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Zynga (ZNGA) Incurs Loss in Q4 Despite Y/Y Top-Line Growth
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Zynga reported a loss of 5 cents per share in fourth-quarter 2020 against the break-even earnings in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues surged 52.3% year over year to $616 million on strength in live services as well as benefits from the acquisitions of Peak and Rollic.
Contributions from the Social Slots portfolio, Words With Friends, CSR2, Empires & Puzzles and the Casual Cards portfolio, along with Rollic’s hyper-casual portfolio, aided the top line in the reported quarter. Moreover, growing player engagement in the recently-launched Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spell was a major positive.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings and revenues was pegged at 9 cents per share and $676.6 million, respectively.
Total bookings came in at $698.9 million, significantly up 61.3% year on year. This upside was driven by strong mobile bookings. The consensus mark for bookings was pegged at $675.5 million.
Zynga’s online game or user pay revenues (80.9% of total revenues) jumped 53.6% year over year to $498.6 million.
In addition, Advertising revenues (19.1% of total revenues) and advertisement bookings (16.7% of total bookings) climbed 47.1%and 46.8% year over year to $117.4 million and $117 million, respectively. This upswing in advertising revenues resulted from strong demand in the holiday season along with first full quarter contributions from Rollic’s hyper-casual portfolio.
Mobile revenues (96.6% of total revenues) and mobile bookings surged 54% and 63.4% year over year to $595.3 million and $679.7 million, respectively. These increases were driven by robust live services performance.
On a geographic basis, revenues from the United States (59.8% of total revenues) grew 63.9% year over year to $418 million.
Also, International revenues (38.3% of total revenues) surged 50.4% to $235.7 million on impressive growth in Asia.
User Base Details
In the fourth quarter, user pay bookings were $582 million, up 64% year over year.
Zynga’s average mobile daily active users (DAUs) surged 77% year over year to 36 million.
Further, average mobile monthly active users (MAUs) soared 103%, year over year, to 134 million in the reported quarter.
The solid uptick in users was primarily driven by contributions from Toon Blast, Toy Blast and Rollic’s hyper-casual game portfolio.
Average mobile daily bookings per average mobile DAU (ABPU) edged down to $0.213 from the $0.223 reported in the year-ago quarter.
Operating Details
GAAP gross margin, as a percentage of revenues, declined to 59% from the year-ago quarter’s 65% on higher net increase in deferred revenues and amortization of acquired intangible assets.
Non-GAAP operating expenses (53.8% of total revenues) flared up 59.7% year over year to $331.2 million in the reported quarter chiefly on higher marketing investments.
Non-GAAP research & development (R&D), general & administrative (G&A) and sales & marketing (S&M) expenses shot up 19.4%, 9.5% and 88%, year over year, to $74 million, $23 million and $235 million, respectively.
Adjusted EBITDA came in at $89.9 million compared with the year-earlier quarter’s $75.4 million.
Balance Sheet
As of Dec 31, 2020, Zynga had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $1.57 billion compared with $758 million as of Sep 30, 2020.
Cash flow provided by operating activities in fourth-quarter 2020 was $205.9 million compared with $113.3 million in third-quarter 2020. Free cash flow was $203.2 million in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter’s $108.7 million.
Guidance
For first-quarter 2021, Zynga expects revenues of $635 million and bookings of $680 million. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $100 million, while loss is expected to be 5 cents per share.
For the full year 2021, the company expects to deliver revenue of $2.6 billion, indicating a growth of 32% year-over-year. Bookings are expected at $2.8 billion, indicating a growth of 23% year-over-year.
Adjusted EBITDA is estimated to be $450 million and loss is predicted to be 14 cents per share.
The company expects continued momentum in the live services portfolio, along with contributions from game launches, will be a major growth driver. Also, steady demand for Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells as well as Rollic’s hyper-casual games is anticipated to boost player engagement for Zynga’s live services platform.
However, per the company, declines in older mobile and web game users might partially offset revenue growth, in 2021.
Roku, Camping World and TEGNA are set to release quarterly results on Feb 18, Feb 25 and Mar 1, respectively.
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Zynga (ZNGA) Incurs Loss in Q4 Despite Y/Y Top-Line Growth
Zynga reported a loss of 5 cents per share in fourth-quarter 2020 against the break-even earnings in the year-ago quarter.
Revenues surged 52.3% year over year to $616 million on strength in live services as well as benefits from the acquisitions of Peak and Rollic.
Contributions from the Social Slots portfolio, Words With Friends, CSR2, Empires & Puzzles and the Casual Cards portfolio, along with Rollic’s hyper-casual portfolio, aided the top line in the reported quarter. Moreover, growing player engagement in the recently-launched Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spell was a major positive.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings and revenues was pegged at 9 cents per share and $676.6 million, respectively.
Total bookings came in at $698.9 million, significantly up 61.3% year on year. This upside was driven by strong mobile bookings. The consensus mark for bookings was pegged at $675.5 million.
Zynga Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Zynga Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Zynga Inc. Quote
Quarter Details
Zynga’s online game or user pay revenues (80.9% of total revenues) jumped 53.6% year over year to $498.6 million.
In addition, Advertising revenues (19.1% of total revenues) and advertisement bookings (16.7% of total bookings) climbed 47.1%and 46.8% year over year to $117.4 million and $117 million, respectively. This upswing in advertising revenues resulted from strong demand in the holiday season along with first full quarter contributions from Rollic’s hyper-casual portfolio.
Mobile revenues (96.6% of total revenues) and mobile bookings surged 54% and 63.4% year over year to $595.3 million and $679.7 million, respectively. These increases were driven by robust live services performance.
On a geographic basis, revenues from the United States (59.8% of total revenues) grew 63.9% year over year to $418 million.
Also, International revenues (38.3% of total revenues) surged 50.4% to $235.7 million on impressive growth in Asia.
User Base Details
In the fourth quarter, user pay bookings were $582 million, up 64% year over year.
Zynga’s average mobile daily active users (DAUs) surged 77% year over year to 36 million.
Further, average mobile monthly active users (MAUs) soared 103%, year over year, to 134 million in the reported quarter.
The solid uptick in users was primarily driven by contributions from Toon Blast, Toy Blast and Rollic’s hyper-casual game portfolio.
Average mobile daily bookings per average mobile DAU (ABPU) edged down to $0.213 from the $0.223 reported in the year-ago quarter.
Operating Details
GAAP gross margin, as a percentage of revenues, declined to 59% from the year-ago quarter’s 65% on higher net increase in deferred revenues and amortization of acquired intangible assets.
Non-GAAP operating expenses (53.8% of total revenues) flared up 59.7% year over year to $331.2 million in the reported quarter chiefly on higher marketing investments.
Non-GAAP research & development (R&D), general & administrative (G&A) and sales & marketing (S&M) expenses shot up 19.4%, 9.5% and 88%, year over year, to $74 million, $23 million and $235 million, respectively.
Adjusted EBITDA came in at $89.9 million compared with the year-earlier quarter’s $75.4 million.
Balance Sheet
As of Dec 31, 2020, Zynga had cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments of $1.57 billion compared with $758 million as of Sep 30, 2020.
Cash flow provided by operating activities in fourth-quarter 2020 was $205.9 million compared with $113.3 million in third-quarter 2020. Free cash flow was $203.2 million in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter’s $108.7 million.
Guidance
For first-quarter 2021, Zynga expects revenues of $635 million and bookings of $680 million. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $100 million, while loss is expected to be 5 cents per share.
For the full year 2021, the company expects to deliver revenue of $2.6 billion, indicating a growth of 32% year-over-year. Bookings are expected at $2.8 billion, indicating a growth of 23% year-over-year.
Adjusted EBITDA is estimated to be $450 million and loss is predicted to be 14 cents per share.
The company expects continued momentum in the live services portfolio, along with contributions from game launches, will be a major growth driver. Also, steady demand for Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells as well as Rollic’s hyper-casual games is anticipated to boost player engagement for Zynga’s live services platform.
However, per the company, declines in older mobile and web game users might partially offset revenue growth, in 2021.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, Zynga carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
TEGNA (TGNA - Free Report) , Roku (ROKU - Free Report) and Camping World Holdings (CWH - Free Report) are a few better-ranked stocks in the broader Consumer Discretionary sector. TEGNA sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while Roku and Camping World carry a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Roku, Camping World and TEGNA are set to release quarterly results on Feb 18, Feb 25 and Mar 1, respectively.
+1,500% Growth: One of 2021’s Most Exciting Investment Opportunities
In addition to the stocks you read about above, would you like to see Zacks’ top picks to capitalize on the Internet of Things (IoT)? It is one of the fastest-growing technologies in history, with an estimated 77 billion devices to be connected by 2025. That works out to 127 new devices per second.
Zacks has released a special report to help you capitalize on the Internet of Things’s exponential growth. It reveals 4 under-the-radar stocks that could be some of the most profitable holdings in your portfolio in 2021 and beyond.
Click here to download this report FREE >>