Shutterstock Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) (the “Company”), a leading global creative platform offering full-service solutions, high quality content, and tools for brands, businesses and media companies, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Stan Pavlovsky, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Shutterstock had an exceptionally strong finish to 2020, with revenue growth acceleration across all geographies and channels, including a return to growth in our Enterprise channel. The momentum we have exhibited in evolving our business towards a subscription model is encouraging and I believe we are well positioned heading into 2021.

“I am also excited to welcome the TurboSquid family to our organization. With their blue-chip customer base, extensive network of 3D contributors and the expanding use cases for 3D, AR and VR, I believe this acquisition will generate valuable synergies and additional growth opportunities for our business.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 highlights as compared to Fourth Quarter 2019:

Key Operating Metrics

• Subscribers increased 45%, to 281,000.
• Subscriber revenue increased 18% to $71.1 million.
• Average revenue per customer, increased 0.9% to $333.
• Paid downloads decreased 4% to 45.8 million.
• Revenue per download increased by $0.47 to $3.91.
• Image collection expanded 15% to over 360 million images.
• Footage collection expanded 24% to over 21 million clips.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue increased 9% to $180.9 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased 7%.
• Income from operations increased by $21.8 million to $27.6 million.
• Net income increased 495% to $25.9 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 101% to $48.5 million.
• Net income per diluted share increased by $0.58 to $0.70.
• Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by $0.67 to $0.93.
• Operating cash flows increased by 153% to $64.8 million.
• Free cash flow increased by 232% to $58.6 million.

Full Year 2020 highlights as compared to Full Year 2019:

Key Operating Metrics

• Subscriber revenue increased 12% to $265.3 million.
• Paid downloads decreased 4% to 180.0 million.
• Revenue per download increased 7% to $3.68.

Financial Highlights

• Revenue increased 2% to $666.7 million.
• Foreign currency fluctuations did not have a significant impact on full year 2020 revenue.
• Income from operations increased by $65.1 million to $85.3 million.
• Net income increased 257% to $71.8 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 61% to $154.9 million.
• Net income per diluted share increased by $1.40 to $1.97.
• Adjusted net income per diluted share increased by $1.39 to $2.62.
• Operating cash flows increased by 61% to $165.1 million.
• Free cash flow increased by 97% to $144.2 million.

Shutterstock Acquires TurboSquid

On February 1, 2021, Shutterstock completed the acquisition of TurboSquid, Inc. (“TurboSquid”), for a purchase price of approximately $75 million, subject to customary working capital and other adjustments, paid from existing cash on hand.

SHUTTERSTOCK INVESTOR RELATIONS MICRO SITE

Accessible at content.shutterstock.com/investor-report/index.html

FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Revenue

Fourth quarter revenue of $180.9 million increased $14.6 million or 9% as compared to 2019. Revenue generated through our E-commerce sales channel increased 11% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, to $111.8 million, and represented 62% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020. Revenue from our Enterprise sales channel increased 6% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, to $69.1 million, and represented 38% of fourth quarter revenue in 2020.

On a constant currency basis, revenue increased 7% in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. On a constant currency basis, E-commerce revenue increased by 9% in the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. On a constant currency basis, Enterprise revenue increased by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. 

Net income and Income per diluted share

Net income of $25.9 million, increased $21.5 million as compared to $4.4 million for the fourth quarter in 2019. Net income per diluted share was $0.70, as compared to $0.12 for the same period in 2019. This increase is due primarily to our margin expansion initiatives, which have resulted in lower operating expenses, and, in part, to our increased revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.93 as compared to $0.26 for the fourth quarter of 2019, an increase of $0.67 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA of $48.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased by $24.4 million, or 101%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, due primarily to our margin expansion initiatives, and, in part, to our increased revenue. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 26.8% from 14.5% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

FULL YEAR RESULTS

Revenue

Full year revenue of $666.7 million increased $16.2 million or 2% as compared to 2019.  Revenue generated through our E-commerce sales channel increased 5% as compared to the full year 2019, to $412.5 million and represented 62% of total revenue in 2020. Revenue from our Enterprise sales channel decreased 2% as compared to 2019, to $254.2 million and represented 38% of total revenue in 2020.

Foreign currency fluctuations did not have a significant impact on full year 2020 revenues.

Net income and Income per diluted share

Net income of $71.8 million increased $51.7 million as compared to $20.1 million for the full year 2019. Net income per diluted share was $1.97 as compared to $0.57 for the full year 2019. This increase is primarily due our margin expansion initiatives, which have resulted in lower operating expenses, and, in part, to our increased revenue in 2020, as compared to 2019. 

Adjusted net income per diluted share of $2.62 increased by $1.39, as compared to $1.23 for the full year 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA of $154.9 million for 2020 increased $58.6 million or 61% as compared to the full year 2019, due primarily to our margin expansion initiatives, which have resulted in lower operating expenses, and, in part, to our increased revenue in 2020, as compared to 2019. 

LIQUIDITY

For the full year 2020, our cash and cash equivalents increased by $125.3 million to $428.6 million at December 31, 2020, as compared with $303.3 million as of December 31, 2019. This increase was driven by $165.1 million of net cash provided by our operating activities partially offset by $35.3 million used in investing activities and $4.6 million used in financing activities. Net cash provided by our operating activities was favorably affected by our increased operating income, in addition to changes in the timing of payments pertaining to operating expenses.

Cash used in investing activities primarily consists of $25.6 million related to capital expenditures, an investment of $5.0 million in a creative production and analytics platform, $3.0 million paid to acquire the rights to distribute certain digital content and $1.9 million associated with the acquisition of artificial intelligence driven music technology. Cash used in financing activities consists primarily of $24.4 million related to the payment of the quarterly cash dividends and $4.5 million paid in settlement of tax withholding obligations related to employee stock-based compensation awards, partially offset by $23.2 million of net proceeds from our Stock Offering, discussed below.

Free cash flow was $144.2 million for the full year 2020, an increase of $71.0 million from the full year 2019. This change was primarily driven by higher cash flows from operating activities.

QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

In December of 2020, the Company paid a cash dividend of $0.17 per common share or $6.2 million and during the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company declared and paid cash dividends of $0.68 per common share, or $24.4 million.

On January 12, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.21 per share of outstanding common stock, payable on March 18, 2021 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 4, 2021.

STOCK OFFERING

On August 14, 2020, the Company completed an offering (the “Stock Offering”), whereby 2,580,000 shares of our common stock were sold to the public at a price to the public of $48.50 per share.  The Company sold 516,000 shares of common stock in the Stock Offering and its Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board sold 2,064,000 shares of common stock in the Stock Offering. The Company received net proceeds from the shares sold, of approximately $23.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the Company’s Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board.

KEY OPERATING METRICS

2021 GUIDANCE UPDATE

The Company’s current expectations for the full year 2021, are as follows:

• Revenue of $708 million to $722 million, representing growth of 6% to 8%.
• Adjusted EBITDA of between $165 million to $171 million.
• Adjusted net income per diluted share of between $2.75 to $2.90.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To supplement Shutterstock’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, Shutterstock’s management considers certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, collectively referred to as non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), billings and free cash flow.

Shutterstock defines adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, expenses related to long-term incentives and contingent consideration related to acquisitions, interest income and expense and income taxes; adjusted EBITDA margin as the ratio of adjusted EBITDA to revenue; adjusted net income as net income adjusted for the impact of non-cash equity-based compensation, the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, expenses related to long-term incentives and contingent consideration related to acquisitions and the estimated tax impact of such adjustments; adjusted net income per diluted common share as adjusted net income divided by weighted average diluted shares; revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis as the increase in current period revenues over prior period revenues, utilizing fixed exchange rates for translating foreign currency revenues for all periods in the comparison; billings as revenue adjusted for the change in deferred revenue during the period; and free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities, adjusted for capital expenditures, content acquisition, and, with respect to the year ended December 31, 2020, a payment associated with long-term incentives related to our 2017 acquisition of Flashstock. These figures have not been calculated in accordance with GAAP and should be considered only in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Shutterstock cautions investors that non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies.

Shutterstock’s management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), billings and free cash flow are useful to investors because these measures enable investors to analyze Shutterstock’s operating results on the same basis as that used by management. Additionally, management believes that adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share provide useful information to investors about the performance of the Company’s overall business because such measures eliminate the effects of unusual or other infrequent charges that are not directly attributable to Shutterstock’s underlying operating performance; and revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage) provides useful information to investors by eliminating the effect of foreign currency fluctuations that are not directly attributable to Shutterstock’s operating performance. Management also believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures enhances the comparability for investors in assessing Shutterstock’s financial reporting. Shutterstock’s management believes that free cash flow is useful for investors because it provides them with an important perspective on the cash available for strategic measures, after making necessary capital investments in property and equipment to support the Company’s ongoing business operations and after excluding the impact of nonrecurring payments associated with long-term incentives related to our 2017 acquisition of Flashstock, and provides them with the same measures that management uses as the basis for making resource allocation decisions.

Shutterstock’s management also uses the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis (expressed as a percentage), billings and free cash flow, in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, as an integral part of managing the business and to, among other things: (i) monitor and evaluate the performance of Shutterstock’s business operations, financial performance and overall liquidity; (ii) facilitate management’s internal comparisons of the historical operating performance of its business operations; (iii) facilitate management’s external comparisons of the results of its overall business to the historical operating performance of other companies that may have different capital structures and debt levels; (iv) review and assess the operating performance of Shutterstock’s management team and, together with other operational objectives, as a measure in evaluating employee compensation and bonuses; (v) analyze and evaluate financial and strategic planning decisions regarding future operating investments; and (vi) plan for and prepare future annual operating budgets and determine appropriate levels of operating investments.

Reconciliations of the differences between adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, billings, free cash flow, and the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, are presented under the headings “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP” and “Supplemental Financial Data” immediately following the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We do not provide a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income guidance or a reconciliation of adjusted net income per diluted share guidance to net income per diluted share guidance, because we are unable to calculate with reasonable certainty the impact of potential future transactions, including, but not limited to, capital structure transactions, restructuring, acquisitions, divestitures or other events and asset impairments, without unreasonable effort. These amounts depend on various factors and could have a material impact on net income and net income per diluted share, but may be excluded from adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income per diluted share. In addition, we believe such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors.

EARNINGS TELECONFERENCE INFORMATION

The Company will discuss its fourth quarter and full year financial results during a teleconference today, February 11, 2021, at 8:30 AM ET. The conference call can be accessed in the U.S. at (844) 634-1442 or outside the U.S. at (615) 247-0239 with the conference ID# 4294996. A live audio webcast of the call will also be available simultaneously at http://investor.shutterstock.com.

Following completion of the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available in the investor relations section of Shutterstock’s website. A telephone replay of the call will also be available until February 18, 2021 in the U.S. at (855) 859-2056 or outside the U.S. at (404) 537-3406 with the conference ID# 4294996.

Additional investor information can be accessed at http://investor.shutterstock.com.

ABOUT SHUTTERSTOCK

Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK), is a leading global creative platform offering full-service solutions, high-quality content, and tools for brands, businesses and media companies.  Directly and through its group subsidiaries, Shutterstock’s comprehensive collection includes high-quality licensed photographs, vectors, illustrations, videos and music. Working with its growing community of over 1.6 million contributors, Shutterstock adds hundreds of thousands of images each week, and currently has more than 360 million images and more than 21 million footage clips available.

Headquartered in New York City, Shutterstock has offices around the world and customers in more than 150 countries. The Company also owns Bigstock, a value-oriented stock media offering; Shutterstock Studios, an end-to-end custom creative shop; Offset, a high-end image collection; PremiumBeat, a curated royalty-free music library; and Shutterstock Editorial, a premier source of editorial images for the world’s media.

For more information, please visit www.shutterstock.com and follow Shutterstock on Twitter and on Facebook.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding management’s future business, future results of operations or financial condition, including full year 2021 guidance, new or planned features, products or services, management strategies, Shutterstock’s expectations regarding financial outlook and future growth and profitability, statements regarding anticipated effects of the Company’s acquisition of TurboSquid and statements regarding anticipated improvements in operations. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and other similar expressions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including risks related to any changes to or the effects on liabilities, financial condition, future capital expenditures, revenue, expenses, net income or loss, synergies and future prospects; our inability to continue to attract and retain customers and contributors to our online marketplace for creative content; competitive factors; our inability to innovate technologically or develop, market and offer new products and services; costs related to litigation or infringement claims, indemnification claims and the inability to prevent misuse of our content; our inability to increase market awareness of Shutterstock and our products and services; our inability to effectively manage our growth; our inability to grow at historic growth rates or at all; technological interruptions that impair access to our websites; assertions by third parties of infringement of intellectual property rights by Shutterstock, our inability to effectively manage risks associated with operating internationally; our exposure to foreign exchange rate risk; our inability to address risks associated with sales to large corporate customers; government regulation of the internet; increasing regulation related to the handling of personal data; actions by governments to restrict access to our products and services; our inability to effectively expand our operations into new products, services and technologies; our inability to protect the confidential information of customers; increased tax liabilities associated with our worldwide operations, including our exposure to withholding, sales and transaction tax liabilities; the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; public health crises including the COVID-19 pandemic; general economic and political conditions worldwide, including disruption and volatility caused by COVID-19 and any resulting economic recession; our inability to successfully integrate acquisitions and the associated technology and achieve operational efficiencies; and other factors and risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in other documents that the Company may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks, uncertainties and factors, Shutterstock’s actual results may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of this date and Shutterstock assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

Shutterstock, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP
(In thousands, except per share information)
(unaudited)

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, revenue growth (including by distribution channel) on a constant currency basis, billings and free cash flow are not financial measures prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. Investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies.

SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc.

Related Links

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