EverQuote Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

EverQuote, a leading online insurance marketplace, reported strong financial results for Q4 and the full year of 2020. Total revenue increased by 32% year-over-year to $97.3 million for Q4 and by 39% to $346.9 million for the full year. The Variable Marketing Margin also rose, showing a 46% increase to $31.9 million in Q4 and a 48% increase to $108.6 million yearly. Despite a GAAP net loss of $11.2 million for 2020, EverQuote achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $18.4 million. Q1 2021 guidance suggests revenues of $100 - $102 million.

Positive

• Q4 revenue increased 32% YoY to $97.3 million.
• Full year revenue rose 39% YoY to $346.9 million.
• Variable Marketing Margin up 46% YoY in Q4; 48% YoY for the full year.
• Q1 2021 revenue guidance: $100 - $102 million.
• Strong traffic initiatives led to 18% increase in revenue per quote request.

Negative

• GAAP net loss of $11.2 million in 2020, an increase from $7.1 million in 2019.

• Fourth Quarter Revenue Increased 32% Year-Over-Year to $97.3 Million
  
• Fourth Quarter Variable Marketing Margin Increased 46% Year-Over-Year to $31.9 Million
• Full Year Revenue Increased 39% Year-Over-Year to $346.9 Million
• Full Year Variable Marketing Margin Increased 48% Year-Over-Year to $108.6 Million

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EverQuote, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVER), a leading online insurance marketplace, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

“Our team executed remarkably well this quarter, closing out a record year at EverQuote delivering year-over-year revenue growth of 32% in the fourth quarter, and 39% for the full year,” remarked Jayme Mendal, CEO of EverQuote. “We drove greater operating efficiency with VMM growth of 46% and 48% for the fourth quarter and full year, respectively, which supported making significant investments to accelerate our long-term growth. We also achieved record Adjusted EBITDA in 2020. Our team remains focused on EverQuote’s vision to become the largest online source of insurance policies by using data and technology to make insurance simpler, more affordable and personalized, ultimately reducing cost and risk,” concluded Mr. Mendal.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights:
(All comparisons are relative to the fourth quarter of 2019):

• Total revenue of $97.3 million, an increase of 32%.
• Automotive insurance vertical revenue of $76.2 million, an increase of 27%.
• Revenue from our Other insurance verticals, which includes home and renters, life, health and commercial insurance, increased 55% to $21.1 million and a record 22% of total revenues.
• Variable Marketing Margin of $31.9 million, an increase of 46%.
• GAAP net loss of $3.8 million, compared to GAAP net loss of $0.9 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $5.4 million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $4.2 million.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Business Highlights:

• Consumer traffic initiatives led to an 18% year-over-year increase in revenue per quote request and a 12% year-over-year increase in quote requests.
• More than 95% of revenue from carriers came from those who have been on our platform for more than a year, reflecting the strong re-occuring nature of the Company’s business model.
• The Health insurance vertical benefitted from the annual open enrollment period and the successful integration of the previously announced acquisition of Crosspointe Insurance.
• Craig Lister joined as Chief Marketing Officer.

Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights:
(All comparisons are relative to the full year of 2019): 

• Total revenue of $346.9 million, an increase of 39%.
• Automotive insurance vertical revenue of $283.2 million, an increase of 33%.
• Revenue from our Other insurance verticals, which includes home and renters, life, health and commercial insurance, increased 74% to $63.7 million.
• Variable Marketing Margin of $108.6 million, an increase of 48%.
• GAAP net loss of $11.2 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of $7.1 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $18.4 million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $8.3 million.

Full Year 2020 Business Highlights:

• The Company’s distribution growth and traffic optimization led to a 35% growth in quote request volume over the prior year.
• Acquired Crosspointe Insurance, a Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) health insurance agency, to support the growth of our Health insurance vertical.
• Launched a DTC agency strategy in our Health and Life insurance verticals.
• EverQuote welcomed several senior leaders to help scale our business and drive operational efficiencies. 

First Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Guidance:

EverQuote anticipates Revenue, Variable Marketing Margin and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the following ranges:

First quarter 2021:

• Revenue of $100 - $102 million.
• Variable Marketing Margin of $30.5 - $31.5 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $4 - $5 million.
  

Full year 2021:

• Revenue of $430 - $440 million.
• Variable Marketing Margin of $135 - $140 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $25 - $30 million.
  

With respect to the Company’s expectations under "First Quarter and Full Year 2021 Guidance" above, the Company has not reconciled the non-GAAP measure Adjusted EBITDA to the GAAP measure net income (loss) in this press release because the Company does not provide guidance for stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense, acquisition-related costs, interest income, and income taxes on a consistent basis as the Company is unable to quantify these amounts without unreasonable efforts, which would be required to include a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income (loss). In addition, the Company believes such a reconciliation would imply a degree of precision that could be confusing or misleading to investors.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

EverQuote will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time today, February 22, 2021. To access the conference call, dial (877) 273-5005 for the U.S. or Canada, or (647) 689-5410 for international callers and provide conference ID 8772399. The webcast will be available live on the Investors section of the Company's website at https://investors.everquote.com.

An audio replay of the call will also be available to investors beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on February 22, 2021, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 28, 2021, by dialing (800) 585-8367 for the U.S. or Canada, or (416) 621-4642 for international callers, and entering passcode 8772399. In addition, an archived webcast will be available on the Investors section of the Company's website at: https://investors.everquote.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for EverQuote, Inc. (“EverQuote” or the “Company”), including statements about future results of operations or the future financial position of the Company, including financial targets, business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations and other statements containing the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: (1) the Company’s ability to attract and retain consumers and insurance providers using the Company’s marketplace; (2) the Company’s ability to maintain or increase the amount providers spend per quote request; (3) the impact on the Company and the insurance industry of the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) the effectiveness of the Company’s growth strategies and its ability to effectively manage growth; (5) the Company’s ability to maintain and build its brand; (6) the Company’s reliance on its third-party service providers; (7) the Company’s ability to develop new and enhanced products and services to attract and retain consumers and insurance providers, and the Company’s ability to successfully monetize them; (8) the impact of competition in the Company’s industry and innovation by the Company’s competitors; (9) the Company’s expected use of proceeds from its initial public offering; (10) developments regarding the insurance industry and the transition to online marketing; and (11) other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

About EverQuote

EverQuote operates a leading online insurance marketplace, connecting consumers with insurance providers. The company's mission is to empower insurance shoppers to better protect life's most important assets—their family, property, and future. Our vision is to become the largest online source of insurance policies by using data and technology to make insurance simpler, more affordable and personalized, ultimately reducing cost and risk.

For more information, visit EverQuote.com and follow on Twitter @EverQuoteInsure.

Investor Relations Contact:
Brinlea Johnson
The Blueshirt Group
212-331-8424
Brinlea@blueshirtgroup.com

EVERQUOTE, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(in thousands except per share)
Revenue	$	97,292		$	73,799		$	346,935		$	248,811
Cost and operating expenses(1):
Cost of revenue		5,683			4,681			21,373			15,903
Sales and marketing		80,217			59,331			284,880			202,689
Research and development		8,088			5,529			29,662			20,214
General and administrative		5,310			4,186			20,444			16,827
Acquisition-related costs		1,778			—			2,258			—
Legal settlement		—			1,227			—			1,227
Total cost and operating expenses		101,076			74,954			358,617			256,860
Loss from operations		(3,784	)		(1,155	)		(11,682	)		(8,049	)
Other income:
Interest income		13			133			189			669
Other income		3			88			291			263
Total other income		16			221			480			932
Net loss	$	(3,768	)	$	(934	)	$	(11,202	)	$	(7,117	)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted	$	(0.13	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.28	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted		28,005			26,240			27,329			25,759
(1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense, as follows:
	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(in thousands)
Cost of revenue	$	108		$	54		$	361		$	193
Sales and marketing		2,924			1,129			10,246			3,805
Research and development		2,385			1,053			7,751			3,967
General and administrative		772			1,228			5,821			4,756
	$	6,189		$	3,464		$	24,179		$	12,721

EVERQUOTE, INC.
BALANCE SHEET DATA

	December 31,
	2020			2019
	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	42,870		$	46,054
Working capital		50,554			46,944
Total assets		129,050			91,221
Total liabilities		58,068			39,451
Total stockholders' equity		70,982			51,770

EVERQUOTE, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(3,768	)	$	(934	)	$	(11,202	)	$	(7,117	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,176			593			3,350			2,186
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		—			98			—			98
Stock-based compensation expense		6,189			3,464			24,179			12,721
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		1,778			—			1,778			—
Provision for (recovery of) bad debt		90			(1	)		105			478
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisition:
Accounts receivable		(4,642	)		(2,305	)		(13,970	)		(15,232	)
Operating lease right-of-use assets		2,076			—			2,076			—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(1,425	)		(3,855	)		623			(5,609	)
Other assets		(332	)		1			(554	)		(1	)
Accounts payable		(729	)		305			9,301			6,837
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(1,643	)		6,712			(3,968	)		10,126
Operating lease liabilities		(2,233	)		—			(2,233	)		—
Deferred revenue		177			(66	)		368			61
Other long-term liabilities		51			(56	)		815			(135	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(3,235	)		3,956			10,668			4,413
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment, including costs capitalized for development of internal-use software		(1,114	)		(777	)		(3,822	)		(2,975	)
Acquisition of business		—			—			(14,930	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,114	)		(777	)		(18,752	)		(2,975	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		1,345			926			4,907			2,982
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,345			926			4,907			2,982
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(7	)		—			(7	)		—
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(3,011	)		4,105			(3,184	)		4,420
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		46,131			42,199			46,304			41,884
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	43,120		$	46,304		$	43,120		$	46,304

EVERQUOTE, INC.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING METRICS

Revenue by vertical:

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Change
	2020			2019			%
	(in thousands)
Automotive	$	76,222		$	60,192			26.6	%
Other		21,070			13,607			54.8	%
Total Revenue	$	97,292		$	73,799			31.8	%

	Year Ended December 31,						Change
	2020			2019			%
	(in thousands)
Automotive	$	283,236		$	212,300		33.4	%
Other		63,699			36,511		74.5	%
Total Revenue	$	346,935		$	248,811		39.4	%

Other financial and non-financial metrics:

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Change
	2020			2019			%
	(in thousands)
Loss from operations	$	(3,784	)	$	(1,155	)	227.6	%
Net loss	$	(3,768	)	$	(934	)	303.4	%
Quote requests		6,553			5,863		11.8	%
Variable Marketing Margin	$	31,921		$	21,836		46.2	%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	$	5,362		$	4,217		27.2	%

	Year Ended December 31,						Change
	2020			2019			%
	(in thousands)
Loss from operations	$	(11,682	)	$	(8,049	)	45.1	%
Net loss	$	(11,202	)	$	(7,117	)	57.4	%
Quote requests		27,013			20,011		35.0	%
Variable Marketing Margin	$	108,642		$	73,316		48.2	%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)	$	18,396		$	8,348		120.4	%

(1

)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. Please see “EverQuote, Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP” below for more information.

To supplement the Company’s financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP and to provide investors with additional information regarding EverQuote’s financial results, the Company has presented Adjusted. EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure. This non-GAAP financial measure is not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense; depreciation and amortization expense; acquisition-related costs; legal settlement; interest income; and income taxes. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net income (loss). The Company monitors and presents Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by management and the board of directors to understand and evaluate operating performance, to establish budgets and to develop operational goals for managing EverQuote’s business. In particular, the Company believes that excluding the impact of these items in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of EverQuote’s core operating performance.

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate EverQuote’s operating performance and trends and make planning decisions. The Company believes that this non-GAAP financial measure helps identify underlying trends in EverQuote’s business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the items that the Company excludes in the calculations of Adjusted EBITDA. Accordingly, the Company believes that this financial measure provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating EverQuote’s operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of the Company’s past performance and future prospects.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Adjusted EBITDA rather than net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies may use other measures to evaluate their performance, which could reduce the usefulness of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison.

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

EVERQUOTE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO GAAP

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
	(in thousands)
Net income (loss)	$	(3,768	)	$	(934	)	$	(11,202	)	$	(7,117	)
Stock-based compensation		6,189			3,464			24,179			12,721
Depreciation and amortization		1,176			593			3,350			2,186
Acquisition-related costs		1,778			—			2,258			—
Legal settlement		—			1,227			—			1,227
Interest income		(13	)		(133	)		(189	)		(669	)
Adjusted EBITDA	$	5,362		$	4,217		$	18,396		$	8,348

FAQ

What were EverQuote's Q4 2020 revenue and growth?

EverQuote reported Q4 2020 revenue of $97.3 million, a 32% increase year-over-year.

How did EverQuote's full year 2020 performance compare to 2019?

In 2020, EverQuote's revenue grew 39% year-over-year to $346.9 million.

What is EverQuote's guidance for Q1 2021?

EverQuote anticipates Q1 2021 revenue between $100 million and $102 million.

What is EverQuote's Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2020?

EverQuote achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $18.4 million for the full year 2020.

What was the Variable Marketing Margin for EverQuote in 2020?

The Variable Marketing Margin for 2020 was $108.6 million, a 48% increase year-over-year.