Grubhub Reports Record Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2018 Results

February 7, 2019

Grubhub generates 40% revenue growth in the fourth quarter

CHICAGO, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Grubhub Inc. (NYSE: GRUB), the nation’s leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2018. The Company posted revenues of $288 million, which is a 40% year-over-year increase from $205 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. Gross Food Sales grew 21% year-over-year to $1.4 billion, up from $1.1 billion in the same period last year.

“2018 was a transformational year for Grubhub. We made great progress connecting hungry takeout diners with the restaurants they want, further positioning ourselves to continue to capture a significant share of the more than $200 billion takeout industry in the U.S.,” said Matt Maloney, Grubhub’s founder and chief executive officer. “We deepened relationships with our restaurant partners through acquisitions of LevelUp and Tapingo, increased the number of restaurants that partner with us to more than 105,000, grew active diners on our platform by 3.2 million, and – most emblematic of the year – accelerated organic DAG growth on our marketplace every single quarter. We couldn’t be more excited about building on this momentum in 2019.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Highlights
The following results reflect the financial performance and key operating metrics of our business for the three and twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2018, as compared to the same periods in 2017.

Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Revenues: $287.7 million, a 40% year-over-year increase from $205.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Net Income (Loss): $(5.2) million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, an 110% year-over-year decrease from $53.5 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: $42.1 million, a 26% year-over-year decrease from $57.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Non-GAAP Net Income: $17.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, a 47% year-over-year decrease from $33.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Fourth Quarter Key Business Metrics Highlights1

  • Active Diners were 17.7 million, a 22% year-over-year increase from 14.5 million Active Diners in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Daily Average Grubs (DAGs) were 467,500, a 19% year-over-year increase from 392,500 DAGs in the fourth quarter of 2017.
  • Gross Food Sales were $1.4 billion, a 21% year-over-year increase from $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Full Year Financial Highlights

  • Revenues: $1.0 billion, a 47% year-over-year increase from $683.1 million in 2017.
  • Net Income: $78.5 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, a 21% year-over-year decrease from $99.0 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, in 2017.
  • Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: $233.7 million, a 27% year-over-year increase from $184.0 million in 2017.
  • Non-GAAP Net Income: $153.3 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, a 44% year-over-year increase from $106.1 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, in 2017.

Full Year Key Business Metrics Highlights1

  • Active Diners were 17.7 million, a 22% year-over-year increase from 14.5 million Active Diners in 2017.
  • Daily Average Grubs (DAGs) were 435,900, a 31% year-over-year increase from 334,000 DAGs in 2017.
  • Gross Food Sales were $5.1 billion, a 34% year-over-year increase from $3.8 billion in 2017.

________________________
1 Key Business Metrics are defined in the table below.

“In the fourth quarter, we announced meaningful incremental investments in marketing and the launch of new Grubhub Delivery markets. Both investments yielded great results, contributing to record active diners during the quarter and accelerated DAG growth, with exceptionally strong growth in our newer markets,” said Adam DeWitt, Grubhub’s president and chief financial officer. “These strategic investments have laid the ideal foundation for long-term profitable growth. We also expect them to help us generate meaningful operating leverage throughout 2019, with per order economics likely similar to the third quarter of 2018 as we exit this year.”

First Quarter and Full Year 2019 Guidance
Based on information available as of Feb. 7, 2019, the Company is providing the following financial guidance for the first quarter and full year of 2019.

First Quarter 2019

Full Year 2019

(in millions)

Expected Revenue range

$310 – $330

$1,315 – $1,415

Expected Adjusted EBITDA range

$40 – $50

$235 – $265

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results Conference Call
Grubhub will webcast a conference call today at 9 a.m. CT to discuss the fourth quarter 2018 financial results. The webcast can be accessed on the Grubhub Investor Relations website at https://investors.grubhub.com, along with the Company’s earnings press release and financial tables. A replay of the webcast will be available at the same website.

About Grubhub
Grubhub (NYSE: GRUB) is the nation’s leading online and mobile food-ordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners, as well as the largest diner base. Dedicated to connecting diners with the food they love from their favorite local restaurants, Grubhub strives to elevate food ordering through innovative restaurant technology, easy-to-use platforms and an improved delivery experience. Grubhub is proud to work with more than 105,000 restaurant partners in over 2,000 U.S. cities and London. The Grubhub portfolio of brands includes Grubhub, Seamless, LevelUp, Tapingo, Eat24, AllMenus and MenuPages.

Use of Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Grubhub, “the Company’s” or our management’s future expectations, beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, plans and prospects, including the expected benefits to, and financial performance of, Grubhub including its acquisitions. Such statements constitute “forward-looking statements”, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the matters set forth in the filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2018 and our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sep. 30, 2018, which are on file with the SEC and are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.grubhub.com. Additional information will be set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K that will be filed for the year ended December 31, 2018, which should be read in conjunction with these financial results. Please also note that forward-looking statements represent management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, we disclaim any intention to, and undertake no obligation to, publicly update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders are financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted to exclude acquisition, restructuring and certain legal costs, income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders exclude acquisition, restructuring and certain legal costs, amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“U.S. Tax Act”) and other nonrecurring items as well as the income tax effects of these non-GAAP adjustments. We use these non-GAAP financial measures as key performance measures because we believe they facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by excluding potential differences primarily caused by variations in capital structures, tax positions, the impact of acquisitions, restructuring and certain legal costs, the impact of depreciation and amortization expense on our fixed assets and the impact of stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP.

See “Schedule of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation” below for a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders.

GRUBHUB INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

December 31,

Year Ended

December 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Revenues

$

287,721

$

205,080

$

1,007,257

$

683,067

Costs and expenses:

Operations and support

144,082

81,658

454,321

269,453

Sales and marketing

69,877

45,384

214,290

150,730

Technology (exclusive of amortization)

24,972

14,703

82,278

56,263

General and administrative

27,393

18,396

85,465

65,023

Depreciation and amortization

24,153

18,781

85,940

51,848

Total costs and expenses

290,477

178,922

922,294

593,317

Income (loss) from operations

(2,756)

26,158

84,963

89,750

Interest expense – net

2,163

1,010

3,530

102

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

(4,919)

25,148

81,433

89,648

Income tax (benefit) expense

231

(28,378)

2,952

(9,335)

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders

$

(5,150)

$

53,526

$

78,481

$

98,983

Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:

Basic

$

(0.06)

$

0.62

$

0.88

$

1.15

Diluted

$

(0.06)

$

0.60

$

0.85

$

1.12

Weighted-average shares used to compute net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:

Basic

90,705

86,702

89,447

86,297

Diluted

93,144

89,366

92,354

88,182

 

KEY BUSINESS METRICS

Three Months Ended

December 31,

Year Ended

December 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Active Diners (000s)

17,688

14,462

17,688

14,462

Daily Average Grubs

467,500

392,500

435,900

334,000

Gross Food Sales (millions)

$

1,376.9

$

1,138.6

$

5,056.8

$

3,783.7

Key business metrics include transactions placed on the Grubhub takeout marketplace or a related platform where the Company provides marketing services to generate orders (collectively, the “Platform”). The Platform excludes transactions where the Company exclusively provides technology or fulfillment services.

Active Diners. The number of unique diner accounts from which an order has been placed in the past twelve months through the Company’s Platform.

Daily Average Grubs. The number of orders placed on the Platform divided by the number of days for a given period.

Gross Food Sales. The total value of food, beverages, taxes, prepaid gratuities, and any delivery fees processed through the Company’s Platform.  The Company includes all revenue generating orders placed on its Platform in this metric; however, revenues are recognized on a net basis for the Company’s commissions from the transaction, which are a percentage of the total Gross Food Sales for such transaction.

GRUBHUB INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data)

December 31, 2018

December   31,   2017

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

211,245

$

234,090

Short-term investments

14,084

23,605

Accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts

110,855

87,377

Income tax receivable

9,949

8,593

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

17,642

6,818

Total current assets

363,775

360,483

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

Property and equipment, net of depreciation and amortization

119,495

71,384

OTHER ASSETS:

Other assets

14,186

6,487

Goodwill

1,019,239

589,862

Acquired intangible assets, net of amortization

549,013

515,553

Total other assets

1,582,438

1,111,902

TOTAL ASSETS

$

2,065,708

$

1,543,769

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Restaurant food liability

$

127,344

$

119,922

Accounts payable

26,656

7,607

Accrued payroll

18,173

13,186

Taxes payable

422

3,109

Short-term debt

6,250

3,906

Other accruals

44,323

26,818

Total current liabilities

223,168

174,548

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

Deferred taxes, non-current

46,383

74,292

Other accruals

18,270

7,468

Long-term debt

335,548

169,645

Total long-term liabilities

400,201

251,405

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common stock, $0.0001 par value

9

9

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(1,891)

(1,228)

Additional paid-in capital

1,094,866

849,043

Retained earnings

349,355

269,992

Total Stockholders’ Equity

$

1,442,339

$

1,117,816

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

$

2,065,708

$

1,543,769

 

GRUBHUB INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

2018

2017

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income

$

78,481

$

98,983

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:

Depreciation

21,647

11,775

Provision for doubtful accounts

941

1,424

Deferred taxes

1,724

(31,179)

Amortization of intangible assets

64,293

40,073

Stock-based compensation

55,261

32,748

Deferred rent

4,974

849

Tenant allowance amortization

(837)

(135)

Amortization of deferred loan costs

715

487

Other

(241)

(168)

Change in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of business acquisitions:

Accounts receivable

(6,092)

(26,236)

Income taxes receivable

(1,356)

(1,597)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

(16,270)

5,516

Restaurant food liability

2,921

8,576

Accounts payable

11,160

(4,244)

Accrued payroll

3,621

5,537

Other accruals

4,585

11,735

Net cash provided by operating activities

225,527

154,144

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired

(517,909)

(333,301)

Purchases of investments

(57,197)

(154,758)

Proceeds from maturity of investments

67,166

215,983

Capitalized website and development costs

(31,180)

(21,325)

Purchases of property and equipment

(43,033)

(18,971)

Acquisition of other intangible assets

(11,851)

(25,147)

Other cash flows from investing activities

557

Net cash used in investing activities

(594,004)

(336,962)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

200,000

Proceeds from borrowings under the Credit Agreement

222,000

200,000

Repayments of borrowings under the Credit Agreement

(53,906)

(25,781)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

14,190

16,375

Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards

(35,599)

(10,556)

Payment for debt issuance costs

(1,979)

Net cash provided by financing activities

346,685

178,059

Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(21,792)

(4,759)

Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(645)

784

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year

238,239

242,214

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of the period

$

215,802

$

238,239

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ITEMS

Cash paid for income taxes

$

7,895

$

19,148

 

GRUBHUB INC.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES RECONCILIATION

(in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended

December 31,

Year Ended
December 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Net income (loss)

$

(5,150)

$

53,526

$

78,481

$

98,983

Income taxes

231

(28,378)

2,952

(9,335)

Interest expense – net

2,163

1,010

3,530

102

Depreciation and amortization

24,153

18,781

85,940

51,848

EBITDA

21,397

44,939

170,903

141,598

Acquisition, restructuring and legal costs

1,913

3,199

7,578

9,642

Stock-based compensation

18,816

2

8,835

55,261

2

32,748

Adjusted EBITDA

$

42,126

$

56,973

$

233,742

$

183,988

Three Months Ended
December 31,

Year Ended
December 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

Net income (loss)

$

(5,150)

$

53,526

$

78,481

$

98,983

Stock-based compensation

18,816

2  

8,835

55,261

2  

32,748

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

11,377

11,238

42,484

28,066

Acquisition, restructuring and legal costs

1,913

3,199

7,578

9,642

Income tax benefit of the U.S. Tax Act

(34,054)

(34,054)

Income tax adjustments

(9,384)

(9,469)

(30,544)

(29,239)

Non-GAAP net income

$

17,572

$

33,275

$

153,260

$

106,146

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

93,144

89,366

92,354

88,182

Non-GAAP net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders

$

0.19

$

0.37

$

1.66

$

1.20

Guidance

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2019

Year Ended
December 31, 2019

Low

High

Low

High

(in millions)

Net income (loss)

$

(3.4)

$

3.7

$

31.0

$

52.3

Income taxes

(1.4)

1.5

12.6

21.3

Interest expense – net

2.8

2.8

11.4

11.4

Depreciation and amortization

25.0

25.0

106.0

106.0

EBITDA

23.0

33.0

161.0

191.0

Acquisition and restructuring costs

Stock-based compensation

17.0

17.0

74.0

74.0

Adjusted EBITDA

$

40.0

$

50.0

$

235.0

$

265.0

___________________________
2 Stock-based compensation for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2018 included $4.8 million of expense related to the accelerated vesting of equity awards to certain terminated acquired employees.