Shopify Announces Third-Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Revenue Grows 89% Year on Year

Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) Grows 100% Year on Year

Shopify reports in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP

OTTAWA, Ontario--()--Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)(TSX:SHOP), the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced strong financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.

“Our accomplishments over the last few months support the strategy we have made clear from the beginning, which is to do the things that help merchants succeed,” said Tobi Lütke, founder and CEO of Shopify. “We launched Apple Pay, Sell on Messenger and a brand new mobile Shopify app that lets a merchant set up and run their entire business from their mobile phone. Each of these is already making a difference for merchants, and we expect to enjoy the full benefits of these investments over the next several years.”

“We are pleased with our third-quarter results,” stated Russ Jones, CFO of Shopify. “We continued to expand revenue at an exceptional pace and once again delivered operating leverage. With the expansive opportunities that exist right now for multi-channel commerce, prioritizing investments to support future growth, while improving financial results today, is especially important for Shopify.”

Third-Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Total revenue in the third quarter was $99.6 million an 89% increase from the comparable quarter in 2015. Within this, Subscription Solutions revenue grew 69% to $49.8 million. This increase was driven primarily by the continued rapid growth in Monthly Recurring Revenue1 (“MRR”). Growth in the number of merchants using our platform, which grew to exceed 325,000 in the quarter, was the primary driver of the increase in MRR in the quarter. Merchant Solutions revenue grew 114% to $49.7 million. This increase resulted from both an increase in the number of merchants using Shopify Payments as well as from an increase in the amount of GMV per merchant.
  • MRR as of September 30, 2016 was $16.3 million, up 67% compared with $9.8 million on September 30, 2015.
  • Gross Merchandise Volume2 (“GMV”) for the third quarter was $3.8 billion, an increase of 100% over the third quarter of 2015. GMV processed through Shopify Payments grew to $1.5 billion, which accounted for 39% of GMV processed in the quarter.
  • Gross profit dollars grew 82% to $52.5 million over the third quarter of 2015. Growth of gross profit dollars has accelerated from the comparable period last year due to improvements in gross margin percentages within both Subscription Solutions and Merchant Solutions.
  • Operating loss for the third quarter of 2016 was $9.5 million, or 10% of revenue, versus $4.3 million, or 8% of revenue, for the comparable period a year ago.
  • Adjusted operating loss3 for the third quarter of 2016 was 2% of revenue, or $2.2 million; adjusted operating loss for the third quarter of 2015 was 4% of revenue, or $2.0 million.
  • Net loss was $9.1 million, or $0.11 per share, compared with $4.7 million, or $0.06 per share, for the third quarter of 2015.
  • Adjusted net loss3 for the third quarter of 2016 was $1.8 million, or $0.02 per share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $2.4 million, or $0.03 per share, for the third quarter of 2015.
  • At September 30, 2016, Shopify had $400 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, compared with $190 million on December 31, 2015. This balance reflects the addition of $224 million in cash raised in the Company’s follow-on offering in August.

Third-Quarter Business Highlights

  • In August, Shopify completed a follow-on offering of 8,625,000 Class A subordinate voting shares, of which 6,125,000 were sold by the Company. The aggregate net proceeds of $224 million strengthen Shopify’s balance sheet and provide flexibility to fund our growth strategies.
  • Shopify launched Apple Pay for the web, and already tens of thousands of Shopify’s merchants have elected to offer Apple Pay as a means for checkout. Stores supporting Apple Pay have seen an increase in checkout conversion rate of up to 2x on mobile, and customers are able to checkout up to 60% faster with Apple Pay than with a credit card alone.
  • Shopify released its new mobile Shopify app. The new mobile Shopify app introduces a number of new features merchants can use to manage their stores, including the ability to sign up, launch and run a store entirely on mobile. It also provides a framework that makes the addition of new features and devices to the Shopify platform faster and simpler.
  • Shopify entered into an agreement with Export Development Canada to help insure merchant cash advances offered by Shopify Capital. This agreement supports the continued growth of Shopify Capital, which was launched earlier this year to help merchants secure financing and accelerate their business growth. To date, Shopify Capital has advanced more than $20 million to merchants, with $15.5 million having been advanced as of September 30. This compares with over $5 million in cumulative cash advances at June 30.
  • Shopify expanded Shopify Shipping beyond USPS by integrating Canada Post. With this new partnership, Canada-based Shopify merchants can now quickly buy and print discounted Canada Post shipping labels at rates up to 40% off retail Canada Post rates. Simplifying and improving shipping allows merchants to save both time and money, and spend more of their resources growing their businesses.

Since the close of the third quarter, Shopify has made several key announcements:

  • Shopify completed the acquisition of Boltmade to help accelerate the development of the Shopify Plus product offering. Based in Waterloo, Boltmade brings deep software design and engineering talent to the Shopify Plus product development team.
  • Shopify expanded on its Facebook Messenger integration by enabling merchants to sell within Facebook Messenger. In the second quarter, Shopify made it possible for merchants to leverage Facebook Messenger as a means to engage in conversational commerce directly with their customers, and already, over 30,000 merchants have installed Facebook Messenger for their shops.

Financial Outlook

The financial outlook that follows constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a number of risks. Actual results could vary materially as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond Shopify’s control. Please see “Forward-looking Statements” below.

In addition to the other assumptions and factors described in this press release, Shopify’s outlook assumes the continuation of growth trends in our industry, our ability to manage our growth effectively and the absence of material changes in our industry or the global economy. The following statements supersede all prior statements made by Shopify regarding 2016 financial outlook. All numbers provided in this section are approximate.

For the full year 2016, Shopify currently expects:

  • Revenues in the range of $379 million to $381 million
  • GAAP operating loss in the range of $38 million to $40 million
  • Adjusted operating loss3 in the range of $12 million to $14 million, which excludes stock-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes of $26 million

For the fourth quarter of 2016, Shopify currently expects:

  • Revenues in the range of $120 million to $122 million
  • GAAP operating loss in the range of $10 million to $12 million
  • Adjusted operating loss3 in the range of $1 million to $3 million, which excludes stock-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes of $9 million

Quarterly Conference Call

Shopify’s management team will hold a conference call to discuss its third-quarter results today, November 2, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast on the investor relations section of Shopify’s website at https://investors.shopify.com/events/Events-Presentations/default.aspx. An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the conclusion of the call.

Shopify’s Third-Quarter 2016 Interim Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes and its Third-Quarter 2016 Management’s Discussion and Analysis are available on Shopify’s website at www.shopify.com, and will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

About Shopify

Shopify is the leading cloud-based, multi-channel commerce platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Merchants can use the software to design, set up, and manage their stores across multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, social media, marketplaces, brick-and-mortar locations, and pop-up shops. The platform also provides merchants with a powerful back-office and a single view of their business. The Shopify platform was engineered for reliability and scale, making enterprise-level technology available to businesses of all sizes. Shopify currently powers over 325,000 businesses in approximately 150 countries and is trusted by brands such as Tesla Motors, Red Bull, Nestle, GE, Kylie Cosmetics, and many more.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Shopify uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide additional information in order to assist investors in understanding its financial and operating performance.

Adjusted operating loss, adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the effect of share-based compensation expenses and related payroll taxes as well as sales and use tax.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Shopify believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not recognized measures for financial statement presentation under U.S. GAAP and do not have standardized meanings, and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other public companies. Such non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the financial tables below for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding Shopify’s financial outlook and future financial performance. Words such as “expects”, “anticipates” and “intends” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Shopify’s current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends that management believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by Shopify in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate. These projections, expectations, assumptions and analyses are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, events and achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Although Shopify believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect, and readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including certain risk factors, many of which are beyond Shopify’s control, including but not limited to: (i) merchant acquisition and retention; (ii) managing our growth; (iii) our history of losses; (iv) our limited operating history; (v) our ability to innovate; (vi) a disruption of service or security breach; (vii) payments processed through Shopify Payments; (viii) our reliance on a single supplier to provide the technology we offer through Shopify Payments; (ix) a breach involving personally identifiable information; (x) serious software errors or defects; (xi) exchange rate fluctuations; (xii) achieving or maintaining data transmission capacity; and (xiii) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in Shopify’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces or territories of Canada. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent Shopify’s expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Shopify undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

1. Monthly Recurring Revenue, or MRR, is calculated by multiplying the number of merchants by the average monthly subscription plan fee in effect on the last day of that period and is used by management as a directional indicator of subscription solutions revenue going forward assuming merchants maintain their subscription plan the following month.
2. Gross Merchandise Volume, or GMV, represents the total dollar value of orders processed on the Shopify platform in the period, net of refunds, and inclusive of shipping and handling, duty and value-added taxes.
3. Please refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in this press release.


Shopify Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Expressed in US $000’s, except share and per share amounts, unaudited)

 

Three months ended

   

Three months ended

   

Nine months ended

   

Nine months ended

 
September 30, 2016   September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015   September 30, 2015 September 30, 2016   September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015   September 30, 2015
$ $   $

$

  $ $   $ $  
Revenues
Subscription solutions 49,839 49,839 29,560 29,560 132,219 132,219 77,371 77,371
Merchant solutions 49,739 49,739   23,226 23,226   126,728 126,728   57,689 57,689  
99,578 99,578   52,786 52,786   258,947 258,947   135,060 135,060  
Cost of revenues
Subscription solutions 10,555 10,555 6,414 6,414 27,885 27,885 16,869 16,869
Merchant solutions 36,568 36,568   17,629 17,629   93,170 93,170   42,630 42,630  
47,123 47,123   24,043 24,043   121,055 121,055   59,499 59,499  
Gross profit 52,455 52,455   28,743 28,743   137,892 137,892   75,561 75,561  
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 32,777 32,777 18,216 18,216 90,198 90,198 47,847 47,847
Research and development 19,462 19,462 10,068 10,068 49,864 49,864 26,181 26,181
General and administrative 9,705 9,705   4,759 4,759   25,690 25,690   12,770 12,770  
Total operating expenses 61,944 61,944   33,043 33,043   165,752 165,752   86,798 86,798  
Loss from operations (9,489) (9,489)   (4,300) (4,300)   (27,860) (27,860)   (11,237) (11,237)  
 
Other income (expense) 369 369   (357) (357)   1,372 1,372   (1,246) (1,246)  
Net loss (9,120) (9,120)   (4,657) (4,657)   (26,488) (26,488)   (12,483) (12,483)  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (617) (617)     (476) (476)    
Comprehensive loss (9,737) (9,737)   (4,657) (4,657)   (26,964) (26,964)   (12,483) (12,483)  
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to shareholders $ (0.11 ) $ (0.06 ) $ (0.32 ) $ (0.22 )
Weighted average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to shareholders 84,912,757 84,912,757 75,901,840 75,901,840 82,259,884 82,259,884 56,229,575 56,229,575


Shopify Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in US $000’s, except share and per share amounts, unaudited)

  As at  
September 30, 2016   December 31, 2015
$   $  
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 187,360 110,070
Marketable securities 212,927 80,103
Trade and other receivables 7,684 6,089
Merchant cash advances receivable, net 9,099
Other current assets 10,305   6,203  
427,375   202,465  
Long term assets
Property and equipment 42,799 33,048
Intangible assets 6,867 5,826
Goodwill 9,302   2,373  
58,968   41,247  
Total assets 486,343   243,712  
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 42,334 23,689
Current portion of deferred revenue 18,293 12,726
Current portion of lease incentives 1,223   822  
61,850   37,237  
Long term liabilities
Deferred revenue 874 661
Lease incentives 12,097   10,497  
12,971   11,158  
Shareholders’ equity

Common stock, unlimited Class A subordinate voting shares
authorized, 75,933,267 and 56,877,089 issued and outstanding;
unlimited Class B multiple voting shares authorized, 13,002,978
and 23,212,769 issued and outstanding

464,809 231,452
Additional paid-in capital 21,531 11,719
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (476 )
Accumulated deficit (74,342 ) (47,854 )
Total shareholders’ equity 411,522   195,317  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 486,343   243,712  


Shopify Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in US $000’s, except share and per share amounts, unaudited)

  Nine months ended

September 30,
2016

   

September 30,
2015

$   $
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss for the period (26,488) (12,483)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization and depreciation 9,527 5,034
Stock-based compensation 14,834 5,012
Vesting of restricted shares 202 267
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss (1,087) 1,507
Change in lease incentives 2,002 2,232
Change in deferred revenue 5,781 4,442
Changes in non-cash working capital items 2,531   4,788
Net cash provided by operating activities 7,302   10,799
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of marketable securities (223,650) (82,812)
Maturity of marketable securities 90,083 23,975
Acquisitions of property and equipment (15,286) (11,367)
Acquisitions of intangible assets (2,004) (2,397)
Acquisition of business (net of cash acquired) (7,969)  
Net cash used in investing activities (158,826)   (72,601)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance costs 136,251
Proceeds from follow-on public offering, net of issuance costs 224,423
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options 3,230   241
Net cash provided by financing activities 227,653   136,492
Effect of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents 1,161   (1,328)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 77,290 73,362
Cash and cash equivalents – Beginning of Period 110,070   41,953
Cash and cash equivalents – End of Period 187,360   115,315


Shopify Inc.
Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Results
(Expressed in US $000’s, except share and per share amounts, unaudited)

  Three months ended     Nine months ended  

September
30, 2016

 

September
30, 2015

September
30, 2016

 

September
30, 2015

$   $   $   $  
GAAP Gross profit 52,455 28,743 137,892 75,561
% of Revenue 53 % 54 % 53 % 56 %
add: stock-based compensation 188 67 423 198

add: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

46     79    
Non-GAAP Gross profit 52,689   28,810   138,394   75,759  
% of Revenue 53 % 55 % 53 % 56 %
 
GAAP Sales and marketing 32,777 18,216 90,198 47,847
% of Revenue 33 % 35 % 35 % 35 %
less: stock-based compensation 1,145 325 2,651 681

less: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

245     369    
Non-GAAP Sales and marketing 31,387   17,891   87,178   47,166  
% of Revenue 32 % 34 % 34 % 35 %
 
GAAP Research and development 19,462 10,068 49,864 26,181
% of Revenue 20 % 19 % 19 % 19 %
less: stock-based compensation 4,019 1,248 9,086 2,853

less: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

339     816    
Non-GAAP Research and development 15,104   8,820   39,962   23,328  
% of Revenue 15 % 17 % 15 % 17 %
 
GAAP General and administrative 9,705 4,759 25,690 12,770
% of Revenue 10 % 9 % 10 % 9 %
less: stock-based compensation 1,135 628 2,876 1,547

less: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

166 223
less: sales and use tax       566  
Non-GAAP General and administrative 8,404   4,131   22,591   10,657  
% of Revenue 8 % 8 % 9 % 8 %
 
GAAP Operating expenses 61,944 33,043 165,752 86,798
% of Revenue 62 % 63 % 64 % 64 %
less: stock-based compensation 6,299 2,201 14,613 5,081

less: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

750 1,408
less: sales and use tax       566  
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses 54,895   30,842   149,731   81,151  
% of Revenue 55 % 58 % 58 % 60 %


Shopify Inc.
Reconciliation from GAAP to Non-GAAP Results (continued)
(Expressed in US $000’s, except share and per share amounts, unaudited)

  Three months ended     Nine months ended

September
30, 2016

 

September
30, 2015

September
30, 2016

 

September
30, 2015

$   $   $   $  
GAAP Operating loss (9,489 ) (4,300 ) (27,860 ) (11,237 )
% of Revenue (10 )% (8 )% (11 )% (8 )%
add: stock-based compensation 6,487 2,268 15,036 5,279

add: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

796 1,487
add: sales and use tax       566  
Non-GAAP Operating loss (2,206 ) (2,032 ) (11,337 ) (5,392 )
% of Revenue (2 )% (4 )% (4 )% (4 )%
 
GAAP Net loss (9,120 ) (4,657 ) (26,488 ) (12,483 )
% of Revenue (9 )% (9 )% (10 )% (9 )%
add: stock-based compensation 6,487 2,268 15,036 5,279

add: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

796 1,487
add: sales and use tax       566  

Non-GAAP Net loss and comprehensive loss

(1,837 ) (2,389 ) (9,965 ) (6,638 )
% of Revenue (2 )% (5 )% (4 )% (5 )%
 
GAAP net loss per share attributable to shareholders (0.11 ) (0.06 ) (0.32 ) (0.22 )
add: stock-based compensation 0.08 0.03 0.18 0.09

add: payroll taxes related to stock-based
compensation

0.01 0.02
add: sales and use tax       0.01  

Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to
shareholders(1)

(0.02 ) (0.03 ) (0.12 ) (0.12 )

Weighted average shares used to compute GAAP
and non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to
shareholders

84,912,757 75,901,840 82,259,884 56,229,575

(1) Totals may not foot due to rounding differences.

Contacts

Shopify
INVESTORS:
Katie Keita, 613-241-2828
Director, Investor Relations
IR@shopify.com
or
MEDIA:
Sheryl So, 416-238-6705 x 302
Public Relations Manager
press@shopify.com

Contacts

Shopify
INVESTORS:
Katie Keita, 613-241-2828
Director, Investor Relations
IR@shopify.com
or
MEDIA:
Sheryl So, 416-238-6705 x 302
Public Relations Manager
press@shopify.com