Symbotic Reports 2023 Results with Record Revenue and Improved Margin as Deployments Accelerated

Rhea-AI Summary

Symbotic Inc. (Nasdaq: SYM) announced financial results for its Q4 and fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Revenue was $392 million for Q4, reflecting 98% YoY growth. Net loss was $45 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $13 million. Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities increased to $548 million. For fiscal year 2023, revenue was $1,177 million, net loss was $208 million, and adjusted EBITDA loss was $18 million. Symbotic expects Q1 2024 revenue of $350-370 million and adjusted EBITDA of $11-14 million.

Positive

• Revenue growth of 98% year over year for Q4 and full fiscal year 2023
• Positive adjusted EBITDA for the first time in Q4 2023
• Strong financial performance and increased cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities to $548 million

Negative

• None.

WILMINGTON, Mass., Nov. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Symbotic Inc. (Nasdaq: SYM), a leader in A.I.-enabled robotics technology for the supply chain, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. Symbotic posted revenue of $392 million, a net loss of $45 million and adjusted EBITDA¹ of $13 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. In the same quarter of fiscal 2022, Symbotic had revenue of $244 million, a net loss of $53 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss¹ of $20 million. Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities on hand increased by $35 million from the prior quarter of 2023, to $548 million at the end of the fourth quarter.

For the full fiscal year 2023, Symbotic reported revenue of $1,177 million, reflecting 98% growth year over year, a net loss of $208 million, and an adjusted EBITDA loss¹ of $18 million.

“This has been a year of tremendous growth and progress for Symbotic. Our financial performance is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented team,” said Symbotic Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Cohen. “In fiscal 2024, we will continue to invest in driving innovation, strengthening our partnerships, and scaling for growth.”

“We are pleased to report another quarter of strong revenue growth and margins, as we initiated four new system deployments and completed commissioning of two systems. We also accelerated the pace of system deployments,” said Symbotic Chief Financial Officer, Tom Ernst. “We are excited to be reporting our first quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA¹ which demonstrates the strong operating leverage of our business.”

OUTLOOK

For the first quarter of fiscal 2024, Symbotic expects revenue of $350 million to $370 million, and adjusted EBITDA^1,2 of $11 million to $14 million.

WEBCAST INFORMATION

Symbotic will host a webcast today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss its fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2023 results. The webcast link is: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/Symbotic-Q4-2023. 

ABOUT SYMBOTIC

Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, A.I.-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-generation technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today's complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of commerce, Symbotic transforms the flow of goods and the economics of the supply chain for its customers. For more information, visit www.symbotic.com. 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Symbotic reports its financial results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). This press release contains financial measures that are not recognized under U.S. GAAP (“non-GAAP”), including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross profit margin. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool as they do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures Symbotic uses may not be the same non-GAAP financial measures, and may not be calculated in the same manner, as that of other companies and, therefore, are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these non-GAAP financial measures are provided as a supplement to corresponding U.S. GAAP measures to provide additional information regarding the results of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, in isolation from, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. All non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release are reconciled to their closest reported U.S. GAAP financial measures. Symbotic recommends that investors review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures provided in the financial statement tables included below in this press release, and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business.

Symbotic defines adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as GAAP net loss excluding the following items: interest income; income taxes; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation; business combination transaction expenses; joint venture formation fees; CEO transition charges; restructuring charges; and other non-recurring items that may arise from time to time. Symbotic defines adjusted gross profit, a non-GAAP financial measure, as GAAP gross profit excluding the following items: depreciation, stock-based compensation and restructuring charges. Symbotic defines adjusted gross profit margin, a non-GAAP financial measure, as adjusted gross profit divided by revenue. In addition to Symbotic’s financial results determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Symbotic believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross profit margin, non-GAAP financial measures, are useful in evaluating the performance of Symbotic’s business because they highlight trends in its core business.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, but not limited to, Symbotic’s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning our possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, backlog or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the ability of or expectations regarding Symbotic to:

• meet the technical requirements of existing or future supply agreements with its customers, including with respect to existing backlog;
• expand its target customer base and maintain its existing customer base;
• realize the benefits expected from the GreenBox joint venture;
• anticipate industry trends;
• maintain and enhance its platform;
• maintain the listing of the Symbotic Class A Common Stock on Nasdaq;
• execute its growth strategy;
• develop, design and sell systems that are differentiated from those of competitors;
• execute its research and development strategy;
• acquire, maintain, protect and enforce intellectual property;
• attract, train and retain effective officers, key employees or directors;
• comply with laws and regulations applicable to its business;
• stay abreast of modified or new laws and regulations applying to its business;
• successfully defend litigation;
• issue equity securities in connection with future transactions;
• meet future liquidity requirements and, if applicable, comply with restrictive covenants related to long-term indebtedness;
• timely and effectively remediate any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting;
• anticipate rapid technological changes; and
• effectively respond to general economic and business conditions.
  

Forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

• the future performance of our business and operations;
• backlog;
• expectations regarding revenues, expenses, adjusted EBITDA and anticipated cash needs;
• expectations regarding cash flow, liquidity and sources of funding;
• expectations regarding capital expenditures;
• the effects of pending and future legislation;
• business disruption, including business disruption following the GreenBox transaction;
• the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the agreements entered into in connection with the GreenBox transaction;
• the effect of the announcement of the GreenBox transaction on the Company’s business relationships, performance, and business generally;
• the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges related to the GreenBox transaction;
• disruption to the business due to the Symbotic’s dependency on certain customers;
• increasing competition in the warehouse automation industry;
• any delays in the design, production or launch of our systems and products;
• the failure to meet customers’ requirements under existing or future contracts or customer’s expectations as to price or pricing structure;
• any defects in new products or enhancements to existing products;  
• the fluctuation of operating results from period to period due to a number of factors, including the pace of customer adoption of our new products and services and any changes in our product mix that shift too far into lower gross margin products; and
• any consequences associated with joint ventures and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.
  

Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. Certain of these risks are identified and discussed in Symbotic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 9, 2022, and Symbotic’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023. These risk factors will be important to consider in determining future results and should be reviewed in their entirety. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith, and Symbotic believes there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding our financial performance, financial position and cash flows as of and for periods ended on certain dates and to present information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because of their inherent uncertainty and to appreciate the limited purposes for which they are being used by management. While we believe that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information currently available to management, there is no assurance that such assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations and opinions of management on that date. Symbotic is not under any obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports that Symbotic has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in Symbotic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2022, and Symbotic’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023, and those identified elsewhere in this press release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: failure to realize the benefits expected from adding to our base of outsourcing partners; risks related to the GreenBox joint venture and the effects of pending and future legislation.

Any financial projections in this press release or discussed in the webcast are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Symbotic’s control. While all projections are necessarily speculative, Symbotic believes that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections. The inclusion of projections in this communication should not be regarded as an indication that Symbotic, or its representatives, considered or considers the projections to be a reliable prediction of future events.

Annualized, projected and estimated numbers are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering an investment in Symbotic and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in Symbotic. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release and other reports we file with, or furnish to, the SEC and other regulatory agencies and made by our directors, officers, other employees and other persons authorized to speak on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

Jeff Evanson
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development
Symbotic
ir@symbotic.com

MEDIA INQUIRIES

Kimberly Zminkowski
Director, Marketing
Symbotic
mediainquiry@symbotic.com 

 

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¹ _{Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is a non-GAAP financial measure as defined below under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information.” See the tables below for reconciliations to net loss, the most comparable GAAP measures.}

² _{Symbotic is not providing guidance for net loss, which is the most comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted EBITDA, because information reconciling forward-looking adjusted EBITDA to net loss is unavailable to it without unreasonable effort. Symbotic is not able to provide reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA to GAAP financial measures because certain items required for such reconciliations are outside of Symbotic’s control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted, such as the provision for stock-based compensation.} 

Symbotic Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations

	Three Months Ended												Year Ended
(in thousands, except share and per share information)	September 30, 2023				June 24, 2023				September 24, 2022				September 30, 2023				September 24, 2022
Revenue:
Systems	$	380,205			$	302,350			$	237,696			$	1,138,059			$	567,993
Software maintenance and support		2,135				1,768				933				6,601				3,735
Operation services		9,548				7,719				5,783				32,231				21,584
Total revenue		391,888				311,837				244,412				1,176,891				593,312
Cost of revenue:
Systems		321,425				244,660				199,704				940,076				464,179
Software maintenance and support		1,842				3,603				1,166				9,222				4,390
Operation services		9,832				10,665				6,813				37,854				25,096
Total cost of revenue		333,099				258,928				207,683				987,152				493,665
Gross profit		58,789				52,909				36,729				189,739				99,647
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses		45,791				48,845				43,462				195,042				124,141
Selling, general, and administrative expenses		66,933				46,073				47,575				217,927				115,881
Total operating expenses		112,724				94,918				91,037				412,969				240,022
Operating loss		(53,935	)			(42,009	)			(54,308	)			(223,230	)			(140,375	)
Other income, net		3,661				2,937				1,050				10,716				1,286
Loss before income tax		(50,274	)			(39,072	)			(53,258	)			(212,514	)			(139,089	)
Income tax benefit (expense)		4,859				(5	)			—				4,620				—
Net loss		(45,415	)			(39,077	)			(53,258	)			(207,894	)			(139,089	)
Net loss attributable to Legacy Warehouse unitholders prior to the Business Combination		—				—				—				—				(72,134	)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(39,207	)			(34,730	)			(47,709	)			(184,028	)			(60,092	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(6,208	)		$	(4,347	)		$	(5,549	)		$	(23,866	)		$	(6,863	)
Loss per share of Class A Common Stock:
Basic and Diluted	$	(0.08	)		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.10	)		$	(0.37	)		$	(0.13	)
Weighted-average shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding:
Basic and Diluted		76,021,439				61,782,886				54,800,914				64,338,580				54,086,381

Symbotic Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following table reconciles GAAP net loss to Adjusted EBITDA:

	Three Months Ended												Year Ended
(in thousands)	September 30, 2023				June 24, 2023				September 24, 2022				September 30, 2023				September 24, 2022
Net loss	$	(45,415	)		$	(39,077	)		$	(53,258	)		$	(207,894	)		$	(139,089	)
Interest income		(4,192	)			(2,974	)			(1,083	)			(11,391	)			(1,287	)
Income tax (benefit) expense		(4,858	)			5				—				(4,619	)			—
Depreciation and amortization		4,479				1,621				1,789				9,475				5,989
Stock-based compensation		33,876				37,068				30,426				157,023				40,556
Business Combination transaction expenses		—				—				1,669				—				4,069
Joint venture formation fees		14,900				—				—				14,900				—
CEO transition charges		—				—				—				2,026				—
Restructuring charges		14,526				—				—				22,899				—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	13,316			$	(3,357	)		$	(20,457	)		$	(17,581	)		$	(89,762	)

The following table reconciles GAAP gross profit to Adjusted gross profit:

	Three Months Ended									Year Ended
(in thousands)	September 30, 2023			June 24, 2023			September 24, 2022			September 30, 2023			September 24, 2022
Gross profit	$	58,789		$	52,909		$	36,729		$	189,739		$	99,647
Depreciation		86			178			110			639			353
Stock-based compensation		1,317			4,124			—			6,212			—
Restructuring charges		14,526			—			—			19,766			—
Adjusted gross profit	$	74,718		$	57,211		$	36,839		$	216,356		$	100,000

Gross profit margin	15.0	%		17.0	%		15.0	%		16.1	%		16.8	%
Adjusted gross profit margin	19.1	%		18.3	%		15.1	%		18.4	%		16.9	%

Symbotic Inc. and Subsidiaries
Supplemental Common Share Information

Total Common Shares issued and outstanding:

	September 30, 2023		September 24, 2022
Class A Common Shares issued and outstanding	82,112,881		57,718,836
Class V-1 Common Shares issued and outstanding	66,931,097		79,237,388
Class V-3 Common Shares issued and outstanding	407,528,941		416,933,025
	556,572,919		553,889,249

Symbotic Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)	September 30, 2023				September 24, 2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	258,770			$	353,457
Marketable securities		286,736				—
Accounts receivable		69,206				3,412
Unbilled accounts receivable		121,149				101,816
Inventories		136,121				91,900
Deferred expenses		34,577				29,150
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		85,236				25,663
Total current assets		991,795				605,398
Property and equipment, net		34,507				24,878
Intangible assets, net		217				650
Other long-term assets		24,191				337
Total assets	$	1,050,710			$	631,263
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	109,918			$	68,448
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		99,992				47,312
Sales tax payable		28,322				12,953
Deferred revenue		787,227				394,244
Total current liabilities		1,025,459				522,957
Deferred revenue		—				31,465
Other long-term liabilities		27,967				7,901
Total liabilities		1,053,426				562,323
Commitments and contingencies		—				—
Equity:
Class A Common Stock, 3,000,000,000 shares authorized, 82,112,881 and 57,718,836 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, respectively		8				6
Class V-1 Common Stock, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 66,931,097 and 79,237,388 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, respectively		7				8
Class V-3 Common Stock, 450,000,000 shares authorized, 407,528,941 and 416,933,025 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and September 24, 2022, respectively		41				42
Additional paid-in capital - warrants		58,126				58,126
Additional paid-in capital		1,254,022				1,237,865
Accumulated deficit		(1,310,435	)			(1,286,569	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,687	)			(2,294	)
Total stockholders' equity		82				7,184
Noncontrolling interest		(2,798	)			61,756
Total equity		(2,716	)			68,940
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,050,710			$	631,263

Symbotic Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

	Three Months Ended										Year Ended
(in thousands)	September 30, 2023			June 24, 2023			September 24, 2022				September 30, 2023			September 24, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(45,415	)	$	(39,077	)	$	(53,258	)		$	(207,894	)	$	(139,089	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4,705			2,460			1,789				11,311			5,989
Foreign currency (gains) losses, net		(69	)		72			47				(3	)		25
Loss on disposal of assets		2,791			—			—				2,914			4,098
Deferred taxes, net		(4,620	)		—			—				(4,620	)		—
Stock-based compensation		32,465			36,999			26,808				154,227			26,858
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		4,483			50,837			(852	)			(65,817	)		(508	)
Inventories		30,517			(25,928	)		34,372				(44,104	)		(59,572	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(78,485	)		(25,793	)		(78,074	)			(78,906	)		(121,143	)
Deferred expenses		7,700			(5,399	)		(28,604	)			(5,428	)		(28,665	)
Other long-term assets		(12,691	)		(461	)		39				(18,635	)		49
Accounts payable		35,559			(13,862	)		(27,563	)			41,415			41,528
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		44,699			(13,558	)		25,157				64,743			37,898
Deferred revenue		12,158			85,896			46,703				361,518			80,377
Other long-term liabilities		10,731			2,697			1,918				20,073			3,908
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		44,528			54,883			(51,518	)			230,794			(148,247	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment and capitalization of software development costs		(963	)		(8,337	)		(7,181	)			(21,326	)		(17,950	)
Proceeds from sale of assets		71			—			—				71			—
Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities		80,000			50,000			—				130,000			—
Purchases of marketable securities		(107,112	)		(97,957	)		—				(408,209	)		—
Net cash used in investing activities		(28,004	)		(56,294	)		(7,181	)			(299,464	)		(17,950	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment for taxes related to net share settlement of stock-based compensation awards		(14,961	)		—			—				(26,674	)		—
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan		1,586			—			—				2,573			—
Net proceeds from equity infusion from the Business Combination		—			—			—				—			384,672
Purchase of interest from non-controlling interest		—			—			—				—			(300,000	)
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		—			—			—				—			277,776
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(13,375	)		—			—				(24,101	)		362,448
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		139			(45	)		494				232			572
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		3,288			(1,456	)		(58,205	)			(92,539	)		196,823
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of period		257,630			259,086			411,662				353,457			156,634
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - end of period	$	260,918		$	257,630		$	353,457			$	260,918		$	353,457

FAQ

What were Symbotic's financial results for Q4 and fiscal year 2023?

Symbotic reported Q4 revenue of $392 million, reflecting 98% YoY growth, and full fiscal year 2023 revenue of $1,177 million.

What is Symbotic's outlook for Q1 2024?

Symbotic expects Q1 2024 revenue of $350-370 million and adjusted EBITDA of $11-14 million.

When will Symbotic host a webcast to discuss its financial results?

Symbotic will host a webcast today at 5:00 pm ET to discuss its Q4 and full year fiscal 2023 results. The webcast link is: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/Symbotic-Q4-2023.