Roblox Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results
- None.
- None.
Insights
The reported financial figures for Roblox Corporation indicate a significant year-over-year growth in key metrics such as revenue, bookings and daily active users. A 30% increase in revenue coupled with a 25% rise in bookings suggests robust performance and an expanding user base, which is critical for a platform-centric business model. The 22% surge in daily active users is a testament to the company's ability to retain and attract a larger audience, a vital factor for sustained revenue growth.
However, the net loss attributable to common stockholders of $323.7 million for the quarter and $1,151.9 million for the full year is a point of concern. Despite the top-line growth, the company is still operating at a loss, which may raise questions about its long-term profitability and cost management strategies. Investors should monitor the trajectory of these losses in relation to revenue growth to assess the efficiency of Roblox's scale-up efforts.
The increase in net cash provided by operating activities suggests improving operational efficiency, which is a positive indicator for potential investors and current shareholders. The company's liquidity position, with net liquidity of $2.2 billion, appears strong, enabling further investment in innovation and platform development, which are crucial for maintaining competitive advantage in the dynamic tech industry.
Roblox's strategic investments in immersive experiences, advertising and AI are reflective of broader industry trends where interactive entertainment platforms are seeking to diversify revenue streams and enhance user engagement. The platform's emphasis on creating shared experiences and fostering social connections aligns with the increasing demand for digital social interaction, especially among younger demographics.
The company's focus on driving innovation could further solidify its market position by attracting new users and developers, thereby enhancing the network effects that are pivotal for platform-based businesses. The ability to achieve a quarterly bookings growth, the highest in two years and reaching the milestone of $1 billion in bookings for a quarter, are indicators of a strong value proposition to its user base.
Roblox's goal of reaching over 1 billion daily active users is ambitious and would represent a massive scale of operations. This target, if achieved, could have profound implications for the company's market share and influence within the industry. The mention of 'optimism and civility' as core values may also resonate with stakeholders who prioritize corporate responsibility and community well-being in their investment decisions.
The reported financial results from Roblox Corporation can be seen as a microcosm of the larger digital entertainment economy. The company's growth reflects the increasing consumer expenditure on digital goods and services, which is a trend accelerated by the global shift towards online platforms post-pandemic. The 21% increase in hours engaged underscores the high user involvement and time spent on the platform, which can be leveraged for monetization through various channels such as in-game purchases and advertising.
However, the substantial net losses reported by Roblox highlight the challenges faced by growth-focused tech companies in balancing expansion with profitability. The net cash provided by operating activities, though improved, must be evaluated against the backdrop of these losses to understand the sustainability of the business model. Moreover, the company's performance and its forward-looking statements regarding operational efficiency and margin improvements will be critical in assessing its ability to navigate economic cycles and potential market downturns.
Strong year over year growth in Daily Active Users, Hours Engaged, Revenue, and Bookings
Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial, Operational, and Liquidity Highlights
-
Revenue was
$749.9 million 30% year-over-year. -
Bookings were
$1,126.8 million 25% year-over-year. -
Net loss attributable to common stockholders was
$323.7 million -
Net cash provided by operating activities was
$143.3 million 20% year-over-year. -
Average Daily Active Users (“DAUs”) were 71.5 million, up
22% year-over-year. -
Average monthly unique payers were 15.9 million, up
18% year-over-year, and average bookings per monthly unique payer was$23.65 6% year-over-year. -
Hours engaged were 15.5 billion, up
21% year-over-year. -
Average bookings per DAU was
$15.75 3% year-over-year. -
Net liquidity1 was
$2.2 billion $259.6 million 42% year-over-year.
Full Year 2023 Financial, Operational, and Liquidity Highlights
-
Revenue was
$2,799.3 million 26% year-over-year. -
Bookings were
$3,520.8 million 23% year-over-year. -
Net loss attributable to common stockholders was
$1,151.9 million -
Net cash provided by operating activities was
$458.2 million 24% year-over-year. -
DAUs were 68.4 million, up
22% year-over-year. -
Average monthly unique payers were 14.5 million, up
17% year-over-year, and average bookings per monthly unique payer was$81.05 4% year-over-year. -
Hours engaged were 60.0 billion, up
22% year-over-year. -
Average bookings per DAU was
$51.50 -
Covenant Adjusted EBITDA2 was
$431.7 million 21% year-over-year.
“We finished 2023 with another strong quarter of growth as we continue to drive innovation and new experiences across the Roblox platform. We enter 2024 with even more conviction of being able to achieve our long-term goal of attracting over 1 billion daily active users with optimism and civility. We continue to benefit from the strong network effects in content, social connection, and communication, as well as our investments in immersive experiences, advertising, and AI,” said David Baszucki, founder and CEO of Roblox.
“We ended the year with our strongest rate of quarterly bookings growth in two years and delivered our first quarter of
Forward Looking Guidance
Roblox provides its initial full year and first quarter 2024 GAAP and non-GAAP guidance:
Full Year 2024 Guidance
-
Revenue between
$3,300 million $3,400 million -
Bookings between
$4,140 million $4,280 million -
Consolidated net loss between
$(1,400) million $(1,365) million -
Adjusted EBITDA between
$(150) million $(115) million -
Increase in deferred revenue between
$852 million $892 million -
Increase in deferred cost of revenue between
$(172) million $(177) million -
The total of these changes in deferrals between
$680 million $715 million
(A) + (B) = Covenant Adjusted EBITDA2
-
Increase in deferred revenue between
First Quarter 2024 Guidance
-
Revenue between
$755 million $780 million -
Bookings between
$910 million $940 million -
Consolidated net loss between
$(347) million $(342) million -
Adjusted EBITDA between
$(55) million $(50) million -
Increase in deferred revenue between
$158 million $163 million -
Increase in deferred cost of revenue between
$(33) million $(35) million -
The total of these changes in deferrals between
$125 million $128 million
(A) + (B) = Covenant Adjusted EBITDA2
-
Increase in deferred revenue between
(1) |
|
Net liquidity represents cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and long-term investments, less the carrying value of long-term debt, net. |
(2) |
|
Covenant Adjusted EBITDA is used in certain covenant calculations specified in the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030 and is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not conform to the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA by other companies. Covenant Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for a measure of our financial performance or other liquidity measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and is also not indicative of income or loss calculated in accordance with GAAP. |
Earnings Q&A Session
Roblox will host a live Q&A session to answer questions regarding its fourth quarter and full year 2023 results on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time/8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast will be open to the public at ir.roblox.com or by clicking here.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our vision to connect one billion global DAUs, our efforts to improve the Roblox Platform, our immersive advertising efforts, the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on our platform, our efforts related to communications products, our economy and product efforts related to creator earnings tools, branding and new partnerships, our business, product, strategy and user growth, our investment strategy, including our opportunities for and expectations of improvements in financial and operating metrics, including operating leverage, free cash flow, operating expenses and capital expenditures, our expectation of successfully executing such strategies and plans, disclosures and future growth rates, benefits from agreements with third-party cloud providers, estimates about our data center capacity, our expectations of future net losses and net cash provided by operating activities, statements by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and our outlook and guidance for first quarter and full year 2024, and future periods. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current plans, expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “expect,” “vision,” “envision,” “evolving,” “drive,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “maintain,” “should,” “believe,” “continue,” “plan,” “goal,” “opportunity,” “estimate,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “could,” and “would,” and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings and reports we make with the SEC from time to time. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: our ability to successfully execute our business and growth strategy; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity needs, including the repayment of our senior notes; the demand for our platform in general; our ability to retain and increase our number of users, developers, and creators; the impact of inflation and global economic conditions on our operations; the impact of changing legal and regulatory requirements on our business, including the use of verified parental consent; our ability to develop enhancements to our platform, and bring them to market in a timely manner; our ability to develop and protect our brand and build new partnerships; any misuse of user data or other undesirable activity by third parties on our platform; our ability to maintain the security and availability of our platform; our ability to detect and minimize unauthorized use of our platform; and the impact of AI on our platform, users, creators and developers. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations is included in the reports we have filed or will file with the SEC, including our annual reports on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, we undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
ROBLOX CORPORATION
|
|||||||
|
As of December 31, |
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
||||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
678,466 |
|
|
$ |
2,977,474 |
|
Short-term investments |
|
1,514,808 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Accounts receivable—net of allowances |
|
505,769 |
|
|
|
379,353 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
74,549 |
|
|
|
61,641 |
|
Deferred cost of revenue, current portion |
|
501,821 |
|
|
|
420,136 |
|
Total current assets |
|
3,275,413 |
|
|
|
3,838,604 |
|
Long-term investments |
|
1,043,399 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Property and equipment—net |
|
695,360 |
|
|
|
592,346 |
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
665,107 |
|
|
|
526,030 |
|
Deferred cost of revenue, long-term |
|
283,326 |
|
|
|
225,132 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
53,060 |
|
|
|
54,717 |
|
Goodwill |
|
142,129 |
|
|
|
134,335 |
|
Other assets |
|
10,284 |
|
|
|
4,323 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
6,168,078 |
|
|
$ |
5,375,487 |
|
Liabilities and Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
||||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
||||
Accounts payable |
$ |
60,087 |
|
|
$ |
71,182 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
271,121 |
|
|
|
236,006 |
|
Developer exchange liability |
|
314,866 |
|
|
|
231,704 |
|
Deferred revenue—current portion |
|
2,406,292 |
|
|
|
1,941,943 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
3,052,366 |
|
|
|
2,480,835 |
|
Deferred revenue—net of current portion |
|
1,373,250 |
|
|
|
1,095,291 |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
646,506 |
|
|
|
494,590 |
|
Long-term debt, net |
|
1,005,000 |
|
|
|
988,984 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
22,330 |
|
|
|
10,752 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
6,099,452 |
|
|
|
5,070,452 |
|
Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
||||
Common stock, |
|
61 |
|
|
|
59 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
3,134,946 |
|
|
|
2,213,603 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) |
|
1,536 |
|
|
|
671 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(3,060,253 |
) |
|
|
(1,908,307 |
) |
Total Roblox Corporation Stockholders’ equity |
|
76,290 |
|
|
|
306,026 |
|
Noncontrolling interests |
|
(7,664 |
) |
|
|
(991 |
) |
Total Stockholders’ equity |
|
68,626 |
|
|
|
305,035 |
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ equity |
$ |
6,168,078 |
|
|
$ |
5,375,487 |
|
ROBLOX CORPORATION
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Twelve Months Ended |
||||||||||||
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Revenue(1) |
$ |
749,939 |
|
|
$ |
579,004 |
|
|
$ |
2,799,274 |
|
|
$ |
2,225,052 |
|
Cost and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Cost of revenue(1)(2) |
|
171,664 |
|
|
|
142,432 |
|
|
|
649,115 |
|
|
|
547,658 |
|
Developer exchange fees |
|
221,750 |
|
|
|
182,115 |
|
|
|
740,752 |
|
|
|
623,855 |
|
Infrastructure and trust & safety |
|
223,310 |
|
|
|
198,505 |
|
|
|
878,361 |
|
|
|
689,081 |
|
Research and development |
|
341,129 |
|
|
|
248,407 |
|
|
|
1,253,598 |
|
|
|
873,477 |
|
General and administrative |
|
98,776 |
|
|
|
79,704 |
|
|
|
390,055 |
|
|
|
297,317 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
48,503 |
|
|
|
29,740 |
|
|
|
146,460 |
|
|
|
117,448 |
|
Total cost and expenses |
|
1,105,132 |
|
|
|
880,903 |
|
|
|
4,058,341 |
|
|
|
3,148,836 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(355,193 |
) |
|
|
(301,899 |
) |
|
|
(1,259,067 |
) |
|
|
(923,784 |
) |
Interest income |
|
39,530 |
|
|
|
21,636 |
|
|
|
141,818 |
|
|
|
38,842 |
|
Interest expense |
|
(10,298 |
) |
|
|
(10,008 |
) |
|
|
(40,707 |
) |
|
|
(39,903 |
) |
Other income/(expense), net |
|
898 |
|
|
|
1,988 |
|
|
|
(527 |
) |
|
|
(5,744 |
) |
Loss before income taxes |
|
(325,063 |
) |
|
|
(288,283 |
) |
|
|
(1,158,483 |
) |
|
|
(930,589 |
) |
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes |
|
277 |
|
|
|
3,202 |
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
3,552 |
|
Consolidated net loss |
|
(325,340 |
) |
|
|
(291,485 |
) |
|
|
(1,158,937 |
) |
|
|
(934,141 |
) |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
(1,642 |
) |
|
|
(1,559 |
) |
|
|
(6,991 |
) |
|
|
(9,775 |
) |
Net loss attributable to common stockholders |
$ |
(323,698 |
) |
|
$ |
(289,926 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,151,946 |
) |
|
$ |
(924,366 |
) |
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.52 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.48 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.87 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.55 |
) |
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted |
|
626,817 |
|
|
|
601,859 |
|
|
|
616,445 |
|
|
|
595,559 |
|
(1) |
|
In the first quarter of 2022, we updated our estimated paying user life from 23 months to 25 months, which was subsequently updated again to 28 months in the third quarter of 2022, where it remained throughout 2023. Based on the carrying amount of deferred revenue and deferred cost of revenue as of December 31, 2021, these changes resulted in a |
(2) |
|
Depreciation of servers and infrastructure equipment included in infrastructure and trust & safety. |
ROBLOX CORPORATION
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Consolidated net loss |
$ |
(325,340 |
) |
|
$ |
(291,485 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,158,937 |
) |
|
$ |
(934,141 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss including noncontrolling interests to net cash and cash equivalents provided by operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
54,531 |
|
|
|
42,538 |
|
|
|
208,142 |
|
|
|
130,083 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
250,679 |
|
|
|
169,456 |
|
|
|
867,967 |
|
|
|
589,498 |
|
Operating lease non-cash expense |
|
26,262 |
|
|
|
19,985 |
|
|
|
97,063 |
|
|
|
69,100 |
|
(Accretion)/amortization on marketable securities, net |
|
(20,943 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(73,162 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Amortization of debt issuance costs |
|
334 |
|
|
|
321 |
|
|
|
1,316 |
|
|
|
1,261 |
|
Impairment expense, (gain)/loss on investment and other asset sales, and other, net |
|
1,222 |
|
|
|
395 |
|
|
|
8,969 |
|
|
|
361 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
|
(219,346 |
) |
|
|
(192,427 |
) |
|
|
(126,172 |
) |
|
|
(72,479 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
(7,330 |
) |
|
|
18,633 |
|
|
|
(3,475 |
) |
|
|
10,302 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
(10,909 |
) |
|
|
8,835 |
|
|
|
(12,770 |
) |
|
|
(33,769 |
) |
Other assets |
|
228 |
|
|
|
(1,719 |
) |
|
|
(5,961 |
) |
|
|
(1,221 |
) |
Developer exchange liability |
|
75,438 |
|
|
|
63,337 |
|
|
|
83,162 |
|
|
|
67,798 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
11,279 |
|
|
|
12,578 |
|
|
|
8,680 |
|
|
|
19,560 |
|
Other long-term liability |
|
6,426 |
|
|
|
10,738 |
|
|
|
11,397 |
|
|
|
10,159 |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
(3,617 |
) |
|
|
(14,886 |
) |
|
|
(50,454 |
) |
|
|
(47,875 |
) |
Deferred revenue |
|
382,196 |
|
|
|
325,450 |
|
|
|
742,294 |
|
|
|
662,378 |
|
Deferred cost of revenue |
|
(77,805 |
) |
|
|
(52,530 |
) |
|
|
(139,879 |
) |
|
|
(101,719 |
) |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by operating activities |
|
143,305 |
|
|
|
119,219 |
|
|
|
458,180 |
|
|
|
369,296 |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Acquisition of property and equipment |
|
(65,197 |
) |
|
|
(157,205 |
) |
|
|
(320,667 |
) |
|
|
(426,163 |
) |
Payments related to business combination, net of cash acquired |
|
— |
|
|
|
(7,223 |
) |
|
|
(3,859 |
) |
|
|
(13,388 |
) |
Purchases of intangible assets |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(13,500 |
) |
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
Purchases of investments |
|
(788,063 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(4,591,974 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Maturities of investments |
|
686,709 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,642,719 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Sales of investments |
|
115,416 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
462,182 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities |
|
(51,135 |
) |
|
|
(164,428 |
) |
|
|
(2,825,099 |
) |
|
|
(441,051 |
) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
5,910 |
|
|
|
3,046 |
|
|
|
53,226 |
|
|
|
45,752 |
|
Payment of withholding taxes related to net share settlement of restricted stock units |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(150 |
) |
Proceeds from debt issuances |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
14,700 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Payment of debt issuance costs |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(154 |
) |
Payments related to business combination, after acquisition date |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(750 |
) |
|
|
(150 |
) |
Other financing activities |
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,236 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1,656 |
) |
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities |
|
5,910 |
|
|
|
1,810 |
|
|
|
67,176 |
|
|
|
43,642 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
|
337 |
|
|
|
(634 |
) |
|
|
735 |
|
|
|
1,287 |
|
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
98,417 |
|
|
|
(44,033 |
) |
|
|
(2,299,008 |
) |
|
|
(26,826 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Beginning of period |
|
580,049 |
|
|
|
3,021,507 |
|
|
|
2,977,474 |
|
|
|
3,004,300 |
|
End of period |
$ |
678,466 |
|
|
$ |
2,977,474 |
|
|
$ |
678,466 |
|
|
$ |
2,977,474 |
|
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and the accompanying tables contain the non-GAAP financial measure bookings, the non-GAAP financial measure free cash flow, and the non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted EBITDA.
We use this non-GAAP financial information to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that this non-GAAP financial information may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance.
Bookings is defined as revenue plus the change in deferred revenue during the period and other non-cash adjustments. Substantially all of our bookings are generated from sales of virtual currency, which can ultimately be converted to virtual items on the Roblox Platform. Sales of virtual currency reflected as bookings include one-time purchases and monthly subscriptions purchased via payment processors or through prepaid cards. Bookings also include an insignificant amount from advertising and licensing arrangements. We believe bookings provide a timelier indication of trends in our operating results that are not necessarily reflected in our revenue as a result of the fact that we recognize the majority of revenue over the estimated average lifetime of a paying user. The change in deferred revenue constitutes the vast majority of the reconciling difference from revenue to bookings. By removing these non-cash adjustments, we are able to measure and monitor our business performance based on the timing of actual transactions with our users and the cash that is generated from these transactions. Free cash flow represents the net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, equipment, and intangible assets acquired through asset acquisitions. We believe that free cash flow is a useful indicator of our unit economics and liquidity that provides information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated from our core operations that, after the purchases of property, equipment, and intangible assets acquired through asset acquisitions, can be used for strategic initiatives. Adjusted EBITDA represents our GAAP consolidated net loss, excluding interest income, interest expense, other income/(expense), provision for/(benefit from) income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, and certain other nonrecurring adjustments and differs from Covenant Adjusted EBITDA which is used in certain covenant calculations specified in the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030. We believe that, when considered together with reported GAAP amounts, Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and ongoing operating trends. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from the definition used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Refer to the Liquidity section below for further discussion on and the calculation of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA.
Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in their usefulness to investors because they have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial information as a tool for comparison. As a result, our non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.
Reconciliation tables of the most comparable GAAP financial measure to the non-GAAP financial measure used in this press release are included below. We encourage investors and others to review our business, results of operations, and financial information in their entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure, and to view these non-GAAP measures in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
Liquidity
Covenant Adjusted EBITDA is used in certain covenant calculations specified in the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030 that is not calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not conform to the calculation of EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA by other companies. Covenant Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net loss as determined in accordance with GAAP and by other companies. We believe that, when considered together with reported amounts, Covenant Adjusted EBITDA is useful for our investors and management for purposes of analyzing our compliance with certain covenants specified in the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030 and may influence our ability to issue additional debt and enter into certain other transactions in the future. Covenant Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in connection with our condensed consolidated financial statements and results presented in accordance with GAAP. Refer to the Liquidity and Capital Resources of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for more information.
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations and Calculation of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA
The following table presents a reconciliation of revenue, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, to bookings, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Reconciliation of revenue to bookings: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenue |
$ |
749,939 |
|
|
$ |
579,004 |
|
|
$ |
2,799,274 |
|
|
$ |
2,225,052 |
|
Add (deduct): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Change in deferred revenue |
|
382,196 |
|
|
|
325,450 |
|
|
|
742,308 |
|
|
|
662,378 |
|
Other |
|
(5,313 |
) |
|
|
(5,020 |
) |
|
|
(20,802 |
) |
|
|
(15,172 |
) |
Bookings |
$ |
1,126,822 |
|
|
$ |
899,434 |
|
|
$ |
3,520,780 |
|
|
$ |
2,872,258 |
|
The following table presents a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, to free cash flow, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ |
143,305 |
|
|
$ |
119,219 |
|
|
$ |
458,180 |
|
|
$ |
369,296 |
|
Deduct: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Acquisition of property and equipment |
|
(65,197 |
) |
|
|
(157,205 |
) |
|
|
(320,667 |
) |
|
|
(426,163 |
) |
Purchases of intangible assets |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(13,500 |
) |
|
|
(1,500 |
) |
Free cash flow |
$ |
78,108 |
|
|
$ |
(37,986 |
) |
|
$ |
124,013 |
|
|
$ |
(58,367 |
) |
The following table presents the calculation of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030, for each of the periods presented:
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Calculation of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Consolidated net loss |
$ |
(325,340 |
) |
|
$ |
(291,485 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,158,937 |
) |
|
$ |
(934,141 |
) |
Add (deduct): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest income |
|
(39,530 |
) |
|
|
(21,636 |
) |
|
|
(141,818 |
) |
|
|
(38,842 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
10,298 |
|
|
|
10,008 |
|
|
|
40,707 |
|
|
|
39,903 |
|
Other (income)/expense, net |
|
(898 |
) |
|
|
(1,988 |
) |
|
|
527 |
|
|
|
5,744 |
|
Provision for/(benefit from) income |
|
277 |
|
|
|
3,202 |
|
|
|
454 |
|
|
|
3,552 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
54,531 |
|
|
|
42,538 |
|
|
|
208,142 |
|
|
|
130,083 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
250,679 |
|
|
|
169,456 |
|
|
|
867,967 |
|
|
|
589,498 |
|
RTO severance charge(1) |
|
5,228 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,228 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other non-cash charges(2) |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,988 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Change in deferred revenue |
|
382,196 |
|
|
|
325,450 |
|
|
|
742,308 |
|
|
|
662,378 |
|
Change in deferred cost of revenue |
|
(77,805 |
) |
|
|
(52,530 |
) |
|
|
(139,879 |
) |
|
|
(101,719 |
) |
Covenant Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
259,636 |
|
|
$ |
183,015 |
|
|
$ |
431,687 |
|
|
$ |
356,456 |
|
(1) |
|
Relates to cash severance costs associated with the Company’s return-to-office (“RTO”) plan announced in October 2023, which requires a subset of the Company’s remote employees to begin working from the |
(2) |
|
Includes impairment expenses related to certain operating lease right-of-use assets and related property and equipment. |
Forward Looking Guidance
The following table presents a reconciliation of revenue, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, to bookings, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
|
Guidance |
||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Twelve Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
|
Low |
|
High |
|
Low |
|
High |
||||||||
Reconciliation of revenue to bookings: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenue |
$ |
755,000 |
|
|
$ |
780,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,300,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,400,000 |
|
Add (deduct): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Change in deferred revenue |
|
158,000 |
|
|
|
163,000 |
|
|
|
852,000 |
|
|
|
892,000 |
|
Other |
|
(3,000 |
) |
|
|
(3,000 |
) |
|
|
(12,000 |
) |
|
|
(12,000 |
) |
Bookings |
$ |
910,000 |
|
|
$ |
940,000 |
|
|
$ |
4,140,000 |
|
|
$ |
4,280,000 |
|
The following table presents a reconciliation of consolidated net loss, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA, for each of the periods presented (in thousands):
|
Guidance |
||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Twelve Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
|
Low |
|
High |
|
Low |
|
High |
||||||||
Reconciliation of consolidated net loss to Adjusted EBITDA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Consolidated net loss |
$ |
(347,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(342,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,400,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,365,000 |
) |
Add (deduct): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest income |
|
(38,000 |
) |
|
|
(38,000 |
) |
|
|
(160,000 |
) |
|
|
(160,000 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
11,000 |
|
|
|
42,000 |
|
|
|
42,000 |
|
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes |
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
58,000 |
|
|
|
58,000 |
|
|
|
224,000 |
|
|
|
224,000 |
|
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
260,000 |
|
|
|
260,000 |
|
|
|
1,140,000 |
|
|
|
1,140,000 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$ |
(55,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(50,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(150,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(115,000 |
) |
(1) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA includes the impact from changes in deferred revenue and deferred cost of revenue; refer to the Liquidity section above for further discussion on and the calculation of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA, which is used in certain covenant calculations specified in the indenture governing our senior notes due 2030, and excludes the impact from changes in deferred revenue and deferred cost of revenue. |
About Roblox
Roblox is an immersive platform for connection and communication. Every day, millions of people come to Roblox to create, play, work, learn, and connect with each other in experiences built by our global community of creators. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together– in a world that is safe, civil, and optimistic. To achieve this vision, we are building an innovative company that, together with the Roblox community, has the ability to strengthen our social fabric and support economic growth for people around the world. For more about Roblox, please visit corp.roblox.com.
ROBLOX and the Roblox logo are among the registered and unregistered trademarks of Roblox Corporation in
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240207560797/en/
Stefanie Notaney
Roblox Corporate Communications
press@roblox.com
Source: Roblox Corporation
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