Zeta Accelerates Profitability in 2Q’23 and Raises Guidance
Zeta Accelerates Profitability in 2Q’23 and Raises Guidance
NEW YORK – Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA), the AI-Powered Marketing Cloud, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
“For the eighth quarter in a row, which includes every quarter as a public company, we have exceeded consensus estimates and raised our outlook,” said David A. Steinberg, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Zeta. “Driving this level of consistent growth and profitability is only possible if you are developing exceptional products that deliver exceptional value to your customers. At Zeta, our goal is to make marketers the heroes of their enterprises by helping them acquire, grow, and retain customers substantially more efficiently and effectively than ever before by leveraging our data, implementing our software, and utilizing the power of our Artificial Intelligence.”
“Our ability to execute on the KPIs underpinning our consistent quarterly performance creates the opportunity to maintain a dual focus on short- and long-term goals,” said Chris Greiner, Zeta’s CFO. “This is evidenced by our strong execution on adding scaled customers, growing ARPU at a double-digit pace, and continuing to get higher levels of operating leverage flowing through to Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion and cash generation. We remain firmly on track to achieve our Zeta 2025 plan of at least $1 billion in revenue, at least 20% Adjusted EBITDA margins, and at least $110 million in Free Cash Flow.”
Second Quarter 2023 Highlights
Zeta Live
Zeta will hold its third annual conference, ZETA LIVE 2023, on Thursday, September 28, bringing together industry leaders to explore intelligence and how it is reshaping our world. The live in-person event in New York City will also be simulcast globally via live stream available on our website (https://zetaglobal.com).
Guidance
Zeta anticipates revenue and Adjusted EBITDA as follows:
Third Quarter 2023
Full Year 2023
Investor Conference Call and Webcast
Zeta will host a conference call today, Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial results for the second quarter 2023. A supplemental earnings presentation and a live webcast of the conference call can be accessed from the Company’s investor relations website (https://investors.zetaglobal.com/) where they will remain available for one year.
About Zeta
Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA) is the AI-Powered Marketing Cloud that leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and trillions of consumer signals to make it easier for marketers to acquire, grow, and retain customers more efficiently. Through the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP), our vision is to make sophisticated marketing simple by unifying identity, intelligence, and omnichannel activation into a single platform – powered by one of the industry’s largest proprietary databases and AI. Our enterprise customers across multiple verticals are empowered to personalize experiences with consumers at an individual level across every channel, delivering better results for marketing programs. Zeta was founded in 2007 by David A. Steinberg and John Sculley and is headquartered in New York City with offices around the world. To learn more, go to www.zetaglobal.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release or during the earnings call that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our guidance, the Zeta 2025 plan, the financial targets of Zeta 2025 and the timing of when we will achieve the Zeta 2025 plan, and the capabilities of AI and Zeta’s platform are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our anticipated future financial performance, our market opportunities and our expectations regarding our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “guidance” and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, plans and assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at such time. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time they are made, you should be aware that many factors could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or results.
The forward-looking statements are subject to and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors that may materially affect such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: global supply chain disruptions; macroeconomic and industry trends and adverse developments in the debt, consumer credit and financial services markets and other macroeconomic factors beyond Zeta’s control; increases in our borrowing costs as a result of changes in interest rates and other factors; the impact of inflation on us and on our customers; potential fluctuations in our operating results, which could make our future operating results difficult to predict; underlying circumstances, including cash flows, cash position, financial performance, market conditions and potential acquisitions; prevailing stock prices, general economic and market condition; the impact of COVID-19 and other future pandemics, epidemics and other health crises on the global economy, our customers, employees and business; the war in Ukraine and escalating geopolitical tensions as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; our ability to innovate and make the right investment decisions in our product offerings and platform; the impact of new generative AI capabilities and the proliferation of AI on our business; our ability to attract and retain customers, including our scaled and super-scaled customers; our ability to manage our growth effectively; our ability to collect and use data online; the standards that private entities and inbox service providers adopt in the future to regulate the use and delivery of email may interfere with the effectiveness of our platform and our ability to conduct business; a significant inadvertent disclosure or breach of confidential and/or personal information we process, or a security breach of our or our customers’, suppliers’ or other partners’ computer systems; and any disruption to our third-party data centers, systems and technologies. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and the forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
The third quarter and full year 2023 guidance provided herein and Zeta 2025 targets are based on Zeta’s current estimates and assumptions and are not a guarantee of future performance. The guidance provided and Zeta 2025 targets are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors discussed in the Company’s reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), that could cause actual results to differ materially. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve the results expressed by this guidance or the targets.
Availability of Information on Zeta’s Website and Social Media Profiles
Investors and others should note that Zeta routinely announces material information to investors and the marketplace using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, webcasts and the Zeta investor relations website at https://investors.zetaglobal.com (“Investors Website”). We also intend to use the social media profiles listed below as a means of disclosing information about us to our customers, investors and the public. While not all of the information that the Company posts to the Investors Website or to social media profiles is of a material nature, some information could be deemed to be material. Accordingly, the Company encourages investors, the media, and others interested in Zeta to review the information that it shares on the Investors Website and to regularly follow our social media profile links located at the bottom of the page on www.zetaglobal.com. Users may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Zeta when enrolling an email address by visiting «Investor Email Alerts» in the «Resources» section of the Investors Website.
Social Media Profiles:
www.linkedin.com/company/zetaglobal
The Following Definitions Apply to the Terms Used Throughout this Release, the Supplemental Earnings Presentation and Investor Conference Call
Non-GAAP Measures
In order to assist readers of our consolidated financial statements in understanding the core operating results that our management uses to evaluate the business and for financial planning purposes, we describe our non-GAAP measures below. We believe these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in evaluating our performance by providing an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our financial performance over multiple periods.
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow provide us with useful measures for period-to-period comparisons of our business as well as comparison to our peers. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in analyzing our financial and operational performance. Nevertheless our use of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures differently than us, thereby limiting the usefulness of these non-GAAP financial measures as a comparative tool. Because of these and other limitations, you should consider our non-GAAP measures only as supplemental to other GAAP-based financial performance measures, including revenues and net loss.
We calculate forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow based on internal forecasts that omit certain amounts that would be included in forward-looking GAAP net income (loss). We do not attempt to provide a reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow guidance and targets to forward looking GAAP net income (loss), GAAP net income (loss) margin or cash flows from operating activities, respectively, because forecasting the timing or amount of items that have not yet occurred and are out of our control is inherently uncertain and unavailable without unreasonable efforts. Further, we believe that such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors. Such items could have a substantial impact on GAAP measures of financial performance.
Contacts:
Investor Relations
Scott Schmitz
Press
James A. Pearson
Zeta Global Holdings Corp.
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except shares, per share and par values)
As of
June 30, 2023 December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 117,066 $ 121,110
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,030 and $1,882 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 122,023 106,322
Prepaid expenses 5,393 7,150
Other current assets 2,062 1,866
Total current assets 246,544 236,448
Non-current assets:
Property and equipment, net 6,673 5,981
Website and software development costs, net 34,482 36,713
Right-to-use assets – operating leases, net 6,458 7,388
Intangible assets, net 52,029 44,358
Goodwill 140,903 133,069
Deferred tax assets, net 771 745
Other non-current assets 3,346 1,800
Total non-current assets $ 244,662 $ 230,054
Total assets $ 491,206 $ 466,502
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 55,925 $ 33,668
Accrued expenses 64,463 72,364
Acquisition-related liabilities 19,165 14,743
Deferred revenue 3,381 2,228
Other current liabilities 4,356 5,707
Total current liabilities 147,290 128,710
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term borrowings 183,942 183,953
Acquisition-related liabilities 15,583 17,932
Other non-current liabilities 7,043 7,877
Total non-current liabilities 206,568 209,762
Total liabilities $ 353,858 $ 338,472
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A common stock $ 0.001 per share par value, up to 3,750,000,000 shares authorized, 182,030,577 and 175,266,917 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 182 175
Class B common stock $ 0.001 per share par value, up to 50,000,000 shares authorized, 31,723,379 and 32,099,302 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively 32 32
Additional paid-in capital 1,019,144 900,924
Accumulated deficit (880,170 ) (771,056 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,840 ) (2,045 )
Total stockholders’ equity 137,348 128,030
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 491,206 $ 466,502
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Revenues $ 171,817 $ 137,301 $ 329,419 $ 263,569
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization) 62,037 50,233 116,387 91,958
General and administrative expenses 50,715 55,665 103,316 109,014
Selling and marketing expenses 72,496 77,139 145,045 146,057
Research and development expenses 17,343 18,038 35,862 35,269
Depreciation and amortization 12,596 13,315 24,421 26,081
Acquisition-related expenses — — 203 344
Restructuring expenses 2,845 — 2,845 —
Total operating expenses $ 218,032 $ 214,390 $ 428,079 $ 408,723
Loss from operations (46,215 ) (77,089 ) (98,660 ) (145,154 )
Interest expense 2,797 1,666 5,245 2,964
Other expenses 2,838 5,696 4,702 10,969
Change in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities — 1,215 — 1,215
Total other expenses $ 5,635 $ 8,577 $ 9,947 $ 15,148
Loss before income taxes (51,850 ) (85,666 ) (108,607 ) (160,302 )
Income tax provision/(benefit) 309 $ 343 507 $ (2,256 )
Net loss $ (52,159 ) $ (86,009 ) $ (109,114 ) $ (158,046 )
Other comprehensive (income) / loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustment (58 ) 403 (205 ) 647
Total comprehensive loss $ (52,101 ) $ (86,412 ) $ (108,909 ) $ (158,693 )
Net loss per share
Net loss available to common stockholders $ (52,159 ) $ (86,009 ) $ (109,114 ) $ (158,046 )
Basic loss per share $ (0.34 ) $ (0.63 ) $ (0.72 ) $ (1.17 )
Diluted loss per share $ (0.34 ) $ (0.63 ) $ (0.72 ) $ (1.17 )
Weighted average number of shares used to compute net loss per share
Basic 154,597,506 135,903,592 152,334,247 134,835,401
Diluted 154,597,506 135,903,592 152,334,247 134,835,401
The Company recorded stock-based compensation under respective lines of the above unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss:
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization) $ 694 $ 1,738 $ 1,552 $ 2,900
General and administrative expenses 20,816 30,905 44,998 60,680
Selling and marketing expenses 30,631 42,090 63,667 78,897
Research and development expenses 5,471 7,602 11,857 13,594
Total $ 57,612 $ 82,335 $ 122,074 $ 156,071
Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Six months ended June 30,
2023 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $ (109,114 ) $ (158,046 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 24,421 26,081
Stock-based compensation 122,074 156,071
Deferred income taxes (32 ) (3,090 )
Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities – 1,215
Change in fair value of acquisition-related liabilities 4,265 10,795
Others, net 966 570
Change in non-cash working capital (net of acquisitions):
Accounts receivable (15,184 ) (4,740 )
Prepaid expenses 1,890 524
Other current assets (196 ) 271
Other non-current assets (550 ) (703 )
Deferred revenue 954 (1,016 )
Accounts payable 20,088 18,703
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (8,945 ) (10,591 )
Other non-current liabilities 96 (194 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 40,733 35,850
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (8,950 ) (11,511 )
Website and software development costs (8,906 ) (8,586 )
Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired (18,246 ) (9,157 )
Net cash used for investing activities (36,102 ) (29,254 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash paid for acquisition-related liabilities (2,488 ) (1,292 )
Proceeds from credit facilities, net of issuance cost 11,250 5,625
Issuance under employee stock purchase plan 1,567 1,320
Exercise of options 83 130
Repurchase of shares (7,938 ) –
Repayments against the credit facilities (11,250 ) (5,625 )
Net cash (used for) / provided by financing activities (8,776 ) 158
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 101 166
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents (4,044 ) 6,920
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 121,110 103,859
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 117,066 $ 110,779
Supplemental cash flow disclosures including non-cash activities:
Cash paid for interest, net $ 4,983 $ 2,486
Cash paid for income taxes, net $ 752 $ 480
Liability established in connection with acquisitions $ 5,404 $ 18,334
Capitalized stock-based compensation as website and software development costs $ 1,631 $ 2,653
Shares issued in connection with acquisitions and other agreements $ 843 $ 14,936
Non-cash consideration for website and software development costs $ 513 $ 632
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(in thousands)
The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to net loss and net loss margin, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Net loss $ (52,159 ) $ (86,009 ) $ (109,114 ) $ (158,046 )
Net loss margin 30.4 % 62.6 % 33.1 % 60.0 %
Add back:
Depreciation and amortization 12,596 13,315 24,421 26,081
Restructuring expenses 2,845 – 2,845 –
Acquisition related expenses – – 203 344
Stock-based compensation 57,612 82,335 122,074 156,071
Other expenses 2,838 5,696 4,702 10,969
Change in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities – 1,215 – 1,215
Interest expense 2,797 1,666 5,245 2,964
Income tax provision / (benefit) 309 343 507 (2,256 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 26,838 $ 18,561 $ 50,883 $ 37,342
Adjusted EBITDA margin 15.6 % 13.5 % 15.4 % 14.2 %
The following table reconciles Cash Flows from Operating Activities in the Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows to Free Cash Flow:
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
2023 2022 2023 2022
Cash Flows from Operating Activities $ 20,629 $ 14,667 $ 40,733 $ 35,850
Capital expenditures (3,786) (4,768) (8,950) (11,511)
Website and software development costs (4,006) (4,121) (8,906) (8,586)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 133 398 101 166
Free Cash Flow $ 12,970 $ 6,176 $ 22,978 $ 15,919
[1] Free Cash Flow, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin are not measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. See “Non-GAAP Measures” for more information and, where applicable, reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures at the end of this release.