customer types during the second quarter, including both insurance and cash pay, driving 44% year-over-year revenue growth. The shift in mix towards insurance customers facilitated a lower year-over-year return accrual rate of 24.1% and contributed to non-GAAP gross margin improvement of five percentage points year-over-year.”

Mr. Gormsen concluded, “Operationally, the second quarter culminated with a significant milestone accomplishment for Eargo, as we began shipping our most revolutionary product ever, Eargo 5. Since then, we have initiated our full commercial launch early in the third quarter and have seen strong initial commercial traction. We are incredibly excited about how Eargo 5 will support our mission of helping more people hear better. We are also pleased to announce the acquisition of certain assets from Clementine, an early-stage developer of web-based, self-administered hearing screening technology, which we believe will further advance our long-term strategic initiative to empower more consumers to solve for their hearing loss.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Net revenue was $22.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $15.9 million for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was driven by an increase in gross systems shipped and a decrease in the sales return accrual rate.

Gross profit for the second quarter of 2021 was $16.4 million compared to $10.7 million for the second quarter of 2020. Gross margin increased to 71.8% for the second quarter of 2021, compared with 67.3% for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to a decrease in sales returns as percentage of gross systems shipped, and lower cost of goods sold per unit.

Total operating expenses were $35.5 million or 155.1% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $16.3 million or 102.3% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to higher sales and marketing investments in demand generation, costs associated with the Eargo 5 launch, personnel investments to scale the organization for growth, stock-based compensation and expenses related to being a public company.

Sales and marketing expenses were $21.9 million or 95.7% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $10.8 million or 68.0% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2020.

Research and development expenses were $5.2 million or 22.5% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $2.2 million or 13.9% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2020.

General and administrative expenses were $8.4 million or 36.8% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2021, compared with $3.3 million or 20.5% of net revenues for the second quarter of 2020.

Excluding stock-based compensation expense, non-GAAP operating expenses were $30.4 million, including research and development expenses of $4.1 million, sales and marketing expenses of $20.0 million, and general and administrative expenses of $6.3 million. Please refer to the section below titled “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the non-GAAP reconciliation tables at the end of this press release.

Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the second quarter of 2021 was ($19.3) million, or ($0.50) per share, compared to a net loss of ($6.6) million, or ($23.66) per share, for the second quarter of 2020. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders for the second quarter of 2021 was ($14.1) million, or ($0.36) per share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of ($6.1) million, or ($21.97) per share for the same period in 2020.

Cash and cash equivalents were $179.4 million as of June 30, 2021, compared to $212.2 million as of December 31, 2020.

Accounts receivable, net was $15.4 million as of June 30, 2021. The increase in accounts receivable from March 31, 2021 was primarily due to a claims audit by an insurance company that is our largest third-party payor, who accounted for approximately 80% of our gross accounts receivable as of June 30, 2021. During the audit, claims since March 1, 2021 have not been paid. The Company is in active discussions with the payor and continues to work toward conclusion of the audit.

Full Year 2021 Financial Guidance

• Increasing net revenue guidance from between $89 million and $93 million to between $93 million and $96 million
• Reiterating GAAP gross margin guidance of between 68% and 71%
• Reiterating non-GAAP gross margin of between 70% and 72%
  

Conference Call and Webcast Information
Eargo will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter financial results after market close on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone at (833) 649-1234 for U.S. callers or (914) 987-7293 for international callers, using conference ID: 6691066. The live webinar can be accessed at ir.eargo.com.

About Eargo
Eargo is a medical device company dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with hearing loss. Our innovative product and go-to-market approach address the major challenges of traditional hearing aid adoption, including social stigma, accessibility and cost. We believe our Eargo hearing aids are the first and only virtually invisible, rechargeable, completely-in-canal, FDA regulated, exempt Class I or Class II devices for the treatment of hearing loss. Our differentiated, consumer-first solution empowers consumers to take control of their hearing. Consumers can purchase online or over the phone and get personalized and convenient consultation and support from licensed hearing professionals via phone, text, email or video chat. The Eargo solution is offered to consumers at approximately half the cost of competing hearing aids purchased through traditional channels in the United States.

Eargo’s fifth generation device, Eargo 5, is a medical-grade, FDA Class II exempt hearing device designed to be customizable by the user to their hearing preferences through all new Sound Match™ technology. Eargo 5 is available for purchase here.

Related Links
http://eargo.com

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our full year 2021 financial guidance, our ability to deliver on that guidance while driving innovation, the acquisition of assets from Clementine further advancing our long-term strategic initiative, and third-party payor audit. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to: the outcome of ongoing third-party payor audits and the risk that insurance companies may seek recoupments of previous claims paid and deny any claims subject to the audits, and we have received some denials to date, or future claims if the audits are not concluded in our favor following processes for appeal and, if necessary, corrective action; the risk that we may not meet our financial guidance, which assumes favorable conclusion of the ongoing audit being conducted by our largest third-party payor; the impact of unfavorable resolutions of third-party payor audits on our future financial results, including our revenue recognition, sales return rate and bad debt reserve; our expectations concerning additional orders by existing customers; our expectations regarding the potential market size and size of the potential consumer populations for our products and any future products, including our ability to maintain or increase insurance coverage of Eargo hearing aids; our ability to release new hearing aids and the anticipated features of any such hearing aids; developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing products; our ability to maintain our competitive technological advantages against new entrants in our industry; the pricing of our hearing aids; our expectations regarding the ability to make certain claims related to the performance of our hearing aids relative to competitive products; our expectations with regard to changes in the regulatory landscape for hearing aid devices, including the implementation of the pending over-the-counter hearing aid pathway regulatory framework; and our estimates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to, its duration and its impact on our business and results of operations. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in Eargo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the company’s other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company may report non-GAAP results for gross profit/loss, gross margin, operating expenses, operating margins, net income/loss, and basic and diluted net income/loss per share in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The company’s financial measures under GAAP include charges such as stock-based compensation, as listed in the itemized reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release. Management has excluded the effects of this item in non-GAAP measures to assist investors in analyzing and assessing past and future operating performance. The company encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business.

Investor Contact
Nick Laudico
Vice President of Investor Relations
ir@eargo.com

Media Contact
Brad Sheets
eargo@edelman.com

Eargo, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	June 30,				December 31,
	2021				2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	179,354			$	212,185
Accounts receivable, net		15,361				3,793
Inventories		3,202				2,739
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,906				3,740
Total current assets		200,823				222,457
Operating lease right-of-use assets		959				1,079
Property and equipment, net		9,804				8,034
Intangible assets, net		1,990				—
Goodwill		873				—
Other assets		1,086				1,062
Total assets	$	215,535			$	232,632
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	6,764			$	6,020
Accrued expenses		14,429				13,909
Other current liabilities		2,286				2,448
Deferred revenue, current portion		69				311
Lease liability, current portion		824				1,030
Total current liabilities		24,372				23,718
Lease liability, noncurrent portion		209				166
Long-term debt, noncurrent portion		15,045				14,837
Total liabilities		39,626				38,721
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively; zero shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		—				—
Common stock; $0.0001 par value; 110,000,000 shares authorized as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively; 39,141,571 and 38,246,601 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively		4				4
Additional paid in capital		407,906				392,965
Accumulated deficit		(232,001	)			(199,058	)
Total stockholders’ equity		175,909				193,911
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	215,535			$	232,632

Eargo, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenue, net	$	22,883			$	15,921			$	44,931			$	28,590
Cost of revenue		6,462				5,205				12,759				9,861
Gross profit		16,421				10,716				32,172				18,729
Operating expenses:
Research and development		5,148				2,208				9,926				5,017
Sales and marketing		21,903				10,828				38,758				21,687
General and administrative		8,432				3,257				15,919				9,335
Total operating expenses		35,483				16,293				64,603				36,039
Loss from operations		(19,062	)			(5,577	)			(32,431	)			(17,310	)
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income		6				2				17				23
Interest expense		(266	)			(877	)			(529	)			(1,143	)
Other income (expense), net		—				(140	)			—				100
Total other income (expense), net		(260	)			(1,015	)			(512	)			(1,020	)
Loss before income taxes		(19,322	)			(6,592	)			(32,943	)			(18,330	)
Income tax provision		—				—				—				—
Net loss and comprehensive loss	$	(19,322	)		$	(6,592	)		$	(32,943	)		$	(18,330	)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(19,322	)		$	(6,592	)		$	(32,943	)		$	(18,330	)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.50	)		$	(23.66	)		$	(0.85	)		$	(67.04	)
Weighted-average shares used in computing net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		38,806,861				278,614				38,546,557				273,414

Eargo, Inc.
Results of Operations – Reconciliation between GAAP and Non-GAAP
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP net loss per share to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.50	)		$	(23.66	)		$	(0.85	)		$	(67.04	)
Stock-based compensation		0.14				1.69				0.26				3.64
Non-GAAP net loss per share to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(0.36	)		$	(21.97	)		$	(0.59	)		$	(63.40	)
Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders:
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(19,322	)		$	(6,592	)		$	(32,943	)		$	(18,330	)
Stock-based compensation		5,241				471				10,372				996
Non-GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(14,081	)		$	(6,121	)		$	(22,571	)		$	(17,334	)
Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin:
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP gross profit	$	16,421			$	10,716			$	32,172			$	18,729
Stock-based compensation		113				4				299				8
Non-GAAP gross profit	$	16,534			$	10,720			$	32,471			$	18,737
GAAP gross margin		71.8	%			67.3	%			71.6	%			65.5	%
Stock-based compensation		0.5	%			0.0	%			0.7	%			0.0	%
Non-GAAP gross margin		72.3	%			67.3	%			72.3	%			65.5	%
Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses and operating loss:
	Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
	2021				2020				2021				2020
GAAP research and development expense	$	5,148			$	2,208			$	9,926			$	5,017
Stock-based compensation		(1,100	)			(91	)			(2,167	)			(255	)
Non-GAAP research and development expense	$	4,048			$	2,117			$	7,759			$	4,762
GAAP sales and marketing expense	$	21,903			$	10,828			$	38,758			$	21,687
Stock-based compensation		(1,899	)			(126	)			(3,754	)			(250	)
Non-GAAP sales and marketing expense	$	20,004			$	10,702			$	35,004			$	21,437
GAAP general and administrative expense	$	8,432			$	3,257			$	15,919			$	9,335
Stock-based compensation		(2,129	)			(250	)			(4,152	)			(483	)
Non-GAAP general and administrative expense	$	6,303			$	3,007			$	11,767			$	8,852
GAAP total operating expense	$	35,483			$	16,293			$	64,603			$	36,039
Stock-based compensation		(5,128	)			(467	)			(10,073	)			(988	)
Non-GAAP total operating expense	$	30,355			$	15,826			$	54,530			$	35,051
GAAP operating loss	$	(19,062	)		$	(5,577	)		$	(32,431	)		$	(17,310	)
Stock-based compensation		5,241				471				10,372				996
Non-GAAP operating loss	$	(13,821	)		$	(5,106	)		$	(22,059	)		$	(16,314	)
Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP full year 2021 forecasted gross margin
									Low				High
Forecasted 2021 GAAP gross margin									68%				71%
Estimated impact of stock-based compensation									2%				1%
Forecasted 2021 non-GAAP gross margin									70%				72%

FAQ

What were Eargo's Q2 2021 financial results?

Eargo reported net revenues of $22.9 million for Q2 2021, with a 43.7% year-over-year increase.

What is Eargo's new revenue guidance for 2021?

Eargo increased its full-year net revenue guidance to between $93 million and $96 million.

How did Eargo's gross margin perform in Q2 2021?

Eargo reported a GAAP gross margin of 71.8% for Q2 2021, improving by 4.5 percentage points year-over-year.

What was Eargo's net loss in Q2 2021?

Eargo experienced a net loss of ($19.3) million, or ($0.50) per share, in Q2 2021.

What is the significance of Eargo 5's launch?

Eargo 5 is expected to enhance the company's mission, with strong initial traction reported post-launch.